Pit Bulls Euthanized After Attack On Boy

AURORA, IL — Just hours after tracking down the second of two pit bulls believed to be responsible for an attack that seriously injured a 10-year-old boy, Aurora police say both dogs have been euthanized. Police said the boy was walking to school in the 1000 block of Jackson Street Friday morning when he was mauled by the dogs. One dog was captured nearby, but the second, named "Cash," was missing for several days after the attack.

Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli said the second dog was located and impounded just after 8:30 a.m. Monday. By 2:15 p.m. the same day, police said both dogs have been destroyed and the owner — who is known to Aurora Animal Care and Control — faces fines totaling up to $3,500.

Police said the boy was rescued by a woman who saw the attack and drove to the scene in her car. The dogs ran away after the woman opened her car door to let the boy in, police said.

The child was initially treated at an Aurora hospital before being transferred to another suburban hospital on Friday. Police said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and he continues to receive care at a suburban Chicago hospital. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Police said the dog that was captured Friday would be checked for rabies "before any decision is made about its future."

The owner told police the dog was known to run toward Phillips Park in the 1000 block of Ray Moses Drive. A dog that matched Cash's description was seen late Friday at the park. "Animal Care and Control responded but could not locate the dog," police said over the weekend. A photo of the dog seen in the park was posted to the Aurora police Facebook page on Saturday.

The dogs' owner, a 20-year-old man who lives in the 1100 block of Hinman Street in unincorporated Aurora, called animal control at around 8:30 a.m. Monday to say he'd located Cash.

Police said the owner surrendered the dog at animal control and was cited for letting both dogs run at large and for the attack on the boy. The owner also received a citation because of the dogs was overdue for a rabies vaccination.

Kane County Animal Control is now testing both animals for rabies, according to Aurora police.

Image via Aurora Police Department