May 25, 2012 Carmi citizens want pit bull ban


Carmi residents report being afraid to go outdoors because of an ongoing problem with loose pit bulls.  The mayor reports that the city's hands are tied because Illinois Bans BSL which protects pit bull owners and breeders to the detriment of people and their pets.

Carmi - A neighbor's dog, who was unleashed and unattended, entered the other resident's yard and attacked the dog being brushed. The woman attempted to separate the dogs and suffered multiple injuries, including 16 puncture wounds to her hands. She was treated at an area hospital and her dog remains under the care of a local veterinarian.

The attacking dog was a pit bull breed and Port acknowledged at Monday's meeting there has been a call from neighbors in that area for the council to enact breed-specific prohibitions against pit bulls.

The mayor said such an ordinance has been considered, but the council learned state law prohibits breed-specific prohibitions. One neighbor in the area told The Times she is afraid to be outdoors because of the roaming pit bulls in her area and no longer allows her grandchildren to play outdoors because of the problems.

By Braden Willis
Read more:
Carmi Times  Accessed: 2012-05-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67wIc81BO)

Cities all over Illinois are trying to address a growing epidemic of pit bull attacks and are hampered by Anna's Law which forbids BSL and allows dogs to attack three times before being deemed vicious.  Every one of the following proposed or enacted dangerous dog ordinances are in response to pit bull attacks.
Related posts:
May 21, 2012 Skokie considers stricter law after 3 dog-on-dog attacks
May 16, 2012 Bloomington may review pet registration law after pit bull attack
May 09, 2012 Waukegan approves pet ordinance
Aug 08, 2011 Police want more teeth to proposed dangerous dog ordinance
Jun 01, 2011 Pit bulls on the prowl? Residents express concern over dangerous dogs
Jan 18, 2011 City to bite back, committee drafting Joey's law
Apr 04, 2010 Reaction to Anna's Law in Streator, IL: This is Asinine




May 25, 2012 Argument Ends in Dog Bite

Chicago Heights - A 32-year-old Chicago Heights woman told police she was in an argument with a 34-year-old Chicago Heights man when her pit bull attacked him, biting him on the right forearm. Police saw two puncture wounds on the man's arm, but he refused medical attention, according to the report.

Read more:
Chicago Heights Patch

May 23, 2012 Dog bites man walking pet; animal to be euthanized

CARY – A man was bitten by a dog earlier this week while trying to protect his own pet.

A married a couple was walking their dog on a leash Tuesday evening in the Greenfields of Cary subdivision when a female beagle/pit bull mix came out of a backyard and attacked the couple's dog, Cary police said.

The man tried to break up the two dogs, and was bitten on his hand. The man's wife was able to pull the couple's dog away. The man was taken to a hospital.

By Joseph Bustos
Read more:
Northwest Herald  Accessed: 2012-05-24. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67tUBmfEf)

Related post:
Nov 5, 2005 Nick Foley Survives Agony of a Pit Bull Rampaging Attack

May 22, 2012 Chicago Police warn of Vicious Pit bull on the loose in neighborhood

Chicago - Vicous Pitbull Loose Cortland and Central Park

ADDED MAY 22 2012
Billo
Went to walk the dogs and a CPD car pulled next to me to warn that calls have been coming in today that a viscous pit bull on the loos has been spotted by several callers around Cortland and Central Park
T. D.
Thanks for the info.!!!
It's not the first time someone's pit was on the loose. There have been complaints and problems in that area and the area closer to the YMCA about a pit that has attacked other people's dogs. The need to catch that thing!!!
Erin
8-year resident of Logan Square
A sticky pittie. My goodness.
Any word on the dog's description, or what it's done to earn that particular adjective?
Bill
Billo
Erin,
Cops words, not mine. No idea, but I know the type, they are no joke and they will go after you viscously. God forbid a child stands no chance.
T.D.
I am pretty sure I have a good idea who it is, but I don't trust putting that info online, lets just say based off your comment that you have a good idea too if you walk between Pulaski and Central Park on a weekly basis

Read more:
Everyblock Chicago

May 21, 2012 Skokie considers stricter law after 3 pit bull-on-dog attacks

The proposals include increased fines (which have not worked in Elgin), and  several mandates that would not kick in until after the dog had already mauled and/or killed.  Skokie is not presently considering any solutions that would directly target the pit bull problem.

