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<\/a><\/p>\n(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n GENEVA,\u00a0 Illinois\u2013\u2013<\/strong>\u201cApril 19,\u00a0 2025 was a nightmare for animals in Ogle County,\u00a0 Illinois,\u201d\u00a0 Showing Animals Respect & Kindness campaign director Jodie Wiederkehr wrote a week later to Illinois governor and would-be 2028 Democratic Party presidential nominee Jay Robert \u201cJ.B.\u201d Pritzker.<\/p>\n The Showing Animals Respect & Kindness team,\u00a0 investigating a steer-tailing contest in Rochelle,\u00a0 Ogle County,\u00a0 \u201cwitnessed two steers and a horse have their legs broken and multiple other crimes against animals,\u201d\u00a0 Wiederkehr recounted.<\/p>\n Steer tailing.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cOne steer supposedly was slaughtered and eaten, \u00a0which is also illegal,\u201d \u00a0Wiederkehr said, \u00a0if the killing was done outside of either a state or federally inspected slaughterhouse and the meat was sold.<\/p>\n The real nightmare for animals in Ogle County,\u00a0 however,\u00a0 and every other Illinois county where steer-tailing competitions are held,\u00a0 was the April 24,\u00a0 2025 response of Department of State Police master sergeant Travis Irwin.<\/p>\n Irwin recited an allegation from Ogle County sheriff Brian VanVickle that \u201cNo one from your non-profit has come forward to file a complaint,\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 and \u201cbrought up concerns previously acknowledged by the assistant Boone County state\u2019s attorney\u201d Karla Maville \u201cregarding identifying suspects in drone footage videos of Hispanic males on horses, \u00a0wearing large cowboy hats at populated rodeos.\u201d<\/p>\n Karla M. Maville,\u00a0 Boone County state\u2019s attorney.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This would actually be not difficult at all if an animal control officer or any other member of law enforcement was present at any steer-tailing competition to immediately apprehend and identify participants flogging horses,\u00a0 stripping the hair and flesh from steer\u2019s tails [\u201cdegloving\u201d],\u00a0 failing to attend to grievously injured steers and horses,\u00a0 and repeatedly running less seriously injured steers through the chutes to be chased by mounted riders and thrown down by their tails as many as ten to 20 times in a single hot afternoon.<\/p>\n Concluded Irwin,\u00a0 after having been thoroughly briefed by both Wiederkehr and Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi about four years\u2019 worth of alleged derelictions of duty to investigate by the Ogle County,\u00a0 Boone County,\u00a0 and other Illinois county sheriff\u2019s departments,\u00a0 animal control agencies,\u00a0 and state\u2019s attorneys,\u00a0 \u201cThis is not currently a matter for the Illinois State Police Special Investigations Unit.\u201d<\/p>\n But if alleged dereliction of duty by Illinois law enforcement agencies is \u201cnot currently a matter for the Illinois State Police Special Investigations Unit,\u201d\u00a0 whose responsibility to investigate is it?<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe first steer\u2019s leg was broken around 2:05 p.m., \u00a0and the second steer\u2019s leg was broken around 2:50 p.m.,\u201d detailed Wiederkehr.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t witness any veterinary care given to these animals, nor was there any conveyance for them. \u00a0Not only is this a breach of basic humane treatment or common decency, \u00a0the lack of a conveyance for this kind of injury is a violation of the rules of the Federation of Mexican Charreria,\u00a0 as well as any other rodeo-related association I can think of, \u00a0including but not limited to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,\u00a0 the Women\u2019s Professional Rodeo Association, \u00a0the International Pro Rodeo Association, \u00a0the Professional Bull Riders, \u00a0the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, \u00a0and the National High School Rodeo Association.<\/p>\n \u201cThe injured steers were forced to hobble up a ramp, \u00a0back into the transport trailer they arrived on.<\/p>\n Jodie Wiederkehr and dog Maggie.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cOur video evidence,\u201d\u00a0 Wiederkehr added, \u00a0\u201cshows that the horse,\u201d\u00a0 after suffering the broken leg, \u00a0\u201cwas put on a trailer without proper support or restraint. \u00a0There were Iowa license plates on both the trailer and the tow vehicle. \u00a0If this horse was in fact hauled all the way back to Iowa with such a grievous injury, \u00a0an already ugly story gets much worse.\u201d<\/p>\n A day later,\u00a0 Wiederkehr updated,\u00a0 \u201cDocuments obtained in response to a Freedom of Information Act request,\u00a0 for Ogle County records pertaining to the April 19,\u00a0 2025 steer-tailing competition, \u00a0\u201cindicate that a veterinarian named Nickolas Huerta was on site.