Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois: 2012

Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts

Dec 16, 2012 Pit bulls killed by police during drug bust

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Dec 06, 2012 Dog fight bust in Dolton, IL

UPDATE: photos of the dogfighters who, if pit bull advocates have their way, will get no jail time in exchange for blood money to put fighting dogs in your neighbor's home:

Dolton - Eight people were arrested and four pit bulls were recovered when police broke up a dog fight in progress. The dog fighters scurried like rats every which way and six of them were found hiding in the rafters - like rats.

Chicago area media, well-tutored by the pit bull promoters, reported that the dogs "looked like pit bulls" or didn't ascribe a breed to them at all and reported that the dogs had been "rescued."

Here is a fight bust dog next to a champion pure bred fighting pit bull:

And as usual, because this is Chicago, commenters are hoping that the "poor babies" can be adopted out. No thank you. I do not want a fight bust dog owned by a nincompoop who thinks they have to be forced to fight landing in my neighbor's yard.

Here is what these bad boys are all about:

Dec 05, 2012 Chicago police shoot pit bull sicced on them by thieves

Chicago - One of the six people who robbed a pizza delivery driver released a pit bull to attack pursuing Chicago police. Officers shot the pit bull twice, but it survived. Police caught all six robbers and no one was hurt.

This occurred just a few days after the Seattle Times published a story about a new study by the NCRC, a pit bull advocacy group, that laments the number of dogs shot by police as largely avoidable if only police understood dog body language. Why is a pit bull advocacy group leading the charge? Statistics of police shootings of dogs from a couple of Illinois cities might make that clear:

Between 2008 and July 2012 Elgin police were forced to shoot 23 dogs, 20 of which were pit bulls.
In the same time period Aurora police shot 8 dogs, 5 or 6 of which were pit bulls.
Illinois Pit Bull Attacks has found 78 accounts of pit bulls being shot. Roughly 76 were shot by police.

Now it becomes clear why the NCRC has published this study - because the vast majority of dogs shot by police are pit bulls.

The Seattle Times article leads with this statement:

There has never been a documented case of a dog killing a police officer.

I'm just spit balling here, but that might be because police officers are armed and are willing and able to fire on dogs to protect themselves when they are threatened.

There certainly are cops who wrongly shoot pets. Officers need education and discipline to avoid that. However, very few of the 76 or so police shootings of pit bulls that have been reported in this blog suggest that the officer was unjustified. Often, pit bulls can only be stopped from attacking by shooting them.

But, if cops seem more willing to shoot all kinds of dogs since pit bulls have come on the scene and more and more cops are witnessing pit bull attacks believing they are typical of all dog bites, well, then that is simply yet another way that selfish pit bull owners are hurting us and our normal dogs by bringing their fighting dogs into our communities.

The only way to make sure fewer pit bulls are shot is to make sure there are fewer pit bulls.

Pit bull owners, it might be noted, give their blessings to cops who shoot their pit bulls when the pit bulls are attacking them, the owner.

Read more:
CBS local
Chicago Tribune
Police One

Related posts:
Sep 13, 2012 Berwyn pit bulls attack woman, police officer and kill small dog
Aug 06, 2012 Police: South Elgin officer kills pit bull attacking family
It is Time, Elgin
Apr 12, 2012 Cook County Cop Details Off Property, Unprovoked, Serial Attack to Defend Pit Bulls
Jun 29, 2011 Victim Of Dog Attack Speaks Out
Nov 25, 2010 Rockford alderman, daughter bitten in pit bull attack
Aug 07 2010 Pit Bulls Attack 5 Year Old Boy

Nov 11, 2012 Kane County Health Dept. Confirms That First Responder Dawn Brown Killed By Bullmastiff

Health Dept. officials confirm that Dawn Brown's mastiff
was a bullmastiff gripping breed

Big Rock - The mastiff that killed its new owner, firefighter Dawn Brown, was a bull breed. Just as developers of the pit bull terrier cross bred terriers with bulldogs to give them deadly gripping traits, developers of the bullmastiff were bred from 60% mastiff and 40% bulldog to create a more aggressive mastiff.

As has been widely reported, the bullmastiff was a new addition to the family and the dogs were not getting along together. There has been speculation that Brown attempted to break up a dogfight.
Dawn Brown was a gripping breed lover. Her two other dogs were a pit bull mix and a boxer.

The bullmastiff was euthanized.

