Dogs saved from ‘house of horrors’ seeking homes at Palatine adoption event

More than a dozen dogs rescued from what’s been described as a “house of horrors” in the South suburbs, are looking for permanent homes.

Along with other dogs, they will be featured at an adoption event at the Lamplighter Inn Tavern & Grille, 60 N. Bothwell St. in Palatine from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 22.

The dogs were trapped in a Riverdale house and ultimately freed after federal authorities executed a search warrant following reports of illegal activities involving animals, some of which were severely injured.

Jennifer Riordan, founder of Many Paws Global Rescue in Palatine, said her organization began taking the dogs into its care about eight weeks ago after receiving word from federal authorities. Out of 31 dogs, Many Paws eventually took 18 of them.

The dogs were being kept with pit bulls that attacked them. One puppy, Solomon, was found alone in the backyard with no food or water.

Among the dogs rescue is One-Eyed Willie, a one-year-old French Bulldog who recently underwent surgery after his eye — damaged in an attack — had migrated to his cheekbone.

“They had to literally go in and remove the eyeball,” Riordan said. “His eyeball had migrated down to his cheekbone, and there were pus pockets behind it.”

Beside removing the eyeball, they took out inflamed tissue, neutered him and gave him a rabies shot.

“He looks like he went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson right now,” she said.

Another dog who was rescued is Kennedy, a French Bulldog now being fostered by Anne Epsom of Hoffman Estates.

“When we get them, sometimes they’re in such rough shape. But with just a little love and care, they transform. It’s amazing,” Epsom said.

Kennedy was seriously wounded after a large pit bull attacked her. She found shelter behind a water heater.

“Even though she had her whole ear almost torn off and her neck torn up, she was still just the sweetest little girl,” Epsom said.

Now Kennedy is on the road to recovery. Her wounds have been stitched up. She even has a couple of pals in Epsom’s dogs Rowdy and Fleury.

The goal of the event is to raise at least $6,000 to cover medical expenses and help find “forever homes” for rescued dogs. The event will feature raffle baskets, on-site adoptions and an opportunity for the public to meet some of the animals.

“Our biggest goal is to offset some of the medical costs,” Riordan said, adding she had to travel to Southern Illinois to save on the cost of treatment.