OGLE COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) – An animal activist from Chicago awaits sentencing after being found guilty in a case involving repeated 911 calls to Ogle County deputies about a controversial rodeo event.
Jodie Wiederkehr, 56, was convicted of one felony count of disorderly conduct (false report) and one misdemeanor count of harassment by telephone. She was found not guilty of a second count of disorderly conduct.
Wiederkehr is the campaigns director for SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness or SHARK. The organization advocates against steer tailing, also known as coleadero. The practice often involves participants pulling bulls by the tail — sometimes to the point of ripping skin off the bone.
Wiederkehr and other advocates from SHARK say they’ve monitored the Rancho La Esperanza rodeo events held at 16989 E. Ritchie Road in Rochelle for years and argue the event violates Illinois’ Humane Care for Animals Act…