A 56-year-old woman and her mini-Doberman pinscher both suffered injuries on June 26 during an attack from a pit bull in a Chicago suburb. This marked the second report in the Chicago area that week in which a pit bull attacked a dog and its owner. Just two days earlier, a Yorkshire terrier was killed and its owner was injured by two pit bulls.

In the more recent incident, around 9:30 a.m., the Vernon Hills woman was walking her dog when the pit bull attacked her pet. When she tried to intercede, the pit bull proceeded to turn on her. A handful of eyewitnesses helped to fend off the dog. The attacker dog left the area, leaving the woman with two bleeding hands. Her Doberman survived the ordeal and was taken to a local animal care center for treatment.

Authorities were dispatched to the Harrison Court and Whitney Place area. The officers found the woman bleeding and crying. While emergency workers were providing care for woman, police say the pit bull returned for a second attack. After efforts to impede the dog’s run proved fruitless, an officer shot and killed the dog.

The pit bull’s owner, a 31-year-old woman, claimed that the dog got away when she was in the process of preparing it for a walk. She was charged with having an animal with violent tendencies as well as having a stray in her possession.

There are laws that serve to protect and compensate victims of dog bite injuries. Normally, an insurance claim will be enough to get the victims financial compensation. However, there are times when a dog’s owner will not have insurance coverage and the victims might have to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.

Source: NBC Chicago, “Vernon Hills Police Shoot Attacking Pit Bull“, July 26, 2014