A west suburban man facing animal cruelty charges

A man is charged of animal cruelty after starving his dogs in his Bellwood home. He had starved his dogs so much that one of the dog was found dead. This was not a lone incident. Another emaciated dog was found earlier this year in his Bellwood home as well.

The person charged is Calvin Butler. He is 48-years old. The Cook County medical examiner’s office has released a statement and say that Butler is charged with two misdemeanor counts each of cruelty to animals and violation of animal owner duties. The sheriff office has also released a statement on this incident as well.

They say that they had received a relinquishment request for a dog. After they had received the request, they had sent employees from the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society to Butler’s home. His home is situated in the 500 block of Linden Avenue. When the employees reached his house, they found an emaciated black and tan Rottweiler and a dead cane corso in a garbage bag in the backyard.

The animal shelter had contacted the sheriff’s office after they found the dogs like that and an investigation was carried out. The investigators had learned that Butler had “failed to care for the dogs and that the deceased dog likely died from starvation.” There was no resistance from Butler as he turned himself to the authorities on Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office say that his court date is set for Aug. 9. Anti-Cruelty Society spokeswoman Colette Bradley says that the Rottweiler brought to them was in poor condition. She says that employees of her department are trying everything to rehabilitate him both physically and mentally. She added that it was difficult working with him due to his aggressive manor. She says that his health is deteriorating, so they have decided to humane euthanasia him.