Crime & Safety
UPDATE: 91 Animals Taken from Bull Valley Home Expected to Recover
Dogs, cats and birds are being nursed back to health, but owner hasn't relinquished them, yet, county officials said.
The 91 animals left alone without food and water in a Bull Valley home are expected to recover.
The animals were "dehydrated and very hungry," but, given time, should return to a healthy state, said Debra Quackenbush, community information officer for McHenry County Department of Health.
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McHenry County Animal Control collected 19 dogs, 11 cats, 3 rabbits, and 55 birds from the home at 8617 Bull Run Trail. They also found a deceased dog, cat, and bird, according to sheriff authorities.
The majority of the dogs are small Yorkshire Terriers, weighing about 3 to 5 pounds each, some are poodle mix and one is a hound, Quackenbush said.
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McHenry County Sheriff's deputies on Monday were called to the Bull Valley home, located southeast of Mason Hill and South Country Club Road, east of Woodstock, for a well-being check for 54-year-old Virginia E. Dinucci, sheriff police said.
The incoming report stated Dinucci had not been seen for several weeks and a strong odor was emitting from the home, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said in a press release.
Due to the appearance and odor coming from the house, deputies entered the home to check for Dinucci. Officers weren't able to locate her, or anyone else.
However, deputies found the animals and feces scattered on the floor throughout the residence. There were no visible signs of food or water made available for these animals, Nygren said.
McHenry County Animal Control was contacted for assistance, and a search warrant was obtained to collect and care for the animals.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Bureau immediately began looking for Dinucci, and was concerned for her safety, Nygren said. With assistance from the Park Ridge Police Department, deputies contacted Dinucci on Tuesday at an apartment in the 1700 block of Pavilion Way in Park Ridge.
As of yet, the Dinucci has not relinquished ownership of the animals so they are not available for adoption, Quackenbush said.
The investigation is still ongoing.
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