The easy act of taking your canine for a walk shouldn’t go away you fearing in your life, however one East Dundee girl’s story has prompted officers to achieve out to pet house owners concerning the significance of maintaining pets in examine by following village ordinances.
Paula Lauer adopted Roo, her Chihuahua combine, from the Hoof Woof & Meow Animal Shelter in Elgin. Twice a day takes the 8-year-old, 12-pound canine for a walk.
One day final month whereas walking in her neighborhood, a darkish charcoal-colored pit bull emerged from a home, Lauer stated. When the animal noticed Roo and began to cost, she scooped her up and ran to a close-by home, she stated.
“I knocked on the door and the guy let me into his house,” Lauer stated. “The dog was running up to the door, barking and trying to get into the house.”
The resident known as 911 however earlier than the police may arrive, a truck pulled up outdoors and the motive force retrieved the canine and left, she stated.
Although the responding officer tracked down the pit bull’s proprietor, no motion could possibly be taken as a result of it was the primary time the animal had been concerned in such an incident and nobody was injured.
Because the canine nonetheless lives there and she or he’s afraid it may occur once more, Lauer avoids going previous the home however is annoyed that she must be fearful about walking within the space the place she lives.
“This neighborhood is small so we don’t have many choices,” she stated. “If I want to walk around my block, I have to take a detour. I feel I should be able to walk in my own neighborhood without being so afraid.”
Lauer took her grievance to the East Dundee Village Board, and Police Chief Joshua Fourdyce agreed to try the ordinance on the board’s request to see if wanted to be expanded past the modifications made in 2020, when there have been a number of canine assaults within the village.
Fourdyce stated he spoke to the proprietor of the pit pull, acknowledging that the animal was aggressive when he was there, and defined the ramifications ought to the canine go on the attack once more and chunk a person or different animal.
Instead of including to the ordinance, the chief advisable the village launch a marketing campaign to let canine house owners know there might be a value to pay if their canine will get out of the home or yard or different guidelines are violated.
Following up on that, the village this week launched a social media marketing campaign reminding those that they’re liable for their pets’ actions.
The village’s animal management ordinance says dogs should be on a leash not than eight toes when walked and house owners should clear up after them ought to they defecate. No greater than 4 dogs are allowed in a single-family indifferent home and the restrict is one canine or cat in multiple-unit housing complexes. Owners should tackle extreme barking or different nuisance behaviors.
“The police chief has the authority to deem a dog dangerous if the dog, when unmuzzled, unleashed or unattended by its owner or custodian, behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal in a public place, including menacing behavior,” in line with the ordinance.
If a canine is discovered to be harmful, the proprietor should comply with the extra restrictions detailed within the ordinance.
Residents are advised within the put up to report back to police any violations of the ordinance, particularly these involving aggressive dogs.
Lauer has taken to carrying pepper spray together with her when she walks her canine, “but I shouldn’t have to.” Beyond that, she’s unsure she’d have the time or compusure to make use of it given how shortly occasions can unfold, she stated.
It additionally could be one factor if this was a one-time-only expertise, however Lauer stated she and Roo have been attacked 3 times within the final six years by unleashed dogs. One was a wolfhound that grabbed her canine by the neck, she stated.
“They prey on (small dogs) and shake them and snap their spines,” in line with Lauer, who stated the one motive Roo wasn’t injured was as a result of it was winter and she or he had a thick coat.
If she hadn’t been in a position to take refuge in a neighbor’s home throughout probably the most recent attack, she’s unsure what the end result would have been, she stated.
“(But) we didn’t get bitten so, based on the ordinance, there’s nothing that can be done,” Lauer stated.
In her opinion, East Dundee must be extra proactive in figuring out if a canine is harmful. What makes a canine on the attack any totally different than a person operating down the road towards somebody with a machete, she stated.
“This is a dangerous situation. We shouldn’t be waiting for something horrible to happen,” she stated.
Gloria Casas is a contract reporter for The Courier-News.
