The owner and the manager of a Dolton animal hospital where several dogs were found dead have been charged in their deaths.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced multiple charges against Amardeep Sangha, 54, the owner and Sharon Cargile, 59, the manager. Both have been charged with five counts of cruelty to animals and eight counts of violation of owner's duties.
Investigators said the situation came to their attention over the weekend after a Dolton police officer brought a stray dog to the Dolton Animal Hospital and discovered conditions described as "deplorable."
Police said the hospital was rife with urine, feces and "animals in various stages of decay." A total of four dead dogs were found, along with 10 other animals in "various stages of emaciation," including nine dogs and one cat, according to investigators.
Customer Patrice Burton said she wasn't surprised by the allegations of neglect after taking her dog to the hospital on Thursday.
"It was clean, but I did notice a smell," Burton said. "It's very troubling, because it's not only me, other people have come here as well."
Donna Reed said when she came to pick up her dog, employees wouldn't let her get past the front door. And Donna Fox was disturbed when she picked up her dog in early August and "he was skin and bones."
"You're trusting your dog, your pet, inside of a licensed place, and for them to treat your dog like that is unbelievable," Fox said.
The upper floor of the facility, located at 15022 Lincoln Ave., is used as an animal hospital. The lower floor is used to house stray animals through an agreement with the Village of Dolton. According to the Department of Agriculture, the hospital has an active kennel operator's license, which was renewed earlier this year.
Several ill animals were transported to other animal hospitals for treatment, officials said.
The owner, Dr. Amardeep Sangha, did not return calls for comment.
