Caption: (Top to bottom) Dolton dogs recovering at Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. (Across) Dogs found Sunday by police lying on urine soaked paper, and feces encrusted cage at the Dolton Animal Hospital. (Large photo) Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Animal Welfare League President Linda Estrada address the news media on Tuesday about the gruesome discovery at the Dolton Animal Hospital. | Photos by Lorraine Swanson and Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Holding a puppy in his arms that was found at a maggot-infested, south suburban animal hospital over the weekend, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced charges against the veterinarian and manager purported to be connected to the facility. Dr. Amardeep Sangha, 54, of Naperville, and an animal hospital employee, Sharon Cargile, 59, of Chicago, were each charged with five counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and and eight misdemeanor counts of violations of owner's duties.

Sangha was arrested Tuesday afternoon at Sheriff's Police headquarters in Maywood. Cargile was taken into custody Sunday at the Dolton Animal Hospital, where the gruesome discovery was made, Dart said. A Dolton police officer dropping off a stray dog on Sunday where the municipality had a contract with the Dolton Animal Hospital at 15022 Lincoln Avenue, to take in the village's lost and stray pets, when he noticed something not quite right.

"The officer had a key and let himself in the basement, where police are able to access anytime to leave a dog there," Dart announced at during a press conference outside the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. "That's when the officer saw one of the dead [dogs] and that's when they called us." Four dogs were found dead in their cages covered with maggots. Another dog was found dead in a plastic bag, and twelve more were discovered in a freezer, Dart said.

The sheriff added that it wasn't unusual for euthanized animals to be placed in a freezer until they could be taken elsewhere.

Also found were nine live dogs lying in feces and urine inside their cages, most all of them anemic and suffering from some degree of malnourishment. A kitten was recovered at the facility that has since died.

Dart said that necropsies were presently being performed on the four deceased dogs and additional charges may be forthcoming against the veterinarian and his employee. "I can't understand the dynamics here at all," Dart said. "We've had cases like this but this was outside any norm we've encountered."