Apr 01, 2015 Galesburg Minimizing Pit Bull Attacks - Again

Remember and Honor the Memory of Ryan Maxwell by Making Galesburg Safe from Pit Bull Attacks

Galesburg - In a letter to the editor, Paul Lepka alleges that Galesburg animal control minimized the severity of a pit bull attack in a sloppy investigation that misidentified the pit bull as a "terrier" and did not get a statement from the victim dog's owner among other problems.

If true, this sloppy, unprofessional behavior is exactly the behavior that has been alleged in the past.  The owners of a golden retriever named Chloe that was attacked by a pit bull described how their dog's attack was minimized and nothing was done about the dangerous pit bull at a public hearing about pit bulls after Ryan Maxwell's tragic death.

Chloe, Another Galesburg Pit Bull Attack Victim 

Letter:
Editor, Register-Mail: A few weeks ago before the anniversary of the sudden death of a child by a vicious pit bull, a responsible pet owner’s own dog was also attacked by a pit bull. A lady was walking her leashed dog on public property when a loose pit bull came charging up and attacked her dog from behind. The incident occurred approximately 100 feet off of the property of the attack dog. With one horrible bite, the pit bull tore a hunk of flesh off of the hind quarters of the leashed dog before it retreated back home. The pet owner was able to get her dog home in spite of it bleeding profusely all the way. The police were immediately called. The owner of the attack dog then had the audacity to show up at the home of the injured dog and complain to the pet owner about having police intervention. The injured dog was immediately taken to the closest veterinary clinic which the Vet verified that in order to close the wound, it required 15 external stitches and so many internal stitches that staff eventually lost count.
After an investigation was completed by Animal Control, their report was riddled with misinformation and inaccuracies. The report concluded that the victim dog instigated the attack and the wound was described only as a “nip.” The report also stated that the attack dog was a terrier and the breed of the victim dog was incorrectly listed as well as the legal owner’s name. Animal control also did not interview the owner of the victimized dog and concluded that this was an isolated incident. Therefore, the attack dog was not deemed a vicious animal according to city codes. To prove that the investigation was so sloppily incomplete, this same dog was documented in a 2012 police report as being at large and aggressive to neighboring dogs and their pet owners.
In conclusion, it seems that this investigation lacked credibility and professionalism and unless city officials take the irresponsibility of certain pet owners seriously, there could be another tragedy looming on the horizon. — Paul Lepka, Freeport

Read more:
The Register-Mail

Related posts:
Mar 18, 2013 Galesburg pit bull attacks golden retriever
Galesburg It is your turn to get it right
Mar 03, 2013 Galesburg Pit Bulls Kill 7 year old Ryan Maxwell

Apr 01, 2015 Chicago Pit Bull Attacks Man, Teenage Girl on West Side

Chicago - Two people were taken to a hospital after they were bitten by a pit bull Tuesday night in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

The dog came out of a yard in the 3900 block of West Fillmore a few minutes after 8 p.m. and attacked two people, police said.

A man, whose age was not immediately available, was bitten in the left hand and a 15-year-old girl suffered a bite to the left forearm, police said.

Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.

The owner ran away with the dog, and was not in custody as of Wednesday morning, police said.

Read more:
Chicago Tribune
Sun Times
WGN TV
CLTV

Apr 01, 2015 Chicago: Leashed Out of Control Pit Bull Attacks Small Dog

Chicago - While I was walking home last night, a woman lost control of her dogs including a large pit bull. It attacked a small dog in front of my house and knocked me over my front fence. I am bruised and sore. If you have a dog, know that you can control it or cross the street to avoid conflict. It was a frightening scene.

Big Shoulders
Too many large and aggressive dogs are kept as status symbols, and yes they are often pit bulls or pit mixes. While it is true that any dog can bite, it is much more frequently pit bulls in certain areas of the city that cause the damage. The immature and sociopathic behavior that leads certain individuals to own aggressive dogs is also often the reason these people flee the scene without remorse. Pretending that pit bulls are "just dogs" in this city is a dangerous way to live, I know we all like to think of ourselves as open minded, but it's not worth stitches or in many cases a dead dog.

