Animal Cruelty Charges Filed In Kennel Fire That Killed 29 Dogs
CAROL STREAM, IL — Nearly six months after a kennel fire in Carol Stream claimed the lives of more than two dozen dogs, the owner of the kennel has been charged with 28 misdemeanors, including animal cruelty and failing to care for the animals. At a press conference, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said Garrett Mercado kept more than 58 dogs in the kennel building, but had only 13 functioning kennels. Other dogs were “tethered in a way (that) restricted their movement.”
These conditions caused the dogs to “die a horrible death” during the fire, Berlin said, and the bodies of some of the pets were never recovered.
Mercado, 29, of Woodridge, was arrested Wednesday and posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bail Thursday morning, according to court records.
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Berlin said allegations include claims “cages were stacked without adequate food and water” and that many crates did not have trays, which meant dogs often urinated or defecated on the dogs in kennels below them.
Mercado had left the dogs unattended for five hours on the morning of the fire, authorities said.
Berlin said there was “no evidence that the fire was intentional,” but Mercado “failed miserably” at providing adequate care to the animals. He is charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty and 14 counts of violating owners’ duties.
Twenty-nine dogs were killed in the blaze, which broke out at D and D Kennels at 2N441 County Farm Road around 5 a.m. Jan. 14. A patrol deputy spotted the fire, and with the help of firefighters made “heroic efforts” to save 22 of the dogs held at the kennel, Berlin said.
Berlin said some charges stem from the treatment of two dogs in particular. One dog, named Magoo, was returned to his owner prior to the fire but was severely underweight, with ribs showing and wasted muscles, as well as hookworms, Berlin said.
Another dog, Coco, perished in the fire after being tethered to a bar on the second floor of the kennel building. Berlin said Coco was tethered so tightly it’s unlikely he would have been able to lie down or move. His body was found under a pile of debris after the fire, according to authorities.
Mercado lived at the kennel’s adjacent home, and the blaze prompted a GoFundMe campaign to help Mercado get back on his feet. The GoFundMe, launched in January, raised more than $92,000.
The kennel reportedly passed an inspection for general animal welfare in September. The facility did not have a sprinkler system, something Mercado said he was working to remedy at the time of the fire. Sprinkler systems are currently only required in new animal shelters or those deemed to be unsafe.
The DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force handled the initial investigation into the deadly blaze.
Mercado is due in court Aug. 12, according to DuPage County records.
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