Des Plaines man gets 30 months in dog beating case

A Des Plaines man who struck his dog in the face multiple times, causing serious injuries to the animal, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

James Wesolaski, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of animal torture, about two months after he admitted to police that he struck the dog, named Teddy, because he had bit him and escaped from his home, according to Cook County prosecutors.

A neighbor called police on June 6 after witnessing Wesolaski repeatedly striking the small Lhasa apso outside his home on the 1100 block of South Wolf Road.

Police said Wesolaski pinned Teddy on the ground and punched him in the head and face at least four times. The dog was treated at Northwest Animal Hospital for swollen eyes, which were bleeding from trauma, and head injuries, according to police reports. Capillaries in the dog’s eyes were broken, which indicated he had been choked, according to police.

Along with Wesolaski’s 30-month prison sentence, Judge Lauren Edidin prohibited him from owning animals for 20 years.

Prosecutors said that Teddy has made a full recovery his injuries and that he and Wesolaski’s two other dogs have been adopted into new homes.