Two Pit Bulls Shot in Machesney Park Neighborhood After Mauling

By Marissa Alter
13 News

MACHESNEY PARK - Winnebago County sheriff's deputies shoot and kill two pit bulls after they attack a smaller dog. It's the third time in a week police had to kill a dog.

Officers were called to 526 Huron street just before nine this morning. Natalie McLean says she looked out her window and saw her pug.. Pugsly.. being attacked by two pit bulls. "I mean it looked like hyenas attacking a bunny rabbit or something," McLean says. "She was on her back, she wasn't even touching the ground, and they both had her at opposite angles just pulling her apart. It happened so fast all I could really think was what can i hit these dogs with?"

Natalie grabbed a pool stick and threw it at the pit bulls. The dogs didn't flinch. When officers got there, one pit bull ran away. The other continued to maul Pugsly so a deputy shot it.
Sergeant Jeffrey Schroeder says the first pit bull came back and circled the officers growling like it was ready to attack. A second deputy fired his gun.

"My officers have been told that any time there's an aggressive dog in their proximity that could bite them or a citizen, if it's safe to do so, they need to dispose of the dog if that's their only option," says Schroeder.

The pit bulls' owner, David Snyder, lives four houses down from Natalie. We knocked on the door but no one answered. We also tried to find a phone number for Snyder.

Winnebago County Animal Services picked up the same dogs last month for the same thing.
Snyder is in court next week for that and could be charged for what happened today.

"Animal services' hands are completely tied," says Winnebago County Animal Services Director Gary Longanecker. "Our only recourse under law is to bring the animal here, impound it, return the animal to the owners, and maybe at a later time add charges of dangerous or vicious dog, but that takes time. We need tougher laws."

With the shootings this past week, Longanecker says he doesn't think it's that animals have become more aggressive recently, but that the animal population has grown, and more animals means more incidents.

Pugsly passed away last night around nine.














Authorities kill two pit bulls after pug attack
Oct 09, 2007 @ 11:53 PM
By Sadie Gurman
RRSTAR.COM
MACHESNEY PARK -
One pit bull was shot dead, but the second continued to circle deputies.

It was what the deputies called “attack-type mode.”

Minutes later, a Winnebago County deputy shot the second dog — after the officers responded to the pleas of Machesney Park resident Natalie McLean, whose 12-pound pet pug, “Pugsly,” was being mauled.

The two 40-pound pit bulls — G-Ball and Coco — are the third and fourth dogs to die at the hands of officers in the Rock River Valley in less than a week.

National experts expressed surprise that so many dogs had been killed by authorities in such a short time, calling the shootings a “sad” anomaly.

Coco and G-Ball were shot about 9 a.m. Tuesday in front of a home in the 500 block of Huron Road, after they attacked the pug, Sgt. Jeffrey Schroeder said.

The pit bulls would not release the small dog, he said, even as its owner tried to beat them off with a pool cue.

One of the dogs ran off when deputies arrived, then returned, Schroeder said.

That’s when another deputy shot and killed it.

The story is a familiar one this week. Rockford police shot and killed Diamond, a 42-pound pit bull, on Oct. 3 after it advanced toward an officer outside West Middle School. Roscoe police shot and killed Buddy, a wayward Labrador/Rottweiler mix, who escaped his yard and ran to a horse stable Saturday.

“It is not open season on dogs,” said Gary Longanecker, director of Winnebago County Animal Services. “In the last year there have been less than 10 dogs that have had to be shot by law enforcement.”

The pit bulls’ owner, whose name Schroeder would not release, will likely face charges, he said. The owner is already charged with allowing an animal to run at large, Longanecker said, after a Sept. 2 incident in which Coco and G-Ball attacked another small dog, Gracie, at a Superior Avenue home. Animal services impounded the pit bulls after that, but released them back to their owner after they were implanted with microchips, which allows authorities to identify dogs easily. Animal services had to give them back, Longanecker said, because the dogs weren’t deemed “dangerous.”

