Trial Begins for Painted Pastures Owner Accused of Animal Cruelty and Neglect
Prosecutors presented their evidence in what could be the first of three cases against Dawn Hamill.
Photos
A county judge heard evidence Wednesday against the owner of a Tinley Park animal sanctuary, denying the defense's efforts to impeach state witnesses, in what could be the first of three trials on accusations of animal cruelty and neglect.
Early on Feb. 11, 2011, Cook County sheriff’s police from the animal crimes unit, accompanied by local animal control officers and members of the Animal Welfare League (AWL) in Chicago Ridge, confiscated more than 100 animals from Dazzle’s Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in unincorporated Tinley Park.
The raid was triggered on the word of a former employee and netted its owner, Dawn Hamill, more than 30 charges in total.
Prosecutors called six witnesses in front of a Cook County Judge Christopher J. Donnelly Wednesday, several of whom were present during the raid and described finding a dead cat, a dead miniature horse and eight sickly puppies in an unheated garage, their food and bodies matted with urine and feces. For hours the courtroom was redolent with words like “horribly” and “atrocious.”
At the center of the state’s case was Officer Larry Draus, of the Cook County animal crimes unit, whose credibility defense attorney Purav Bhatt repeatedly tried to undermine. He called Draus’ handling of the case “sloppy,” showing, in one instance, how a food bowl which Draus' report said didn’t exist in the dead cat’s cage could be seen in the officer’s own video.
In another instance, Bhatt asked Draus how the puppies could have been energetic-looking and sickly at the same time—to which Draus smirked and said, “They were very happy to see us.”
Photos of the cat showed a crusty gray-colored substance building around its eyes and mouth, which Draus explained was gravel stuck to a diseased discharge.
Several eyewitnesses, including Linda Estrada, executive director of AWL, testified that the dogs had been chewing the installation around their cage, embedding their skin with fiberglass. According to Crystal Broccado, by the time she and other AWL employees finished giving the dogs several baths, their own hands and arms were burning.
Prosecutors presented a report from AWL veterinarians who treated all eight of the dogs for parvo, a virus that attacks an animal's intestinal tract.
Greg Papaleo, a retired officer for the Cook County animal control unit, testified he had visited Painted Pastures a few days before the raid on a routine animal transfer. Though the animals in one of Hamill’s barns were subjected to “subzero” weather, he said he regrettably cut her a break on her promise to fix the heater.
None of the witnesses could say with certainty how the animals had died, but Christine Kelly, the woman whose tip led to the search warrant, testified that she had seen the miniature horse alive two days before the raid.
In his opening statement, Bhatt called Kelly a “disgruntled employee” and blamed her for bringing too many animals into the rescue. She, however, testified that in January 2011 she had taken a trip to Missouri, on Hamill’s order, to pick up a couple dozen dogs for an annual adoption event that was to begin Feb. 12.
She claimed Hamill decided against bringing a veterinarian out to look at the horse, which had stopped eating and drinking. She also said she opted to not test the puppies for disease because there wasn’t money in the budget.
Though she continued to lend a hand when Hamill wasn't around, Kelly quit a few days later because Hamill was being “unreasonable,” she said. Since the raid, Kelly has filed several harassment complaints with local police alleging her former boss was stalking her.
“Some of these animals met their demise because of the defendant’s cruel treatment,” assistant state’s attorney Sarah Naughton said. “These conditions did not occur overnight.”
Bhatt, on the other hand, painted Hamill as a caretaker with good intentions, one who saw the taking in of sick animals as “the mission of her life.”
He’ll have an opportunity to prove that claim when the trial resumes March 19.
Find lots more Painted Pastures news on Tinley PatchIf you'd like us to let you know when we publish more info about this case, click the green "keep me posted" button immediately below this story on the right-hand side.
Dina
8:33 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Dawn,I remember when you called me a few months ago to tell me YOU WERE GOING TO WIN THIS CASE.It doesn't seem like things are looking to good for you!What happened to your other Attorney?Didn't you collect enough aliminum to pay him??Glad to know ALL your donations were cut off.I don't know how you can even look at yourself in the mirror after what you did to them poor animals.You trully make me sick! I hope your Hummers and Boob Jobs were worth everything you are going through right now.The proof is in the pictures!!I hope you suffer as much as you made them ANIMALS suffer.
Dina
michelle
2:51 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
I hope the court system does the right thing and puts her away for a long time,They should make an example of her to all the other animal abusers that think it's ok to treat living things like that.
kim bowker
3:00 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Did you step up to help volunteer? Did you step up with donations of time ? Did someone give you the POWER to JUDGE???? If not, then mind your own! Im sure you are one of those gas guzzling car driving, insecure self esteem, do as I say not as I do, i can pick the weeds in your yard but dont touch mine kinda a people. WoW!!!!!! How about this DINA, Give me your address and let me and my group come inspect your home. I'm sure there is something not to code! So now sit back and inspect your own life and maybe inspect your home!!!!
kim bowker
3:14 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
As for you Michelle, Im sure you have led a perfect life. Never tried to help someone or something. Never done anything to have others judge you without knowing you. Do tell!!!!!! What is your secret!!!!!!!!!!!
