ELGIN, Ill. (STMW) – Sixteen dogs seized in a weekend drug raid in northwest suburban Elgin remained at a Schaumburg animal hospital Monday waiting to be evaluated, their fate still to be determined, authorities said.
During the Friday night raid on home of Alejandro Campos-Rivera in the 200 block of S. Liberty St., police encountered 22 dogs. Six were killed at the scene after they attacked Elgin officers and other dogs, according to police.
The remaining dogs were taken to Golf Rose Animal Hospital in Schaumburg.
“We are currently doing some preliminary medical work, preventing and controlling parasites, and awaiting word from the authorities having jurisdiction of what the disposition will be with the animals,” Rose hospital administrator Charles Bulson said.
Campos-Rivera, 37, was charged with felony unlawful production of cannabis plants and felony aggravated animal cruelty. He was being held in the Kane County jail in lieu of $750,000 bond.
“These aren’t typical stray dogs found on the street,” Bulson said. “The options are unknown. The animals are still owned by, I would gather, the resident of the home. I don’t know the particulars. They are just held under our care for the city of Elgin.”
City Corporation Counsel William Cogley said current law allows a homeowner to have just three dogs. Campos-Rivera could try to reclaim three of the animals, but that would be highly unlikely given the felony charges facing him, Cogley said. He said the dogs would be processed through the animal hospital. Those deemed suitable could be put up for adoption, while those found unfit for adoption would be euthanized.
Bulson was on duty when Elgin police brought the dogs to the animal hospital that night. Initially reported as 21 dogs, there actually were 22 pit bulls found in the home. The surviving dogs include seven puppies and nine adults, all of which are “generally, at this point, friendly,” Bulson said, noting that he carried some of them into the facility.
Six pit bull carcasses are being held at the hospital as evidence in the case.
Each surviving dog’s disposition must be evaluated to determine whether the animal can be placed in a home, office manager Catherine Howes said.
“You have to wait,” Bulson said. “You have to give animals time to come out of their shell and learn their disposition. It’s not a snap judgment.”
The age of each dog has not been determined, Howes said. That usually is estimated by examining eyes and teeth to note signs of aging.
Golf Rose Animal Hospital handles these types of cases for various police departments throughout the region, but this is the largest number of dogs the hospital has received from one place, Howes said.
“We don’t know if these particular pit bulls were used in fighting,” she said. “We’ll look for telltale signs of scar wounds.”
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
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