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Shelter To Inspect Potential Foster Homes Before Giving Out Rescued Dogs

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A southwest suburban animal shelter was planning to take extra steps to make sure dogs rescued from the Dolton Animal Hospital on Sunday go to good homes.

WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports many people have called the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge since Sunday, hoping to adopt one of the eight dogs taken there from the Dolton Animal Hospital.

Welfare League president Linda Estrada said the dogs likely will be ready for adoption in two to four weeks. Estrada said two 10-month-old pit bull puppies should be ready for adoption in a couple weeks. Six other dogs might be healthy enough in a month.

Estrada said the eight dogs went through hell at the Dolton Animal Hospital, and she wants to make sure it doesn't happen again, so her group will check out any home where the dogs might end up being placed.

"We have humane investigators here that are licensed through the state, and they go to the people's house and back yard, and make sure that everything's secure, and nothing's fishy," she said.

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She said she feels bad her organization couldn't save the four dogs found dead at the hospital, because the league picked up two stray dogs there a couple weeks ago.

"Those dogs had to have been alive. That's what bothers me. It's like, if you couldn't take care of them, say 'Hey, I've got some others. Can you take them?'" she said.

Estrada said the league will conduct home visits with any potential foster families before any of the eight rescued dogs are given up for adoption, to make sure the dogs will be treated for love.

"We're going to do a house check, because we want to make sure that these poor dogs never go through hell again," she said.

Even if you can't get one of the eight dogs rescued in Dolton, Estrada said the league has 14 other animals waiting for adoption.

The veterinarian and the manager of the Dolton Animal Hospital have been charged with more than a dozen misdemeanor charges, including animal cruelty.

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