Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois

Feb 11, 2015 Waukegan pit bull shot by pet sitter

Waukegan - Romena Rhyan was pet sitting for a pit bull named Veyda when a neighbor's pit bull attacked it in her yard. The attack moved into her house. She warned the attacking pit bull's owner she was going to shoot it if he couldn't get it off. He did the "ineffectual tapping of the mauling pit bull's head" that we see so often in videos of pit bulls mauling at the feet of their owners and it didn't work once again. So Rhyan, who was legally armed, shot and killed the mauler at which time the mauling pit bull owner, standing in the blood, asked why she shot his dog.

In Waukegan, pit bulls invading homes and attacking dogs, and private citizens shooting and killing invading pit bulls in their home is evidently so common, it's not even news. This story didn't make the news until shots were fired into Romena Rhyan's house a few days later, presumably in retaliation. Two people have offered reward money for information about the shooter and Romena Rhyan now fears for her life and can't allow her grandchildren to come to her house anymore.

One of the people who offered a reward is Keith Turner, a local activist who loves motorcycles and guns and who might be the person who talked Romena Rhyan into getting a gun in the first place. He probably failed to mention that other people have guns and will not always choose to use them legally when you piss them off with even legal and justified gunfire. A break stick and a pit bull ban would have worked much better here.

In other Waukegan news, the Waukegan Police Animal Control's facebook page is nothing but a pit bull rescue. And has a pit bull for a mascot, complete with police vest.

There's a big drama playing out in the comments section on the AC fb page. Evidently the police arrested a man on Christmas Eve for selling backyard bred pit bull mixes called Olde English Bulldogges without a $25 license. ARRESTED. And they took the puppies from the mother. And the rescue they gave them to immediately turned around and began selling them for $600 a pop. WOW! Soon Waukegan will be facing a lawsuit and people will be breeding pit mixes with impunity. Wait, they already are.

Read more:
Lake county News Sun
CBS Chicago

Related posts:
This 1946 posts shows that history repeats itself - people die fighting over their fighting pit bulls in Waukegan.

All posts labelled Waukegan which has had a pit bull problem since 1906 and city leaders have done nothing for over 100 years.

A few of the 100+ pit bulls shot in Illinois to stop an attack:
Dec 06, 2009 Cop Shoots Pit Bull That Attacked 5 People
Jun 04, 2008 Machesney Park Police shoot pit bulls savaging a pug

Jul 06, 1987 Driver Unleashes Pit Bull On 2 Cops

May 27, 1931 Chicago Pet Bulldog's Attack Fatal to Woman
Jan 08, 1891 Chicago Bulldog Attacks Boy and is Shot by Police

Aug 01, 1889 Quincy Bull Dog Tackles "Coppers"

Feb 02, 2015 Champaign News Contributor Writes a Pit Bull Apology After Serious Pit Bull Attack

Champaign County - Noelle McGee wrote an apology for pit bulls in the aftermath of a horrendous attack on a county sheriff. She begins by describing a horrendous pit bull attack to a mail carrier 9 years previous that left the mail carrier with horrible, permanent physical and psychological issues.
Look below at related posts and you will see that there have been some other ghastly attacks in Champaign county since this 2006 attack including two attacks on octogenarians. McGee uses about 400 words to describe the attack. Then she uses over 1,800 words to quote pro-pit bull myths by pit bull apologists.

"When Wendy Starkey heard about a Champaign County deputy's Jan. 7 attack by a pit bull, it immediately took her back eight years ago to her own horrifying experience.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2006, the Danville letter carrier was delivering mail in the 100 block of South Griffin Street, on the city's southeast side, when two pit bull-types bolted from a house across the street, knocked her on her back and started mauling her.

"They literally took turns shredding me to hell," Starkey said of the dogs, which later were declared vicious and put down.

"I kicked and fought and kicked and fought," she recalled of the attack, which lasted three to five minutes but seemed much longer. "Every time I grabbed for my mace, they'd bite my arm. Thank God it was cold that day. I had three layers of gear on."

And we find out that the two counties she looked at refuse to keep track of the breeds of dogs they impound and could only give estimates about how many pit bulls they impound each year. Despite that, since bite reports are mandated by Illinois law to include breed, Vermillion county states that 40% of bite investigations were caused by pit bulls (50 of 123 in 2014). Champaign county AC estimates that roughly a third of total dog bite investigations (923 in 2013, can't get 2014's figures together) involved pit bulls. So, champaign county AC is not following the law by not recording breed information for bite investigations or couldn't be bothered to add those numbers up.

Note that is is how many dog bite investigations AC performed, not the total bites reported to the county health departments.

News Gazette

Feb 01, 2015 Antioch Rescue Pit Bull Seriously Mauls his Owner; no media coverage

Antioch - This serious pit bull mauling never made the news. The following account is from the family's gofundme page. The pit bull named Zeus that attacked his owner was a rescue that the family had adopted only 7 or 8 months previously.

