Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Feb 21, 2012 Elgin police kill pit bull after it attacked dog

Thanks to the work of Best Friends Animal Society and Ledy Vankavage, Christian Diaz could harrass his neighbors with his pit bull no less than 7 times before the pit was shot and killed. In the last two years 15 out of the 16 dogs shot by police in Elgin were pit bulls.

Rocco

By Tara García Mathewson

Elgin police shot and killed a violent pit bull Monday after it attacked a neighbor’s dog
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Christian Diaz, 19, 300 block South Weston Avenue, is the owner of the attacking pit bull and was bit by his own dog trying to break up the fight, police said.
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Charges are pending against Diaz for his dog’s behavior. Diaz...has already been found liable seven times in the last two months for animal complaints, according to Theriault.

The most recent complaint against (Rocco) ... involved the same family whose dog was attacked Monday, Theriault said.

Read more;
Daily Herald Accessed: 2012-02-23. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/65febnj9K)
Trib local

Feb 21, 2012 Pit bull attacks Two Dogs in Yorkville

Yorkville - A loose pit bull attacked some dogs and injured two of them.

Find My Accident

Feb 07, 2012 Pit bull mauls Lake co. board member's dog

Waukegan – “Last Thursday between 8:30 and 9 o’clock, I took my three little dogs outside,” Hewitt said Tuesday. “I had them on a leash on my front lawn so they could do their business....”
Before she knew it, Hewitt said, the dog had her 14-pound bischon Maltese, Cindy, in its jaws.
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... Hewitt said she finds herself struggling to feel comfortable again in the neighborhood where she’s lived for two decades.

“Our lives have changed. I’m afraid to go outside. My husband has to go with me,” she said. “And when we take Cindy out, you can tell she’s scared, too..."

Hopefully this Lake County Board member can effect some changes in her home town of 20 years to make all normal, pet dogs safe from dogs that were bred to attack other dogs - pit bulls.

By Dan Moran
Read more:
Lake County News-Sun

Accessed: 2012-02-08. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/65Ij09uYH)

Feb 04, 2012 Pit bull kills chihuahua in Riverton

Riverton – The woman and her son were walking their chihuahua on north 5th street, when a dog described as a pitbull "ran up to them aggressively." The woman shielded her son and also tried to protect her own dog, but the attacking dog killed hers as she held it in her arms.

WICS Accessed: 2012-02-04. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/65CbMTBoa)

Jan 29, 2012 Pit bull knocks down owner of small dog

The first dog bounded onto my back and knocked me to my knees as I scrambled to hold onto my terrified dog.

Every Block Chicago

Aurelia and all of Iowa knows how to deal with Chicago lobbyists interfering with their right to home rule.

Read this Chicago-related story that seems to show an organized plan to defeat a pit bull ban in the small town of Aurelia, IA. You will see some of the same players from the CACC post.

Exerpt:

Peggy Sue Leifer is the wife of ex-marine, retired Chicago cop, and stroke survivor Jim Sak. They lived in Chicago until the end of 2011 when they moved to Leifer's hometown of Aurelia Iowa. The city of Aurelia had recently enacted a ban on pit bulls in response to specific public safety problems the city was facing with regards to pit bull attacks.

The city of Aurelia, IA, responding to a petition from residents, enforced the pit bull ban it has had on the books since 2008. The pit bull in question is none other than Snickers, Sak and Leifer's pit bull which they allege is Sak's service dog. And now Sak and Leifer are suing the city of Aurelia with monetary and other support from Animal Farm Foundation, a pit bull ownership advocacy group.

Jan 24, 2012 Dogs Shot by Elmhurst Police During Attack

Elmhurst – Police responded to the home at 4:57 p.m. after receiving a report that two pit bulls were attacking people inside. When police arrived, one of the pit bulls was still attacking one of the victims, who was covered in blood. An officer shot the dog.

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One of the victims was taken to Loyola University Medical Center due to the seriousness of the injuries. The second victim was taken to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.

The initial commenters to Elmhurst Patch story believe that a pit bull attacking its owners is very rare and odd. Others are suggesting that the owners must have been abusing the dog. They must not be aware of Darla Napora's or Joseph Hines' mauling deaths a few months ago. Both were reportedly devoted owners and the dogs were never known to be aggressive. Darla was a supporter and follower of BADRAP.

One pit bull owner on the Elmhurst Patch comments section launched such a vile invective that the reporter was prompted to write a second article called: "'Blame the Victim' Mentality is Unfounded and Hurtful." Edit: the negative comments have subsequently been removed.

Elmhurst Patch Accessed: 2012-02-09. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/65Ktx3MKU)

Triblocal Accessed: 2012-01-24. (Archived by WebCite^® at http://www.webcitation.org/64wQltuMC)