Skokie - Skokie is considering putting a lot more bite in its ordinance pertaining to "vicious animals" after three dog-on-dog attacks involving pit bulls in the last two months left three pets dead.
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Counard said the three attacks were an April 29 incident in which a Skokie dog got loose, crossed into neighboring Morton Grove and killed another dog; a March 13 incident in which another pit bull attacked and killed a small dog that was being walked near Madison Street and Kostner Avenue; and an incident earlier in March in which a third pit bull killed a dog.

By Brian L. Cox
Read more:
Chicago Tribune  Accessed: 2012-05-22. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67qH9lEMM)

May 17, 2012 Aggressive Pit Bulls Argyle x Keystone in Chicago

Chicago - Has anyone had issues with these dogs? I do know the owner's name and address. These dogs are vicious and out of control. Apparently the owner is unconcerned about the threat his dogs pose to the neighborhood, children, and other dogs. These dogs were involved in a vicious attack on an elderly dog being walked. All dogs were on leashes. BUT the pit's were being walked by teens who had no ability to control them when they attack another dog. Do you live in this area? Have you been harassed by these animals? Have your dogs been attacked? Have you been attacked? If you have had any run-ins with these dogs Please call 911 and your Alderman. These dogs have jumped the fence on numerous occasions. And please, do not bother with the "all pits are not bad". these dogs are killers and the next thing they decide to rip to pieces might be you or your child.

Everyblock Chicago

May 16, 2012 Illinois Ranks #2 in State Farm Dog Bite Report numbers and payouts

State Farm released their data, showing California had the most dog bite claims, at 527. The insurance company paid out $20.3 million to California residents for those claims.

Illinois was second in State Farm’s data, with 309 dog bites with total payouts of $10 million; followed by Texas with 219 claims, Ohio with 215, and Pennsylvania had 197 insurance claims for dog bites.

When looking at the bite and payout counts, keep in mind that California has a population of 37.6 million people.  Texas has a population of 25.7 million people.  Illinois has a population of 12.9 million people.  Pennsylvania has a population of 12.7 million and Ohio has a population of 11.5 million.  This makes Illinois the standout in State Farm dog bite numbers and payouts.

State Farm says it’s not about the breed, it’s the bite. They say a dog’s tendency to bite depends on various factors, including obedience training, health and the victim’s behavior before the dog attacks.

Read more:
Fox40 Sacramento

On the same day State Farm's dog bite data report was released, a commenter on a local Illinois pit bull attack story said this:
LooselipsI've come across some wonderful pit bulls that were sweet and loving... however in my profession I review homeowner liability claims and I can tell you OVERWHELMINGLY most bites to humans and other animals comes from pits. This isn't a scientific observation, I don't keep track but it's an everyday thing... I don't know if it's the breed but I can tell you I would never own one and never let my children around one. Almost every day I pay claims to people injured or had their pets injured by pits. Sometimes it's other dogs but I'm sorry to say, most are pits.

State Farm did not release bite counts or payouts ranked by breed.  And given State Farm's pandering statement of willful ignorance about breed not mattering statistically, one wonders if non-pit bull owners insured by State Farm are, in fact, sharing the costs of higher payouts for pit bull attacks.

What would Flo say? 


TIME TO RE-EVALUATE INSURANCE CARRIERS



May 16, 2012 Dogs attack woman, police officer

File photo of an ugly grey pit bull

Chicago – A woman is recovering at a hospital this afternoon after she and a Chicago Police officer were bitten multiple times by one of two dogs which was shot by the injured officer this week in the Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

The woman is in fair condition this afternoon, said Mount Sinai Hospital spokeswoman Dianne Hunter. The officer has been discharged, according to Hunter.

