ILLINOIS -- A Godfrey pit bull has attacked three people and sent its latest victim to the emergency room with severe injuries. But this weekend, the dog is headed back home, without any restrictions or punishments.
Madison County has the dog quarantined. But that quarantine expires on Saturday. That doesn't sit well with Mallorie Vest.
Last Wednesday night, Vest just wanted to end her day with a quick run, but no day should ever end like that.
"That's my blood," Vest said as she pointed out several spots along the sidewalk.
She was jogging past a man who was walking his dog along Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey when the dog lunged at her.
"It grabbed my back thigh," Vest said. "It took me down. It scraped my knees and dragged me back on the sidewalk."
And then it took a chunk out of her leg. That's when Vest was finally able to get free. She called her dad, who just happened to be the on-call surgeon at the nearest emergency room.
"I was horrified at the bite," Dr. Vest said.
It turns out the dog has bitten two others before.
"I can guarantee that this dog will bite someone else," Vest said. "There's just no doubt about it."
Animal control director David Hall says under the current state law, there's little they can do, other than quarantine the dog. He says they can't put it down or force the owner to keep it locked up without a judge's order. Hall agrees the law needs to be changed.
NewsChannel 5 contacted several local lawmakers, but did not receive a response.
Vest says the thought that this dog could attack again just makes her sick.
"It makes me feel helpless and emotionally vulnerable," Vest said. "Because I am emotionally scarred by this."
Animal control and the Sheriff's Department have both referred this case to the state's attorney.
(KSDK - May 31, 2012)
