Palatine: One dog must go, other on short leash
A Palatine resident whose two Rottweilers attacked a woman in July will get only one of the dogs back under a compromise with village officials.
Dog owner Linda Cassidy of North Schiller Street has to return the other dog, Georgia-Rose, to its Wisconsin breeder.
Cassidy's male Rottweiler, Edward, will be allowed to come home, though on a restricted basis, after he completes doggie boot camp, according to terms reached through Palatine's animal safety commission.
"I am glad that they approved it," said Cassidy's attorney, April Pruitt-Summers. "It is an effort to prevent (Georgia-Rose) from being euthanized."
On July 29, the dogs attacked a 65-year-old woman in a neighborhood near downtown after somehow getting loose from Cassidy's property, police said. The victim was bitten on both arms. She was treated at a hospital and released.
When officers tried to intervene, the male dog charged at one of the them, prompting the officer to fire a beanbag gun at the animal. That dog ran away but later charged at a different officer, who fired a shot from his 9-mm handgun at the canine. The shot hit the ground.
"We've had a few dog bites over the years, but what made this different is that it's two large dogs," Palatine Police Chief John Koziol said.
He said that while Rottweilers and pit bulls are often in the news, all big dogs can pose threats to a neighborhood.
"The larger the dog, the larger your responsibility is" as a pet owner, Koziol said.
Under the agreement that allows the male dog to return home, Cassidy is required to:
• Muzzle him at all times when he's outside or when any door of the home is opened.
• Replace the front and back doors to her home with new doors with metal reinforcements and locks that the dog can't reach.
• Double-padlock each gate at the house and post a "Beware of Dog" sign on each one.
• Microchip the animal for identification purposes.
• Keep the dog inside at all times except if he's in the backyard, muzzled and inside a kennel with a ceiling. He is not allowed to be walked in the village at any time.
Separate from the village-imposed regulations, the Cook County Animal Control department has filed a complaint to declare both dogs "vicious." That would allow the county to regulate the dogs' environment the rest of their lives.
Cassidy is contesting that in court, saying it's "overkill" and already accomplished by the village of Palatine conditions. She also has paid a $1,200 fine for the tickets issued after the dog bites.
In summary
What happened: Palatine resident Linda Cassidy's two Rottweilers attacked a woman this summer; she was bitten on both arms. Cassidy was ticketed and fined.
Now: An agreement has been reached with the village of Palatine to send the female dog back to live with its breeder. The male dog will be allowed home after obedience classes but must stay muzzled at all times he's outside the house, among other safety precautions.
What's next: While the village and Cassidy have reached an agreement, she is still trying to fight Cook County from deeming the dogs "vicious" in court.