Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Aug 13, 2012 Family tries to recover after fatal attack on pet

Villa Park — Julie Ketter’s 11-year old daughter hasn’t been able to sleep. At night she’s kept awake by nightmares, and during the day she’s afraid to go outside or ride her bike.

Her mother pleaded with the owner to get rid of the dog because her daughter is scared to go to the park and there worries that neighborhood children will be safe. It is unlikely, however, since that owner is breeding the dog and has a litter of pit bull puppies.

At this point, pit bull advocates will say, "He should be responsible." or "Ban irresponsible owners!" or something equally juvenile and ineffectual.

The real question for the grown ups is: What can anyone realistically do at this point in the situation to either stop Munez from owning pit bulls or force him to be responsible (and intelligent).

Read more:
Villa Park Argus Accessed: 2012-08-14. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69uxsHktg)

Related posts:
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 06, 2012 Police: South Elgin officer kills pit bull attacking family

This pit bull attack occurred in the small Village of South Elgin which is not to be confused with the City of Elgin. South Elgin has a median household income of $80,879; 3% of the population lives below the poverty level; has a 90.6% home ownership rate.

Sgt. Craig Steurer

South Elgin - Police Sgt. Craig Steurer was called to a dog attack in progress in a South Elgin home. He said he could tell by the call that this was no "normal" bite and release kind of dog attack.

When he arrived, he found the woman faintly crying for help, lying motionless face down on the floor with a pit bull clamped on her arm. Steurer reported that she was completely covered in smeared blood.

The pit bull was "actively chewing and pulling on her right arm."

He managed to get the pit bull off her, but when it appeared menacing, he shot the pit in the head.

Sgt Steurer is being hailed as a hero. This is not the first time he has had to shoot a pit bull to stop it from attacking. Last year he shot a pit bull that was biting the heel of a fellow officer on duty.

He said that what went through his mind was, "The damage these things can do."

The woman's niece and nephew had closed themselves in a bedroom, but the nephew had also been bitten.

Initial reports said that both the woman and the nephew had been taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin and later had to be transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hosptial in Park Ridge with serious injuries.

Courier News Accessed: 2012-08-08. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69lvSUKAI)

Daily Herald Accessed: 2012-08-08. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69lvPExHR)

Trib local Elgin Accessed: 2012-08-09. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/69nhEUWY7)

Aug 05, 2012 Union Grove allows dangerous pit bull to go to Illinois

RIP Adorable Milo

Union Grove - A pit bull that is known to police as one that gets loose and has caused unspecified problems in the past has killed an adorable Bichon Frise puppy while his traumatised owner watched.

Union Grove authorities, not having had the backbone to remove the dog from the owner (who is now incarcerated) in the past, allowed this to happen. They also, lacking a backbone, instead of responsibly putting the killer pit bull down, allowed it to be removed to Illinois. Thank you, Union Grove!

I used to love Wisconsin, but after this, and reading in the comments section that someone from Racine felt it unjustified to banish Princess the killer pit bull just for one measly little puppy, I don't know if I can stand to go back there.

What kind of people put pit bulls before people and normal dogs? It is time that town leaders and authorities be reminded that these cowardly actions send far reaching messages to the people you were elected to protect through governance. Have some backbone and show families that you're not going to let felonious pit bull owners run the show.

AND STOP SENDING KILLER PIT BULLS TO ILLINOIS! WE ARE ALREADY INFESTED WITH ENOUGH.

Aug 01, 2012 Pit bull kills small dog in Villa Park, owner cited

The question is: What kind of community do we want to live in? One that safeguards and protects children and pets? Or one that values dogs that are an immediate threat to living things if they escape their yard over children? The way local governments respond to tragedies like this will answer that question. Who wants to live in a community that values pit bulls over children and gentle pets?

If he wants to do something for me, he should get rid of his dog because now I’m afraid for the kids in our neighborhood. I don’t want that dog in our neighborhood. Julie Ketter

Beloved Daisy was attacked and killed in front of Delaney Ketter, 11, and several other children

Daisy, a 3 year old bichon frise-poodle mix, was killed by a pit bull
on Sunday in Villa Park. photo courtesy of Julie Ketter

Julie Ketter says that all the children in her Villa Park neighborhood knew her dog, Daisy.

Kids often would play with the 3-year-old bichon frise-poodle mix. Young girls would even dress the small dog like a doll and push her around in a baby stroller.

“Daisy would just let them do whatever,” Ketter said. “She was kind of the neighborhood dog.”

Daisy was with a small group of children on Sunday morning when she was attacked and killed by a pit bull that came from a neighboring backyard. The kids, including Ketter’s 11-year-old daughter, witnessed the fatal confrontation, which also left a young girl with minor injuries.

by Robert Sanchez
Read more:
Daily Herald

Aug 01, 2012 Bolingbrook pit bull attacks police and shot and killed

Bolingbrook - Police responding to a fight report were attacked by a pit bull that was released from the home. The pit bull was shot and killed.

Read more:
Bolingbrook Patch

Jul 25, 2012 Springfield woman attacked by pit bull

Springfield - The victim said the two got into a fight and he punched her in the face with a closed fist. She ran outside, but Bocanegra-Flores allegedly grabbed her by the hair and slammed her onto the pavement.

The woman said the pit bull became excited by the attack and started biting her ear and neck.

Police said the dog tore off part of the woman’s ear lobe, which had to be stitched back together.

Read more:
State Journal Register Accessed: 2012-07-26. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69Rnc56IM)

Jul 25, 2012 Galesburg Pit bull attacks mail carrier - Postal official says attack are up and wants city to step in

Galesburg - After city letter carrier Joe Weech was bitten by a pit bull during his delivery route, members of the Galesburg Post Office are hoping the city will take steps to help prevent similar attacks in the future.

It’s not unusual to deal with unruly dogs while delivering mail, Weech said. He averages one or two encounters with dogs per month, although he said he has noticed an upswing in the past few years.

“I’ve had a lot of close calls,” Weech said. “But the dog bites (overall) are getting to be more serious, and I’ve probably faced more dog situations in the last two years than I have in the previous 10.”

Read more:
Register Mail Accessed: 2012-07-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/69QacR65y)

Related posts:
Oct 08, 2011 Tom Loewy: A plea to put a leash on bad dogs
Aug 16, 2010 Pit Bulls Jump Fence, Attack Girl and Pup
Jan 04, 2010 Galesburg Shelter Wants Mandatory Spay & Neuter for pit bulls' welfare