Read more:
BND Accessed: 2012-11-22. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6CMwu476C)
dogsbite.org
CBS Chicago Accessed: 2012-11-22. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6CN07vera)

Nov 16, 2012 Dog attacked by pit bull then fatally shot by police

Champaign - While attempting to save a labrador that was being attacked by a pit bull, police accidentally shot the labrador.

The victim dog was an exceedingly well-trained, gentle labrador retriever that was a beloved and cherished pet. The owner's daughter had to witness a protracted attack by an aggressive pit bull and then see her dog shot dead.

The young woman was walking her dog on a leash when a pit bull ran up to them for the express purpose of attacking her dog. The woman and another person tried to kick the pit bull off the lab, but when police arrived, the pit bull was still attacking the lab.

In an attempt to kill the pit bull and save the labrador, a police officer accidentally fatally shot the labrador.

The story on Illinois homepage.net headlines this as a dog fight when it is revealed that the victim dog was an exceedingly well-trained, gentle dog. This was NOT a dog fight. This was an attack by a fighting breed dog on a beloved, cherished and well-trained pet in a supposedly civilized society.

Read more:
The news-Gazette
Illinois homepage.net

Related posts:
Mar 31, 2011 Broadlands: Man Shoots Neighbor's Pit Bull
Aug 27, 2009 Pit bull attacks 80 year old woman
Jun 03, 2009 Pit Bull Attack on little boy
May 05, 2007 Pit bull invades home attacks 85-year-old for 30 minutes, breaks her back

Nov 14, 2012 Chicago stray pit bulls kill cat maul dog attack woman

Hero was attacked by a pit bull

A pair of stray brown and white pit bulls responsible for a string of attacks have Chicago residents worried about their children. The pit bulls have killed a cat, mauled a small dog and attacked a woman who used mace to deter the pair.

The woman who saw the dogs kill the cat called 911, and though she followed the pits to help police locate and secure the pit bulls, no one from the police department or animal control bothered to show up.

Read more:
Bucktown-Wicker Park Patch
Huffington Post Chicago

Related posts:

Oct 10, 2012 Loose aggressive pit bulls menace Humboldt Park resident and her dog

Sep 03, 2012 Pit bull attack 2 days ago in Chicago

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

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

Apr 25, 2012 Dangerous pit bulls on N. Sheffield ave in Chicago

Mar 21, 2012 When animals attack - Pit bulls lead Chicago Bite counts

Jan 12, 2012 There are too many uncontrolled pits in Chicago

Aug 07 2011 Neighborhood Notices Cats Disappearing Fear Dogfighting is Responsible

Nov 12, 2012 Wilmette neighbors band together to sue pit bull owner

Wilmette - Four neighbors, concerned for the safety of their neighborhood, have reluctantly banded together to sue pit bull owner MEGAN ALBRIGHT and her parents.

Her pit bull has gotten out and acted aggressively three times and in a neighborhood where at least 40 children reside, no one wants to wait for an attack to happen.

It is alleged in the lawsuit that MEGAN's father has admitted that the pit bull is "mean" and MEGAN has said that the pit bull can't go to a kennel because it will attack the other animals.

MEGAN is very active in pit bull rescue and contends on her facebook page (which has since been set to private) that the neighbors just don't want a pit bull in the neighborhood and the loose black dog that has been seen in the neighborhood is really a black lab.

John Grady, a neighbor, said, “This is a very sad situation. I really like my neighbors, but “we are not waiting for the first bite, which could mean tragedy for a child.”

Please note that MEGAN ALBRIGHT undoubtedly sees herself as a responsible and knowledgeable owner who deems herself able to educate the public about pit bulls. Meanwhile, her neighborhood is being held hostage by her loose pit bull. It is not pit bull owners that educate people; the pit bulls themselves are educating us.

Read more:
WGNTV Accessed: 2012-11-12. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6C8RY4LKf)

Related posts:
Jul 03, 2012 Suit: Chicago Cop Matthew Bracken failed to stop his pit bull from ‘gruesomely killing’ smaller dog
Apr 18, 2012 Cop suspended over dog attack at Montrose Beach
The Nature of the Beasts: Illinois pit bull bullies
Dec 27, 2011 Wilmette boy treated for injuries after pit bull attack

Nov 07, 2012 Loose pit bulls attack and kill cat un Ukrainian Village

Chicago - "This morning around 8 am Smith Park resident was getting out of her car in the 2500 block of Superior when she observed 2 off-leash pit bulls heading towards her. When she didn't see an owner, she quickly went inside her fence. At this point a stray cat that several neighbors feed crossed their path. They immediately pounced on the cat killing her. Carrying the dead cat, the dogs headed away from the neighbor, so she ran back to her car and started following them."

