Man Sentenced After Starving Dogs Found In Home With Dead Animals: Prosecutors

MCHENRY, IL — A 30-year-old McHenry man was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 18 months of reporting probation after a jury found him guilty of neglecting two dogs found severely malnourished and living in deplorable conditions.

Jason Pastryk was sentenced Thursday by Judge Justin M. Hansen after being convicted June 23 on two counts of animal cruelty, both Class A misdemeanors, according to the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.

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Pastryk was sentenced to 60 days in jail on each count, to be served concurrently. Prosecutors had asked that the sentences be served consecutively.

Hansen also ordered Pastryk to pay a $250 fine for each count, undergo a psychological evaluation and any recommended treatment and prohibited him from owning animals in any capacity as defined under the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act. Evidence presented at trial showed McHenry County Animal Control found two dogs, Max and Eleven, inside a residence under Pastryk's control.

The dogs were found in darkness, standing in their own feces and urine, and were severely malnourished, with their ribs and spines visibly protruding, according to authorities.

Both dogs also had open sores, and one was actively bleeding when animal control officers discovered them, prosecutors said.

An expert veterinarian testified about the dogs' physical condition. Imaging showed there was no food in their digestive tracts, which prosecutors said established that the dogs had not eaten for at least 12 hours before they were found.

The investigation determined Pastryk had taken possession of Max and Eleven from his then-girlfriend with the understanding that he would care for them. Instead, investigators found the residence littered with garbage and animal feces, as well as other deceased animals inside the home, according to prosecutors.

"Awful, just awful," McHenry County State's Attorney Randi L. Freese said. "Leaving these dogs starving, injured, in the dark, and living in their own waste was cruel and unacceptable. We are grateful to McHenry County Animal Control for intervening and rescuing Max and Eleven from these deplorable conditions."

The State's Attorney's Office credited McHenry County Animal Control with investigating the case and rescuing the dogs. Assistant State's Attorneys Joseph Creagor and William Baker prosecuted the case.