Marty
04-13-2006, 10:08 PM
Glenview,IL -- f Gov. Rod Blagojevich signs a bill that passed in the General Assembly last week, owners of dangerous and vicious dogs who knowingly let their pets run loose will be facing a felony charge. Filed in December of last year by state Rep. Mike Boland, D-71st, the bill amends the Animal Control Act from charging the owner of a dangerous dog that attacks someone with a misdemeanor to a felony.
When Scott Sword, owner of three pit bulls that attacked six people -- including two 10-year-old children -- near Cary Nov. 5, was charged with only $150 for dogs-running-at-large violations, there was a public cry to stiffen penalties.
State Rep. Mike Tryon, R-64th, had sponsored a controversial bill after the attacks that allowed a community to enact breed-specific legislation, currently not allowed in Illinois, and gave the community the authority to add pit bulls and rottweilers to that legislation.
"I became public enemy No. 1," Tryon said. "All I'm trying to do is create responsibility."
Now, he, along with 11 other legislators including Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-32, have cosponsored a different bill with Boland.
"This bill is unique because it focuses on the irresponsible dog owner, not the type of dog itself," Boland said. "A breed-specific bill would not have been effective because the irresponsible owners would just get a different dog."
Tryon, who gave up on his original bill, said he anticipates the governor will sign the bill into law.
"There's less opposition to it," Tryon said.
In addition to prison time, the bill also removes the cap -- $50 in McHenry county -- that counties currently must enforce on a dog-running-at-large violation. Harsher penalties for dogs that assault police officers are also included in the bill.
Boland, who taught junior high for 30 years before becoming a legislator, said a plea from a former student whose 14-year-old daughter, Lydia Chaplin, was killed after being attacked by four pit bulls and a mixed-breed boxer outside Erie, Ill. in January 2005 motivated him to sponsor the bill.
"I took about a year studying this because I really wanted to do the right thing," Boland said. "People were very sad and very angry, especially when they found out there was nothing they could do."
Under the proposed bill, even a dog not declared dangerous or vicious that attacks an individual is civilly liable.
"That's a breakthrough," Boland said.
Contact Duaa Eldeib at deldeib@pioneerlocal.com
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/cg/04-13-06-887609.html
When Scott Sword, owner of three pit bulls that attacked six people -- including two 10-year-old children -- near Cary Nov. 5, was charged with only $150 for dogs-running-at-large violations, there was a public cry to stiffen penalties.
State Rep. Mike Tryon, R-64th, had sponsored a controversial bill after the attacks that allowed a community to enact breed-specific legislation, currently not allowed in Illinois, and gave the community the authority to add pit bulls and rottweilers to that legislation.
"I became public enemy No. 1," Tryon said. "All I'm trying to do is create responsibility."
Now, he, along with 11 other legislators including Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-32, have cosponsored a different bill with Boland.
"This bill is unique because it focuses on the irresponsible dog owner, not the type of dog itself," Boland said. "A breed-specific bill would not have been effective because the irresponsible owners would just get a different dog."
Tryon, who gave up on his original bill, said he anticipates the governor will sign the bill into law.
"There's less opposition to it," Tryon said.
In addition to prison time, the bill also removes the cap -- $50 in McHenry county -- that counties currently must enforce on a dog-running-at-large violation. Harsher penalties for dogs that assault police officers are also included in the bill.
Boland, who taught junior high for 30 years before becoming a legislator, said a plea from a former student whose 14-year-old daughter, Lydia Chaplin, was killed after being attacked by four pit bulls and a mixed-breed boxer outside Erie, Ill. in January 2005 motivated him to sponsor the bill.
"I took about a year studying this because I really wanted to do the right thing," Boland said. "People were very sad and very angry, especially when they found out there was nothing they could do."
Under the proposed bill, even a dog not declared dangerous or vicious that attacks an individual is civilly liable.
"That's a breakthrough," Boland said.
Contact Duaa Eldeib at deldeib@pioneerlocal.com
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/cg/04-13-06-887609.html