(JOLIET, Ill.) A 5-year-old southwest suburban girl who was airlifted to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago after she and her sister were mauled by a Rottweiler on Tuesday is reportedly doing better.
Five-year-old Kashae Mitchell suffered bites to her face and head in the 3:30 p.m. attack, according to Samuel Bowman, the boyfriend of the girls' mother. Kashae was transported to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet and then airlifted to Children's, Joliet police Chief Fred Hayes said.
"This is a real serious dog mauling, a real vicious attack," Hayes said. "Apparently she has very serious facial injuries and head injuries caused by the mauling by this dog."
Bowman originally said the girl was "clinging to life," but a Children's Memorial spokeswoman Wednesday afternoon that Kashae in "stable" condition. She would not discuss additional details on the girl's condition or injuries.
Kashae's sister, 10-year-old Lexiana Willhite, was bitten in the arms, Bowman said. She was treated at Silver Cross.
"The dog got loose some kind of way and attacked Kashae, and I had to beat the dog off her on the porch," Bowman said.
Hayes confirmed Bowman came to the young girls' aid and said a passing motorist, identified as Joe Davis, rushed to assist. Davis used a metal bar to defend the girls from the dog, Hayes said.
Bowman said the dog was left at the girls' home by their mother's uncle. Will County Animal Control, which handles dog bite cases, took possession of the Rottweiler.
"The dog will be put to sleep and tested for rabies," said Dr. Leroy Schild, administrator of animal control. The dog will be decapitated and its head sent to the state laboratory in Chicago for the testing of brain tissue.
Hayes said the girls' mother, Monique Willhite, "has been caring for the dog for the past several months, although she claims she is not the legal owner.
"She actually tasked the children to feed the dog today," Hayes said.
The dog was kept in a kennel, he said, and "the children were in the process of feeding the dog when the attack occurred."
During the attack, the dog made its way into the house, then back outside. It was eventually captured by police on a neighbor's property, police said.
Hayes said detectives and animal control officers are still investigating and criminal charges may be forthcoming.
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01/07/2009 1:00AM
Tell Us What You Think
test
01/07/2009 2:00AM
Done with the dogs!
When will people learn these types of dogs are dangerous. They're just as bad as wild animals. Outlaw them!
01/07/2009 2:09AM
EAST side joliet
does it surprise n e 1 in joliet. keep more rots and pits maybe they maul all u idiots
01/07/2009 10:12AM
Shahriar
You can not outlaw a breed because the owners have abused a particular animal.
01/07/2009 10:13AM
Sick
I usually say most people should not be allowed to have children, but that needs to be expanded to most people should not be allowed to have pets.
01/07/2009 10:59AM
Hoping the girls are recovering
How about praying for these girls instead of playing the blame game and making allegations you don't know are true!
01/07/2009 11:18AM
Outlaw these dogs!
There's only one reason to have a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull or a gun - supposed security against unwanted intruders. What people don't realize is 9 out of 10 times these weapons are used on family and friends - not intruders. Look at the stats folks! Outlaw all 3! They're extremely dangerous.
01/07/2009 1:42PM
A Problem!!!
These dogs has always been a problem, yea we should pray for the girls, and we also need to pray for the fammily, but come these godogs have always been a problem,these dogs are a a PROBLEM.
01/07/2009 1:46PM
Not as a house pet!!!
A Rottweiller or a pit should not be a a house pet, they are dangerous, they will go nuttts on who ever is in their way. they should never be around children. I wonder what the authorities are going to do NOW!!!
01/07/2009 1:55PM
Sick of Ignorance
A dog acts as it was trained!!! I have and many of my friends and family own Pit Bulls and Rottweilers and all of them, and I mean every single dog we own are the biggest babies ever!!! They are the most intelligent and loving dogs that get along with each other and others. If you train a dog to kill or abuse it then of course it's going to fight back...wouldn't you? Maybe the question should be HOW LONG WAS THAT DOG KEPT IN A KENNEL FOR? ALL DAY? EVERY DAY? It's unfortunate that the dog attacked the girls or is the owner just lucky it was him/her??? There's only so far you can push a pet before they start fighting back...what the hell do you expect. Anyone that doesn't know how to care for a dog of that size and of that personality should NOT own one and it's unfortunate that they are allowed to take one home when they are puppies. All they do is ruin the dog and ruin the rest of the dog's life. These dogs are given death sentences in the wrong hands and the only one the suffers from birth to death is the dog!!!