 Big Shoulders
The original post stated it was a large pit bull that attacked a small dog. The people in my neighborhood who own dogs for the wrong reasons seem to choose pit bulls. Just because I have friends who are responsible dog owners with pit bulls that are gentle and well trained doesn't mean that I let my 17lb dog near a gangbanger with a huge pit pulling on a chain. Of the three serious incidents that took place last year at my local dog park ALL THREE were pit bull attacks. Obviously the owners were at fault, but that doesn't help when dogs and people are left needing emergency medical attention. The sensibke thing fir me to do is leave the park when I suspect a problem. If dirtbag gangbangers favored labradoodles or chihuahuas it would be a different story.

Read more:
EveryBlock Chicago

Mar 27, 2015 Riverside Pit Bulls Attack Collie

Riverside - Two loose pit bulls attacked another dog that was being walked by its owner earlier this week, police in southwest suburban Riverside say.
Police responded to emergency calls Thursday morning in the 400 block of Selborne Road. There, they found a miniature collie bleeding from its ear. Officers learned the owner had been walking the pet past a property when two pit bulls running free in a backyard attacked.

Illinois pit bull attack victim

The owner of the pit bulls, a Chicago man whom police did not identify, was ticketed under a village ordinance for having a dangerous or fierce dog unleashed.

The collie survived but required veterinary care.

Read more:
CBS Chicago

Related posts:
Feb 27, 2015 Lawsuit: Tenants Claim Landlord’s Pit Bull Attacked Their Lab In Backyard
Feb 10, 2015 Lawsuit: Chicago Woman Attacked by Pit Bull, Sees Pet Killed and is Shot in Foot at Jazz Festival
Nov 21, 2014 Chicago Girl Attacked by Pit Bull 

Nov 4, 2014 Chicago Man Fatally Shoots His Pit Bull To Stop Attack

Sep 26, 2014 Chicago Police K9 Officer Attacked by Two Pit Bulls

Sep 19, 2014 Chicago Pit bulls attack 5 people and kill 1 cat in 5 months and NOTHING is done  

Mar 27, 2015 East Dundee Resident Wants Police to Deal with Pit Bull Problem

East Dundee - Patrol pit bulls: This is about the East Dundee police worrying about dogs urinating on snow when there are loose pit bulls running around in the Terrace. They do nothing about it even though it has been reported. The seniors can't even walk outside because of these animals. Someone needs to take action against these pit bulls.

Read more:
Elgin Courier News

Mar 26, 2015 Oswego Pit Bull Attacks for the Third Time

Oswego - A pit bull escaped from its home on Jenna Circle and attacked a dog.  The pit bull has attacked twice before and the city attorney will “go forward with an aggressive prosecution to see if we can get that dog removed in one form or the other from the residence.”

“Dave Dillow, who lives on Kathleen Circle, also in Lakewood Creek, told the board that his dog was one of the two dogs that were attacked by the pit bull Saturday.

Dillow said the incident left his dog with four canine teeth marks in its chest, which required treatment by a veterinarian Saturday evening.

He added that it was "bad enough" his dog was bitten in the incident and expressed concern that his two daughters could have been the victims instead. He noted that one of his daughters was outside playing at the time his dog was attacked by the pit bull.”

“Board member Steve Jungermann also expressed concern.

"With that pit bull-type of dog it only takes one time for something serious to happen," he said.”

Read more:
Ledger-Sentinel

Mar 26, 2015 Oswego Pit Bull Attacked Girl and Killed Dog

Oswego - “Police responded to the area on Willowwood Drive near Burr Oak Drive for a call of a dog bite with a possible dog-kill, Police Chief Jeff Burgner said.

He said three dogs had gotten loose from a residence, one of which attacked another dog that was being walked. The other two dogs were not directly involved in the attack, according to police.

Burgner added that Miceli's daughter had her dog on a leash when the dog ran up and attacked her and Rocky.

"It appears from what we gathered one of the people at the residence had the door open to go inside and the dogs got out," Burgner said.

Miceli says that his daughter scooped up her dog but the pit bull bit her causing her to drop Rocky. He added that the pit bull then killed their dog. Before dragging it away.

"Everything happened so fast. I tried to take the dog from her but she was holding him too tight," he recalled. "Rocky came loose and he didn't even put up a fight.

Miceli said that his daughter was bit in the right elbow and wrist but not seriously injured.

"Physically she is going to be OK. We got her to the ER and she was treated and X-rayed. To the best of my knowledge the dog was current on its vaccinations including rabies," he said, adding that he is more worried about the psychological effect of the attack on his daughter.”

Read more:
Ledger-Sentinel