Men Arrested For Transporting 43 Puppies Can Get Their Dogs Back

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Feb 17, 2012 9:20PM

Eric Isselée/Shutterstock.com

A judge ruled the two Iowa men arrested for transporting 43 puppies in a cramped van can get their puppies back, but only if they pay for the cost the city incurred while hosting the pups. Travis Wester, 22, and Larry Subject, 49, were arrested last week, and police said they were transporting the pups from a "large-scale breeding operation" (aka puppy mill) about seven hours away in Iowa.

Police heard yelping and barking coming from a van in Lawndale and found the two men sleeping in the front, while 43 puppies—including boxers, Chihuahuas, huskies and Pekingese—were cramped in tight quarters in the back. The puppies were bound for Chicago and New York City.

Cherie Travis, commissioner of Chicago Animal Care and Control, wrote on her Facebook page about the judge's decision:

Unfortunately, the forfeiture was denied and the puppies will be returned after ACC vets determine that they are healthy. Although the judge said that at the outset, the case was "almost a clear cut case of animal cruelty based on the method of transportation" and that it clearly was not an "ideal way" to transport animals, she didn't think the conditions were sufficiently bad to warrant a deprivation of property. However, she did ask the City to submit a bill for the care for the animals so that the "expense would not be borne by the taxpayers." The State's Attorney, CPD and Animal Control Officer did an outstanding job.

It hasn't been announced how much Wester and Subject will have to pay. The judge ordered animal control veterinarians to determine if the puppies are healthy enough to be returned.