Making A Difference Rescue

05/29/2026

04/20/2026

GRUESOME ANIMAL ABUSE CASE - LOOKING FOR TIPS
(PLEASE SHARE)

On March 3rd, the Will County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Will County Animal Protection Services about a possible dog abuse case. Our office was informed that Crete Township Highway workers had discovered 6 deceased dogs, in trash bags near Norfolk Avenue and Kings Road in Crete Township around 4 p.m.

Our investigators were told that Crete Township Highway workers picked up a few trash bags from the area and took them back to their building. When the workers discovered several deceased dogs inside, they called Will County Animal Protection Services. APS officers retrieved the bodies from the highway department and brought them back to the Will County Animal Protection Services shelter.

Will County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators photographed the deceased dogs, and sent all the evidence, though it was not preserved on scene, to the lab to be tested for DNA.

This is where our investigation currently stands. Unfortunately, there is no person-of-interest, no uncontaminated evidence and no video surveillance to be recovered from that area, which is heavily wooded.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office will not stand for this type of animal abuse. This was a gruesome, horrifying discovery and we will not tolerate it.

Our detectives will continue to investigate and look for proper evidence that will help lead to the proper charges being filed in this case, but we need the public’s help. If anyone has tips, leads or information that may help us in our investigation – please call Crimestoppers at 800-323-6734 or go to crimestoppersofwillcounty.org/submit-a-tip. There is a 5K reward for information leading to an arrest.

People with tips can also contact Det. Lane at [email protected].

Help us get justice for these animals that didn’t deserve to die this way.

To report animal abuse in Will County, call Will County Animal Protection Services at (815) 462-5633 (available 24 hours via answering service).

01/23/2026

ANIMAL CRUELTY & UNATTENDED ANIMALS IN VEHICLES

Animals should not be left, outside or in unattended in vehicles, during cold weather when lethal temperatures can occur in minutes. The Joliet Police Department actively enforces state law & city ordinance regarding animal cruelty.

Illinois Law states:
•No owner of a dog or cat that is a companion animal may expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme cold conditions that:
(1) results in injury to or death of the animal; or
(2) results in hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite, or similar condition as diagnosed by a doctor of veterinary medicine.

City of Joliet, Ordinance 6-6 states:
•No person shall expose an animal to extreme cold weather conditions wherein the health of the animal is endangered, including, but not limited to, showing signs of hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite, or similar conditions.
•No person shall confine an animal in a vehicle in such a manner that places it in a life or health threatening situation by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme cold, without proper protection from such cold, without proper protection from such cold. An animal's health, safety, or welfare is endangered when the animal is confined in a parked/standing vehicle for 5(+) minutes when ambient outside air temperature measures below 35° F.

City of Joliet Ordinance 6-8 states no person shall:
No person shall be cruel to any animal in any of the following ways:
•The exposure of an animal to extreme cold weather conditions wherein the health of the animal is endangered, including, but not limited to, showing signs of hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite, or similar conditions.

In order to protect the health & safety of an animal, an Animal Control Officer or Law Enforcement Officer, who has probable cause to believe that this section is being violated shall have authority to enter such motor vehicle or property by ANY reasonable means under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible.

Based on all circumstances, the minimum penalty for violating the city ordinance is a $300 citation, up to the animal owner being arrested. The animal can also potentially be temporarily or permanently seized by the Joliet Police Department and Joliet Township Animal Control. The Joliet Police Animal Crimes Team encourages the community to ACT if they see something and to call 9-1-1 to report suspected animal abuse.

The full City of Joliet ordinance can be found at https://library.municode.com/il/joliet/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ANFO_ARTIINGE_S6-6CRAN&fbclid=IwAR3YJR5Rp-JiUFtpP74-bZseND_mRDhmk4dVgR8tmXsy02k6Y9ES-csZk08