Malta woman charged with starving pets
By KATE SCHOTT kschott@daily-chronicle.com
SYCAMORE – A Malta woman has been charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals after police say she starved several pets.
Denise M. Lyle, 38, was arrested Saturday and charged with four counts of felony aggravated cruelty to an animal and five counts of misdemeanor cruel treatment of animals, according to court documents.
DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said his office was called the afternoon of May 1 by Lyle's estranged husband, who thought the animals at Denise Lyle's home on Gurler Road in Malta being neglected.
Deputies responding to the call found five cats and one dog who were being starved, Scott said. Officers also found a deceased cat, and the dog died within 24 hours of being found, Scott said.
Authorities later determined that the animals had not been fed since mid-April, according to Scott and court documents. There also had been no proper care of the animals' urine and feces, Scott said.
The residence had been the shared home of the Lyles but only Denise Lyle was living there at the time of the reported animal abuse, Scott said.
"It was primarily an investigation between us and animal control to verify facts and dates, as to when the animals were last cared for," Scott said. "We also had to review it with the state's attorney office."
Bail was set Monday at $4,000 for Lyle during a hearing at the DeKalb County Courthouse. She posted bond, was released from jail and is next due in court July 27.