Before Tuesday’s attack, animal-control officers were investigating whether the dogs should be given that title, which would mean they have to wear muzzles while they were off their property.

A young woman who called the pit bulls hers did not want to say her name or comment on the shooting. Schroeder said the deputies, Tracy Porter and Richard Coleman, shot the dogs as a safety measure. Schroeder backed their decision.

“No. 1, my officers are not going to be bit by a dog that is vicious,” Schroeder said. “No. 2, the public and children need to be protected from harm by dogs let loose.”

Authorities are still investigating whether the pit bulls were properly confined and, if so, how they escaped, Longanecker said.

McLean said she didn’t know if Pugsly would be returning home.

“The vet said if she pulls through the night, the outlook is good for her,” she said.
“(She) was pretty bit up,” Schroeder said. “(She’s) probably traumatized.”

There is no known database tracking dog shootings nationally, said Lisa Peterson of the American Kennel Club. Still, she said, it’s rare for four dogs to die in one community in less than a week. Other experts agreed.

“I have to believe that this is a sporadic thing ... not a continual practice,” said Dale Bartlett, a deputy manager for animal cruelty issues at the Humane Society of the United States. “There’s no reason to believe that the police have been told if a dog looks at you the wrong way, you can shoot him.”

I think there should be a pit bull forum here.

MissMe said:

horatio said:

Someone ought to beat the pitbulls' owner with a pool stick.

Prolly wouldn't do any more for him than it did for his dogs.

I think there sould be special licensing for pits and they shouldn't be allowed in public without good muzzles on at all times..

it was just the pitbulls acting on their human like emotions...

roodboi said:

It all just pisses me off.

The Pit Bull, or, American Bull Terrier, was once considered the perfect dog as a pet.

They R naturally very affectionate and loving.

Now their name is so tarnished, that rentors have 2 watch out 4 discriminatory insurance policies, because it doesn't cover the homeowner if the rentor has a Pit Bull.

Everyone please understand that it is only by the means of cruel abuse and training that a Pit Bull becomes vicious.

My poor little guy Nicco. I'd take a bullet 4 him. He's my boy. I'll post a picture.

Peace.

~Giovanni

Giovanni777 said:

Responsible owners and breeders are key to solving the problem. But in the meantime some laws forcing the not so responsible people to behave would be good.
[Edited 10/10/07 9:47am]

Giovanni777 said:

Awww he's beautiful.

Thanks, Shelly.

He's a good guy, this one.

HEY, you're really in Buffalo?

I'm also in upstate NY.

~G

Giovanni777 said:

wow some one intelligent at last, but my advice to you is to save your breath my brother..

{snip~ Sweeny79}

Giovanni777 said:

Yeppers really in Buffalo.
[Edited 10/11/07 3:48am]

MissMe said:

sounds like a plan....but the minute Ron Mexico starts posting, I'm outta here!!!

eraclito said:

Um...wtf are you talking about?

Giovanni777 said:

Aww, look at that smiler!

My stepbrother's pit is also named Nikko! Here he is, pouting for the camera:





It's so awful what happened to that pug. Such a shame that the owner allowed it outside without supervision. Between vehicles and bigger dogs, it was just a matter of time.

JustErin said:

i was talking about sandwhich filling...

you know i wasn't referring to you so chut it.. lol

INSATIABLE said:

hector wants to tap both nikko's asses..

eraclito said:

Huh?

JustErin said:

eraclito said:

I don't think that'd go over very well with Nikko, considering he's a boy!

A pretty boy, at that. Him and his natural Cleopatra eyeliner.

INSATIABLE said:

hector aint that fussy, ass is ass in his opinion..

i try not to bend down myself if need be, he has good aim..

My well behaved 6 yr old dalmation, well bred well trained, snapped and killed a bunny

animals are animals are animals

My Springer killed a kitten

My Horse killed a snake

My cat killed a puppy



freeking no good damn animals

eraclito said:

OMG!!!!

eraclito said:

See only you understand your humour

veronikka said:

veronikka said:

I think I know Don pretty well.

veronikka said:

Is that what he calls it?