01/07/2009 1:57PM
Ignorant People
The only breed that should be outlawed is IGNORANT PEOPLE!!! They make this world what it is....DISGUSTING!!!
01/07/2009 2:20PM
Bad Owners
I agree with sick of ingnorance & ignorant people. I have raised big dogs all of my life. I would never send 2 small girls to a kennel to feed a large dog of any kind of breed, especially if they were unfamiliar with each other. Stupid!I really pray thatthe 2 little girls heal. What a painful & horrible experience for them.
01/07/2009 3:43PM
Dogs
It's not the fault it's owners and handlers that need to keep control of their animals! Also raise them the right way.
01/07/2009 4:44PM
Rottweilers
The fault lies with the adults. Regardless of breed, if a dog is kept in a kennel they generally are NOT family-friendly pets and children should NOT be allowed to feed them, let alone get near them. Yes, Rottweilers are used for protection in some cases but they are TRAINED to do so, otherwise they are of German heritage and were used as hearding dogs for cattle. I had a large, strong, loveable, cuddly Rott who shared a house with both of my daughters who climbed over her, sat on her, were pulled in sleds by her...she was well trained and socialized to be a family pet. It's all in the training and I'm quite tired of people assuming that large dogs are mean. I encountered Labs who were more aggressive than my Rott. Get educated about the breed before making uneducated comments, please.
01/07/2009 5:06PM
Aggressive dogs or Aggressive people?
It is humans who take care of their animals and who raise these animals as pets. Pets who trained to do as the human wishes, provided that the human is aware of how to treat their dog. The dog is not the problem, but rather, the way in which it was raised by the human.
Euthanasia based upon a specific situation for a specific dog does makes sense.
However, "banning," or using euthanasia to eliminate all dogs of a specific breed will not eliminate the problem. People view certain dogs as more aggressive than other because more aggressive people obtain these dogs for purposes other than being a pet. Eliminating innocent newly born puppies with no background of aggression will not eliminate the cause of the problem--the aggressive humans--and hence will not stop the problem. The humans will simply find another vessel to focus their attention on.
The bottom line is that people need to be responsible for their own actions and not blame dogs based upon a subsection that humans themselves have formed (breeds). These "breeds" are largely based upon appearance and can yield a wide variety of temperaments.
http://stopbsl.com/bsloverview/the-punishment-of-the-innocent/
01/07/2009 5:15PM
(contin. of above)
I in no way proclaim that these owners were aggressive, merely that it is possible that the dog was trained for aggression protection. Or, it is possible that it was never socialized towards children and hence attacked out of its own confusion and defense. Of course, it is possible that the dog had aggressive tendencies, as, unfortunately some mammals do, but not because they are a specific breed.
In addition, the main focus here ought to be upon the poor children who were attacked. May they heal well and be prayed for.
01/07/2009 5:29PM
Save the Rottweilers, lock up the owners
My heart goes out to the innocent young children who did not deserve this. I hope and wish them well. Now...Why did the rott attack???? Probably cause of the dumb owners. I happened to know these dogs are very friendly and lovable. Just like a little child. But lets all think up-bringing. If you neglect and abuse a dog just like a child, they will both wind up phsycologically unstable. its that simple. Now that the rott is tainted, it must be put down. In essence the dogs' owner should be financially responsible because of all the animal neglect he may have cause to promote this outcome.
