Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Apr 18, 2013 Granite City pit bull kills sheltie mix

Granite City - A Granite City pit bull killed a sheltie mix owned and being walked by a man with mental disabilities The pit bull owner has only been issued a ticket for a loose dog.

File photo of Sheltie

Police responded to reports that an aggressive dog was attacking people. The loose pit bull had killed a mentally disabled man's sheltie mix and then attacked the sheltie owner when he picked up his mortally wounded sheltie. People threw bricks at the pit bull and it momentarily retreated.

When police arrived, the shaken sheltie owner who was injured and covered in blood, was screaming, "He killed my dog."

A patrolman shot the pit bull to protect the sheltie owner when the pit bull circled back aggressively. The pit bull was suffering after the first shot, so the officer fired again to put the pit bull out of its misery.

Police Chief Rich Miller defended the officers' actions, but expressed remorse that the pit bull was killed.

Chief Miller then attempted to normalize pit bull aggression and dangerousness by saying "Sometimes these things are accidents, the dog gets away" as if when other kinds of dogs get loose they kill small dogs in the presence of the victim's owner and then attack the owner.

Miller also said that the city has one or two dog attacks on people a year.

The pit bull owner was ticketed for a loose dog. The sheltie owner was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

Five years ago Granite City enacted a tougher dangerous dog ordinance after a horrible serial pit bull attack on two dogs. The ordinance mandates a special license for owners of dangerous and vicious dogs which requires the owner to provide proof of insurance, immunizations, veterinary care among other things. The dangerous dog owner must also provide photographs of the dangerous dog and pay a dangerous dog licence fee.

The city sanitation dept is to inspect the premises to verify adequate containment before the license is granted. And there are requirements the owner of the dangerous dog must follow.

Read more:
Municode - click on link and read chapter 6.20 VICIOUS AND DANGEROUS DOGS
dogsbite.org
BND Accessed: 2013-04-18. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/6FzE1vdhu)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Accessed: 2013-04-19. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6FzNyLc07)

Related posts:
Apr 13, 2013 Bloody Pit bull Tries to Maul a County Circuit Judge
Mar 18, 2013 Galesburg pit bull attacks golden retriever
Mar 23, 2013 Luciano: Peoria Pit bull kills yorkshire terrier
Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets
Sep 28, 2012 Pit bull Kills elderly miniature poodle; euthanized
Sep 13, 2012 Berwyn pit bulls attack woman, police officer and kill small dog

Sep 06, 2012 Dog Owner: 'Neighbor's Pit Bull Killed My Dog'

Aug 13, 2012 Family tries to recover after fatal attack on pet

Jul 10, 2012 Waukegan woman’s canine companion killed by pit bull

May 31, 2012 Godfrey pit bull only quarantined after 3 confirmed attacks

Apr 14, 2013 Victims of pit bull ask for tougher rules on vicious dogs

Macomb - An incredible story of animal control incompetence began when a pit bull bit another dog and was surrendered to a shelter. The dog was adopted out and then got loose and killed a leashed little dog in February 2012, but was allowed to stay with the owner who let it escape again in September 2012 when it attacked two people in their own yard. The pit bit a man on both his knees and bit the hand of a woman.

The pit bull was surrendered, deemed unadoptable, and banned from the county. It was taken to a shelter in neighboring Fort Madison, IA where it is reportedly was up for adoption again.

Victims of this pit bull want stronger measures for vicious dogs in McDonough county, increased fines for people who let their dogs run at large, and "greater scrutiny of certain breeds."

In response, animal control wants to do 15 minute temperament tests in the ridiculous belief that a 15 minute test can reliably ascertain if a dog will later show aggression.

Even if the dog fails the aggression test, they want to be able to "relocate" it - so people and pets in other communities can be maimed or killed.

Read more:
McDonough Voice Accessed: 2013-07-09. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Hzt9NWj1)

Apr 13, 2013 Bloody Pit bull Tries to Maul a County Circuit Judge

Alton - Two loose dogs one a pit bull, one a mix, which one attacks?

Judge Kyle Napp

Judge Kyle Napp vividly describes a harrowing encounter with a pit bull. She was saved from being mauled by pit bull that already had blood on its face by one of three men who came running to rescue her. The bloody pit bull took off after one of the the men.

The chase continued by car into the neighboring town of Godfrey before the dog were caught.