Read more:
Everyblock

Related Posts:
Oct 10, 2012 Loose aggressive pit bulls menace Humboldt Park resident and her dog

Sep 03, 2012 Pit bull attack 2 days ago in Chicago

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

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

Apr 25, 2012 Dangerous pit bulls on N. Sheffield ave in Chicago

Mar 21, 2012 When animals attack - Pit bulls lead Chicago Bite counts

Jan 12, 2012 There are too many uncontrolled pits in Chicago

Aug 07 2011 Neighborhood Notices Cats Disappearing Fear Dogfighting is Responsible

Nov 01, 2012 Off duty cop kills attacking pit bull

Chicago - After trying to stop a pit bull from mauling a german shepherd by macing it, an off duty police officer shot and killed it in Logan Square on the north side of Chicago.
The german shepherd is expected to survive.

Read more:
CBS Accessed: 2012-11-01. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6BqqdsWkx)

Related posts:
Oct 18, 2012 Pit bull that attacks elderly woman and her dog is shot dead
Jul 13, 2012 Police Shoot, Kill Pit Bull While Breaking Up Illegal Party On West Side
Jun 25, 2012 Elgin police shoot 23 dogs, killing 19, since 2008

Oct 31, 2012 Berwyn Pit bull jumps fence to attack poodle

Berwyn - A pit bull jumped into a neighbor's yard to attack the neighbor's poodle which was bitten on the leg. The poodle's owner was also scratched when protecting his poodle.

YADIRA RODRUIGUEZ, the pit bull's owner, is trying to blame the poodle for the injury to to poodle's owner.

Read more:
mysuburbanlife Accessed: 2012-11-02. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/)

Related posts:

Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets

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 25, 2012 Boomington couple attacked by pit bulls, hospitalized with very serious injuries

Bo, the mauling pit bull, the incompetent pit bull owner
SHANIE DOSS and her other pit bull

UPDATE: Connie Ljams remained in the hospital five days after she was attacked by SHANIE DOSS' pit bull. She was initially listed in critical condition, but has since been upgraded. The aftermath of this mauling has ruined Connie and her husband, Scott's, plans for Christmas. The emotional and physical trauma will be long lasting, but both Connie and Scott are grateful to an unknown man whose actions may have saved their lives.

Bloomington - A bloomington couple delivering phone books to an apartment building were mauled by pit bulls that rushed out of the building as the couple approached. First responders say there was a lot of blood on the ground and the victims' injuries are very serious and both were taken to the hospital.

Watch video of owner SHANIE DOSS describing the attack here.

Bloomington has regular problems with pit bulls and the issue of enacting BSL to protect residents came up most recently this spring in May.

The McLean County Animal Control is going to evaluate the dogs to determine if they're "safe enough to bring home."

For their story, the Pantagraph asked a local no kill shelter to voice their opinion on BSL with predictable reponse.

Bloomington aldermen and the mayor ought to look at some of the over 500 towns and cities that have enacted successful pit bull laws across the US.

Pit Bull Laws Save Lives

Lancaster, CA found that instituting a pit bull ban helped lower gang crime as well as dog attacks.

Pawtucket, RI with a similar size population to Bloomington, has found enormous success with their legislation:

"Holmes says he predicted that it would take two years for Pawtucket to experience the full benefit of the law after it was passed, but the results were actually apparent in half the time.
"It's working absolutely fantastic," said Holmes. "We have not had a pit bull maiming in the city since December of 2004."

The Pawtucket ban is so successful, neighboring Woonsocket is working to institute their own ban.

Read more:
wmbd
msnbc
Pantagraph
UPDATE:
Pantagraph

related posts:
May 25, 2012 Carmi citizens want pit bull ban
May 16, 2012 Bloomington may review pet registration law after pit bull attack
Mar 24, 2009 Recent dog bites put animal safety back in public view

Oct 18, 2012 Pit bull that attacks elderly woman and her dog is shot dead

File photo of another lab attacked by a pit bull with extensive injuries
which are almost exactly like those described in this attack.

Evanston - A woman in her 70s and her labrador retriever mix were attacked by a pit bull. The attack was protracted and when police arrived the pit bull had cornered the lab in a vestibule, and was still attacking it.

