ILLINOIS -- Whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with a dog attack that injured a Bloomington couple on Wednesday will be determined after a full review of the incident, Bloomington police said Thursday.
About 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, Connie and Scott Ijams were delivering phone books to homes in the 1200 block of Orchard Road.
As Connie Ijams, 45, approached an apartment, a large pit bull pushed through the door “and began to attack her,” said Bloomington police spokesman Dave White in a news release issued Thursday.
Her husband, 46, rushed to help her and also was attacked.
There was a second, younger pit bull “that may have been involved,” police said.
First responders described their injuries as “very serious,” White said, and both victims were taken to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington. A nursing supervisor said Scott Ijams was treated and released; his wife was not admitted.
Both dogs were taken away by Animal Control while the investigation continues, White said.
The name of the dogs’ owner has not been released, and information about whether the owner was home at the time was not available Thursday.
The issue of whether specific breeds of dogs should be banned in Bloomington because of a dog attack was last raised in May, when Ward 7 Alderman Steven Purcell called for a review of a 2006 pet registration rule. No further action was taken.
The current ordinance requires all dog and cat owners to register their pets with McLean County Animal Control. Unregistered pets can be seized.
Linda Krueger, president of Wish Bone Canine Rescue in Bloomington, said breed-specific legislation is not effective because how a dog looks or its breed fail to identify potentially dangerous dogs and their negligent owners.
“Identification of specific owners who are negligent and specific dogs who have demonstrated behavior problems which can ultimately lead to a dog bite or attack is the only way to reduce the incidence of these events,” she said Thursday.
“A dangerous dog act that accomplishes that, coupled with a public relations and education program on how to avoid dog bites, will do more to protect our citizens than breed-specific legislation.”
The city ordinance also requires dog owners to keep their pets securely and humanely enclosed within a house, building, fence, pen or other enclosure where it cannot climb, dig, jump or otherwise escape on its own.
The penalty for the first violation is $50 to $500. If an animal is taken to the animal shelter, the owner must pay a release fee.
(Pantagraph.com - Oct 25, 2012)
