Animal Cruelty Investigation Revealed 1 Dead Dog, 4 Worm-Infested Dogs Bound With Tow Chains: Cops

JOLIET, IL — County deputies accompanying animal control officers to a Spencer Road home found a dead dog in a feces- and urine-covered cage and four other malnourished and worm-infested dogs bound with tow chains, police said.

Deputies went to the home of 26-year-old Brian Keltz Dec. 1 to look into a report of a dead dog, police said. When they got there, animal control officers reportedly told the deputies they had already been called to the residence three prior times to investigate complaints.

Deputies reportedly entered the home and found a dead male dog inside a cage. The “cage was covered with feces and urine,” police said, and four other dogs weighing between 20 and 30 pounds were “located in the backyard and were found with no water or food, were malnourished, not groomed and were chained with tow chains.”

“Animal control stated that the dogs also had worms and that they would take possession of them and transport them to a vet clinic for examination,” police said. “Keltz admitted at the scene that he breeds the dogs and that they remain outside throughout the year. He was issued eight citations for failing to register the dogs.”

Three weeks later, deputies obtained a warrant for Keltz’s arrest. Keltz was served with the warrant and placed under arrest when he appeared in court Thursday morning.

Keltz was taken from court to the Will County jail but spent less than seven hours in custody. His bond was reduced from $50,000 to $10,000 and he posted $1,000 bail for his release.

Brian Keltz | image via Will County Sheriff's Department