By Rosemary R. Sobol
Read more:
Chicago Tribune Accessed: 2012-05-16. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67iTjylu1)

Related posts:
Apr 02, 2012 Man Forgives Dog That Bit Off His Nose (but wants it euthanized for public safety)
Mar 21, 2012 When animals attack - Pit bulls lead Chicago Bite counts
Jan 12, 2012 There are too many uncontrolled pits in Chicago





May 16, 2012 Bloomington may review pet registration law after pit bull attack

After a failed attempt to regulate pit bulls directly, Bloomington legislators will now attempt to correct a pit bull problem with registration ordinances once again.  May I suggest mandatory insurance and microchips and high fines for off property attacks and another shot at BSL.


Even the physically imposing giant schnauzer
with its dominant and protective temperament is no
match for a predatory pit bull (file photo)
BLOOMINGTON — An attack by a stray pit bull that drew blood from a giant schnauzer earlier this month could lead to a review of a 2006 pet registration rule that was approved after an emotional debate over banning specific breeds.
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Cameron suffered muscle damage on one of his legs and is recovering after receiving several stitches at the veterinarian’s office, Uszcienski said.

By Rachel Wells
Read more:
Pantagraph  Accessed: 2012-05-16. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67iE97BEe)

Comments from the story:
Dalmanites
All I can add to this discussion is an incident that happened in front of my son-in-law. A young boy was walking his chihuahua on a leash on a public city trail. A large unleashed male pit bull, accompanied by a female, ran up to the boy, grabbed the chihuahua and killed it right in front of the little boy. My son in law tried to beat the dog off but he could not save the little boy's dog but he's sure that if he hadn't beaten the dog, the boy would have been next. The dogs ran away and he's sure they were never caught. He called the police but nothing could be done. It's hard to argue with what you see right in front of you.

AtlantaDad
Please people. Just got back from Tijuana and lenme tell you there were no bassett hound or weener dog fights in the bar rooms and back rooms there. It was only violent ferocious dogs in other words PITS. Sadly the way I see it is as long as pit owners remain in denial and continue to think their beasts are sugar coated sweethearts the rest of us will alwys be in some level of danger of injury due to them.

Looselips
I've come across some wonderful pit bulls that were sweet and loving... however in my profession I review homeowner liability claims and I can tell you OVERWHELMINGLY most bites to humans and other animals comes from pits. This isn't a scientific observation, I don't keep track but it's an everyday thing... I don't know if it's the breed but I can tell you I would never own one and never let my children around one. Almost every day I pay claims to people injured or had their pets injured by pits. Sometimes it's other dogs but I'm sorry to say, most are pits.

May 15, 2012 Bloomington pit bull attack prompts City to Look at Rules for Dogs


BLOOMINGTON – Aldermen may revisit tougher rules for dangerous pit bulls and their owners after a recent attack on Bloomington’s west side.

Kelly Uszcienski says a still-unidentified pit bull attacked her Giant Schnauzer, Cameron, near Livingston and Graham streets while they were on a walk May 1.
She says she feared for her own safety before a neighbor stopped the attack.

“I’ve never seen a dog come running so fast. There was nothing I could do. I was just paralyzed,” Uszcienski said. “I really feel like Cameron took the brunt of it for me. He protected me. Otherwise, it could’ve been me (that was injured).”

Cameron’s leg was injured, but he survived. Kelly’s husband, Bernie Uszcienski, reached out to aldermen in an email, and the Bloomington City Council on Monday night asked city staff to report back in the coming weeks on how common dog attacks are, and whether ordinance changes are needed.

The council looked at breed-specific ordinances – for pit bulls – back in 2006. Owners of pit bulls objected, arguing that such a law punishes the dog rather than the irresponsible owner. Instead, aldermen passed an ordinance requiring all dogs to be registered with the county, and giving Bloomington police the authority to seize any dog which did not display dog tags.

Police say the pit bull in the May 1 attack has never been found. That incident happened in Alderman Steven Purcell’s Ward 7.

