A hangar at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport has turned into a makeshift animal shelter after more than 300 animals were rescued from a Rochelle home.

The TAILS Humane Society received word from the Lee County Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health about the animals and have since created the temporary shelter.

TAILS executive director Beth Drake, said the animals will remain in the hangar until TAILS is able to obtain custody of the animals from Rochelle resident Barbara Munroe, the current owner of the animals.

Munroe was arrested and charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and two counts of neglect of a companion animal and is being held on $35,000 bond.

Volunteers from all over DeKalb and even the Chicagoland area have made time to help walk, clean and feed the dogs.

“I’m here just for the animals,” said Jenny Shallow, a veterinarian technician who drove from Schaumburg to help. “It’s pretty amazing what’s going on.”

Local PetSmart and PETCO retail stores have both donated time and resources to help the situation.

There were 106 dogs and 157 cats on the property, which has more than doubled the number of animals that TAILS is taking care of.

“I just want to do my part,” said Hampshire resident Laura Stadie. “I love these animals and I’ll do what I can [to help them].”

There is no word on whether TAILS is able to accept responsibility for the animals as the decision is still pending in the Illinois state’s attorney office.

“This has been a huge financial drain on us,” Drake said. “The most important thing we need now is money.”

The money will go to funding the health needs of the animals and making sure they get the treatment that they need to survive. When the animals came into the hands of the TAILS organization, they were not properly cared for.

Donations and volunteers are welcomed. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can either go to the airport or contact TAILS at 815-758-2457 or on the TAILS Web site at www.tailshumanesociety.org.

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