Kennel Owner Charged In Deadly Fire Caught With Dog: Report

Wheaton IL

12 March, 2020

2:15 PM

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WHEATON, IL — A Woodridge man who faces animal cruelty charges after a Carol Stream kennel fire that killed nearly 30 dogs has to pay more bail after he was caught with a dog in his car, police say. Garrett Mercado must now post $5,000 after violating the original terms of his bail, according to Daily Herald. Mercado was charged with animal cruelty in July 2019 after an investigation was conducted following a fire at his Carol Stream kennel that claimed the lives of 29 dogs. Prosecutors allege that the dogs were kept in cramped living conditions in which "cages were stacked without adequate food and water" and "tethered in a way (that) restricted their movement" prior to the fire. Mercado was arrested in July on those previous charges and posted the necessary $5,000 bond to be released. Police say he was pulled over on March 7 for an expired license plate and was found with a dog in the backseat of his car. Mercado is also accused of bringing another dog he found to DuPage Animal Control in late February. More via Daily Herald