1 Man, 2 Dead Dogs: Community Calls for Shutdown of Chicago Group

Photo: Tyler (left), and Gia (right) :

WICKER PARK, IL —Members of Chicago's animal rescue community are calling for a Wicker Park-based group to be shut down, following the gruesome death of a second dog in its care.

Furever Rescue, 1321 N. Wood St., is the target of more criticism after a man this week was charged with animal cruelty, as prosecutors claim he killed co-founder Natalie Sopart's dog. Fabian Perez, 30, in March also reported having visually impaired pit bull/Great Dane mix Tyler stolen from him during a robbery while in transit from a potential home to Sopart's home. Tyler turned up dead by blunt force trauma a day later.

"Welcome to Chicago, bitch," the gunmen reportedly told Perez during the robbery, Sopart told Patch. Something sounded awry about the account, many claimed, and accusations started flying at the rescue, calling into question the circumstances behind Tyler's death.

Sopart stood by the story, and also provided Patch with an email from Chicago Police Detective Robert Vahl.

"I realize that there has been a tremendous amount of negativity directed toward you and your organization via social media but I want to assure you and those detractors that there is no evidence suggesting any wrongdoing," Vahl wrote in the email.

But now Perez faces charges he allegedly kicked Sopart's dog Gia multiple times, then threw the dog down a flight of 15 stairs, ultimately leaving her body for Sopart to find. He denied the crime at first, but later confessed and apologized to Sopart via text message, reports DNAinfo.

Established just two years ago, Furever Rescue is a volunteer-run non-profit organization that runs on private donations and its own fundraising efforts. The group facilitates adoptions for rescue dogs, charging a $350 fee for animals age 3 and younger and $300 for dogs 4 and older. Furever Rescue has been accused of misallocating funds raised for the dogs' medical care and poor communication with dogs' foster families.

Critics had previously been alarmed by Perez's involvement with the dogs, noting prior convictions for retail theft, battery, criminal damage to property and driving on a suspended or revoked license. Leaving the dogs in his care put them in jeopardy, Deena Traina, Animal Rescue Coordinator for the city of Aurora told DNAinfo.

Traina previously worked with Furever Rescue, and called their practices questionable, noting cases where they have allegedly abandoned dogs during the foster and adoption process.

The rescue was under investigation by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, which concluded it was in full compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. Still, concerned community members aren't buying it.

"How can you call yourself a rescue if you abandon dogs left and right?" Traina told DNAinfo.

Perez, of the 2300 block of North Latrobe Avenue, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and animal cruelty.