The Former Director Of Animal Welfare League In Chicago Ridge Is Ordered To Stop Practicing Veterinary Medicine Without A License
CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — After an almost year-long investigation into allegations of animal abuse and negligence at Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, the former executive director and board president has been ordered by the state to stop practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
The Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation filed an enforcement action in November against Linda Estrada, who had headed the shelter and board since the early 1990s. The state agency responsible for monitoring the state’s financial institutions and overseeing professional licenses, ordered Estrada to “cease and desist the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine in the state of Illinois based on her unlicensed practice while employed at Animal Welfare League.”
Although AWL had passed inspections by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, employees and volunteers went to IDFPR with allegations of animal neglect and deteriorating physical conditions at the animal shelter. The IDFPR launched an investigation in late 2017.
Are There Any Rottweilers In Need Of Rescue
Our main office, located in Chicago Ridge, is a full-service shelter open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The AWL operates a full service clinic that is open to the public Monday through Saturday. The Animal Welfare League is open 6 days a week for adoptions!
Paul & his wife made an appointment to see a few dogs for a possible adoption. They had recently lost their French Bulldog due to age/illness. They were heart broken and distraught over the loss of their beloved pet. We showed them a few dogs in the hopes of finding a new pet for them.
Come Meet Animal Welfare League’s Pets
The Animal Welfare League is open 6 days a week for adoptions! Adoption hours are Monday – Friday 1:00pm to 8:00PM and Saturday 12:00PM to 7:00PM.The Animal Welfare League also allows people to view adoptable animals on the website at www.animalwelfareleague.com.Also, be sure to check the website for upcoming events, adoption specials and so much more!
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Two Former Animal Welfare League Euthanasia Technicians Agree To License Suspensions While A Third Voluntarily Gives Up His State License
CHICAGO RIDGE, IL Three former employees at the center of probe into euthanasia practices at the Animal Welfare League accepted a settlement offer Monday from the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation rather than face harsher disciplinary actions or fines. The former employees were accused of violating the Illinois Humane Euthanasia in American Shelters Act while employed as euthanasia technicians at the Chicago Ridge animal shelter.
The Chicago Ridge Village Board also plans to revive discussion of Trustee Ed Kowalski’s proposed humane animal shelter ordinance modeled after similar municipal ordinances adopted in other states to address conditions in local animal shelters. If passed, Chicago Ridge will become the first municipality in Illinois to adopt such an ordinance.
The state licenses of Mark Estrada and Steven Mensching were suspended for two years following a preliminary hearing at the Thompson Center. Brian Selmeister, who is said to have improperly euthanized 488 animals, voluntarily surrendered his euthanasia license.
It Started With Kennel Cough
The shelters problems began in December 2017, when an outbreak of kennel cough caused it to temporarily close and suspend adoptions. Former employees, volunteers and clients who say they witnessed abuse and neglect then began protesting outside the facility on Southwest Highway. They claimed unsanitary conditions and unsafe practices and shared disturbing photos on social media.
The issue came to a head when former Director Linda Estrada was accused by the state of practicing veterinary medicine without a license. She resigned in May of 2018. In addition, seven of the facilitys euthanasia technicians were cited last summer for not weighing hundreds of animals before administering sedation, and for failing to keep appropriate records.
That led to an effort to get back on track and repair the public perception, Higens said. Three of the technicians no longer work at the shelter. The other technicians, placed on probation, are still on staff. Estrada is no longer affiliated with the facility, Higens said.
We started at the very beginning, looking at every little thing, asking ourselves, How can we improve? Higens said. We are looking at everything, medical protocols, security weve added a 32-camera system so we can watch every room where animals are being treated, how theyre being treated.”
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Why Should You Adopt
Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you’ll have a friend for life.
What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?
When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.
So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.
Pets
The Animal Shelter’s State Euthanasia License Was
Animal welfare league chicago. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a city of chicago government site. Animal welfare league offers educational programs in pet care in schools. A wide range of additional services may also be offered by the animal welfare league.