Dina
4:26 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
This message is to Kim Bowker.I knocked on Dawn's door over 3 years ago and asked her if she needed volunteers.She told me NO she did not need amny volunteers at her home that she had plenty.There is not a shelter around that would refuse FREE HELP unless you have something to hide..I also donated numerous items to Dawn's Rescue.I was also a volunteer for Dawn at some of her off site adoption events such as Petsmart Adoption Events.I was also in Dawn's house the part that she called her Salon.The smell was enough to make you puke..I will never forget these baby kittens that were around 5 weeks old that were so sick.She brought them to the Petsmart in Tinley Park.I explained first of all they were to young to be adopted and they were very sick.I asked her to please take them home and get them medical attention.She was too busy playing kissy face with some guy and it was NOT her husband.She left after the event and did not take the kitties.Myself and my friend that was helping with the adoption event brought the kittens to her house.I hate to even think what happened to them.I GAVE MYSELF THE POWER TO JUDGE!! I seen the DEAD Animals that were at Painted Pastures on Feb 11,2011 and the horrific conditions the other animals were in.I have no idea who you are and really don't care!You must be a real idiot to stick up for someone like Dawn.The animals were the last thing on her list.By the WAY,my house is SPOTLESS ,bring your so called GROUP over ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!
Amy F
4:34 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Ok, seriously you Kim need to calm down. People are voicing their opinion on an animal abuse case. YOU are JUDGING THEM! Sure some of the things said in the first message were a bit harsh and pointed, but donations towards a cause are meant to be spent for the cause and not taken by the person running it. Mind your own business sweetheart. The point of the matter is....Animals died due to neglect. That is the owners fault. That is cruelty. If she did not have the funds to care for the animals she should not started this "so called" sanctuary. She should be held responsible for the death of the animals. That's it. It is not a matter of whether or not she is a good person, but when animals are treated poorly and left to die, people need to be held responsible.
michelle
4:58 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Any person who could let that happen to those animals, ( that mess did not happen over night). Really does not care what people think of them. That does not take a genus to figure out. That is a selfish person. One with no morals. So ,judging someone without knowing, really.
kim bowker
7:50 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Okay wait a minute! Im supposed to mind my own business? Well didn't you respond to a post I put? So you made it your business. Im not taking sides here so do not confuse or twist my words. You are right everyone. You don't know me or anything about me. NO animal should EVER be mistreated ! All Im saying is let the court decide. Our country and Judicial system say's, " Innocent until proven guilty". That's all Im saying. I didnt see the conditions at the property and if they were that bad why didn't they get posted. I also felt that it did get personal with the comments and thats why I posted. Red flags go up when comments are made about anothers body parts! However, I do hope all animals are safe. I have a rescue myself and work with over 15 other rescue's across the U.S.. I have trained over 5 dogs for Search and Rescue. Do I care about the animals? 1ST AND FOR MOST YES,YES AND YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I apologize for coming off wrong. My statement were no better than the one's against Dawn. I do believe in our system and if and I say " IF " she is guilty, then I can only pray that the court gives a punishment equal to what the animals got!!!! Again , sorry if I upset or hurt any feelings.
Dina
9:38 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
There are pictures posted of her property that the police took the day they arrested her.Go on Tinley Park Patch and look for yourself.It's enough to make you sick! I'm appauld you have your own Rescue and responded the way you did!
MaryAnn
8:29 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Good for you Dina and Michelle for being so concerned for our furry little friends. Keep up the great work you are doing for those animals who don't have a "voice" of their own. God Bless You!
Betty Wagner
11:40 am on Saturday, March 10, 2012
I think that anyone who can do this to poor defencless animal or any one who had knowledge of what was going on should be treated exactly like they treated the animals. Shame on all of you . I would not want to be in your shoes for the wrath you will receive when you stand before God and explain why you did what you did. If you don't love animals stay away from them no one tolf u to do what you clearly had no busness doing in the firsy place...
ted
4:22 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Comments were made about her body parts because she used the money that was suppose to be for the animals NOT her numerous surgeries!!!
Carol Nita
5:22 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
I hope the justice sysrtem works in this case. I SAW these poor animals when they were taking them away. They clearly weren't being taken care of. No one who truly loves animals would have done this. These animals weren't even taken to the vets for check ups and shots. She lives there, she knew what was going on. A shelter I know offered to help her, but she ran them off the property. She is lying through her teeth. I hope all those animals got to be adopted to good homes.
Mary
9:39 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
She's a DISGRACE period!!
Mary
12:11 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
For all you Dawn Hamill fans, I personaly seen her kick a dog at an event. She was " training " the dog not to jump. I should have said something then, but I too was once blinded by her fakeness and bs. Getting to know her better I see her true CRAPPY colors!