Pet Owners Trusted a Boarding Business Until Investigators Found Six Dead Dogs Inside
Guest Contributor
The affidavit filed in Madison County court describing conditions inside a Glen Carbon home paints a deeply troubling picture of alleged animal cruelty. At the center of the case is Trendy Tails and Training, which authorities say was operating as an unlicensed dog boarding business inside a residence on Glen Carbon Road. This Glen Carbon animal abuse case has drawn attention not only for the number of animals involved, but for the disturbing details contained in the legal documents.
According to the affidavit, the situation came to light on August 11, when a woman contacted the Glen Carbon Police Department. She reported that she had boarded her dog at Trendy Tails and Training for several months and was paying $100 a month to two of the women associated with the business for the boarding. When she tried to get her dog back, she was told that the animal had run away. Her concern grew when she retrieved her dog’s cage and other belongings from the home and found them in what she described as filthy condition, with loose fur from other dogs and signs of poor upkeep. That experience led her to fear for the welfare of any dogs still inside the residence.
The affidavit identifies three individuals connected to the home and the unlicensed business: Hannah Perry, Melanie Norem and Donna Perry. The woman who reported her missing dog told officers that these individuals were the “owners of the unlicensed business/resident of the house,” and that they had informed her the dog was gone. Her account, as outlined in the court filing, appears to have prompted a closer look by Glen Carbon police into what exactly was happening inside the house used by Trendy Tails and Training.
On August 20, officers went to the residence to check on conditions. The affidavit recounts that when they arrived, they encountered a strong smell of urine and feces. Inside, police observed feces lining the floor, a situation described as hoarding, and dogs that looked skinny and were reportedly covered in urine and feces. Multiple dogs were confined to crates. Donna Perry, who was present, did not allow officers into the basement at that time, telling them the basement was flooded.
Glen Carbon Police Department
The situation escalated the next day when officers obtained a search warrant for the property. On August 21, they returned with that warrant and entered the home more fully. The affidavit describes what they found as “gruesome and hazardous conditions, as well as extreme animal neglect.” I found this detail striking because it reflects an official characterization by law enforcement, rather than a casual description.
Inside the residence, officers discovered 18 living dogs. The affidavit states that all of the animals were in poor and unkempt condition. Specific problems reported included infections, signs of starvation, and fur matting. Many dogs were said to be living in cages stacked on top of one another throughout the home, with most of them located in the basement area. The affidavit further notes that these dogs had no food or water available and were living in their own urine and feces.
Glen Carbon Police Department
Along with the living animals, officers also found remains. According to the affidavit, six deceased dogs were discovered at the time of the initial search warrant execution. In some of the most disturbing allegations, the filing reports that some of the corpses were being kept inside cages with living dogs. During the search, the affidavit states that Donna Perry and Melanie Norem admitted that the dog whose owner had contacted police on August 11 was dead.
The investigation did not end with that search. On August 26, officers obtained and executed another search warrant, this time for a shed located on the property. There, the affidavit says that they discovered an additional deceased dog, which the document describes as “severely decayed.” This detail extends the timeline of alleged neglect and raises questions about how long the conditions may have persisted before anyone outside the home became aware.
Glen Carbon Police Department
As investigators worked to understand the scope of what had taken place, they also spoke with other individuals who had used Trendy Tails to care for their dogs. According to the affidavit, some pet owners reported that when their dogs were returned to them, the animals were in poor condition or had developed infections. These accounts, as summarized in the court filing, appear to support concerns about a broader pattern of neglect linked to the unlicensed operation, rather than an isolated incident.
Ultimately, all three women identified in the affidavit were taken into custody. The document states that they were arrested on August 31. Later, on September 24, a grand jury returned indictments against Hannah Perry, Donna Perry and Melanie Norem. Each of them faces eight Class 4 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and eight Class A misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. These felony animal cruelty charges suggest that prosecutors believe the alleged conduct reaches a serious level of harm.
The court process is still underway. According to the report, both Hannah Perry and Norem remain in custody while awaiting trial. Each has entered a plea of not guilty. Donna Perry, by contrast, was granted pretrial release, which allows her to remain out of custody while her case moves forward. Her next scheduled court date is noted as October 16. The public defender’s office has been contacted for comment on the case.
It is important to recognize the legal context around such allegations. As the article notes, these individuals have only been charged at this stage and are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Formal charges and affidavits set out the claims that prosecutors intend to prove, but the ultimate determination will be made through the judicial process. The reminder that not all charges may be reported also underscores that public accounts often present only part of a complex legal picture.
Cases like this Glen Carbon animal neglect investigation often resonate strongly with community members and animal advocates. The idea of trusting a pet to a boarding service or training facility and then learning of alleged mistreatment is deeply upsetting. At the same time, the legal process surrounding aggravated cruelty to animals is designed to test the evidence, ensure that defendants’ rights are protected, and, if wrongdoing is proven, provide a measure of accountability. As this case proceeds, many will likely follow developments to see how the facts presented in the affidavit are evaluated in court and what that might mean for future oversight of unlicensed animal care businesses.