Purcell was first to raise the issue Monday night. He said he wants the city to examine how many attacks there have been in recent years, in which neighborhoods are they occurring most often, and whether police have any leads on potential dog-fighting operations. But he stressed that a pit bull ban was not imminent.

“I don’t want to get people all worked up and saying, ‘Well, they’re gonna ban the dogs,’” Purcell said. “Well, let’s look at all the data. Let’s look at what we can do, and what we have. What we put in (place) in 2006 – is it working?”

Bernie Uszcienski said it’s time for the city to consider stiffer penalties for vicious dog owners. He said he’s observed more pit bulls – and more of them controlled by irresponsible owners – in his neighborhood and citywide.

“I feel bad for the ones that are certainly responsible owners,” Uszcienski said. “But in my opinion, they are certainly far in the minority.”

Ward 6 Karen Schmidt said she wants to know if the 2006 change has made a difference, and what the impact has been in other communities that have banned pit bulls, such as Denver. (That ban was upheld in court, city officials say.)

When it comes to dangerous dogs, “we do need to be responsible about this,” she said.

“Is there anything else we should be doing to prevent this in the future?” Schmidt said.

No police data was immediately available Monday on the number of animal bite reports in recent years, or the number of dogs seized or owners fined since 2006.

Ryan Denham can be reached at ryan@wjbc.com.

Read more:
WJBC

May 15, 2012 Pit bull (that inflicted serious injury on owner) dies after being Tasered by police

Interesting note:  I added the part of the headline in parentheses.  We in human centric communities are used to seeing the serious injury sustained by a human emphasized over the death of the 2 time mauling pit bull that caused it even if the victim is also the idiot owner (the pit lived with the victim but was technically owned by the victim's son's girlfriend, HALEY ALEXIS PEKALA).
Roselle – Roselle police officers responded about 9 p.m. on May 8 to a home the 500 block of Rodenburg Road for report of a woman who had been bit by a dog, according to a release. Police knew of the dog from a previous bite report.

The American Staffordshire terrier had severely bitten a 55-year-old woman in the left leg inside the home, the release said. She was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village where she underwent emergency surgery.

Read more:
Chicago Sun-times  Accessed: 2012-05-15. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67gq3G8aq)
Daily Herald - Couple say Roselle cops didn’t need to Taser dog
NBC 5 Chicago - Police Investigate Death of Tasered Dog



Related posts:
May 28, 2011 Two-year-old Dog Bite Case May Be Decided This Summer
Nov 16, 2010 Dog that inspired Machesney Park law faces euthanasia
Dec 07, 2011 Animal Services: Pit bulls attacked Rockford woman




May 12, 2012 Bensenville Pit Bull Attacks Police Officer Who Kills It




Bensenville - According to a Facebook page documenting police shootings of dogs a police officer shot and killed a pit bull that attacked him.



May 09, 2012 Waukegan approves pet ordinance

"We deal with dangerous dogs. Waukegan is known for them. Unfortunately, we are a town for pit bulls." - AC officer Nicole Garza
Waukegan is trying to cope with it's pit bull attack problem hampered by state law that forbids breed specific laws to address breed specific problems. 


Waukegan – Fifth Ward Ald. Edith Newsome told the council that a child in her ward was attacked by a pit bull two weeks ago (no media coverage), and said “we have to have something in place to protect our residents.
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New regulations covering the ownership and treatment of animals won unanimous approval from the City Council on Monday...
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This law was made specifically for people who are just plain irresponsible,” said 1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham. “The unfortunate part is people have really become fascinated with owning pit bulls. (Those) irresponsible owners are causing havoc in the city of Waukegan. ... This is a good ordinance for us.”

by Dan Moran
Read more:
Lake County News-Sun Accessed: 2012-05-10. (Archived by WebCite®at http://www.webcitation.org/67YqJKcdg)

Related posts:
Feb 07, 2012 Family’s pet mauled by pit-bull type dog
Apr 15, 2011 Animal control cuts may bite back in Waukegan
Sep 12, 2008 Waukegan Teenager Hurt in Pit Bull Attack
Oct 4, 2006 Pit Bull Mauls 8-year old Girl Owner Charged with Reckless Conduct

