Reform AWL Back Protesting At Animal Welfare League This Friday

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — Animal advocates will pick up their peaceful vigils in front of Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, which has been placed on “indefinite probation” for its euthanasia practices. Members of Reform AWL are planning a peaceful vigil Friday, April 26, in front of the animal shelter 10305 Southwest Highway in Chicago Ridge, starting at 6 p.m.

Reform AWL formed in January 2018, after photos of sick and bleeding animals were released exclusively on Patch. The grassroots animal advocacy group, comprised of animal lovers and former AWL employees banned from the building after criticizing the shelter’s alleged filthy conditions and euthanasia protocols will be staging their first protest in 2019. Reform AWL hopes to continue to apply public pressure on the animal shelter’s board of directors to improve conditions at the shelter.

Nikki Ornsby, one of the administrators of the Reform AWL Facebook group which has over 4,000 followers, said that supporters had planned to assemble in front of the animal shelter to mark the group’s one-year anniversary in January, but cancelled due to the polar vortex.

“We haven’t lost energy,” Ornsby said. “We’ve gained energy due to not having protests because we’ve been able to focus on the cases and bringing them to the attention of government agencies.”

Since the group formed, the animal shelter has fallen under investigation the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. AWL’s former long-time executive director and board president Linda Estrada was handed a cease and desist order last November by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation, who is alleged to have performed surgeries and administered drugs to shelter animals without a veterinary license. Estrada, who left Animal Welfare League in May 2018 amid mounting public pressure, denies the allegations.

THE IDFPR also placed AWL’s euthanasia licenses at its Chicago Ridge and Wabash locations on “indefinite probation for a minimum of five years” after finding several potential violations of the humane euthanisia act, including violations of the state and federal controlled substances act. State investigators also noted the aiding of "certified euthanasia technicians" as well as "unlicensed individuals in violating provisions of the humane euthanasia act."

“I think we’ve come really far 14 months later,” Ornsby said. “We’ve gotten great positive feedback on our end. We just hope this is the year we can bring justice to the animals that have passed away or are suffering behind those walls. Other people have tried, but they have never been able to get nearly as far. This is a huge accomplishment.”

Animal adoptions in the past year as well as donations are also said to have declined in the past year due to the unfavorable publicity. Animal Welfare League is an open shelter which claims to serve over 100 municipalities. Local police departments pay fees generated from taxpayer money to drop off lost or injured pets at the shelter. Pet owners allege the shelter makes it difficult to recover lost pets. Reform AWL is calling for a big turnout to Friday’s vigil to continue bringing attention to conditions and management at the shelter.

“We knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight,” Orsnby said. “We knew it would take a long time, but we’re hoping this is the year.”