Pit Bulls Attack Woman, Dog While Out on Walk

JOLIET, IL — A pit bull has been euthanized after it and another pit bull allegedly bit a woman and attacked her dog while she was walking the animal in the 3300 block of Timber Edge Circle Jan. 15.

Officers with the Joliet Police Department responded to a call of a dog bite around 7:55 a.m., according to Joliet Deputy Chief Ed Gregory. As they arrived in the area, they heard gunshots. Officers found a 59-year-old off-duty Forest Preserve District of Will County officer and retired Will County deputy with a gun.

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The off-duty officer had received a call from his wife saying that she and her dog, Hannah, a medium-sized brown mix dog, were being attacked by two pit bulls, Mocha and Nala. One pit bull had Hannah by the throat while the other had her by the hind quarters. A neighbor who saw the incident had called the husband, as well.

One of the pit bulls had bit the woman so hard it had broken her wrist. A 6-inch tooth also was found at the scene, Gregory said.

The off-duty officer and his wife were able to get the dogs off Hannah, who then ran away.

As the off-duty officer was walking back to his residence looking for his dog, he was confronted by one of the pit bulls, Gregory said.

“Mocha began to run after our off-duty in an aggressive manner,” Gregory said. “He removed his hand gun and discharged three to four rounds, striking it in the face and front leg area.”

Mocha then returned home.

The off-duty officer and his wife later found Hannah on the porch of their home in the 1900 block of Timber Edge, which is the next street over from Timber Edge Circle, but was attacked again by Nala.

“This is when our female victim was assisted by other neighbors and started striking the dog with a baseball bat.”

The pit bull ran back to its residence and was brought inside by owner Barbara Szczurowski.

Joliet Township Animal Control was called out, but wouldn’t take Mocha because of the severe injuries. The dog was taken to the vet and put down.

Hannah sustained around 60 puncture wounds to her body, but is expected to survive.

Neighbors told police this isn’t the first time the pit bulls have been aggressive and running at large.

“One of the neighbors said there is a lawsuit against Szczurowski for a dog bite that had occurred a year ago,” Gregory said.

Szczurowski was cited for having a dangerous dog and dogs running at large and was sent a note by the city’s legal department to turn Nala over to Animal Control to determine if the dog is dangerous or vicious.