Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois: 11/01/2015

Nov 17, 2015 Chicago Pit Bull Owner Arrested and Charged with Dogfighting

Chicago — An Englewood man is facing felony dog fighting charges.
Cook County sheriff’s officers and Chicago Police executed a search warrant Friday at Larue Jackson’s home in the 6300 block of South Throop Street, where investigators had received tips about dog fights happening, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari.

Chicago Dogfighter Larue Jackson

They found 13 dogs, 12 of them without food or water, Ansari said. Some of them had scars consistent with fighting, and blood spattered the basement floor.
Another dog was found dead in the backyard. Jackson, 57, also had “items indicative of dogfighting,” such as bite sticks, dog medications and fighting ledgers, Ansari said.

Read more:
CBS Local Chicago

Related posts:
Sep 05, 2015 Chicago Man charged with running dogfighting ring in Fuller Park neighborhood
Jun 09, 2015 Chicago: Juan Zamora Faces 21 Felony Charges for Dog Fighting and Cruelty
May 14, 2015 Freeport Man Arrested After Officers Discover Dog Fight

Nov 12, 2015 Chicago Family Pit Bull Attack Leaves Woman In Critical Condition

UPDATE: ABC 7 has updated their story. The woman who was mauled was physically disabled. Also, the pit bull had a litter of puppies and the blame is being put on the disabled woman "was cleaning the floor and apparently didn't see one of the puppies." That doesn't explain why she is in critical condition.

The pit bull has also been absolved because, "That dog just had puppies so who knows what was in its mind to attack her like that," said Maria Perea, a family friend.

Although the s ABC 7 story has been updated with info gathered from neighbors, they still will not share that the attacking dog is a pit bull, although two other outlets, Sun Times and Fox, have reported that the dog was a pit bull.

ABC 7 and the Tribune still have not reported that the dog was a pit bull.

Chicago - A 34 year-old Little Village woman is in critical condition after she was mauled by her family pit bull.

The woman was in her home when she was bitten on the arm, neck and face b the pit bull at about 11 am.

She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. The pit bull was picked up by Animal Control

Nov 6, 2015 Albany Pit Bulldog Mixes Kill A Dog in its Own Yard For Second Time

Albany - Two dogs described as an english bulldog and a bulldog rottweiler mix have escaped their enclosure for the second time for the express purpose of killing another dog. Both victims look like black labs.

RIP Thor

RIP Nitro

Almost always, when a news account says that an english bulldog was involved in an attack, it tures out to be an Olde English Bulldogge which is a designer mutt of english bulldog with pit bull and other bull breeds.

Commenters on the story are outraged to find that these dogs can go back to their owners after having two kills under their belt because Illinois law says dogs can kill three times before being declared vicious so they can be put down. Many want a change in the law.

However, if residents find out who the owners are and are watchful, they may be able to get another dangerous dog designation before the pit bulldog mixes can kill again. Also, watch to see if the owners are negligent. If they “knowingly” allow their pit bulldogs to roam again, they can get hit with a felony.

(510 ILCS 5/2.05a) Sec. 2.05a. "Dangerous dog" means (i) any individual dog anywhere other than upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog and unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or custodian that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal or (ii) a dog that, without justification, bites a person and does not cause serious physical injury.
(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05.)
(c) If the owner of a dangerous dog knowingly fails to comply with any order regarding the dog and the dog inflicts serious physical injury on a person or a companion animal, the owner shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. If the owner of a dangerous dog knowingly fails to comply with any order regarding the dog and the dog kills a person the owner shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony.
(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05; 94-819, eff. 5-31-06.)

Also, being armed and willing to shoot these things if they invade property and threaten any living thing isn’t a bad idea either.

Regardless, the state law needs to be changed. There is no excuse for Illinois essentially deeming the lives of the two victim companion animals - gentle normal dogs - Nitro and Thor - worthless.

KWQC TV-6 News

(510 ILCS 5/) Animal Control Act.

May 03, 2014 Sauk Valley Media Editorial "Let’s act to prevent future dog attacks"

Mar 23, 2011 Sterling Grandparents Rescue Boy Being Attacked by Pit Bull

Jan 27, 2005 Erie Pit Bull Attack Kills Lydia Chaplin, 14

May 03, 1988 City of Rock Falls Outlaws New Pit Bulldogs