Cook County authorities probe animal hospital

DOLTON - A Dolton animal hospital is under investigation after a police officer found four dead dogs at the facility, Cook County authorities said.

A Dolton officer discovered the dogs when he brought a stray to the Dolton Animal Hospital on Sunday, Sheriff's Deputy Chief Michael Anton said. The officer also found nine dogs and one cat in "various stages of emaciation," Anton said. Cages lacked food and water and were covered in waste, he said.

The county animal control removed deceased and living animals from the privately-run facility Sunday. At least two of the animals had owners.

A hospital employee at the scene declined to comment to WMAQ-TV. An employee who arrived at the scene was taken into custody for questioning.

Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers told WGN-TV he sent an inspector to the animal hospital a few days earlier. The inspector cited the owners for an unspecified violation, but only looked at the outside of the facility and didn't go inside, Rogers said.