Elgin police shoot dog to break up fight

Elgin police claim they had no choice but to shoot an attacking pit bull outside of the dog owner's Elgin home Saturday afternoon.

Ann Dinges, spokeswoman for the Elgin Police Department, said officers were called to the 400 block of Locust Drive at 4:445 p.m. Saturday by a woman claiming her neighbors pit bull was attacking her Siberian husky.

Officers arrived on the scene and attempted to stop the pit bull from attacking the husky, but, when an officer approached, the dog tried to attack on three different occasions.

"The dog moved forward to attack the officer three times, but stopped on the first and second attempt," she said. "On the third attack, the dog moved forward and just didn't stop."

She said the officer, fearing for his safety, was forced to shoot the dog. The bullet hit the canine in the chest area near his right, front leg.

The dog was then taken to an animal hospital in Dundee where the owner - DeWayne M. Miller of 450 Locust Street in Elgin - authorized to have the canine euthanized, Dinges said.

She said officers carry pepper spray with them, which is normally used to fend off attacking dogs.

Miller was cited by police for owning a dog at large, owning a dangerous dog, and for not having proof of rabies inoculation.