Accused Says ‘That is Not Me’ During Animal Torture Trial Testimony

A tearful Diane Eldrup took the stand this afternoon in her own defense against charges of animal torture and animal cruelty at a Lake County Circuit Court trial.

Eldrup, in a soft voice with a British accent, told the court her side of the story. Eldrup broke into tears several times during questioning with defense attorney John Curnyn and Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel.

“I shut down," Eldrup said at one point during cross-examination. "That is not me. That is not me.”

Eldrup testified that she was feeding the dogs once or twice a day during the fall of 2010. She said the dogs were losing weight and she experimented with switching their food and sought professional advice.

“It was a roller coaster; the dogs were losing weight. I talked to professionals. I talked to nutritionists,” Eldrup said.

Eldrup said her home/business, Muddy Paws, was in foreclosure and she was in the process of moving out.

She told the jury that she felt she wasn’t heard when she asked for help regarding the dogs weigh loss and dying.

“”People would see the dogs and say it wasn’t a big deal. It was a big deal,” Eldrup said as she broke into tears.

Curnyn asked if she noticed some dogs were deceased and if she did anything with those dogs.

“I didn’t do anything. I shut down emotionally,” she answered.

Under cross-examination, Mermel asked Eldrup why she told Randle the dogs were gone. “That was a lie, right?” asked Mermel. Eldrup agreed she lied and said was afraid and wasn’t thinking clearly.

“So some undefined fear was more important than getting the dogs rescued and food?” Mermel asked.

Mermel proceeded to show Eldrup photos of all the dogs who died, asking her the names of the dogs, where she got them and when they died.  She did not know the names of many of the dogs; she told the court she did not know when they died.

Mermel asked if she noticed the dogs were dead as she testified that she went every day to feed them.

“Everyday I would look for eyes. If I didn’t see eyes, I would walk right through. I couldn’t handle it. I just shut it out,” she said. 

Eldrup also told Mermel that she put two dead dogs in a cage together so they wouldn’t be alone. Mermel pointed out that she had previously testified that she didn’t do anything with the dog.

t The remains of the dog were fond outside the living area of the facility.

“She had a seizure. I held her in my arms,” Eldrup said.

For more on the Muddy Paws trial, read:

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• The Dogs Ruined Her Marriage: Witness Recalls Words of Accused.
• Vets Testify: Muddy Paws Dogs Starved to Death