Napp, who founded the Madison County Child Advocacy Center, and is a dog lover was describes her experience:

"I am a dog lover and have three dogs of my own, but it was terrifying," said Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. "I am frightened to think what would have happened had those dogs run across a kid waiting at the bus stop."

Apr 11, 2013 Chicago Heights Pit Bull attacked

Chicago Heights - Police Blotter: Vicious dog: Bruce O'Neal, 308 N. Boston St., Chicago Heights, was charged with having an unvaccinated and dangerous dog after his pit bull attacked.

Southtown Star

Apr 11, 2013 Bloomington pit bull attack prompts change in dangerous, vicious dog ordinance

Bloomington - The pit bull attack that sent two people to the hospital last October, one of them for an extended stay and multiple surgeries, has prompted consideration of new dangerous and vicious dog ordinances. The goal is to prevent dog attacks.

To that end several changes are being considered:

The city would automatically recognize a dog as dangerous or vicious if another jurisdiction has already done so.
The city would place new requirements on owners of dangerous and vicious dogs who want to keep them.
A “dangerous” dog would be one that behaves in a threatening manner or, without justification, bites a person or other animal without injury.
A “vicious” dog would be one that bites without provocation or is known to attack or cause injury. A dog could risk euthanasia if it kills or severely injures a person or dog.
A dog could risk euthanasia if it kills or severely injures a person or dog; if it has rabies; or it has been declared vicious and is not kept under the conditions spelled out under the new rules.

Apr 06, 2013 Pit Bull Kills Yorkie Near UIC

Chicago - Winnie, a 6 pound yorkshire terrier, was mauled to death by a pit bull that raced up behind her and the man walking her with no warning. Winnie's owner tearfully spoke about how much she loved gentle Winnie whom she thought of as family.

RIP sweet Winnie and condolences to her heartbroken owner

A heartbroken and devastated Victoria Griffin watched the "the life leave from Winnie's eyes."

Griffin would like to see a community initiative to help ensure no other small, gentle dog is ripped to shreds in a foul and disgusting and completely needless death.

Commenter Tony Solesky sums up the problem:

Tony Solesky · Top Commenter · Perry Hall High School
The first step in taking owner responsibility is by what type of dog you choose. You cannot own a Pit bull no matter how skilled you are and call yourself a responsible owner. It is like not having your child in a carseat or buckled up because you are a well trained driver. Such a foolish concept - it is all in how you raise them. I guess it is all in how you drive then. Good dog breeds are good dog breeds no matter who owns them and safe cars are safe cars no matter who drives them. A good dog breed and a good owner are the only responsible combination. It even appears that this young women had a different view before she had a dose of reality. Now is not the time to kiss up to Pit bull owners. You just lost your beloved pet to a loose Pit bull. I never owned a dog that when it got loose it mauled or killed anything much less a child that found their way into my yard to retrieve a ball or someone elses loose dog. If you have to worry that if your dog gets loose or if a kid comes in your yard someone may die, something is wrong with you and your dog in that order.

Read more:
NBC Chicago 5 Accessed: 2013-04-08. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Fjp8hEly)

Related posts:
Mar 23, 2013 Luciano: Peoria Pit bull kills yorkshire terrier
Nov 16, 2012 Dog attacked by pit bull then fatally shot by police
Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets
Sep 28, 2012 Pit bull Kills elderly miniature poodle; euthanized
Sep 13, 2012 Berwyn pit bulls attack woman, police officer and kill small dog

Sep 06, 2012 Dog Owner: 'Neighbor's Pit Bull Killed My Dog'

Aug 13, 2012 Family tries to recover after fatal attack on pet

Jul 10, 2012 Waukegan woman’s canine companion killed by pit bull

Mar 27, 2012 Family Looking For Owner Of Pit Bull That Killed Their Pet

Oct 12, 2011 Ottawa: Man and dog attacked, pit bull shot

Mar 29, 2013 Springfield Pit Bull Shot During Police Search

Springfield - A search of an aggravated battery suspect ends with a pit bull shot.

Springfield Police say Doshawn Meyers was arrested after he was hiding in a crawl space at a home in the 17 hundred block of East Jackson. When officers got to the house an occupant said the pit bull would attack, and put the dog in the basement.

However, the dog got out and came at the officer as if it would attack, that's when the officer shot the dog. The dog was taken to the Sangamon County Animal Control Center where it was euthanized because of its injury.

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WAND