From the gofundme page:

What happens AFTER they bite the hand that feeds them! Superbowl Sunday events were winding down... our family had enjoyed the game from the comfort of our living room during the blizzard conditions that had moved into Chicagoland area. School had already been cancelled for the next day so extended ending time of celebration for my son who's Patriots beat my husband's Seahawks!

This is the third known Illinois pit bull attack in which the
victim tried to use a pitchfork to stop the pit bull

Everybody was recounting moments of game and there were no volunteers to take the dog out. So.... I got myself dressed in layers to keep the blowing snow away from freezing my little butt off. I had it all on... turtleneck, hoodie sweatshirt, leggings, flannel pj pants, snowpants, ski jacket, gloves + boots! I laughed at my resemblance to the stay-puff marshmellow man and thought it would NOT be fun to fall in this 12+ inches of snow and have to try to get back up. Any hesitation from me was erased by our dog "Zeus" who was quick to remind me that my mission was to get him outside. I announced that we were headed out into the "blizzard" and stepped out into to frozen yard.

The surreal quietness was only interrupted by wind gusts blowing snow from all directions. The snow had buried almost everything in the yard but a small shallow area next to a huge drift. Since no-one had been out during the game to shovel area for him to pee, we headed for the drift zone. Zeus was jumping around in the snow after he finished going potty. I clapped my hands together and said "OK buddy... Let's go back in!"

I turned my back to him and started to walk to front of garage and driveway. Without warning... Zeus came running from behind, jumped into air and clamped onto my left arm!! The impact initally propelled me face first into the fluffy but DEEP snow. Zeus was tugging my arm and pulling me around yard thru snow and the release command was ineffective!! He was in "attack frenzy" and continued to ratchet-down on my jacket and forearm. As he was dragging me through the area behind garage I spotted my garden tools leaning against corner of building. I was able to grab the pitchfork and tried to use it to stab him in face and mouth to force open. Could not get him to let go... but did get him to re-position his grip repeatedly.

Reality check that I needed to SURVIVE!! He was tugging and dragging me in circles twisting my arm under my head. His teeth were inches from my face as we twisted around in the now packed down blood-spotted snow behind the garage. He stopped pulling for a moment and I realized that I could get away IF I could get out of my jacket! I managed to unzip jacket with my right hand and used my teeth to pull end of sleeve to free right arm.

He started to drag me again and pulled me past the lawnmower that was frozen into snow at side of garage. I reached pipe framework handle and pulled myself into cage to provide some leverage and anchor me while I continued to try to pull my left arm free of the sleeve! He continued to open jaws only to almost instantly bite down again and again. I felt urgency in getting hand out and pulled back as lawnmower was tipping over. I felt pressure release in wrist then jacket was off! I sat frozen, afraid to move while I looked up to see where dog was. He had my jacket (still by sleeve) and was bouncing around the yard with it. I slowly managed to manuever myself into sitting position and deceided that I needed to carefully stand and get into driveway then get into car until someone comes out to find me.

Then a voice cuts through silence... my husband Jeff walked around front edge of garage "What is taking so long?" I shouted that Zeus had attacked me. He asked "what are you talking about?" as he rushed to me and I lifted my arms to reveal my blood-soaked sleeve to hold him while he scooped me up to carry me into house! I told him "It's bad! We need an ambulance!!" I knew I was in shock already... the attack had lasted 20-30 min!

The next hour was insane... 911 call in a blizzard! Paramedics arrived and immediately stressed urgency to transport! Multiple lacerations without bleeding and grey-blue fingers primary concern. IV started in good arm for administration shock fluids and pain meds. ambulance driver amazingly gets thru blizzard to Condell Hospital. Emergency staff / x rays / surgery / pins to repair fracture / 47 surface stitches / able to save hand. Rececks / suture removal / pin removal / physical therapy... PAIN!! It's been more than a month and this personal caregiver has STILL NOT BEEN RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK! I cannot use my left hand yet... complete regained function is questionable. I have been vital part of our family's financial survival and now am in need of an angel or two. Mounting medical bills and income replacement necessary for our family. Please help!

gofundme

UPDATE Dec 31, 2014 Joliet Dangerous Pit Bulls and Vicious Rottweiler Terrorizing North Reed Street

UPDATE - Titan the vicious rottweiler has been found. He wasn't "on the outskirts of Indiana" after all. Nope, JACKLYN VAVRIK seems to have told a fib. VAVRIK doesn't get to keep the deemed vicious rottweiler. Rescue angels right there in McHenry County plan on rehabilitating him and what then? Adopt out Titan with the vicious designation? VAVRIK gets to keep her two pit bulls, one of which has been deemed dangerous. She has until April to get adequate fencing.

UPDATE - The irresponsible dangerous dog owner, JACKLYN VAVRIK, has gotten rid of the rottweiler, which has been designated dangerous, and claims she doesn't know where it is except that it might be "on the outskirts of Indiana. (?)" So, some neighborhood can anticipate mauled dogs and people thanks to JACKLYN.

