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Prosecutors may strike deal in shelter case

Lake County prosecutors indicated Friday they are willing to strike a plea deal in the case against a Kildeer woman after the discovery of dozens of dead dogs at her Deer Park animal shelter.

Assistant Lake County state’s attorneys Michael Mermel and Suzanne Willet met behind closed doors Friday with Circuit Judge James Booras and John Curnyn, the attorney for Diane Eldrup.

Eldrup, 48, is charged with multiple counts of animal torture and aggravated cruelty to animals based on her operation of the former Muddy Paws Dog Rescue on North Rand Road.

Police arrested her Dec. 17 after finding dozens of dead dogs, three birds and an opossum at the kennel who are believed to have starved in filth encrusted cages stacked in the facility and an attached residence.

Officials later declared the property uninhabitable because of the contamination caused by tons of animal feces. The buildings were torn down last month.

After meeting with the attorneys for more than 30 minutes Friday, Booras returned to court and told Eldrup prosecutors would be willing to let her plead guilty to the 16 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals in exchange for the dismissal of the 16 counts of animal torture.

The arrangement would subject Eldrup to a maximum penalty of three years in prison, as opposed to the five-year maximum for animal torture, Mermel said later.

Both felonies also are punishable by probation and time in the county jail. Booras said he believed “all sentencing options would be on the table” if Eldrup pleads guilty.

Curnyn told Booras he needs time to confer with his client about the proposal and the case was set over to Sept. 2 for trial. Eldrup remains free on the $25,000 bond.

More dead dogs found at Deer Park shelter

Muddy Paws Dog Rescue in Deer Park demolished

Diane Eldrup