Man, Woman Charged After 54 Dogs Abandoned At Dog Park

HUNTLEY, IL — A Huntley man and woman face dozens of animal cruelty charges after 54 Maltese mixed-breed dogs were left abandoned at Hammertime Unleashed Dog Park in Belvidere in July.

Authorities launched an investigation after learning of the abandoned dogs, which were turned over to multiple rescue organizations so they could receive treatment and find new homes, according to a news release from the Huntley Police Department. During the probe, Concepcion Rodriguez, 61, and Bruce Walla, 54, both of the 10000 block of Wheatlands Way, were identified as suspects, police said.

Officials with McHenry County Animal Control, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, Huntley Police Department and Boone County Animals Services searched the Wheatlands Way home where more animals were recovered and turned over to McHenry County Animal Control. Those animals are receiving medical care, police said.

The home has also since been deemed uninhabitable, according to a news release.

Rodriguez and Walla were charged this past week with 19 counts of cruelty to animals, which is a Class A misdemeanor, and 19 counts of violations of owner's duty, which is a Class B misdemeanor. They were taken into custody and later released.

Rodriguez faces 54 additional counts of cruelty to animals in Boone County.

The case remains under investigation, and anyone who has additional information is asked to contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Office at 815-544-2144 or the Huntley Police Department at 847-515-5311.