Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois: McLean co

Showing posts with label McLean co. Show all posts

Jun 11, 2014 UPDATE Bloomington Pit Bull Owner on Trial for Felony Reckless Conduct For Mauling

UPDATE: SHALAYNE DOSS received 30 months probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and to by $88,000 in compensation for hospitalization (which the victim will never see.) She may not own animals. A 60-day jail term has been stayed pending a remission hearing.
UPDATE: SHALAYNE DOSS A Bloomington woman was convicted Wednesday of reckless conduct in the October 2012 injury of a woman attacked by her pit bull.
Jurors were not aware that the dog was a pit bull because Rumley successfully argued in a pretrial hearing that identification of the breed could be prejudicial to the defendant.
UPDATE: We will have an opportunity to see how familiar pit bull apologist talking points go down with a jury in this trial. Shalayne Doss said that the pit bull that rushed out of an apartment to attack and severely maul Connie Ijams and her husband on the street was "just doing what he's supposed to do, protecting her and the apartment."
And, in reply to police officers warning her that if the pit bull escaped her control and presented a danger to anyone, they would be forced to shoot it, she said that shooting the pit "was like shooting one of her children." This is the "child" that just severely mauled a woman and was acting like it wanted to attack police.

Bloomington - A McLean county jury is considering felony charges against SHALAYNE DOSS whose pit bull, Bo, attacked and severely mauled Connie Ijams. Ijams spent 10 days in the hospital and suffered a long recuperation from the attack.

Doss bred the mauling pit bull a couple times before the attack and sold the puppies as a way to make a few extra bucks. its offspring are still living in the Bloomington area.

This is the second report in a week describing Illinois coming down on pit bull owners and actually trying to force pit bull owners to be responsible for their pit bulls' attacks. Just 3 days ago, TANYA HOLLAND's jail sentence was handed down.

These prosecutions come amid many reports from counties across Illinois describing an epidemic scale rises in dog bites and attacks in which pit bulls are always the sole or main element of the problem.

Madison county and Saline county are the two most recent counties to describe out-or-control bite problems and problems with pets being systematically mauled to death, however, cities and counties all over the state have been reporting pit bulls problems in recent years. Bloomington has had problems with pit bulls going back to at least 2008.

Hopefully, ANTHONY CONCIALDI has been made aware that one slip up with his vicious dog will result in felony charges, and Illinois seems to be pursuing them these days.

Apr 22, 2014 LeRoy Pit Bulls Send Two to Hospital

LEROY — Two LeRoy residents were treated for minor dog bites after trying to break up a fight between two pit bulls in their home at about 11 a.m. Sunday.

LeRoy Police Chief Jason Williamson said LeRoy Police and the LeRoy Ambulance Service were called to the residence but the owners had secured the dogs prior to the arrival of the first responders. One adult female and a juvenile were transported to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, for treatment. An adult male who also lives at the residence was also bitten, but declined medical treatment. The names of the victims were not released.

The residents reported the two dogs were fighting each other in the basement and bit the residents when they tried to break up the fight.

McLean County Animal Control responded to the scene and took the dogs into custody. The dogs will be evaluated over a seven-day period.

Read more:
Pantagraph

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

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 30, 2011 Police: 3-year-old bitten by pit bull

By Pantagraph staff

BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington police say a three-year old was bitten by a pit bull in the 500 block of North Roosevelt Avenue at about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

An ambulance was also dispatched, but the family refused transport, say police.

Injuries to the child were not thought to be serious.

Pantagraph Accessed: 2012-01-16. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64kUO6DbS)

Mar 22, 2010 Police probe report of aggressive dog, damage

CARLOCK – A Jeep and a pickup truck hood were damaged when a young man, avoiding a charging pit bull, jumped on them to avoid attack, said McLean County sheriff's police.
The dog was on the loose March 13 at Lockwood and Poston streets in Stonewall Gardens in Carlock.
The report was not filed until this weekend after the vehicle owners and the victim, who works for McLean County's YouthBuild-got together.
The canine aggressively charged

The Pantagraph

Accessed: 2012-01-04. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64SGlGHFw)

Mar 24, 2009 Recent dog bites put animal safety back in public view

"In a small town, pit bulls should probably be banned," said the boy's mother, Crystal McConnell. "It's just too dangerous."

Bloomington – In early February, 10-year-old Justin Guffy of Clinton needed 70 stitches to close a wound over his eye after he was bitten by a family-owned pit bull dog that was tied up.
DeWitt County animal control administrator Tamara McFeeters said the dog was up to date on all required shots but it was the second such attack by the dog.
"In a small town, pit bulls should probably be banned," said the boy's mother, Crystal McConnell. "It's just too dangerous."

Read more:
Pantagraph.com Accessed: 2012-01-04. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64S6RTA8z)

Jul 08, 2008 Man bit by pit bull during argument on near west side

Bloomington - Police said Tuesday that one man was apparently cut with a knife and another bitten in the face by a pit bull after the pair got into an argument Monday night with a knife-wielding man on the city's near west side.

Read more:
Pantagraph
Accessed: 2012-01-04. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64SFGw8bJ)

Sep 25, 2007 Pit Bulls Invade Home Kill Pet Cat in Front of Children

Letter to the Editor:
I have been a long time supporter for the ASPCA, Humane Society and other animal-caring organizations.

When I read the story in the Pantagraph Sept. 19 about loose pit bulls breaking into the house and mauling one of their four helpless cats to death, while the mom and her children helplessly looked on, it made me so upset and angry.

We're always hearing of horror stories involving these pit bulls, mainly because of irresponsible owners who have given this breed their bad reputation. That's why in this small community, we need to make a example of this heart-breaking incident and hold the dog owners responsible for the grief they have caused this family, their children and the family's own pets.

What's the problem here, when responsible pet owners can't even keep their own pets safe in their own home?

This horrific incident by the way, happened in Meadows, which is only 10 miles down the road from us here in Chenoa.

This needs to be properly addressed in order to avoid any further pain, heartache and needless cruelty in the future, for those who cannot defend themselves! I am a concerned pet owner and loyal supporter of all our animal welfare organizations.

Cheryl A. Sievers
Chenoa

Read more:
Pantagraph

Accessed: 2012-02-25. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/65jCE8xj1)

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.