'Vicious' Hawthorn Woods dog gets five-day reprieve from euthanization
The dog scheduled to be euthanized after being labeled vicious by Hawthorn Woods authorities was granted a five-day reprieve by a Lake County judge Thursday.
Heidi, an 8-year-old beagle mix first scheduled to be euthanized in 2013 after biting multiple people during a five-year period, received a pass until 4 p.m. Tuesday from Lake County Judge Jorge Ortiz while he awaits an ownership decision from a state appellate court.
This is the second time Ortiz issued a delay for Heidi while the state determines if Chandler Bathrick, of North Barrington, has a right to block the euthanization and take the dog out of Hawthorn Woods. Ortiz previously agreed to temporarily spare the dog's life Oct. 16 while awaiting the decision by the state appellate court.
According to Hawthorn Woods authorities, Heidi bit a person in West Palm Beach, Florida in 2008, as well as about a half-dozen people in Hawthorn Woods from 2008 through 2012. A downstate person also was bitten, officials have said. The dog was deemed vicious, authorities said, and was banished in 2012.
However, Heidi's former owners returned the dog to the village, where another person was bitten in 2013. Village officials deemed the dog vicious, and a court order was issued to have the dog euthanized.
The former owners fought the decision in court, prompting a delay in carrying out the order. While the court case was going on, Bathrick claimed ownership of the dog and tried to interject in the case to stop the euthanization.
Ortiz has said in court he believes Bathrick is working with the former owners to circumvent the court's decision. Bathrick has repeatedly denied the claim.
The dog is being housed at Lake County Animal Control.