<\/p>\n \u201cA veterinary technician named Nickolas Huerta, \u00a0who works at Round Lake Animal Hospital, was the individual incorrectly reported to be a veterinarian.\u00a0 A vet tech is not a veterinarian.\u00a0 Huerta confirmed he was at the Rochelle steer-tailing event, \u00a0and that he is a veterinary technician, \u00a0not a veterinarian.\u00a0 He also stated unequivocally that he did not treat or euthanize any animals, \u00a0and was unaware of any actual veterinarian on site,\u201d\u00a0 as required by Illinois law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe individual providing information about the supposed veterinarian is a woman named Aracely Meza,\u201d \u00a0who apparently lives at the location where the Ogle County steer-tailing event was held.<\/p>\n Cheyenne Zobal. (SHARK photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Showing Animals Respect & Kindness was told that Ogle County Animal Control officer Cheyenne Zobal was \u201cwatching out for the animals at the event,\u201d\u00a0 but,\u00a0 said Wiederkehr,\u00a0 \u201cwe will be posting video\u00a0documentation showing Ms. Zobal spending a great deal of time in her vehicle,\u201d\u00a0 also \u201chelping to direct traffic for the event.\u201d<\/p>\n Most significantly,\u00a0 Wiederkehr observed that,\u00a0 \u201cThere is absolutely nothing,\u201d\u00a0 in the seven pages of documentation received from Ogle County,\u00a0 \u201cabout a second steer and a horse who had their legs shattered, \u00a0nor mention of three steers degloved, \u00a0or other steers having head injuries or being lamed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing about the lack of a conveyance, \u00a0and how all the animals with broken legs were forced to move under their own power into the transport trailers.\u00a0 There is nothing about the mortally injured horse who was transported without proper support or restraints,\u201d\u00a0 apparently to Polk County, \u00a0Iowa, \u00a0\u201cwhich is some 250+ miles from Rochelle,\u201d\u00a0 Wiederkehr noted.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi made his own attempt on April 24,\u00a0 2025 to enlighten Illinois Department of State Police master sergeant Travis Irwin.<\/p>\n \u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a single cruelty citation in Ogle County despite the extensive violations of state humane laws at every one of the at least fourteen events we\u2019ve documented at the Ritchie Road property since 2022,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi began.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know why Sheriff Brian VanVickle has claimed that \u2018no one from your non-profit has come forward to file a complaint.\u2019 \u00a0My associate Mike Kobliska and I have been to his office in Oregon, Illinois, \u00a0where we personally turned video files over to Detective Chad Gallic. \u00a0If you wish, I can supply the numerous emails I exchanged with Detective Gallic.<\/p>\n Watheq Bannosha. (Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBeyond physically going to the office and handing over evidence, \u00a0we made numerous follow-up phone calls that went nowhere. \u00a0At one point we were told the evidence was in the hands of state\u2019s attorney Mike Rock, so we tried contacting his office. \u00a0When we spoke with state\u2019s sttorney Mike Rock personally at a county board meeting, \u00a0he told us that the sheriff\u2019s office hadn\u2019t given him evidence \u2018the right way,\u2019 \u00a0whatever that was supposed to mean. \u00a0He couldn\u2019t seem to give us any more detail.\u201d<\/p>\n After the Showing Animals Respect & Kindness campaign against steer-tailing contest cruelty gained some local media notice,\u00a0 Hindi continued,\u00a0 \u201cFor a brief period, \u00a0an animal control officer named Watheq Bannosha was assigned to the steer-tailing events.\u00a0 During that time we saw some marginal improvements as Bannosha pulled animals who were unfit, \u00a0injured, \u00a0etc.<\/p>\n \u201cBannosha\u2019s presence had the effect of putting the tailers on notice generally,\u00a0 because he made at least a minimal effort.<\/p>\n \u201cI acknowledged the improvements to the county, \u00a0but the next thing I knew,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi said, \u00a0\u201cBannosha was gone. \u00a0I spoke to him after he quit, \u00a0or was fired, \u00a0depending on who you talk to. \u00a0He did not have kind words for the county.<\/p>\n Ogle County dog warden Shane Box.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cI tried to keep Ogle County on track with \u00a0oversight of the rodeo,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi alleged,\u00a0 \u201conly to receive a text message from chief dog warden Shane Box that he was ordered to not send anyone to the rodeo. \u00a0With any semblance of oversight halted, \u00a0conditions at the steer tailing events devolved back to the previous deplorable state.