A neighbor attempted to stop the pit bull by throwing a brick paver at it, but that did not faze the pit bull. When police arrived, the lab was bleeding heavily and the pit bull was STILL attacking it and the elderly owner.

The owner was bitten multimple times in the leg, and the labrador retriever mix had extensive bites on the neck, back, shoulder and leg. Police shot and killed the attacking pit bull.

The owner of the pit bull has been identified and will probably be cited after the animal Warden has collected evidence.

Read more:
Sun Times
ABC local Accessed: 2012-12-13. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6CsygdCyE)

Related posts:
May 21, 2012 Skokie considers stricter law after 3 dog-on-dog attacks
May 07, 2012 Dog attacks in Skokie lead to ordinance changes
May 07, 2012 Pit bull attack takes precious pet from family
Dec 27, 2011 Wilmette boy treated for injuries after pit bull attack
Aug 08, 2011 Evanston Police want more teeth to proposed dangerous dog ordinance

Oct 10, 2012 Loose aggressive pit bulls menace Humboldt Park resident and her dog

Chicago - Everyblock member reports aggressive pit bulls loose in her neighborhood.
Other commenters share their pit bull attack stories and everyone agrees that calling animal control is useless.
One commenter discovers that the person to call is Ivan Capifali, Deputy Director of Chicago Animal Care and Control at 312-747-1384.
Two suggestions for Mr. Capifali's email address are:
icapifali@cityofchicago.org
ivan.capifali@cityofchicago.org.
Or, you can call 311 and get a reference number that you will need in order to contact CACC at: 312-747-1412.

Read more:
Everyblock

Related posts:
Sep 03, 2012 Pit bull attack 2 days ago in Chicago
May 22, 2012 Chicago Police warn of Vicious Pit bull on the loose in neighborhood
May 17, 2012 Aggressive Pit Bulls Argyle x Keystone in Chicago
Apr 25, 2012 Dangerous pit bulls on N. Sheffield ave in Chicago
Mar 21, 2012 When animals attack - Pit bulls lead Chicago Bite counts
Jan 12, 2012 There are too many uncontrolled pits in Chicago
Aug 07 2011 Neighborhood Notices Cats Disappearing Fear Dogfighting is Responsible

Sep 28, 2012 Ottawa Pit bull Kills elderly miniature poodle; euthanized

RIP elder poodle (file photo)

Ottawa - A pit bull terrier mix was euthanized Thursday in Streator after it attacked and killed an older toy poodle.
According to Gary Wind, La Salle County Animal Control officer, the incident happened around 9 a.m. at the James Street Recreation Area.
Wind said tissue samples were sent for testing as the pit bull also bit a human.

Read more:
The Times

Related posts
Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets

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

Aug 25, 2010 LaSalle Boy Attacked and Killed By Dogs on Farm

Sep 25, 2012 Dekalb pit bull kills dog - woman seeks stronger laws for dogs that attack pets

DeKalb - "Lilly meant the world to Doris Sermovitz."

Lilly, a miniature schnauzer, helped Sernovitz lose 70 pounds. Lilly gave her a reason to get up and go for walks which helped her lose weight. Then, during one of their walks, a pit bull escaped from a yard and mauled Lilly who died in Sernovitz' arms. Servovitz was bitten by the pit bull.

"She also has trouble sleeping at night. Sernovitz’s boyfriend used to place Lilly on her in bed, and she would hold her as she fell asleep. Now, she has nightmares about dog attacks."

The pit bull had attacked a husky previously. The pit bull owner has been unusually compassionate. He said he had the pit bull put down because he didn't want this to happen again and he said he realized that it would have been difficult for Sernovitz to see the pit bull remain in her neighborhood. He also sent her a condolence card with his phone number.

Police chief Gene Lowery stated that owners can only be penalized if a dog in public maims or kills a person and that there is no recourse in Illinois code for dogs attacking other dogs.

He is wrong. The pit bull had previously attacked a husky, and could have been designated dangerous for that offense.

In addition, Lowery states that nothing can be done unless a dog maims or kills a person. He is wrong again. A dog can be deemed dangerous if it "behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal or a dog that, without justification, bites a person and does not cause serious physical injury."

Illinois law also states that the owner of a dog is liable for any injury caused by a dog. And state law does not limit municipalities' power to enact ordinances to further control and regulate dogs.

