From the State’s Attorney:
McHENRY MAN RECEIVES JAIL SENTENCE FOR NEGLECT OF TWO MALNOURISHED DOGS FOUND LIVING IN FILTH
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on August 27, 2026, Jason Pastryk, 30, of McHenry, Illinois, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Justin M. Hansen to 18 months of reporting probation and 60 days in the McHenry County Jail, following his conviction for offenses arising from the neglect of two dogs,
Max and Eleven Pastryk was found guilty by a jury on June 23, 2026, on two counts of Animal Cruelty, Class A misdemeanors.
Pastryk was sentenced to 60 days in jail on each count, to be served concurrently.
The State had requested that the jail sentences be served consecutively.
Judge Hansen also ordered Pastryk to pay a $250 fine on each count, undergo a psychological evaluation and any recommended treatment, and prohibited him from owning animals in any capacity as defined by the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act.
Evidence presented at trial established that McHenry County Animal Control discovered Max and Eleven inside a McHenry residence under Pastryk’s control.
The dogs were found sitting in darkness and standing in their own feces and urine.
Both were severely malnourished, with their ribs and spines visibly protruding.
They also suffered from open sores, and one of the dogs was actively bleeding when discovered.
An expert veterinarian testified at trial regarding the dogs’ physical condition.
Imaging revealed no food in their digestive tracts, conclusively demonstrating that the dogs had not eaten for at least 12 hours before they were found.
The investigation further established that Pastryk had taken possession of Max and Eleven from his then-girlfriend with the understanding that he would care for them.
Instead, the residence where the dogs were kept was littered with garbage and animal feces.
Investigators also discovered other deceased animals inside the home.
“Awful, just awful,” State’s Attorney Freese said.
“Leaving these dogs starving, injured, in the dark, and living in their own waste was cruel and unacceptable.
“We are grateful to McHenry County Animal Control for intervening and rescuing Max and Eleven from these deplorable conditions.”
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office thanks McHenry County Animal Control for its investigation and dedication to protecting vulnerable animals in our community.
This case was successfully prosecuted at trial by Assistant State’s Attorneys Joseph Creagor and William Baker.