\u201d<\/p>\n Concluded Hindi,\u00a0 \u201cWe have now entered a fourth year of illegal animal abuse being ignored in Ogle County.\u00a0 Ogle is the only county,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi mentioned, \u00a0\u201cwhere not even a single citation has been written over illegal cruelty. \u00a0Four citations were written a week ago in Boone County,\u201d\u00a0 where Showing Animals Respect & Kindness has done the most drone video investigations and made the most appearances before the county board of supervisors, \u00a0\u201cand what happened there wasn\u2019t half as bad as what happened in Ogle.<\/p>\n Hindi welcomed the four Class A cruelty citations issued in Boone County to steer-tailing contest host Jose Robles as,\u00a0 \u201cA positive step for as far as it goes. \u00a0It would have been far better if citations had been issued after the August 27, \u00a02022 event at the same location, \u00a0when our efforts began,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi said.\u00a0 \u201cSo much cruelty could have been avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n Steer\u2019s tail degloved.<\/strong><\/em> Hindi extended \u201cCredit to Boone County Sheriff Scott W. Yunk for making an effort to turn his county in the right direction.<\/p>\n \u201cThe statute of limitations for citing animal cruelty violations is two years,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi noted.\u00a0 \u201cThe most recent cases have to be dealt with first.\u00a0 Then there has to be a look back to properly clean things up and let it be known there will be no more tolerance for criminal animal abuse.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state\u2019s attorney\u2019s office will also have to do its part if Boone County is to be cleaned up. Given what we\u2019ve seen over the past three years, that\u2019s a mighty big \u2018if,\u2019\u00a0 Hindi added.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is deeply frustrating that we\u2019re still fighting the same battles in the same places year after year,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi told ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, we are starting to see some progress\u2014these events are happening less frequently, \u00a0and some counties are beginning to take action.<\/p>\n Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cNow, \u00a0we need the state to step up. \u00a0These events are not limited to just a few areas\u2014they\u2019re happening across the state and the country. \u00a0But until we can fully address the issues in the current locations, \u00a0we can\u2019t take on more.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will keep advocating for the animals affected by these events,\u201d\u00a0 Hindi pledged.\u00a0 \u201cCountless animals have already suffered, \u00a0and many more will continue to be injured or killed until these events are permanently shut down.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will keep doing our part, \u00a0but it is time for counties and the state to fulfill their responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Under Illinois governor Jay Robert \u201cJ.B.\u201d Pritzker,\u00a0 the Illinois Department of Agriculture has been conspicuously lax about enforcing the first clause of the state animal protection law,\u00a0 510 ILCS 70,\u00a0 stating \u201cNo person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any\u00a0animal,\u201d\u00a0 having taken no action whatever at the state level against steer-tailing.<\/p>\nShowing Animals Respect & Kindness puts Pritzker administration on notice to stop the cruelty & apparent corruption<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nIllegal slaughter<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLaws could be enforced if the law was present<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nBroken legs<\/h2>\n
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(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nNo veterinarian<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAnimal control officer directed traffic<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cNot a single citation\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cNumerous follow-up phone calls\u201d<\/h2>\n
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(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nShane Box<\/h2>\n
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(Showing Animals Respect & Kindness photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u201cStatute of limitations is two years\u201d<\/h2>\n
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(Wikipedia photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe need the state to step up\u201d<\/h2>\n