Hunt for owner of pit bulls continues

Elgin police still are searching for the owner of a pit bull that attacked a woman Monday morning outside her apartment.

"Until we can identify an owner, we do not know what types of charges will be filed," said Elgin police spokeswoman Ann Dinges. "If we don't have anyone, we can't file charges."

The woman, Kyle Mellinger, 53, required plastic surgery on her forehead and stitches on her right arm.

She was walking her son's 7-pound terrier-Chihuahua mix when a male pit bull escaped from a nearby garage on the near west side.

The pit bull went after the smaller dog.

Mellinger tried to protect the dog and the pit bull turned on her, her son, Sherman, said Monday night.

Mellinger's dog, Teddy, lost an eye in the attack.

Mellinger has since been released from Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin.

Attempts to reach Mellinger were unsuccessful Tuesday and no one answered the door at her apartment.

Neighbors said the pit bull lived in a garage and belonged to tenants living in a first-floor apartment in the same building.

Dinges said police have interviewed several people, but did not specify who they were.

Monday's incident was the fourth and most serious dog bite incident reported to Elgin police this year.

The male pit bull and a second pit bull, a female, were removed from the scene by Elgin animal control officers Monday.

Elgin Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said both dogs were impounded: the male for a 10-day observation period to see if he exhibits symptoms of rabies; and the female for seven days.

If an owner is not located by then, the dogs will be turned over to the local Humane Society to determine if they are suitable for adoption or need euthanized, Dinges said

The city does not require dog owners to register their pets. But it does require dogs to be kept on leashes when on public property or face a $50 first-time fine.

Swoboda said the owner of the two pit bulls likely would be subject to a fine, but criminal charges, if any, have not been determined.

"A person that used the dog to attack somebody would be different from a dog that broke out of the house," he said.

Elgin resident Elizabeth Vitek said she believes the city should ban all pit bulls.

Vitek said that in April 2006 she, her husband and their toddler were walking her black Labrador retriever, Miller, on the 400 block of Hubbard Avenue, about 1½ miles from Monday's attack.

An unleashed pit bull ran out and attacked her dog. She covered her dog's neck, but the pit bull bit Miller in the ribs. Vitek and her husband fought to get the pit bull away.

"We were literally punching it. If my daughter happened to be in the way -- it was just scary," recalled Vitek, who now lives on the city's east side and carries a wooden club and can of Mace when she walks Miller, just in case.

"I think it's ridiculous that you have to be worried to walk your dog," she said. "Something needs to be done. We keep hearing of all these attacks. They're being fined, but that's not going to do anything."

In spring 2006, city leaders considered banning all types of pit bulls.

But council members backed off after hearing opposition from pit bull owners and instead leaned toward a registration system.

Councilman Robert Gilliam said Tuesday he did not believe this week's incident was a reason to push again for a ban again unless there was a huge public outcry in favor of it.

He said he favors stronger penalties for the owners of dogs that attack people or other dogs.

"At this point, I'm not going to lead the charge to ban pit bulls," Gilliam said.