Community responds to abandoned dogs in Belvidere

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — Over 54 dogs were abandoned and rescued last week at Hammertime Unleashed Dog Park and community members stepped up to help those who are now responsible.

After a local dog-walker mistook the dogs for foxes, Boone County Animal Services got a call from the Sheriff’s Department about the abandonment. It was then when Animal Services called for help to rescues in Illinois.

Wagging Hearts, North Central Maltese Rescues, Cause For Paws Rescue and Illinois & Boneifide Rescue ultimately took the animals.

Director of Boone County Animal Services Rick Borrett Jr. said an abandonment like this is unheard of.

“The number was staggering,” Borrett said. “I think a lot of people that work in animal welfare have certainly heard of people abandoning a few dogs, maybe ten or 12 before. I’ve never heard in 15 years of anybody abandoning over 50 of them at once.”

Later in the week, Animal Services made a request for community donations to help care for the sudden influx, and Borrett said the response was incredible.

“This is a great example of how the worst in some people can bring out the best in others,” Borrett said. “We had a steady parade of people last week showing up with materials, dog food, dog treats, cleaning supplies, and more. We’ve passed that stuff on as we’ve taken it to the rescues who took the dogs. Some of them have responded back stating that they’ve already received the money and it’s helping them pay the vet bills. We continue to pass that stuff on as it comes in.”

One area resident Theresa Binek said the situation is uncommon for the area and she is disappointed.

“Dogs are like children to me, so the fact that someone dumped all those puppies here was it was horrific,” Binek said. “It hurt my heart. It’s like abandoning children. I’m ashamed of the situation but I’m proud to be from Belvidere. We love our animals like we love our children.”

Borrett said all of the dogs have since moved out of the rescues and are now in foster homes throughout the state that are still receiving donations.

“They really needed to be out of the shelter as quickly as possible and get those animals to those places who had committed to in-home fostering for the animals,” Borrett said. “They went to people’s houses rather than to other shelters. That was very important to us.”

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