Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Jan. 09, 2012 Cops: Police dog bitten by pit bull, owner ticketed

Chicago - "Vvorra, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois canine partner of Chicago Police Officer Kevin Keel, was attacked by an unleashed pit bull in the 1400 block of South Clark Street, escaping with a minor thigh wound and a scarred muzzle, Keel said.

As the two walked along the street, Keel said they came up on a make-shift shelter around 4:10 p.m. Friday. He said he called out to announce himself and his dog as they passed the structure, but two unleashed pit bulls came out charging toward them.

The larger one of the two pit bulls, named Blue G, went for Vvorra’s nose and then sunk its teeth into her right rear thigh. But the younger one, which was half the size of Blue G, did not bite Keel or Vvorra, who was on the leash, and seemed to be there for support, Keel said."

"Keel said Vvorra did not fight Blue G back, and he broke the two dogs apart as the owner of the biting dog, Latina Griffin, came out. He then rushed Vvorra to an emergency treatment center in the 2200 block of West Harrison Street."

"Vvorra was out of work for two days and has scars on her muzzle but otherwise is doing fine. Keel, who has worked with Vvorra for a year and a half, said it was hard to watch his dog being attacked, but he is glad that Vvorra did not get any permanent physical damage."

Jan 05, 2012 Pit Bull confronts city worker in alley

Leah Hope

CHICAGO -- A pit bull confronted a city Streets and Sanitation worker in an alley Wednesday morning, just two days after two unleashed pit bulls mauled a jogger on the city's South Side.

Read more:
ABC Local

Accessed: 2012-01-11.(Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64cdAK0TH)

Jan 02, 2012 Lakefront jogger critically injured by pit bulls: 'They wouldn't let the man go'

CHICAGO - A 62-year-old Chicago man was critically injured Monday morning when two 70-pound pit bull terriers mauled him while he was jogging along Lake Michigan, police said.

UPDATE - Finley was conscious all the way to Stroger Hospital and then went into shock. With a huge amount of blood loss and damage to muscles and tendons, doctors were not able to save part of his left leg, but they were able to save Finley's life.

"I want to be able to walk again and to be able to use my arm again," said Finley.

Finley says he wants to run again, a hobby he took up just 10 years ago. Finley says he also wants to work on erasing the mental image of the attacks. He says he replays it over and over in his head.

Doctors credit Finley's incredible physical and mental strength for his survival.

Read more:
ABC local - UPDATE Accessed: 2012-01-18. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64mrsNbXX)

Chicago Tribune - Lakefront jogger critically injured by pit bulls: 'They wouldn't let the man go'
Accessed: 2012-01-02. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64Oyo4CBn)
CBS News - Chicago jogger critically hurt in pit bull attack

Accessed: 2012-01-02. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64OzHu8db)

NBC Chicago Accessed: 2012-01-02. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64P0DvDRj)

Chicago Tribune - Pit bulls' owner faces fines after attack on lakefront jogger

Accessed: 2012-01-06. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64TuTfnVF)

State Journal-Register Accessed: 2012-01-06. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64TudssNf)

Dec 30, 2011 Irresponsible Owner's Pit Bull with Bite History Shot While Wandering Neighborhood

Mary Gholston had an un-spayed pit bull terrier with a bite history that she routinely let outside to wander the neighborhood. Gholston admits to the dog having one litter of puppies.
On Christmas day, while it was off property, unattended and uncontrolled, someone in the neighborhood shot it.
And Brian Stanley of the Herald Tribune paints this most incredibly irresponsible owner as a victim. Why should a neighborhood be held hostage by a free roaming pit bull with a bite history?

Dog’s Christmas Day slaying ‘so cruel’
By Brian Stanley bstanley@stmedianetwork.com

Joliet Township - It was around 11:15 a.m. when she opened the back door of her house in the 200 block of Louis Road so Angel could go out into the yard. “She’d go to the bathroom by the fence and then sometimes go next door, but she never ran around and would come back,” Gholston said.
Read more:
Herald News
Accessed: 2011-12-31. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/64LnFqz9h)

Dec 27, 2011 Wilmette boy treated for injuries after pit bull attack

Wilmette - A Wilmette dog owner was cited after her pit bull attacked a 13-year-old boy on Christmas Eve.

The boy was taken to Evanston Hospital for treatment of injuries to his left triceps, upper right torso, both legs and buttocks, according to a police report. The injuries were not life-threatening, but resulted in lacerations, punctures and bruises to his body and led doctors to X-ray his chest for possible broken ribs.

Trib local Accessed: 2011-12-27. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64G73LgHN)

Dec 20, 2011 Arlington Hgts. toughens penalties for dangerous animals following pit bull attack

The attack that inspired this new dangerous dog legislation involved two unleashed pit bulls that attacked a leashed poodle/labrador retreiver mix off property and unprovoked.

Arlington Heights - Previously, a dangerous animal would need to be convicted in three or more physical attacks before a court could rule to put the animal to sleep or order the owner to pay a fine, said Robin Ward, manager of the village legal department.

Now, if the first attack is serious enough, the dog can be destroyed.

Daily Herald Accessed: 2011-12-21.(Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/646wrHPYQ)

Dec 19, 2011 Dogs Attack Students During Recess as SW Suburban Elementary

So, a pit bull and a pekingese attack school children...Don't miss the part where the reporter says a teacher kicked "one of the dogs" that had knocked a child down. Wonder if that was the pekingese?

Evergreen Park - Three first-grade students at an elementary school in south west suburban Evergreen Park were at recess Tuesday when stray dogs attacked. Two faculty members came to their rescue.

Two dogs, a pit bull and a Pekingese, escaped from a house in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood community and wandered to Southeast Elementary School at 9800 S. Francisco Ave., according to police reports.

WLS Accessed: 2011-12-19. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/643t7gnUG)

Chicago Sun Times Accessed: 2011-12-20. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/645OE9mkH)