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Buyer Finds 'Little House Of Horrors' -- Abused Animals, Human Squatter -- In Coach House

(CBS) -- Imagine closing on a real estate deal only to find more than 70 animals and a squatter living in the coach house.

That's what happened to one woman in the south suburb of Steger.

CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.

Even animal rescuers say it's one of the worst things they've ever seen.

Twenty-eight dogs were found neglected and abused and were transported to a rescue facility in nearby Beecher. Also found living in filth were cats, birds and chickens -- more than 70 animals in all.

Pam Pinnow snapped up the foreclosed property in Steger and thought she had hit the jackpot. Instead, it was her worst nightmare.

Expecting to find a nice apartment in back, she found instead what she calls a "little house of horrors."

Pictures taken inside show animals piled up in a room, with windows bolted. Feces were all over the kitchen and bathroom. Even worse, a man was living amidst it all.

"I was looking at the puppies, trying to see if they were dead or alive and he just came walking through the door," Pinnow says.

She says she will tear down the carriage house.

Steger police could not be reached. The squatter was given 30 days to remove his belongings from the property.

The animals are being cared for at Settlers Pond in Beecher. Many will be available for adoption soon.

 

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