2 dogs declared dangerous after Lake Zurich attack
Two dogs described as pit bulls have been declared dangerous because of an attack in May on a German shepherd mix that was walking with its owners in Lake Zurich, according to Lake County officials.
As a result of the dangerous dogs finding by the Lake County Health Department's Animal Care and Control program, the owners in part have been fined and are required to muzzle and leash the animals when in public. Officials said an investigation guided by criteria established under a state animal control law led to the designation for the offending dogs.
Health department spokeswoman Leslie Piotrowski said this week the two dogs that escaped a fenced yard and attacked the German shepherd mix were documented by investigators as pit bulls. That brings to four the number of dangerous dogs in Lake County this year, with the other two in an unincorporated area near Gurnee and in Round Lake, Piotrowski said.
Lake Zurich Police Chief Steven Husak said officers were summoned about 10:40 a.m. May 21 by a woman who reported her pet and husband were attacked by the two dogs near Old Mill Grove Road and Windemere Lane. The owners of the two dogs have not been publicly identified.
"We did not charge anyone locally," Husak said. "If any future violations are reported, we will respond and document the incidents and forward the information on to Lake County for their follow up."
At a June 6 Lake Zurich village board meeting, Kurt Humbrecht spoke at public comment time and said his 15-month-old dog, Alice, was recovering from injuries to both hind legs and her stomach. Humbrecht said he suffered bite wounds trying to separate the animals.
Husak said the German shepherd mix was taken to a Lake Zurich animal hospital for treatment. He said the injured dog's owners directed officers to the Windemere Lane house, where they found the offending dogs were inside.
The property owner told police the animals broke through a privacy fence, according to a police report. The report shows the homeowner told police one dog belongs to his grandson who lives with him and the other is owned by friend who resides elsewhere in Lake Zurich.
In the animal care and control finding issued July 1, each dog owner was ordered to pay a $50 public safety fine to the Lake County Health Department. The two dogs also must be microchipped.