Animal welfare league was slapped with a $10,000 fine in november 2018. Everyday the animal welfare league saves animals lives and works to improve the way they are treated and regarded by society. Animal welfare league receives 89.86 out of 100 for their charity navigator rating.
The organization is located in chicago ridge, ill. Near the intersection of s wabash ave and e 63rd st. Chicago animal adoptions and pet adoptions, chicago vet clinic, lost dog | animal welfare league animalwelfareleague.com.
We couldnt reach our goal of rescuing the many pets in need without you. To be considered for adoption you must fill out an adoption application, include any animal that youre interested in from our website, and. 334,823 likes · 1,053 talking about this · 14,297 were here.
Today, the animal welfare league operates two shelters in the chicagoland area. Their founding shelter in chicago, still exists today as the only humane society on the south side of chicago. Pippen fasseas adoption center 1997 n.
Animal welfare league has a moderate advisory from charity navigator. Animal welfare league, chicago ridge, illinois. Animal welfare league is rated 3 out of 4 stars by charity navigator.
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Is It Possible To Rehome A Recycled Rottweiler
Parker and all of our other Guardian Angels look over all wayward rottweilers, and watch over us as we do our work in saving and rehoming. If you believe that you are ready to adopt a Recycled Rott, we ask that you first read and understand the following information regarding the breed.
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Dea State Officials Investigate Controversial Chicago Ridge Animal Shelter
CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. Federal and state investigators made an on-sight inspection of the controversial Animal Welfare League in suburban Chicago Ridge on Tuesday.
Demonstrators were also at the shelter on Tuesday to once again demand a change in leadership.
DEA agents and state investigators were questioning the director, Linda Estrada, and her staff.
In a written statement, Estrada said the day went well.
The staff at the Animal Welfare League has been under fire. The shelter has been accused of giving animals lethal doses of medicationsconfirmed by necropsies done by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
One of Shannon Gagliones foster pit bulls was given seven different antibiotics after surgery to remove a harness imbedded in his body.
Amikacin is very strong, chloramphenicol is rarely used and can be fatal to the animal and also the person thats handling it, she said.
The Animal Welfare League is also accused of not having full and detailed documents. One document had no information about a hernia surgery a dog had, who performed it or who approved medications.
Crystal Broccardo worked or volunteered at the shelter for 21 years. She just quit a month ago.
She said vets stayed on the clinic side where they performed low cost surgeries and exams. She said there was never a vet on the shelter side.
There is also still an open Department of Agriculture investigation.
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How To Adopt From The Animal Welfare League
Animal Welfare Leagues Adoption Process 1 Submit Application The first step in the adoption process is to complete our Adoption Application. You may submit it to us via Fax, Email, or in person. 2 Approve Application Once your application has been approved by our adoption committee, they will call you to schedule an appointment. 3 Meet the Pet
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Also, this past weekend $17,000 worth of Heartgard, an anti-worm medication for dogs, turned up missing from the shelter. Chicago Ridge trustee Ed Kowalski confirmed police are investigating the theft. The Village of Chicago Ridge ordered the shelter to remove a pigeon coop that was being kept in an area where dogs were penned due to pigeon feces.
The animal shelter is an open intake facility and takes in cats, dogs, wildlife and other species brought in as strays or surrendered by owners, and facilitates pet adoptions. Animal Welfare League has stopped accepting strays and owner surrenders, and has put all pet adoptions on hold since Jan. 20, claiming the shelter was hit by a dog flu outbreak.
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Critics Accusing Animal Shelter Of Abuse Neglect Dont Get Answers
CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. A suburban animal shelter was at the center of controversy at a village board meeting Tuesday night.
Edmund Kowalski, the Chicago Ridge, Ill., village trustee, cleared the Animal Welfare League of abusing or neglecting animals at Tuesdays meeting. He said the shelter passed the Illinois Department of Agriculture inspection three times in the last two months.
