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DuPage 29

https://www.facebook.com/DuPageSAO/posts/2248518871850126 The following day he posted the necessary 10%, or $5,000, and was released from custody.

https://www.facebook.com/DuPageSAO/posts/2248518871850126 WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that Judge Robert Miller has found Garrett Mercado, 32 (d.o.b. 10/1/1989) of 2346 Cambridge Lane, Woodridge, guilty of three counts of Animal Cruelty, a Class A Misdemeanor and six counts of Violation of Owner’s Duties, a Class B Misdemeanor. Judge Miller issued his r

uling following a five-day-long bench trial where Mercado faced more than two dozen charges as the result of a 2019 fire at an unincorporated West Chicago kennel he operated that claimed the lives of twenty-nine dogs. On July 10, 2019, Mercado, who operated the former D and D Kennel located at 2N441 North County Farm Road, was arrested on a $50,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrant. On January 14, 2019, at approximately 5:20 a.m., a DuPage County Sheriff Deputy observed the kennel on fire. An investigation into the fire conducted by the DuPage County Fire Investigative Task Force found the cause of the fire to be undetermined. The investigation also found that twenty-nine dogs died in the blaze as a result of Mercado’s leaving the kennel for approximately five hours at which time a fire broke out on the premises. The investigation further revealed that numerous dogs were mistreated suffering puncture wounds, lacerations, abrasions, weight loss, muscle wasting and dehydration. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the kennel runs were not sanitary; dogs were kept in cages stacked upon one another; dogs were placed in cages or crates too small for them; dogs were inappropriately tethered and that one dog was tethered to a bar in a bathtub in a fashion that would restrict or prevent movement.
“Judge Miller’s ruling verifies what we have said all along, that Garrett Mercado completely disregarded the health and safety of numerous dogs in his care,” Berlin said. “The fire that raged through the kennel that morning during Mr. Mercado’s five-hour absence and resulted in the death of twenty-nine dogs left in his care is a heartbreaking tragedy for not only the owners of those dogs that perished, but also for the entire community. This has been a very difficult, emotional case for all those involved and I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Alysa Feld, Kelsey Kerr and Alyssa Rabulinski, as well as State’s Attorney Investigators Dave Zdan and Cheryl York for their truly outstanding work on this case which led to Judge Miller’s Guilty findings.”

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Justice for the DuPage 29

In the early morning of January 14, 2019 Garrett Mercado left his boarding facility and apartment for unknown reasons. Mercado facility had 13 operational kennels but he had over 58 dogs and he left the dogs unattended, some tied up, unable to move, and living in filthy deplorable conditions. Dogs were tethered tightly to walls and other objects. Dogs were kept plastic and wire crates and they died terrified in those crates. Intentional cruelty was inflicted on the dogs Many of the 29 dogs bodies recovered were from Chicago and suburban rescue groups and shelters. The fire's cause is not accidental it was ruled undetermined.

Koko was tied to a pole in a bathtub. She was tied so tightly that she couldn't sit. Koko stood for at least 5 hours until the blazing fire killed her. Standing in her little pink coat, she was found in the aftermath of the fire with her head twisted and her eyes wide open. Imagine her pain as her abuser tied her to a pole. How many times did he keep her in those living conditions? Why? When Mercado tied Koko and other dogs on those short leashes he intentionally committed cruelty and tortured them before they died in a fire. Imagine Koko's terror as she fought to escape standing in a bathtub engulfed in flames. With over 20 dogs howling and fighting for their lives. Most of the rescues and shelters who placed these dogs with their favorite trainer Mercado, are not outraged. They have turned away and supported Mercado with large monetary donations. Instead of advocating for Aggravated Cruelty and Torture charges the Rescue Community is silent. Some dog’s bodies were left like garbage and not identified by Mercado, their owners, or rescues. And who are the dogs without chips? Who placed them there?