Lowery states that he supports legislation that only takes effect after a person or pet is attacked rather than acting proactively to prevent further horrors described here.

DeKalb is a home rule municipality which means that if residents of Dekalb prefer to not have pit bulls in their community, they may regulate pit bulls by banning them or by mandating that owners be responsible by requiring any or all of the following:
1. One million dollar liability insurance policy on the pit bull
2. All pit bulls be spayed or neutered
3. Secure fencing that might include 6 ft privacy fence and 6 sided kennels with a top and a cement
4. mandatory muzzling

Many municipalities fear two issues related to breed specific legislation concerning pit bull. The first problem they fear is pit bull identification. However, over 600 municipalities across the US have breed specific legislation and have been successfully able to enact a procedure for identifying pit bulls. These ordinances have occasionally been challenged in court, but have withstood those challenges.

The second concern is the cost associated with enforcing BSL. Best Friends Animal Society has created a wildly inaccurate "calculator" to scare municipalities with unbelievably fantastic costs. The BSL calculator has been proven to be bogus.

Recently, that BSL calculator calculated that it cost 3 million dollars a year to enforce the 28 year old pit bull ban in Miami-Dade county. When asked about this, the head animal control officer said that their entire budget is less than 3 million dollars and that enforcing BSL only cost 2 to 3 percent of their entire budget.

That does not seem to high a price to pay to protect residents from the horror of pit bull maulings on people and on beloved pets. We all can agree that Doris Semovitz lost more than a pet and more than a companion that day she lost Lilly.

Daily Chronicle

Comment after story:

Diane D., Sycamore, Il (dkd607) wrote on September 25, 2012 2:46 p.m. ...

My Sheltie and I were attacked last summer at the Sycamore cemetary by a pitbull. Thankfully with the help of many neighbors we survived. Fortunately the pitbull was put to sleep because that area has many children and other dogs and obviously the pitbull could not be trusted. I did not get compensated by the owner and that is wrong. If you own a dog, you take full responsibilty for that animal. No animal can be trusted and owners need to be liable for them. I am sorry Ms. Sernovitz for your loss, I know what you are going through.

file photos of the breeds attacked

Sep 17, 2012 Pit bull jumps fence to bite 6 month old Yorkie in own yard

File photo of Yorkie puppy

Midlothian - Police responded to a call about a pit bull biting another dog in the 3800 block of 153rd Street. At the scene, officers located the pit bull, known as Princess, in the backyard of a home, but they were unable to catch it. The dog jumped a fence into another yard, where it bit a 6-month-old Yorkie, named Sparkles, on the leg, breaking the skin.

Sparkles was taken to the University Park animal clinic for treatment.

Charles R. Wilke, 37, of the 3800 block of W. 153rd Street, Princess' owner, was cited for allowing the dog to run at-large, and issued a Nov. 5 court date. A Cook County Animal Control Animal Bite Report was completed and faxed to animal control offices.

Read more:
Oak Forest Patch Accessed: 2012-09-19. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6AnaZKKMr)

Sep 13, 2012 Berwyn pit bulls attack woman, police officer and kill small dog

UPDATE: Sep 19, 2012
Berwyn police had issued at least 29 citations to the owners of the pit bull that killed a small dog in the two years previous to the attack. NORMA ARGUETA and FERNANDO TREVINO of 2640 Ridgeland ave. had abused their dogs, terrorized their neighborhood, failed to pay their fines, and Berwyn police failed to take the pit bulls away before a small dog was killed and the owner sent to the emergency room.

Berwyn - A pit bull crawled under a fence to attack a small dog being walked by a woman. The woman was attacked when she tried to protect her dog. The small dog was killed.

When police arrived, instead of immediately shooting the pit bull, police attempted to capture it and a police officer was also injured. Once police had determined that the pit bull was extremely aggressive and an "immediate threat to everyone in the area," police fatally shot it.

At the same time, a second pit bull jumped over a five foot fence and was also fatally shot.

Police Chief James Ritz said that the pit bulls were very aggressive and it was a very dangerous situation. Police are looking at charging the pit owners, but does not yet know if the charges will be criminal charges or local dog ordinance charges.

