Vets Try to Save Dozens of Animals Found in Squatter's Squalor

Dogs rescued from a squalid, urine-soaked south suburban home last week were operated on Tuesday by local veterinarians in a bid to save the animals’ lives.

The house in Steger was taken over by a squatter who camped there with as many as 80 different animals, including dozens of dogs and chickens, six puppies, four cats, four birds and a horse, and together they lived in filth with maggots and fleas. One rescued dog had staples in its head and was covered in bugs when rescuers found him.

In recent days, vets at Ridge Animal Clinic in Lansing have treated 28 animals, reports CBS Chicago, and the folks at Settlers Pond Exotic Animal Rescue are treating the others. But one dog has died and two are beyond help at this point, according to CBS.

The ailments are deplorable, according to Settlers Pond:

“These animals are suffering from conditions such as anemia, flea infestations, scabies, mange, testicular cancer, mammary cancer, maggots, worms and ear mites. One dog has two broken legs that were not set and healed in a bow-legged position. Another dog has office staples in his head. Yet another has ribs that were broken and healed with the bone sticking out of his side.”

Chester L. Slenk, 60, faces municipal citations for animal cruelty and keeping dogs without rabies vaccinations or licenses. Police said they also confiscated a marijuana plant.

NBC Chicago reports that the owner of the home in the 1100 block of Sauk Trail, Pam Pinnow, called police and animal rescue on Friday morning. Pinnow had been trying to remove Slenk from the house for months.

Police have yet to decide whether to press criminal charges against Slenk.

“When I walked through the door, I saw six almost-dead puppies lying in feces and urine and covered in fleas, and it was probably one of the most horrible sights I have ever seen,” Pinky Janota, owner of Settlers Pond in Beecher, told NBC.

Janota says Slenk keeps calling her to complain about the animals being taken from him. Janota said Slenk was running a puppy mill and she believes Slenk should face serious criminal charges.

Donations for the animals’ care are being accepted through GoFundMe.