Dogs Involved in Plainfield Toddler Attack Removed from Home: Police

Two Rottweilers involved in an attack that left a Plainfield toddler in critical condition have been impounded by Will County Animal Control, along with a third Rottweiler from the same household, officials said Thursday.

Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek said the 22-month-old girl, who suffered numerous bites in what he called the “most severe dog attack I’ve ever seen,” had shown signs of improvement but remained hospitalized.

“There’s still some severe injuries and a lot of recovery to go,” Konopek said.

Read: Plainfield Toddler Seriously Injured in Rottweiler Attack

Animal control supervisor Sheila Buffano said all three dogs have been impounded for a 10-day quarantine. Investigators are still working to determine whether one or two dogs were involved in the attack on the little girl.

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Buffano said whenever an animal bites, if it is not up to date on its shots, a quarantine is ordered. Even though all three Rottweilers are current on their vaccinations, officials decided to order a quarantine due to the circumstances, she said.

Police said the toddler was attacked after she wandered away from an Easter party at her family’s home in the 24000 block of Main Street at around 5 p.m. Sunday.

Her father discovered the attack, and was able to get the girl free of the dogs, police said.

Konopek said the dogs were able to breach a fence, which he said did not appear to be sufficient for the size of the dogs, to reach the girl. Plainfield code enforcement officers are looking into whether the dogs were properly secured, according to police.

One dog believed to be involved in the attack, a male, was impounded by animal control on Monday, Buffano said.

Safety concerns

The other two dogs — a male and a female — were impounded on Wednesday, according to animal control. A day earlier, residents reported spotting the two dogs running loose in the neighborhood.

A neighbor who said she witnessed the aftermath of the attack and even dialed 9-1-1, said she had concerns about the safety of children in the neighborhood — especially given the proximity to a preschool. Peaceful Hearts Lutheran Preschool is located at 24024 W. Main St., near the site of the attack, said the woman, who asked that her name be witheld.

Konopek confirmed that police received calls from neighbors who believed the Rottweilers were on the loose on Tuesday.

“We did get a couple calls about dogs running loose on Tuesday,” he said, adding community service officers spent about an hour in the neighborhood, but did not spot any dogs roaming free. Konopek said police could not confirm that the animals reported by neighbors were from the same household as the dogs involved in the attack.

The neighbor said she was arriving home from her own family Easter event on Sunday when she apparently witnessed the parents as they discovered the attack.

“They were running out there to get the little girl,” she said, adding the toddler appeared lifeless as she was carried away from the scene of the attack. “It was horrible.”

A mother herself, the woman said she didn’t want her name revealed for fear of retaliation.

“I don’t want any trouble,” she said. “I just want my son to be able to go outside and play without having to worry about this.”

Ongoing investigation

The owners of the dogs are aware of the ongoing investigation, according to Buffano, and the dogs are being quarantined at their expense.

She said investigators are still working to determine whether more than one dog was involved in the attack, and are looking into whether any of the animals should be declared dangerous under Illinois statute.

If a dog is declared dangerous, it must be confined to its owner’s property. When it must leave the property, such as for a vet visit, it must be muzzled. If pet owners are found to be in violation of either requirement, charges could be filed, Buffano said. 

She said animal control officers hope to complete their investigation before the 10-day quarantine period ends. 

Editor's note: Patch incorrectly named the preschool located near the site of the dog attack. We apologize for the error.