May 25, 2025
DEAR FRIENDS,
Our team is currently out in Ogle County at 16989 Ritchie Road in Rochelle, IL.
We have been to board meetings, made phone calls, and make videos about the horrific abuse that happened at the last event in Rochelle IL on April 19th. The Animal Control Officer rarely left her vehicle, except to direct traffic, one horse and three steers had their legs shattered, three more steers had their tails ripped off their bodies, two more were lamed, and there were multiple head injuries, bloody horns, and open wounds. No veterinarians were present, so none of these animals received veterinary care or pain relief, and all of this violates Illinois' Humane Care for Animals Act.
You would think that the county would care, and would do something…anything. But instead, they have sent out the same useless Animal Control Officer as April 19th (only to send her home around 3pm) and are permitting the event to go on.
Not only that, but when members of our team that are not on site, as well as supporters that have the time to call, the police are hanging up on them, or telling them they are taking “in-person complaints” only. So Steve Hindi, while in the middle of the operation, called the police himself, only to be put on hold indefinitely.
So far today three animals have been injured. One was degloved, one lamed, the other we are not quite sure what was wrong with him, but he was having a hard time walking and seemed dazed.
All have been put back into the line up to be run again and abused again.
Ogle County is proving that they do not care about the law, and they do not care about animals. Illinois’ Humane Care for Animals Act is being violated, and the police are playing games with the animals’ lives.
This is cruel. This is heartless. This is illegal.
Call the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and let them know that the world is watching,
and get out to this location and do their jobs.
815-732-2136
