Jan 25, 2016 Joliet Pit Bull Attacks Prompt Demands for Tougher Vicious Dog Laws

JOLIET – Residents who have faced attacks by vicious dogs demanded on Monday that the city toughen up ordinances they said now leave neighbors vulnerable to attacks.
They included Greg Hidlebaugh, who shot one of two pit bulls who were attacking him, his wife and their dog Jan. 15 in the Timbers Edge Villas subdivision.
Hidlebaugh and other residents from the subdivision said the same two dogs have repeatedly attacked or chased people in the subdivision, and nothing has been done to stop them.
“The city police come out. Animal Control is called. Nothing gets done,” Hidlebaugh said. “This is an ongoing thing, and nothing gets done.”
The residents’ comments added some urgency to the Joliet City Council Legislative and Land Use Committee’s review of the city’s vicious dog ordinance Monday, which started out as a matter of clarifying language in the ordinance without making major changes.
Seven different residents spoke out about personal experiences dealing with vicious dogs.
“We live in a nice community, and everyone’s walking around with sticks in their hands,” said Tina Magro, another Timbers Edge Villas resident.
Hidlebaugh pointed out one of his neighbors in the audience, a 70-year-old man who was chased into his house by the two pit bulls one day when he went to get his newspaper.

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The Herald-News

May 14, 2010 Four Pit Bulls Escape Joliet Yard, Kill Neighbor's DogMar 18, 2010 Joliet Pit Bull Shot After Attack
Dec 03, 2008 Man kills pit bull during mauling
Jan 29, 2008 Joliet Girl Recovering From Pit Bull Attack
Jun 18, 2007 Joliet Woman Hospitalized in Pit Bull Attack
Jul 28, 2004 Pit Bull Attacks Joliet Mailman
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Jan 22, 2016 Joliet Pit Bulls Break Owner's Bones and Maul Dog

Joliet - BARBARA SZCZUROWSKI, 60, of the 3300 block of Timbers Edge, was charged with dog bite. The arrest occurred at SZCZUROWSKI’s home.

Officers with the Joliet Police Department responded to a call of a dog bite around 7:55 a.m., according to Joliet Deputy Chief Ed Gregory. As they arrived in the area, they heard gunshots. Officers found a 59-year-old off-duty Forest Preserve District of Will County officer and retired Will County deputy with a gun. 


The off-duty officer had received a call from his wife saying that she and her dog, Hannah, a medium-sized brown mix dog, were being attacked by two pit bulls, Mocha and Nala. One pit bull had Hannah by the throat while the other had her by the hind quarters. A neighbor who saw the incident had called the husband, as well.

One of the pit bulls bit the woman so hard it had broken her wrist. A 6-inch tooth also was found at the scene, Gregory said.

 The owners got the pit bulls to release their dog, Hannah, and then Hannah ran away.

“Mocha began to run after our off-duty in an aggressive manner,” Gregory said. “He removed his hand gun and discharged three to four rounds, striking it in the face and front leg area.”

Mocha then returned home. 

The off-duty officer and his wife later found Hannah on the porch of their home in the 1900 block of Timber Edge, which is the next street over from Timber Edge Circle, but then Nala, one of the pit bulls showed up and Hanna was attacked again.

“This is when our female victim was assisted by other neighbors and started striking the dog with a baseball bat.”

The pit bull ran back to its residence and was brought inside by owner BARBARA SZCZUROWSKI.

Joliet Township Animal Control was called out, but wouldn’t take Mocha because of the severe injuries. The dog was taken to the vet and put down.

Hannah sustained around 60 puncture wounds to her body, but is expected to survive.
Neighbors told police this isn’t the first time the pit bulls have been aggressive and running at large.

SZCZUROWSKI was cited for having a dangerous dog and dogs running at large and was sent a note by the city’s legal department to turn Nala over to Animal Control to determine if the dog is dangerous or vicious.

SZCZUROWSKI’s pit bulls had attacked before in 2013 and the city of Joliet attempted to have SZCZUROWSKI’s dogs deemed dangerous or vicious, but a judge dismissed the charges.  

If anyone plans to sue in this case, they better keep a good eye on SZCZUROWSKI because the condo association has filed an injunction against her which may be the reason that her condo is now apparently up for sale.

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Jan 14, 2016 Lawsuit: Alleged East S. Louis Pit Bull Attack Results in Lawsuit

East St. Louis - A woman is suing after a neighbor's dog allegedly attacked her.

Pamela Mobley filed the suit on Dec. 28 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Adrius Coleman, the dog's owner; and Parsons Place LP, where the dog lives with its owner.

The suit alleges violation of the Illinois Animal Control Act, as well as negligence on behalf of Coleman and Parsons Place. The suit alleges the defendant did not monitor the property sufficiently to become aware of the dog's behavior and it allegedly should have known the dog is a pit bull.

The plaintiff was walking to her vehicle near the defendant's residence on Jan. 14, 2014 when the dog allegedly charged at her, causing her to injure her left knee.

The suit claims that Mobley's injuries are permanent and continuing, and have resulted in surgery and scarring. She allegedly also has experienced mental anguish, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.

Mobley seeks at least $50,000 from each of the defendants, as well as court costs. She is represented by Ashley Vaughan and Amanda J. Sextro of Brown & Crouppen PC of St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-729

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Madison Review
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Jan 11, 2016 Lawsuit: Four Joliet Pit bulls Attack Home Health Care Worker On the Job

Joliet - A home health care worker has filed a lawsuit against a client who owned four pit bulls that attacked her when she came to the home on the job.

Letisia Rivera, the health care worker, was suffered injuries to her head, torso, arms, hands, wrists, shoulders, buttocks, back neck, nerves, and nervous system when the four pit bulls attacked her as the owner opened the door. 

After she ran inside the home to get away from the dogs, the pit bull owner let one of the pit bulls back inside where it attacked her again.

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Related posts:
Jan 22, 2016 Joliet Pit Bulls Break Owner's Bones and Maul Dog
 Dec 31, 2014 Joliet Dangerous Pit Bulls and Vicious Rottweiler Terrorizing North Reed Street
May 14, 2010 Four Pit Bulls Escape Joliet Yard, Kill Neighbor's DogMar 18, 2010 Joliet Pit Bull Shot After Attack
Dec 03, 2008 Man kills pit bull during mauling
Jan 29, 2008 Joliet Girl Recovering From Pit Bull Attack
Jun 18, 2007 Joliet Woman Hospitalized in Pit Bull Attack
Jul 28, 2004 Pit Bull Attacks Joliet Mailman
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