May 09, 2012 Man stabs dog to make attack stop

Granville – A pit bull was killed after attacking another dog Friday evening in Granville, police said today.
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It chased another dog across the street, according to Moore.
–––––––
 Keith Smoode and a friend attempted to stop the pit bull while it was attacking Smoode’s dog. When they tried to pull the pit bull off the other dog, the collar broke, Moore said.
Even when they tried to hit the pit bull, it wouldn’t stop its attack, Moore said. Finally, they stabbed the pit bull with a knife to end the attack, he said.
The pit bull died and the other dog, which was a German Shepherd mix, was taken to the veterinarian and is expected to live, Moore said.

by Shannon Crawley-Serpette
Read more:
News Tribune Accessed: 2012-05-10. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67ZIxl8x4)

May 07, 2012 Pit bull attack takes precious pet from family

RIP Mickey

Skokie – The sudden death of Mickey on March 13 has left mother and son grieving and heartbroken, all the more so because they never believed such a thing could happen.

Shyam, now 23, was walking the dog a few blocks from his home when a loose pit bull raced from his owner’s property and attacked Mickey, killing him at the scene.
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“I never imagined the dog would be completely loose and able to attack,” he said. “I never thought anyone would leave such a dog unattended and completely without a leash.”

He also thought the man standing in the driveway with the pit bull had the dog under control.

Within five seconds though, Mickey was dead, Shyam said.
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Mickey’s soft-spoken distraught owner walked the few blocks home in despair and without the best friend with whom he had left.

Dear Mickey,
I miss you incredibly. I am so sorry I took you out for a walk that day. I wish I would have never taken you with me. Never in a million years would I have imagined this to happen. Words cannot describe how disturbed I am by the tragic nature of your passing.
You didn’t deserve to leave this way. You always exuded a sense of strength that inspired me to be more brave and gave me courage. It’s because of you that I was able to get through life’s toughest moments. You helped me in the awkward transition from adolescence to adulthood.
You brought joy into my life and you took away my pain. You never left my side. I will never forget you, along with each and every day that I have spent with you. I believe you were an angel that saved my life.
The nine years I spent with you were among the happiest of my life. Losing you has left a deep void in my heart, a void that can never be replaced. I’m sorry for any troubles you had to face because of me. I never intended to hurt you.
It was an honor to have been in your life amidst your gentle, compassionate presence. It’s an injustice that you had to endure an agonizing demise, and there was nothing I could do to protect or save you. I wish and pray that wherever you are, you are not suffering anymore and your soul is at peace.
Please remember me and all the blissful times that we shared. I hope to meet you in another life.
Love eternally,Shyam
Read more:
Skokie Review Accessed: 2012-05-16. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67hwTgg2o)
Skokie Review - To Mickey with love...

May 07, 2012 Pit bull attacks in Skokie lead to ordinance changes

Animal control in Skokie sees pit bulls being responsible for 14% of vicious dog attacks as a good thing.

Skokie – The Skokie Health Department is looking to strengthen its ordinance pertaining to “vicious animals” after two dog attacks in March. Both attacking dogs were pit bulls.  One pit bull killed a small dog and the other pit bull injured the owner of the small dog he saved from an attack.

“We usually only have two a year out of 2,500 licensed dogs,” Skokie Health Director Dr. Catherine Counard said. “To have two attacks in a month is very unusual. They were two different dogs.”

14 percent of vicious animal attacks in Skokie over the years have involved pit bulls.

This is a first - animal control looking at 14% bite attack rate and touting that as a GOOD statistic.   It is doubtful that pit bulls represent 14% of the dog population over the years.  Pit bull advocates themselves generally say pit bulls represent 7% of the total dog population.  With the pit bull population rate growing quickly in some areas, averaging the pit bull attack rate over "the last few years" is likely a tactic to hide a recent and sharp increase in pit bull attacks.

Read more:Skokie Review  Accessed: 2013-05-23. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Gq9qHZ8R)