Jun 21, 2016 Pit Bull Attacks Second Child; Declared Vicious

Charleston - A judge on Tuesday concluded that there's "no question" that a dog that bit two children is vicious and would continue to be a safety threat if allowed to live.

Charleston is the home of Eastern Illinois University
They don't need pit bulls

Coles County Circuit Judge Brien O'Brien said he felt he had no choice but to order euthanization for the 4-year-old pit bull that most recently bit a 9-year-old child on April 12.

The dog also bit a 3-year-old child at the home of its owner, Kathy Daubs, on Woodlawn Drive in Mattoon in May 2014. O'Brien also noted the recent report that the dog was running loose, which led to authorities' efforts to have it euthanized.

"My concern is about public safety," O'Brien said. "How do I know it's not going to escape again? How do I know if there's not going to be another child that suffers the consequences?"

About a week after the most recent incident, Coles County animal shelter officials deemed it dangerous. That meant it could only be returned to Daubs if she followed certain conditions, including keeping the dog confined and muzzled.

In court Tuesday, Daubs said she kept the dog muzzled after it was returned to her. She said it was also confined to her home but got out of her yard on April 30 because someone moved a piece of fencing, which she since repaired.

The dog's running loose led the Coles County State's Attorney's Office to file the petition seeking the vicious dog designation and euthanization.

Assistant State's Attorney Jesse Danley said the two incidents showed a "pattern," as both times young children were bitten in the face.

"The fear is this dog goes for the cheek next time and gets a kid by the throat," he said.

During the most recent incident, the dog was on a leash but managed to get away from Daubs and bite the child, Danley added. Noting the dog's recent escape from Daubs' yard, he said euthanization was the only guarantee it wouldn't bite another child.

"Unfortunately, Ms. Daubs can't handle this dog," Danley said. "A pit bull with the capability to kill someone doesn't belong in her custody."

The more recent incident also took place near Daubs' house, when the dog bit a child on a bicycle. Daubs claimed the child got too close to her and the dog but other accounts indicated they were separated.

With the 2014 incident, Daubs claimed she pulled the dog by its collar when it jumped on the child and thought the child was injured by being hit by the dog's head. There was evidence of puncture wounds and other indications of a bite, however.

Read more:
Journal Gazette & Times-Courrier


Related posts:
Apr 26, 2016 Mattoon Pit Bull Deemed Dangerous After Biting 2nd Girl in Two Years
Nov 12, 2010 Mattoon Woman Shaken After Pit Bull Kills Daughter's Chihuahua

Apr 26, 2016 Mattoon Pit Bull Deemed Dangerous After Biting 2nd Girl in Two Years

Mattoon - A pit bull that has bitten 2 girls in two years has been declared dangerous.  The owner, KATHY DAUBS, initially had said she would surrender the pit to be euthanized, but then changed her mind.

The pit bull bit the child when she was riding her bike down the street with her mother.  DAUBS claims that when the victim’s mother spoke some words it excited DAUBS’  pit bull so much that DAUBS lost control and allowed the pit bull to bite the child.

In 2014, the pit bull bit a 3-year old girl who was visiting with her mother.  When DAUBS opened the front door, the pit bull immediately bit her.

Commenters are outraged that a biting dog can stay with the owner and actually gets a third free bite before it can be removed and put down.  Another commenter said that the same pit bull had pinned her dog.

Read more:
Owner of dog that bit child to try to comply with county restrictions
County trying to have dog deemed dangerous

Related posts:
Nov 12, 2010 Mattoon Woman Shaken After Pit Bull Kills Daughter's Chihuahua

Nov 12, 2010 Mattoon Woman Shaken After Pit Bull Kills Daughter's Chihuahua

"We do have a history of violence with pit bulls in town,"
said Deputy Chief Jason Taylor of theMattoon Police Department




Mattoon - Emma Monson has nightmares about a dog attack Friday just a short distance from her home.

"I still see that pit bull clamping down on the Chihuahua and killing it," Monson said.

On Friday morning, Monson took the tiny dog, owned by her daughter, for a morning walk just
as she had done many times before. Then she looked to the north and saw a dog jump over a
wooden fence and come running toward her.

"I would take my daughter's dog over to the neighbor's and it and another neighbor's dog would
lick noses. I've been doing it for a long time," Monson said. "Then I looked Friday and a pit bull
was climbing the wooden fence. It came running over toward the Chihuahua and I tried to hold it
up to save it. I was kicking at the pit bull and it was jumping on me."

In moments, the pit bull caught the smaller dog in its jaws and quickly killed it. Larry Dennis, a
neighbor, heard Monson's screams for help and came running over.

"She was yelling, “It's killing my dog!' I ran over to her and noticed her bloody hand. The pit
bull was holding the little dog in its mouth like a toy," Dennis recalled. "When I approached the
pit bull it backed off but it wouldn't let go of the other dog. I pulled on the leash (Monson had for
the Chihuahua) but it snapped."

The pit bull retreated to a nearby tree and toyed with its dead prey, causing more horror for
Monson. Police were called, and Dennis and his wife treated Monson's wounds, including
multiple bruises and a claw puncture that opened a vein on her hand. She was later taken by her
husband to the emergency room of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

Police arrived and animal control personnel came to secure the pit bull dog, officials said; they
did so without difficulty, according to officials. They took the dog to the Coles County Animal
Rescue and Education Center, where it is quarantined for 10 days.

Police gave a citation to Bruce E. Wilson Jr., the dog's owner, for harboring a vicious animal. That
is a city ordinance violation that includes the possibility of a fine.

Wilson said he is sorry for the incident, but cannot understand how or why his pit bull jumped
the high security fence at his home.

"He had never been aggressive toward other dogs," Wilson said of the 2-year-old black and white
pit bull he will request be euthanized. "The reason I put up that fence is because I do have dogs
here. I would never put anyone in jeopardy over my dogs."

Unfortunately, this is not first go-around with this breed of dogs, according to Mattoon Police
Department.

"We do have a history of violence with pit bulls in town," said Deputy Chief Jason Taylor of the
Mattoon Police Department. "And officers have heard over and over from owners, ‘My dog
won't bite anyone.' The dog might be gentle toward them and their families, but not always with
people passing by."

Read more:
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
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Related posts:

Apr 26, 2016 Mattoon Pit Bull Deemed Dangerous After Biting 2nd Girl in Two Years