01/07/2009 5:38PM
A chihuahua can be as viscious
Its not the breed its the owners. What are the chances of the owner being a low income, unstable, probably addicted to some sort of drug/alcohol who cant afford to seek proper training. Maybe they should have rules and regulations if one wants to purchase a Rott. Sort of like when adopting a child. If one is incompatent, then they are not elligable to own one. Those types of idiot owners are the ones who put this awesome breed typical viscious stereotype. I've been attacked by three chihuahuas never a large breed.
01/07/2009 5:54PM
Upset
I trust my two Rottweilers so much that I could leave my 2 year old son with crawling on the floor with my dogs. I would bet my life my dogs will never do more than lick my child. Yet, im still not dumb enough to do so. Why........why would you leave two young innocent girls with a dog that is confined to a cage all day. Dogs need to socialize or interact with other humans and dogs. Also, people need to remember: This is mans best friend, Treat them like one or dont own one. Let me guess...Too many Michael Vicks out there. Grow up.
01/07/2009 6:47PM
Jo Mama
Most people shouldn't be allowed to have children and it seems most people shouldn't be allowed to have dogs either. We can pray for these but more importantly we need to get off our fat behinds and do something positive. Parents need to be responsible for their children's education. If you decide to have children then you need to pay for their education - DO NOT expect Uncle Sam to pay for it. Only then will we raise responsible children who come from loving families. Loving families don't raise dangerous animals.
01/07/2009 9:33PM
Michael Vick Was Right?
Maybe Michael Vick actually knew what he was doing and saved some kids.
01/08/2009 7:55PM
just want to know
why would people keep a short haired dog outside in cold weather?To keep body temp. the dog would need more food to stay alive maybe he was starving and drove crazy.That kennel looks kind of shabby to me.
01/09/2009 10:23AM
Mom should have known better
the mother should have never asked two young children to feed the dog, especially a dog that she does not own. And why is this dog being kept ougside in this weather? I'm sorry the girls got hurt, but this was VERY preventable!!!
01/10/2009 7:01PM
madonna
effen people need to be trained... to care for their children and their pets
01/10/2009 10:57PM
MUST READ
I am a dog trainer and have been for many years, I have also been raised and have owned nothing but all LARGE breeds my entire life. And I can say I have never had any issues. My family has owned 3 great danes, 1 boxer, 2 american pit bull terriers, 2 american staffordshire terriers, 1 doberman, 2 german shepards, 2 rotts, 1 english bulldog and 1 lab. Now for all you UNEDUCATED people who make comments like "Ban pitbulls and rotts" "these dogs have always been an issue". You people need to educate yourself and take the chance to get to know these breeds before you witch hunt them. There is no such breed as a pit bull. All of these breeds I have listed above have gone through a period of having the highs and lows in American history. There was once a time when EACH one of these breeds was Americas favorite dogs and then the people turned against them and outcasted them, used them as their scape goat. Today is my breed and tomorrow it will be yours, I'll fight for my breed, but who will fight for yours? Now as a dog trainer and a member of the IACP I can say that there is no 1 breed that is more responible for bites than another. There is also no such thing as pitbulls having "lockjaw" they have NO DIFFERENT jaw mechanism then any other breed of dog. And if you DO read the national canine temperment testing statistics then you would see that pitbulls pass with higher average then most of your "now-a-days beloved breeds." So before anymore of you assume you know something about a breed EDUCATE yourself first. And to the person who compared pitbulls and rotts to a gun...people kill people, guns dont and neither do dogs. Dogs are not blood thirsty man hunters. Dogs are the ONLY animal that has evolved with people over the past 12,000 years. They are NOT wild animals like wolves or bears. NO other animal has evolved with us-JUST DOGS. They are PACK animals and will naturally assume the position to be so. It is people who fail to train their dogs and give them the structure, balance, and foundation that they need and crave so if there is anyone to blame it is the people and the dog NOR THE BREED.
01/10/2009 11:00PM
Continued above
so if there is anyone to blame it is the people and NOT the dog NOR THE BREED. Being breed specific is no different than racism. There is good and bad in every race of people but that doesnt mean that all white, mexican, black, etc. people are bad and the same goes for breeds of dogs.
