Owner Of Dog Training Facility Charged With Animal Cruelty

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The owner of an animal boarding and training facility in Bull Valley faces a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty after officials found and removed seven dogs and two cats from his property, citing violations of caregiver duties, authorities said. Ryan M. Thomas, 37, was taken into custody in the 9200 block of Country Club Road in Woodstock on Dec. 10.

Thomas owns Practical K-9, which has an address listed online as 1316 S. Fleming Road in Woodstock, according to his LinkedIn profile. Following the animal cruelty investigation, all animals that were staying at the facility were evaluated by a veterinarian and returned to their owners, according to a statement from the McHenry County Department of Health.

Several pet owners who'd boarded their dogs at Practical K-9 took to Facebook following the announcement of Thomas's arrest Friday to share their personal stories. Several wrote that their pets had been starved and abused while in Thomas's care.

Thomas, they said, told them the dogs wouldn't eat when they returned to find their pets looking malnourished.

"You could see her ribs and her hip bones," one pet owner wrote on the McHenry County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. The pet's owners took the pup to her veterinarian who said her kidney levels were not right.

"Thank God she is OK," the woman wrote. "I can't believe we trusted this guy with our baby."

Another woman wrote that her German Shepherd puppy died of kidney failure two weeks after training with Thomas.

Authorities did not share details regarding the official allegations, which lead to the charge of animal cruelty. Under the Humane Care for Animal Act and the McHenry County Public Health Ordinance, animal owners and caregivers are required to provide a sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome, food and water; adequate shelter and protection from the weather; veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering; and humane care and treatment.

Under that act, authorities received authorization to seize the seven dogs and two cats from Thomas' boarding and training facility, according to health department officials.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture enforces regulations concerning animal welfare and oversees animal facility licensing, according to the health department.