$35K bond for Batavia woman charged with deaths of 3 dogs

Police in west suburban Batavia found two dead dogs among several animals in a van Thursday night, and a third dog died on the way to a veterinarian.

Julie A. Brungard-Giordano, 47, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony; and cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, according to Batavia police. On Friday, she was ordered held on a $35,000 bond, according to the Kane County sheriff’s office.

About 5:45 p.m., a Batavia officer found a locked van with several dogs that “appeared to be in distress” at a parking lot in the 100 block of North Island Avenue, police said.

When they were able to get in, officers found two of the dogs dead and six more suffering from extreme dehydration, police said.

Kane County Animal Control took the six dogs to an animal hospital in west suburban Aurora, but one of them died on the way, police said.

Brungard-Giordano was identified as the owner, police said. She lives a block north of where the van was parked.