Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Dec 23, 2010 Luciano: Not the breed, but the need for safety

Peoria – A recent - and ridiculous - hullabaloo over a Tazewell County pit bull shows why a lot of us get so put off by advocates for the breed.

Already, at just that first paragraph, pit bull apologists are plinking madly at their keyboards to bombard me and this newspaper with e-mails. Save it. I know the arguments.

--------

And it's worse when people such as Catherine Hedges just don't know when to draw the line at advocacy. You want to talk about the merits of pit bulls? OK. But when one goes bad, don't make excuses. Otherwise, we start to think you and your dogs are nothing but trouble.

By Phil Luciano

Peoria Journal Star Accessed: 2011-12-06.(Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/63k0LUxsy)

Dec 16, 2010 Officer shoots dog during burglary call

ROCKFORD - A Rockford police officer shoots and kills a dog that came after him during a burglary call.

The incident happened Wednesday evening in the area of 4300 Red Coat Road. There were two calls to the area, one for a burglary and one for a pitbull that had people pinned into their car.

The officer was investigating the burglary when the dog charged at him and that's when he shot and killed the dog.

WAOW Accessed: 2011-12-16. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/63z2mnBnm)

Dec 03, 2010 Mt. Vernon Police - Aggressive pit bull

Mt. Vernon - Police responded to a report of a loose, aggressive pit bull on Wednesday in the 800 block of South 21st Street.

Mt. Vernon Register News Accessed: 2012-07-16. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69D0vXMC4)

Dec 03, 2010 Veterinarian accused of covering up dogfighting

by Steve Schmadeke, Matthew Walberg and Jeremy Gorner

PARK FOREST - A Park Forest veterinarian whose troubled disciplinary past includes allegations of substandard care that left pets dead, "drooling into" a dog during surgery and watering down vaccines to boost profits has been criminally charged for allegedly failing to report dog fighting.

Chicago Breaking News

Accessed: 2011-12-16. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/63z34N5Ei)

Nov 25, 2010 Rockford alderman, daughter bitten in pit bull attack

Rockford – Several people have been attacked by three pit bulls outside a Rockford store, including city alderman Karen Elyea and her daughter.

Chicago BreakingNewsCenter
Accessed: 2012-01-13. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64fxzxIe5)

Nov 23, 2010 Teen Sentenced in Central Illinois Dog Attack

DECATUR — A central Illinois teenager has been sentenced to five years in prison for ordering his pit bull terrier to attack a 75-year-old man.

mywebtimes.com

Accessed: 2012-01-13. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64fxtPEC2)

Nov 21, 2010 Orland Park Woman Recovering From Pit Bull Attack

Be sure to click the link and read this account of what it feels like to have a pit bull come out of nowhere and attack you unprovoked. These attacks damage people's bodies and damage their sense of safety and security as well.

ORLAND PARK (STMW) – For a week now, Kathy Margetis’ frightened screams have startled her husband, Pete, from sleep. “Let me go,” she shouts.

In her nightmares, the 53-year-old mother of three from Orland Park is reliving the horrifying experience of being attacked by a pit bull.

CBS Local

Accessed: 2011-12-16. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/63zBoluSy)