I see some of you shaking your heads in disbelief. What is acceptable for the Department of Agriculture might not be acceptable for you and your standards, Kowalski said.
The shelter was accused of animal cruelty and unsanitary conditions.
Concerned animal advocates shared photos with WGN that they say were taken in the past few months.
In the photos, mouse droppings can be seen all over the floor near occupied cages, as well as what looks like backed up sewage in the garage. In the photos, pigeons are seen freely roaming the areas where dogs and cats are kept.
Jo is a lifetime member of Animal Welfare League. Shes been a volunteer and coordinator over the years. She said there are money constraints since it is a non-profit organization. She said they cant hire enough people and they have limited amounts of medications and money to do surgeries.
What they need is for people to come in and volunteer or make contributions so the shelter can run more efficiently, more safely for the animals, she said.
**WARNING: Video contains graphic images.
Belak took Balor to a private veterinarian.
Federal And State Authorities Make Unannounced Visit At Troubled Animal Welfare League In Chicago Ridge
CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Authorities from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation made an unannounced visit to the embattled Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. The shelter has been under scrutiny since dozens of animal advocates and rescue groups, many of them former volunteers who’ve been banned for speaking out, have provided photographs and videos of dogs and cats in horrifying conditions as well as medical and necropsy reports.
An AWL staff member told Patch a “large group of people” came to facility at 10300 Southwest Highway in Chicago Ridge late Tuesday morning. Federal and state authorities were interviewing shelter director Linda Estrada and her staff. Authorities were also examining the shelter’s euthanasia paperwork and medical records, and took photographs of the shelter’s drug logs. Both the DEA and IDFPR said they could “neither confirm or deny” the investigations.
When asked if the DEA and IDFPR were at the shelter, AWL spokeswoman Nicole McNair said they had no comment. Calls to Animal Welfare League’s attorney were not returned.
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As Animal Welfare League Struggles To Win Back Public Trust Critics Offer Help And Chicago Ridge Trustee Wants A Takeover
Its been a rough two years for the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge.
Besieged by protesters alleging animal abuse, unsanitary conditions and bully tactics, the facility was reprimanded earlier this year by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation following a February 2018 investigation for improper euthanasia procedures and poor record keeping.
Since then, Chris Higens, the shelters new interim president and longtime board member, said it has undergone a series of changes in its attempt to win back public support and get potential pet owners to consider adopting again. The changes include what she calls a by-the-books protocol for euthanasia, the purchase of an expensive oxygen treatment unit and thousands of dollars worth of building repairs.
Higens thinks these efforts will help rebuild public trust, particularly because the Illinois Department of Agriculture, which inspects animal shelters, found no evidence of wrongdoing at the facility during its unannounced inspections.
Others, including a Chicago Ridge trustee who wants the village to oversee shelter operations, disagree. Critics call for shelter operators to come to the table to talk about the shelters problems and the steps taken to correct them.
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Seriously, guys, give us a chance,” Higens said. “Come in, see for yourself. Youre not hurting us, or the board youre hurting the animals.
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CACC is Open to the Public by Appointment Only
All individuals are required to socially distance and wear a mask at all times.
Please email to schedule an appointment.
Community Alert from Chicago Animal Care & Control
In alignment with the City of Chicago’s activation of the Continuity of Opertations Planning related to COVID-19, effective immediately, Chicago Animal Care & Control services have changed.
ALL CACC OPERATIONS ARE BASED OUT OF OUR SHELTER LOCATED AT:
2741 S. WESTERN AVE.
- CACC is a 54,000 square foot building, which houses approximately 500 animals in separate kennels.
- CACC has a fully-equipped medical division to care for the animals in its care.
- CACC houses a command center for Animal Control Officers and Inspectors and has a fleet of 18 trucks.
- CACC has a shelter operations division to clean, feed and care for the animals.
- CACC has offices for the Executive Director and administrative and management staff.
Operational Information:
*All visitors are required to wear a face mask and observe social distancing while in the CACC facility. Visitors without an appropriate face mask will not be allowed in.*
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