Several Dogs Found Dead Inside Dolton Animal Hospital
Updated 9/22/14 5:05 p.m.
DOLTON (CBS) – A gruesome discovery in the south suburbs, where authorities found several dogs found dead inside a Dolton animal hospital.
Several other animals were left in squalor, emaciated and barely breathing.
Four dogs were found dead inside. A total of nine dogs and a cat were alive and taken from the building.
Police are questioning an employee of Dolton Animal Hospital, 15022 Lincoln Ave., but so far no arrests have been made.
Sheriff's police were alerted to the problem after a Dolton police officer entered the facility on Sunday morning to house a stray dog.
That officer noticed the decrepit conditions and notified his supervisor, who called in the sheriffs police and Cook County animal control.
"It's a sad situation, but we'll look into it and get back to you if there's anything more," said Dr. Amardeep Sangha, describing what happened inside his hospital.
Sangha says he's been in business for 20 years. He says some of the animals are strays brought to him by the village in many cases already sick and dying.
He says the four dead dogs had all been abandoned to the streets.
"Those are all stray dogs."
Officials tell CBS 2 they are still trying to talk to the hospital's vet, Dr. Sangha, to determine if animal cruelty or neglect charges should be filed. Monday morning, Sangha told CBS 2 he would cooperate.
Tina Robinson says her dog Duke was like a member of her family when she boarded the dog at the hospital for a week back in July. It that was the last time she saw her beloved pet alive.
She said the dog was healthy.
Robinson says she notified village officials about her concerns but was told nothing could be done about the hospital.
The Cook County sheriff's police spent most of Sunday going through the facility gathering evidence and removing animals.
On its website, the business says it provides the kind of service your pets deserve.
But on Sunday, officials said the animals may have died from neglect.
Other animals didn't appear to be in much better shape.