Joliet Woman Faces 12 Animal Cruelty Charges

JOLIET, IL - A criminal complaint was filed on Friday against Shante L. Harris charging the 23-year-old Joliet resident with a dozen misdemeanor criminal offenses for mistreating her pets. Three charges accuse Harris, who lives in the 200 block of Joliet's Sherman Street, with cruelty to animals. The nine additional charges accuse Harris of violating her duties as an animal owner. The case was investigated by the Joliet Police Department. The alleged crimes occurred on Jan. 8.

According to the complaint on file at the Will County Courthouse, Harris is accused of leaving her mixed breed dog abandoned "in a manner where it suffered hunger or exposure on or about Jan. 8." The criminal complaint identifies two cats by name, Rocky and Bubbles, as being neglected by Harris as well.

Regarding the dog, Harris is accused of "knowingly (having) failed to provide for said animal a sufficient quantity of good quality wholesome food and water," the complaint states.

Regarding all three animals mentioned in the complaint, Harris is charged with failing to provide these pets with proper animal veterinary care "when needed to prevent suffering."

The complaint on file did not specify whether Harris' pets have been removed from her care.

A court summons was issued against Harris, notifying the defendant she is to appear in Courtroom 303 at the Will County Courthouse on Feb. 20 to answer to the charges. Court records indicate the twelve criminal charges are her first violations as a pet owner.

File image of dog via Joliet Patch