Joliet Woman Arrested for Aggravated Animal Cruelty Over Emaciated Dog

Krystal L. Dean, a 39-year-old woman from Joliet, was arrested on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and violation of owner duties after police found her dog, Luna, severely emaciated and confined in a backyard cage with a chain collar embedded in her neck causing an open wound infested with larvae and flies. Dean admitted to knowing about the embedded collar for approximately two weeks and claimed to have taken Luna to a veterinarian, but she could not provide any documentation. Luna, a black and tan female Rottweiler mix, was kept strictly outdoors due to a broken leash, with no food or water observed within her reach. The Joliet Police Animal Crimes Team and Joliet Township Animal Control took custody of Luna, who is receiving veterinary care and is expected to fully recover. Dean signed over ownership of Luna before being processed and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility without incident. This case highlights serious animal neglect and has resulted in felony charges against Dean under the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act.