Bloomingdale animal shelter gets license back before hearing

In a victory for Pet Rescue, the Bloomingdale animal shelter had its license reinstated Thursday pending a hearing to protest alleged violations.

Pet Rescue lost its license Oct. 16 after state agriculture officials cited it for a fourth allegation.

Attorney Rick Schoenfield filed an emergency motion to lift the suspension, arguing the shelter was denied a fair chance to respond. An administrative law judge overseeing the state agriculture department suspension agreed.

A date for the administrative hearing has not been set yet. If the suspension is enforced, Pet Rescue may apply for a new license in one year.

"We expect that the claims will be rejected at the next hearing," Schoenfield said. "This will allow Pet Rescue to focus on caring for its animals."

The private no-kill shelter has been a subject of controversy for years as former volunteers, workers and clients criticized it for providing improper care to the animals.

The shelter's owner, Dale Armon, 74, and its director, Penny Horak, 69, are facing misdemeanor charges alleging animal cruelty and the violation of their duties for several sick cats and dogs, some of whom had to be euthanized.

Both women deny the charges and are due back in court Nov. 24.

Prosecutors also will ask a judge to force shelter officials to allow an independent official such as a DuPage County animal control officer to come in with a licensed veterinarian to check on the animals, mostly cats and dogs.

The state agriculture violations allege Pet Rescue lacked a pressurized water source or handwashing facility in its annex building. Earlier violations involved two adopted cats that had conjunctivitis, severe upper respiratory infections, pus coming out of their ears and a 104-degree temperature. A third sick cat named Mia had to be euthanized.