Friday, February 28, 2003

Illinois: Dad fatally stabs pit bull that mauled his 3-year-old son; pit bull owner Benjamin Flores given a ticket

ILLINOIS -- The father of a 3-year-old boy who was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull Thursday stabbed and killed the dog after hearing the attack, police said.

The dog entered the family's apartment in the 2000 block of North St. Louis Avenue at about 5 p.m. when the toddler's mother went to take the garbage out, said police spokesman Matthew Jackson.

The dog belonged to Benjamin Flores, 22, who was cited for not having tags on the animal or registering it with the city, Jackson said.

The boy was taken to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, where he was treated for injuries to his thigh and released.

(Chicago Tribune - February 28, 2003)