Exotic Animals Freed From Cages at Rescue Shelter

Exotic animals kept at a rescue shelter were freed from their cages, and five of them remain missing 12 days later.

The locks were cut from the cages at Settler’s Pond on Offner Road in the eastern reaches of the county on Aug. 20.

Nearly all of the animals were released. Each was recaptured with the exception of an emu, a Palawan porcupine, a coatimundi and two kinkajous.

An emu is a large, flightless bird. Palawan porcupines, native to the Philippines, resemble North American porcupines but are black and have thicker quills. The coatimundi resembles a raccoon. The kinkajou is a small rainforest mammal.

The police do not know if the animals were stolen or simply remain missing. Will County Animal Control was brought into the case.

The owner of Settler’s Pond was “recently contacted by PETA about the animals,” police said, and she told deputies “she suspects, but has no proof, that there is a connection between the group and her animals being set free.”

Settler’s Pond was “established in 1998 by Roland and Pinky Janota,” according to the facility’s website.

“The Janotas manage the facility on their family farm,” the site said. “Settlers is a no kill rescue for any type of animal in need.”