COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Police found 10 abused pit bulls, including three puppies, when they raided an East Side house last week.
Juan Zamora, 49, was charged with possession of dog-fighting equipment — plus 10 counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of neglecting animal-owner duties.
Officers executing a search warrant found seven dogs chained in Zamora's basement in the 9700 block of South Avenue L, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing Tuesday. Three additional dogs sat in bottomless cages in the backyard.
Each of the dogs was underweight, Antonietti said. The pit bulls in the basement were chained to the ground and separated by wooden cages, which were lined with hay, feces and urine. One of the cages contained three puppies, who couldn't move easily due to an elevated cage bottom, Antonietti said.
Police uncovered two treadmills, one of which was smeared with blood, according to prosecutors. Officers also found a "rape harness," Antonietti said in court, explaining that the harness linked together male and female dogs and forced them to breed.
Court documents claim the pit bulls were treated cruelly, tormented, starved, overworked and injured; and they did not have access to enough food and water, or veterinary care. Antonietti said one of the dogs had scars on its snout, believed to be from fighting.
Zamora wasn't home when police searched the house. He turned himself in Monday, at the advice of his attorney, according to an arrest report.
Each of the dogs was taken into custody of Animal Care and Control.
Cook County Judge James Brown on Tuesday ordered Zamora held in lieu of $75,000 bail.
Contributing: Alex Nitkin
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
