Lockport woman gets probation for animal cruelty
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com November 15, 2012 5:38PM
Updated: December 19, 2012 12:52PM
A woman accused of mistreating a brood of pit bulls — dogs that were so badly neglected most of them had to be put down — pleaded guilty Thursday in a deal struck by her lawyer and prosecutors.
Amber Norris, 21, of Lockport, will spend two years on probation in exchange for her guilty plea to six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Norris was at the house at 119 S. Briggs St. in August when Joliet drug officers searched it.
Besides seizing ammunition, drug packaging material and a digital scale there, police found a basement full of sick or dying pit bulls.
The dogs were being kept in cages stacked on top of each other. One dog was found in the kitchen, one was tied to a deck and another was tied to a tree.
Many of the animals could not walk, appeared underfed and had open sores, cuts and bites.
The animals were apparently being trained for fighting, prosecutors said.
Norris was arrested on 11 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after she told officers she had some responsibility for the dogs. But prosecutors said she was not the primary person responsible for the animals, and authorities are still looking for that person.
As part of her plea agreement, Norris was ordered not to have any pets.
