Justice · Animal rescueLemont dog rescue: 76 dogs removed from condemned homeAired October 26, 2026 at 3:36 AM UTCWritten October 26, 2026 at 3:42 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Rescuers remove seventy-six dogs from a single home and garage.0:10The Lamont House is condemned, and the homeowner faces animal, cruelty, and felony0:14weapons charges.0:15Many of the dogs now need help adjusting to human contact.0:18What will it take to get them into lasting homes?0:20Police say all seventy, six dogs were removed during an operation that stretched0:25across hours.0:26Chief Jason Loco described upwards of nine hours spent corralling them and arranging0:30secure transport to shelters.0:32Officers had gone there to search for firearms.0:34A Cook County judge had issued a firearms restraining order connected to the0:38warrant.0:38Loco said complaints and interactions involving the homeowner had escalated in0:42recent weeks.0:43Police had also learned his firearm owner's identification card, commonly called OTD0:48card, had been revoked.0:49Officers searched a property in the800 block of McCarthy Road on Thursday, October220:54.0:55Before serving the warrant, they determined the number of dogs posed a safety0:58concern and called for animal control help.1:01Police say they recovered three firearms.1:03The homeowner, Andrew Malik, is fifty-eight and faces multiple animal.1:07Cruelty counts and felony weapons charges.1:09Those are criminal allegations, and he hasn't been found guilty.1:13Police described the property as a hoarding situation.1:16On October20, two, Malik was in custody and charges were pending.1:20By October23, he faced animal cruelty and felony weapons charges.1:24Police took him into custody without incident, and he was later released.1:27Cook County Animal Control and the Sheriff's Animal Cruelty Unit joined the1:30response.1:31Animal control teams from Grundy County, Palace Hills, Bowling Brook, and Evergreen1:35Park also helped alongside shelters and volunteers.1:38Police said there was no threat to the public.1:40McCarthy Street was temporarily closed between McCarthy Road and Sobiski Street that1:44evening.1:44Dogs had to be secured in the yard, garage, and house.1:47Rescura Kimarias, founder of Ruby Whiskers Animal Rescue, described catching them as1:52like chasing wild animals.1:54At least a dozen dogs were visible running around the backyard.2:04The house was unlivable and has been condemned.2:07With warnings posted to stay away, grime covered floors and walls.2:10Debris lay scattered inside, and dirty plastic bins appeared to serve as makeshift2:14dog beds.2:15Arya said her eyes and throat burned.2:17She covered her face with her shirt and said, You really couldn't breathe when you2:21walked in.2:21Oh, Chief Jason Loco described the dogs as fairly healthy, active, and friendly,2:26though skittish from limited human contact.2:29Arya said, I did not see any aggression.2:31I saw fear, for sure.2:33Shelters would still need to assess each dog's needs.2:36Neighbors described years of noise and odor.2:38Myra Bertlang said noise came at all hours over roughly the preceding month.2:43She said, The smell had become horrendous, which she associated with dog feces.2:48She hadn't realized76 dogs were inside.2:50Neighbor Ian Carter also described persistent noise and a terrible smell.2:54Police kept the final four dogs overnight because no more shelter space was2:58available.2:58Lo Coco said a shelter transfer was expected.3:01That temporary shortage shows how difficult it was to find immediate space for so3:05many animals.3:06Bert Lang said neighbors had asked the village for years to intervene.3:09She said officials told her their hands were tied because no ordinance limited how3:13many dogs someone could keep.3:15She wanted emergency action.3:16The village's earlier handling of those complaints is still unclear.3:19Chicago's anti-cruelty received thirty-three dogs late Friday, October twenty-three.3:24They ranged from eight-week-old puppies to adults.3:27The shelter said many had limited experience with human contact and would need3:31patience and individual care as they adjusted.3:33Arias took three dogs through Ruby Whiskers.3:36She anticipated foster homes and adoption availability in the next few days.3:39She also worried some dogs might be pregnant.3:42Ante Cruelty's immediate work was to settle its dogs, get to know them, and assess3:46their needs.3:47As of Saturday morning, October24 , its adoption timetable was still unclear.3:51The dogs are out, but nobody has provided a complete accounting of their placements3:55or confirmed how many have reached permanent homes.3:58Each dog's readiness will depend on that individual assessment and adjustment.4:01Molik is due in court Monday, October26 .4:04Ein Bridgeville.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
