Tickets issued after Rottweilers attack woman in Palatine

A Palatine pet owner was ticketed Monday after police said her dogs attacked a woman the day before, hospitalizing her and prompting police to fire a shot at one of the dogs.

The owner, Linda Cassidy, was issued four tickets by Palatine police -- one for each of her dogs running loose and one for each dog biting someone.

Authorities said Cassidy's two Rottweilers attacked a 65-year-old local woman at East Colfax and North Schiller streets, near downtown, at just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

The woman was bitten on both of her arms and was treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. She's been released.

The dogs let the victim go when a person pulled up in a vehicle to help, police said.

The Rottweilers -- Edward, a 100-pound male, and Georgia, a 90-pound female -- are both about a year old. They were being held Monday at a local kennel for observation, police say.

Once police arrived on the scene Sunday, the male dog charged at one of the officers, prompting him to fire a harmless beanbag gun at the animal, said Palatine police Cmdr. Sam Maki. It struck the dog in the chest, and preliminary reports show no harm to the animal, he said.

The dog ran away, but later charged at a different officer, who fired a shot from his 9-mm handgun at the canine.

Although aimed at the dog, the shot hit the ground and the animal was not struck, Maki said. It eventually ran inside the owner's home, at 251 N. Schiller St., before being taken away.

"The officer reacted as he was trained," said Maki. "His health and well-being was in danger, so he did what he had to do."

Cassidy, the dog owner, did not return calls seeking comment. She's scheduled to appear in court Aug. 29.