Malnourished Dogs Rescued From Bolingbrook Home, Man Charged With Cruelty: Police

BOLINGBROOK, IL — A Bolingbrook man has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after police removed 19 dogs from his home, Bolingbrook Police told Patch.

Aaron Rice, 36, is facing charges of aggravated cruelty to animals (a class 4 felony), misdemeanor cruelty to animals and 15 counts of "owner's duties."

Police told Patch that they received a report in January of possible animal cruelty at Rice's home. After an investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the home and executed on March 14.

During the search of the home, police said 19 dogs were found in the home, and taken to Bolingbrook's animal care facility.

A majority of the dogs had signs of malnourishment, and two adult dogs and five puppies were taken to a local veterinarian for various injuries and signs of possible infection, according to police.

According to a complaint filed in Will County court, the aggravated cruelty to animals charge stems from one of the dogs being "in a confined space, resulting in skin necrosis."

The "owner's duties" charges come from failing to provide humane care for an animal, failing to provide veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and failing to provide a sufficient quantity of food and water, according to the criminal complaint.

The charges list that at least some of the dogs were the Belgian Malinois breed.

On March 19, an arrest warrant was issued for Rice, police said. According to Will County jail records, he is not in custody.

Websites show an Aaron Rice in Bolingbrook listed as a dog trainer and Malinois breeder, but police would not confirm whether Rice had a breeding or dog training business.