Target: James W. Glasgow, State’s Attorney, Will County, Illinois
Goal: Pursue the maximum criminal penalties, mandatory psychological counseling, and a lifelong animal-ownership ban for the individual who allegedly forced nineteen dogs to languish in squalor.
Authorities reportedly entered a residence and discovered nineteen dogs crammed into foul, waste-covered enclosures. Investigators described an overwhelming stench, filthy floors layered with urine and feces, and distressed animals left without adequate care. Each dog, according to court filings, was living in conditions so deplorable that felony aggravated-cruelty charges were filed against the homeowner.
The suspect now faces felony and misdemeanor counts for aggravated cruelty, neglect, and multiple violations of owner duties. Officials also allege the presence of controlled substances in the home, compounding a picture of rampant disregard for life and law. Nineteen innocent animals apparently endured prolonged suffering—potentially without sufficient food, clean water, or medical attention—until rescuers intervened.
Illinois recognizes extreme neglect as a felony offense, yet convicted defendants often receive probation or short jail terms. With nearly twenty victims and evidence of prolonged misery, this case calls for a strong sentence: the statutory maximum behind bars, extensive fines to cover shelter and veterinary costs, court-ordered mental-health treatment, and a permanent prohibition on possessing animals. Such measures will affirm that severe neglect is a grave crime, not a mere inconvenience.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear State’s Attorney Glasgow,
Police reportedly removed nineteen dogs from a residence where they had been confined amid layers of waste, deprived of basic care, and left to languish in unsanitary cages. The homeowner now faces felony aggravated-cruelty charges alongside multiple neglect counts.
These allegations describe prolonged, systemic suffering. Nineteen animals apparently endured filthy conditions and possible starvation or untreated illness. This scale of alleged cruelty warrants a decisive legal response—for the dogs affected and to deter would-be offenders across the county.
We respectfully urge your office to seek the maximum sentence allowed by Illinois law, including significant incarceration, restitution for animal-care costs, mandatory psychological evaluation and treatment, and a lifetime ban on owning or residing with animals. A firm stance in this matter will demonstrate that Will County values and protects vulnerable lives.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Anindita Bhadra
