The Batavia woman charged with multiple animal cruelty counts now faces the prospect of losing the dogs found living in a van with her.
Julie Brungard-Giordano, 47, was charged with four counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals on April 2 after police spotted a van parked in the 100 block of Island Avenue and noticed several pit bulls inside.
A Kane County Animal Control officer, according to court documents, arrived to find two of the dogs dead and the other six in various forms of distress. A third dog died during transport to a veterinary clinic, while the remaining five were treated and showed signs of improvement.
The report said that the dogs were living with a woman in the van.
Brungard-Giordano appeared in court Wednesday for a hearing during which Kane County Judge John Barsanti reduced her bail to $30,000. If she were to be released from jail, she is prohibited from contact with any domestic animals, including the surviving dogs.
Jail records indicated she remained in custody as of Thursday afternoon.
She was also served with paperwork indicating authorities will seek to seize the living pit bulls. A May 22 date has been scheduled for the forfeiture hearing, while Brungard-Giordano is set to return for a status hearing on May 6.
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Dan Campana is a freelance reporter