Man Charged With Animal Torture, Neglect Nearing Trial

Michael Peterson, 31, of Oak Lawn has been charged with six counts of felony animal torture and three counts of felony cruelty to animals.

A man who has been charged with animal torture and animal cruelty may be one court appearance away from getting a trial date set. Purav Bhatt, attorney for Michael Peterson, 31, asked Cook County Judge Colleen Ann Hyland Tuesday, Aug. 21 for one more status date before a trial will be set. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to six counts of felony animal torture and three felony counts of cruelty to animals. According to reports, police went to the home on May 8, 2011 after neighbors complained of several dogs locked up in a back room. Neighbors told police the dogs had been barking and fighting for several hours and that it was an ongoing problem. Police found four emaciated dogs home alone, one of them gravely injured after being attacked …

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TARA SANTORO

9:23 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012

HOPE HE GOES TO JAIL!   more ›

Police Blotter: Dog Left Panting in Hot Car, Man Socks LP Officer After Stealing Bed

Oak Lawn police reports, July 4 through July 5.

THURSDAY, JULY 5 Police went to the 9500 block of South Kolin Avenue around 10:26 a.m. because of a report of a dog left inside a hot car, reports said. The officer said when he arrived he found a dog locked inside a car with the windows down 2 or 3 inches. The dog was panting and didn’t have any food or water. An infrared thermometer measured the inside of the car at 122 degrees, police said. After several attempts to contact the dog’s owner, the officer was given permission by his supervisor to remove the dog from the car. The officer stuck a metal wire through the open window and unlocked the car. Police removed the dog and left a contact notice for the owner that the dog was being brought to the Animal Welfare League. Around 12:30 p.m…

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Court Watch: Trial Set for Animal Rescue Owner

Dazzle's owner goes to trial March 7. Also, arraignment postponed for man accused of setting fire to his family's south suburban restaurant.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. TINLEY PARK — Trial starts March 7 for Dawn Hamill, the owner of Dazzle’s Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, which was raided nearly one year ago. She faces dozens of counts related to animal cruelty and neglect. More than 100 animals, including a dead cat and horse, were seized from Hamill’s Tinley Park property, which prosecutors have painted as a den of feces and urine, with inadequate space and heat. When put on the stand last month for a pretrial issue, Hamill described an environment of “healthy” and “playful” animals, though she admitted that the sanctuary had been twice cited for unsanitary conditions by the Illinois …

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Cops Investigate Possible Animal Cruelty

Neighbor reports dog howling inside garage for hours, police say.

A neighbor called Oak Lawn police to report a dog in distress at a house on the 9200 block of South Major Avenue. Police met with the neighbor around 1 p.m. on May 21 and were told that a dog had been howling inside the garage for hours. The neighbor was concerned that two dogs—a pit bull and mastiff—were being abused. The homeowner wasn’t home, but police did locate the mastiff, Bella, in the garage. The dog appeared to be in distress and there was no food or water, police said. Police decided to remove Bella from the garage. According to reports, there was little space for the dog to move around because of jet skis, a bike and a car parked inside the garage. The mastiff appeared emaciated and was defensive when police removed her from …

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PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: Alpacas, Abused Dogs and A Marathon Runner

A daily video recap of the Southland's top stories

'Home Alone Dogs' Removed from House; One Dies Alpaca Farm Works Through Challenges as Unique Part of Community Homewood Woman Wins Mother of All Sweepstakes Tempers Flare Between District 206 Board Members No Brakes on Bareikeis' Training Regimen

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Southland Stories

The Good, the Sad and the Ugly: A Good Read

This week's edition of "Good Read on the Southland" features big lottery winnings, J Lo tears for Chris Medina and a little boy's dreams for a Hooters in his hometown.

We've got the scoop on what folks are talking about these days. Every Monday, however, A Good Read on the Southland keeps you in the know with the region’s must-read stories. First, the Good News: An Orland Park woman is a millionaire after winning a share in the Hoosier State Lottery with her relatives earlier this month. On Feb. 4, Ann McClelland heard from her sister, Marcha Nowaczyk of Calumet City, that they'd won the lottery. “We kept checking the number for days. We had some doubts it was real," McClelland told the Southtown. Her mother purchased the ticket. "“My mother just told the cashier to do any type, and she bought a single ‘quick pick’ for Mega Millions. The cashier picked the right ticket,” McClelland said. “My mother wants…

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BibbidyBobbidyBoo

10:17 am on Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Have you heard any of his performances on YouTube, prior to the Idol audition? He's got a good voice, but I don't hear much versatility. Great run for him and he seems like a nice guy. I'm sure he will turn his insta-fame into some sort of money-making venture.   more ›

Refugee Pets Find Medical Care, TLC at Animal Welfare League

Animals seized from a Tinley Park shelter are resting and under evaluation at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge.

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 raided Dazzle’s Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in unincorporated Tinley Park. Shelter director Dawn Hamill, 41, has since been charged 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…

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