May 29, 2014 DeKalb police seek pit bull that attacked woman

UPDATE: Dog owner in DeKalb bite incident comes forward.  He may have come forward after being discovered trying to ditch his mauling pit bull on craigslist.
May 20, 2014
DeKalb - DeKalb residents lobbied the city for 5 years to have a dog park, and just 6 months after it opened, a pit bull attacked a woman so severely that she required reconstructive surgery on her arm and a 3 day hospital stay.  The pit bull owners just walked away.  The victim and her significant other don't blame pit bulls, but they intend to stay away from the park for a while.

DeKalb police are searching for the pit bull and owners and are asking for the public's help to find the them because the victim will have to undergo rabies shots if the pit bull can't be found.  And because it is important that the dog be found, no one is playing the "no one can identify a pit bull" game or pretending that it might be just any ol' 90 to 120 pound grey mutt with a white chest and silver choke collar.

There are plenty of other people with grey pit bulls frequenting the park and they are upset that they are being scrutinized as possible suspects.

How to help
People believe the pit bull's name is Buddha and the people with the pit bull were three men in their twenties.  Two men were white and one was indian or hispanic.

Anyone with information about the pit bull or its owners is asked to call DeKalb Police Department's nonemergency number at 815-748-8400. They can also leave an anonymous tip with DeKalb County Crime Stoppers at 815-895-3272.

On January 15, 2014, The Northern Star news outlet ran a story about the dog park being non-descriminatory.   DeKalb resident AJ Edwards, who owns a miniature pinscher, said, "My favorite part of DeKalb having a dog park is there are no restrictions that ban certain dog breeds — like Doberman pinschers, pit bulls and the like — due to them being labeled as “aggressive.” This is a wonderful rule and I commend the city of DeKalb for being open to all breeds.

The dog park’s regulation sign states that, “No dogs known to be aggressive toward other dogs or people may enter the area,” and that owners are responsible for keeping an eye out on their dogs.

“I’m excited that I can take my pit bull somewhere with other dogs knowing that there is not a bias toward the breed I have,” said senior sociology major Cameron Stingily. “They sometimes have size and breed restrictions, but they don’t here so I’m happy.”
Read more:
Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle
Katz Dog Park in DeKalb facebook page
Northern Star

Related links:
Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets

Nov 16, 1988 Pit Bull Restrictions Weighed In De Kalb

De Kalb Proposal Follows Fatal Mauling Of Student

De Kalb - The City of De Kalb may restrict ownership of pit bull terriers after last week`s fatal mauling of a Northern Illinois University student by pit bulls in Kane County.

City Manager Mark Stevens told the City Council Monday that he has asked City Attorney Ron Matakaitis to research the legalities of the issue after De Kalb residents called his office voicing fears about the breed of dog.

There are 23 pit bulls registered in De Kalb County, seven in the City of De Kalb, according to Karen Grush, a De Kalb County Health Department administrator.

Last Thursday, a pit bull mauled to death Kevin Cull, 25, of 120 Gurler St., De Kalb, a master`s degree candidate in chemistry who was to graduate from NIU in December. The mauling took place in front of a house in unincorporated Geneva Township that Cull apparently was visiting.

Read more:
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/1EWsij3

Nov 12, 1988 Dekalb Pit Bull Kills NIU Student Kevin Cull

Dekalb - Northern Illinois University graduate student Kevin B. Kull, 25, was mauled to death by at least one and possibly two pit bull terriers shortly before 6:30 p.m. on November 10th according to Kane county Sheriff F. John Fandall. Cull was attacked as he was walking up the driveway at a friend's home.  After being attacked by the dogs, he apparently retreated to his car, where he was found by Michael Hatchel.

"He was covered in blood," said Hatchel.  "He said he was in pain and wanted to die."

Cull was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. at Central DuPage Hospital where he was taken by Geneva Fire Department paramedics.

Cull bled to death after an artery was severed in his arm, Randall said.  He had been bitten numerous times.

Two dogs, Sergeant and Colonel, one weighing about 90 pounds and the other about 75 pounds, were taken from the home by Rodger Stutz, Kane County animal control warden, after the attack.  They are being held at a veterinary clinic in Oswego.

John Carnahan, Cull's chemistry adviser, said Cull was an excellent student with a promising future.

He already had published three articles in professional journals and had a job offer when he graduated in December, Carnahan said.

Read more:
Chicago Tribune 
The Rockford Register Star
The Milwaukee Journal