Barn on Baseline director faces animal neglect charges

SYCAMORE – A months-long investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and state authorities has led to animal neglect charges against the executive director of a Genoa animal shelter.

The executive director turned herself in Friday at the DeKalb County Jail on animal neglect charges.

Roberta R. Shoaf, 66, of the 700 block of Carlson Street, Sycamore, is charged with failure to provide veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering. The charge is punishable by a fine of up to $1,500 and up to six months in jail, or by court supervision.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said the charges came after the Illinois Department of Agriculture found that Barn on Baseline, 16173 Baseline Road, violated the Animal Welfare Act last month.

“After the state’s attorney and sheriff’s office reviewed the Department of Agriculture report, that determined probable cause to file the misdemeanor charges,” Scott said.

Scott said his office received an animal neglect complaint about the shelter in June and another in December. The sheriff’s office filed two criminal complaints against Shoaf. She posted $100 bond at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.

She declined to comment when reached afterward.

The Barn on Baseline was fined $500 by the state for the violation and the money was paid by the shelter Nov. 19, closing the case involving Bert, a chihuahua found to have been neglected at the animal shelter.

Drew Alexander of Sycamore filed a complaint about the conditions at the animal shelter after his girlfriend, Katy Schertz of Sycamore, adopted Bert on June 15 from Barn on Baseline. Documents from the Department of Agriculture said the shelter violated state law by not disclosing previous adoption information for Bert at the time Schertz adopted him.

The chihuahua had been adopted by another family May 23, but was returned June 1 because it ended up not being a good match, Shoaf had said in May. The state department documents said the dog was returned because he refused to eat.

Agriculture Department investigators also noted in a report after visiting Barn on Baseline that a couple of bulldogs at the facility appeared undernourished.

“The respondent was aware that ‘Bert’ and the two bulldogs were underweight,” the documents said, citing the Animal Welfare Act. “However, there is no record that these dogs were provided with veterinary care to address this issue prior to the complaint.”