Refugee Pets Find Medical Care, TLC at Animal Welfare League

Dogs wearing blue “hospital” collars were resting and receiving medical care at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge after being removed Friday from a Tinley Park animal shelter.

Cook County Sherriff’s police and investigators from the Animal Welfare League Dazzle’s Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in unincorporated Tinley Park. Shelter director Dawn Hamill, 41, has since been with multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect.

According to a Cook County Sherriff’s press release, investigators found dozens of animals in unsanitary and unheated conditions, some without food or water. The sheriff’s animal control unit also found dead animals, including a miniature horse and a Himalayan cat. One cat died after it was removed from the premises and two dogs were euthanized on the property.

Animal Welfare League spokeswoman Cory Berndt said the shelter took in 63 dogs, 30 cats and three rabbits.

“Some of them had pretty bad skin, ear and eye infections,” Berndt said. “All of the cats had respiratory infections.”

The Animal Welfare League received some advance notice of Friday’s raid to prepare to receive the animals. The Chicago Ridge animal shelter accepts strays and animals that are injured, neglected or abused from 55 municipalities.

All of the animals removed from Dazzle’s Painted Pastures had their vaccinations immediately updated and were put into observation for sickness and aggression issues, Berndt said. The cats are in isolation.

“A lot of the cats had eye infections, which stems from respiratory issues,” Berndt added.

Berndt said the Animal Welfare League took in all of the dogs, cats and rabbits. Hoofed animals including horses and llamas were sent to another sanctuary. She described the past weekend as busy, with more than 70 pet adoptions taking place between the shelter and pet adoption events at seven regional PetSmart stores.

“A lot of the (pets) need to be groomed,” Berndt said. “We had a lot of adoptions this weekend, which helped make room for them.”

While Patch could not visit the cats, a tour of the kennels where the dogs were being kept revealed a eight pit bull puppies leaping against the door of the kennel to greet staff.

Berndt said the dogs came in all breeds and sizes, from a Great Pyrenees to rat terriers and a miniature schnauzer.

Some of the dogs were sleeping deeply, resting from their ordeal. A Chihuahua hid shielded under a blanket. Because the dogs roamed freely at the Tinley Park animal shelter, some had bonded with each other and were placed in kennels together.

The Great Pyrenees had some of its hair shaved from its back because it was badly matted when the dog came to the Animal Welfare League on Friday. A blind Australian shepherd with red-rimmed eyes sat quietly in a kennel in the hallway, turning its head toward the sound of Berndt’s voice.

After evaluation and medical care, many of the animals will be put up for adoption into loving homes. Berndt said the Animal Welfare League would follow the same adoption procedures for the Tinley Park animals that it does for other pets brought to the shelter.

“A lot of them are very good-tempered, very friendly and loving,” Berndt said. “They just need some TLC.”

How to help: The Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge is a private, no-kill animal shelter that accepts no government funding and is supported entirely by private donations. You can help by adopting a pet, making a monetary or in-kind gift of dry pet food, old towels and blankets, newspapers, heating pads and other items. The shelter also operates a low-cost vet clinic and gift shop. To inquire about the Tinley Park and other pets looking for forever homes, contact the Animal Welfare League at 708-636-8586 or visit the website to see pets available for adoption.