Accused Dog Thrower To Remain in Jail After Judge Denies Bail on Probation Violation

BRIDGEVIEW, IL -- An Oak Lawn man accused of horrific acts of animal cruelty will remain in Cook County Jail for the time being. Edward Hanania, 22, wearing a puffy jacket and sweatshirt over a tan jail uniform, appeared in court Thursday morning for a violation of probation hearing. Hanania is being held on a no-bond warrant for violating probation on an unrelated drug charge, in addition to $350,000 bail set earlier this week on the animal cruelty charges.

A court probation officer read the most recent charges against Hanania — two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty — to Judge Colleen Hyland. The judge sentenced Hanania to 24 months’ probation in March after he pleaded guilty to selling heroin and cocaine to a confidential police source last year. Hanania was arrested earlier this week after Oak Lawn police said he dropped two toy poodles from the fifth floor of a hospital parking garage last weekend. One of the dogs died from the fall, the other survived and has undergone surgery to repair a broken leg.

Judge Hyland set a hearing date of June 23 for the probation violation. Hanania’s attorney, Charles Ingles, asked the judge if she would consider bail for the probation violation.

“Not at this time,” the judge said.

Ingles asked for permission to give Hanania his prescription medications.

“His family brought them. The prescriptions have his name on them,” the attorney said.

“I can do a health care order and he can be examined at Cermak,” Judge Hyland said, referring to the jail hospital. “The jail has a procedure in place. They can’t accept medications from family members.”

Ingles explained that Hanania has a prescription for suboxone, which is used to treat opiate dependency, and uses two inhalers for asthma. The attorney also asked if he could give Hanania his eyeglasses.

“I can fill out a health care order if you believe his asthma is not being treated,” Judge Hyland said.

Hanania’s attorney said earlier this week that his client denied throwing the dogs off the parking garage and has implicated another person, reports said.

Animal rights activists and dog lovers are also circulating an online petition asking that Hanania, if the allegations against him are true, be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The petition, available on Care2 Petitions, set a goal of 50,000 supporters. By Thursday morning, 48,520 people signed the petition that supporters hope to submit to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Hanania is due back in court June 19 on the animal cruelty charges before Judge Donald Havis in Bridgeview. Bail on the animal cruelty charges was set at $350,000, with 10 percent to apply. Hanania cannot be released on bond until the alleged probation violation is resolved on June 23 before Judge Hyland.

The dog owners' family has also set up an online fundraiser cover the surviving poodle's medical costs.