Read more:
Chicago Sun Times Accessed: 2012-09-14. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Afn2H3mK)
Chicago Tribune Accessed: 2012-09-14. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Afn7n7lT)

My Suburban Life Accessed: 2012-09-20. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6ApjQ1L2k)

Sep 12, 2012 Thank you Virginia for keeping weapons grade pit bulls from coming to Elgin, Illinois

Loudoun VA - Tremain Dene Johnson, 44, of Lithonia, Ga., and Harry Ortice Puckett, 33, of Elgin, Ill., are charged with importing pet dogs into the Commonwealth of Virginia from another state without certificate of veterinary inspection, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The men were stopped on the Dulles Greenway when an Loudoun Animal Control officer...found the men were in possession of 10 dogs that appeared to be pit bulls or pit bull mixes of varying ages and degrees of health.

“By law we can seize animals if we feel their health is a direct or immediate threat. These dogs met that criteria and we had grounds for seizing,” said Adrienne Burton, chief of Loudoun County Animal Control.

Read more:
Loudoun Times Accessed: 2012-09-12. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/6AdaQ281m)

Sep 12, 2012 The Troubled Past Of Teen Pit Bull Victim Charged In Fatal Highland Park Crash

UPDATE: Carly Rousso who was 18 when she crashed into a family killing a 5 year old girl in 2012 has been released from prison after serving 3.5 years of her 5 year sentence.

Highland Park - A teen-aged girl hit a group of people with her car killing a five-year-old girl. Years before, the driver had been a victim of a pit bull attack that left her with scars, and psychological problems which led to substance abuse.

Last week, Rousso, 18, was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of an intoxicating compound after a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl in Highland Park and injured her mother and two brothers.

On Tuesday — the same day the funeral was held for the girl, Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento — Rousso was briefly jailed before she was released on bond with a curfew and an agreement not to drive or consume any intoxicants. During a court appearance, her lawyer also revealed that she is receiving outpatient treatment, though he did not specify for what.

Carly Rousso said she was afraid to sleep. After the Highland Park teenager was attacked by a pit bull three years ago, she had frequent nightmares in which an animal — often a dog but always something with teeth — would attack her.

She switched schools; her grades fell. She reported hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, according to court records filed in a lawsuit against the pit bull's owner.

Court records reveal that Rousso has had past struggles with substance use and emotional problems that stretch back years. Her family claimed in a lawsuit against the pit bull owner responsible for her attack that the attack led to many of her troubles. She also was later cited for marijuana possession and as a result participated in a 12-step rehab program, court records show. The information gathered from court records reveals a more complex portrait of the woman charged in the Labor Day crash.

Through a family spokesman, Rousso's parents declined to comment about the pit bull attack or their daughter's past struggles.

On May 1, 2009, Rousso was visiting a friend's home in Highland Park when a pit bull her friend's brother was walking on a leash suddenly attacked her without provocation, according to the lawsuit.

Read more:
UPDATE Chicago Tribune Archive
Chicago Tribune
http://trib.in/1EP3mKm

Related posts:

Jun 26, 2009 Highland Park, Elgin consider restrictions on pit bulls
May 15, 2009 Highland Park Crumbles On Pit-Bull Ban Failing Victim
May 4, 2009 Highland Park Mulls Pit Bull Ban After Attack

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

RIP Powder

Oak Forest - Bonnie Fouts-Bell, owner of two American Eskimo dogs, was horrified to find that her 15 year old male, Powder, was in the neighbor's yard with the neighbor's pit bull. Powder had been so severely mauled, the pit bull broke his neck, that the had to be euthanized.

The veterinarian that saw Powder after the mauling said that he believed Powders injuries were consistent with being dragged under the fence, but could not state this with certainty.

Even though the owner of the pit bull, RAUL BUSTOS, was not at home at the time, having left the pit bull unattended in the yard all day, he feels that the 15 year old dog must have wriggled under the fence into his yard to be killed by the pit bull.

BUSTOS also criticizes Power's owner because she has sprayed both her dogs and his dog when they have barking matches at the fence. An interesting question to pose to BUSTOS would be "What did you do to stop the barking at the fence?"

Police chief Greg Anderson said that they could only send letters of recommendations to the owners to prevent the pit bull from killing again. Anderson told Bouts-Bell that it is she who should make her fence pit bull proof.

Oak Forest Patch Accessed: 2012-09-10. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/6AaLRmYl2)

Related posts:
List of Invasion Attacks
These are attacks where the dog invades a home, place of business, occupied building or securely enclosed yard expressly to attack. Attacks in which the pit bull pulls another animal through their fence in an attempt to kill them are also considered invasion attacks. Invasion attacks by dogs other than pit bulls are virtually non-existent.