VAVRIK also claims that her pit bull that was also deemed dangerous is not and that it did not do any of the biting - that's all on the rottweiler. She gets to keep the dangerous dog if she meets a bunch of requirements.

Joliet - Two pit bulls and a Rottweiler have run loose around Joliet’s North Reed Street and attacked at least four other dogs, viciously mauling one, residents said.

“Our fear is a child” will fall prey to the pack of dogs, said Doreen Swanson, who said her own two pets were beset by the hounds from Reed Street.

Harley is a shepherd-mix belonging to neighbor Sarah Tyrell. Harley had to undergo surgery and has two drains implanted in her body because of the Christmas Eve attack, Tyrell said. Harley is now too frightened to venture out to her own yard alone.

Another neighbor, Helene Heldorfer, also complained to the police about the Reed Street Rottweiler. Heldorder was walking her cairn terrier, Buffy, the morning of Sept. 22 when it emerged from a back yard and attacked, according to a police report.

Jaclyn Vavrik, 29, 507 N. Reed, Joliet, arrested by the Will County Sheriff’s Office and booked
into the Will County jail on Sept. 15 on two counts of domestic battery. 9/16/2014

The dog’s owner, identified in the report as JACLYN VAVRIK, 29, explained that she could not find a leash for her Rottweiler, Titan, so she let him “out in her backyard and he took off to the front yard and did bite ‘Buffy,’” police said. “Vavrik stated to (the officer) that she would pay the vet bills because they were at fault.” Think she'll follow through?

Read More:
The Herald-News
Joliet Patch

Jan 27, 2015 Three Chicago Pit Bulls Attacked Dog Being Walked on Leash

Chicago - I was walking my dog and 3 dogs from 3242 West Divison attacked my dog. Thank god som good semaritians driving by stopped to help when they saw me fighting them off my dog. Beware of the area.

They were from that building (3242 W. Division). 3 pit bull type dogs. The little white one was the most aggressive and was the one latching onto mine. I have 9 month old bullmasitff and he's not aggressive at all. He actually when under a truck to try and get away but they were smaller and still able to get them. The owner had no control of them at all, and none of them had tags or collars. Took my dog to the vet and luckily the wounds weren't to bad but the police just gave her a ticket for loose dogs because of the daycare next door, and not being able to see wounds on my dog at the time because he was covered in mud trying to hide under the truck.

Chicago Everyblock

Jan 22, 2015 Lawsuit: West Chicago Pit Bull Attack Killed Neighbor's Dog

West Chicago - Bonnie Price said she and her dog, Toto, were on their afternoon walk June 24 in the 1000 block of Trillium Trail when the unrestrained pit bulls attacked after escaping from a nearby residence on Wild Ginger Trail. The vicious, off property and sustained attack was unprovoked, predatory, and came with no warning.

RIP Toto

Price, 84, filed the lawsuit in DuPage County this month seeking more than $50,000 in damages against neighbor Kapil Sachdev, who owned the pit bulls.

The pit bulls were put down. This was the second small dog in the neighborhood that these pit bulls had killed in vicious off-property, predatory attacks.

Sachdev was a self-proclaimed pit bull rescuer and had several pit bulls in his home. A judge found him guilty of permitting a dangerous dog to leave the premises and he was sentenced to 24 months of court supervision and 50 hours of public service and ordered to pay $250. The judge also barred Sachdev from having another pit bull breed dog.

Read below the heartbreaking account of the attack. Bonnie Price, Toto's owner saw the pit bulls barreling toward them, picked up Toto, and said, "Toto, we're in trouble." before the pit bulls killed Toto.

Read more:
Chicago Tribune

Related Posts:
Jun 25, 2014 West Chicago Dog Rescuer Allows Her Own Pit Bulls to Kill for the Second Time

Jan 19, 2015 Chicago Eight Charged with Dog Fighting on South Side

Chicago - Police received a dogfighting complaint on Chicago's South Side. When they arrived, they found a dogfighting ring and four pit bulls with wounds consistent with dogfighting.

These losers were charged with dogfighting

— Jawaan Chick, 22, of the 200 Block of Providence in Matteson, Illinois;
— Sabrina Morris, 44, of the 6600 Block of S. Winchester in Chicago, Illinois;
— Taylon Hughes, 24, of the 7800 Block of S. Kingston in Chicago, Illinois;
— Shaquille Middleton, 20, of the 3900 Block of S. Timberlea Court in Country Club Hills, Illinois;
— Charles Ray, 28, of the 2600 Block of E. 74th Place in Chicago, Illinois;
— Jimmie Kelly, 59, of the 6600 Block of S. Winchester in Chicago, Illinois;
— Arnulfo Sanchez, 37, of the 15100 Block of Turlington in Harvey, Illinois;
— William Hill, 18, of the 6600 Block of S. Winchester in Chicago, Illinois.

Read more:
NBC Chicago

Related posts:
posts marked dogfighting