01/11/2009 1:57PM
Couldn't run the risk
I recently returned a rotty puppy to the shelter in my area. When I bought the dog for my eight year old son I didn't really know that much about them so I told him it would be his on antrial basis until I could see how he gets along with the dog and I could do some research. I saw all of the documented attacks and how the dog snaps and turns on it's owner even after several years of good behavior. I just couldn't take the risk. I would never forgive myself if my dog (breed independent) attacked and mauled anyone. No dogs for us.
01/12/2009 4:02PM
To the above
Your RETARDED!!!
01/12/2009 5:16PM
USE UR HEAD
Research the breed you get before you make an impulsive purchase, they are living animals and shouldn't be passed around as if it were nothing.
01/13/2009 12:53AM
Prevent The Bite
www.preventthebite.org
Dog bites are and will continue to be a public health problem in the US until dog owners, parents and children become educated about how to prevent them. Almost every well known and respected dog bite study concludes with a need for preventive educational programs to reduce the incidence of dog bites.
Dog bites are one of the top 10 causes of injury to children every year. Most of the nearly 5 million dog bites in the US are to children, and most of their bites are in the face, head and neck. The majority of bites are from their own dog or a dog they know well. Children aren%u2019t taught proper behavior around dogs and they will run up to them, look them in the eye, hug them and do things that in the canine world are considered quite rude. They don%u2019t recognize danger signs a dog is sending any more than they recognize their own potentially dangerous behavior because no one has ever taught them how to avoid being bitten. Parents often unwittingly put their children in harms way, encouraging them to hug a dog or approach a dog that is not on a leash or with its owner, or asking permission to pet the dog first if it is.
Dog owners must recognize their responsibility for keeping others out of harms way. Research needs to be done before adopting a dog so that the proper dog is brought into their environment. They must learn what to do when they bring the dog home %u2013 training, socializing, neutering, etc. I wonder of Alex would be alive today if his foster parents had known that children living in a house with one dog are almost twice as likely to be bitten than children with no dog, and children living in a house with two or more dogs are more than three times more likely to be bitten. Most dog owners are good people, but are sorely lacking the information they need to be responsible dog owners. Others are not and they should be held responsible. Law makers need to recognize this.
In 1999 my daughter was seriously injured in a dog attack, leaving her with about 100 stitches in her face and throat and the lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The attack happened when she walked onto a neighbor%u2019s driveway and said hello to a dog she knew. My daughter didn%u2019t do anything bad, but she did a lot of things wrong. She and I have devoted the last 10 years to learning how to keep other children safe and sharing that information with our nonprofit organization Prevent The Bite. I still have my daughter, but Alex%u2019s adoptive family has lost the child they hoped to raise. My heart goes out to them, and I will continue to devote my efforts to keeping other children safe from dog bites.
01/17/2009 2:39AM
pitbull owner
i own a blue pit named tank, aka mr. stank he is kennel kept in the house and someones always home so he comes out every 2 hours for 30-45 minutes, fed 3 times daily , practice his commands and knows what give mama kisses mean, and he lays on me and we cuddle, its all in how u treat the dog. heck my chihuahua is meaner, if she was his sie i would have a killer since she is obssessed with me. punish the deed not the breed. and by the way i know these people, n she was bogus to send her girls to feed because she was scared of dogs, hell if i was a dog i would attack to u got me outside in the cold no insulated dog house proboly fed once daily if they remembered and no attention, people need to grow up
01/23/2009 4:44PM
All Dogs Bite
My husband is a retired K-9 handler. I have had many breeds of dogs. German Sheperds, Rottweilers, Australian Sheperds and Labs. Any dog that feels threatned will bite. All family pets must be trained and someone has to be the pack leader or the dogs will take over. Rottweilers are loving, care and very trainable in the right hands. No child should ever be in control of a pet. I have two young girls myself. I trust my Rottweiler and Aussie with them. My dogs have been trained and my children have also been taught how to behave around animals. It's a two way street. God Bless any child who gets attacked by a dog. No breed of dog is more vicious than the other. There are bad apples in every breed.
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