Berkeley officer shot 'aggressive' pit bull off its leash

BERKELY, Ill. (WLS) -- Berkeley police said an officer responding to multiple reports of a "loose, vicious" dog in the 1100-block of Taft Avenue was forced to fire at a pit bull that came at him aggressively.

The dog is expected to recover. But Gina Stone, the pit bull's owner, told ABC7 Eyewitness News that she plans to file a lawsuit.

Police received a number of calls from residents who said the gray pit bull was running in the street off its leash, with two barefoot, unsupervised children chasing the dog with sticks and poles. Stone said her dog was outside with her children Friday evening.

One caller said he tried to round up the pit bull, but said the dog bared its teeth, growled and advanced at him in an aggressive manner. He said he went back inside and called 911.

Officers responded to the scene around 5:10 p.m. Friday and found the pit bull in the parkway. They said the dog displayed the same aggressive behavior toward one officer, who tried to create space between himself and the pit bull more than once. When the pit bull lunged a third time, the officer fired and struck the dog in the facial area.

"It's not right. It wasn't right for my kids to see that, it wasn't fair to the dog for that to happen," Stone said. Police said neither the owner nor the children were outside at the time of the shooting.

Officers were able to corral the pit bull about 45 minutes later, after chasing the dog through the neighborhood. Police took the pit bull to DuPage Animal Hospital, where the dog was released to Stone.

All dogs must be kept on a leash in Berkley and supervised by their owners. Stone was cited for a vicious dog at large, no village dog license and disorderly conduct.