Animal control said Wednesday that the final dog who was on the loose following a series of attacks by aggressive dogs in a neighborhood near McHenry has been captured.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:50 p.m. Thursday to the area of West Heumann Drive and Stilling Boulevard in unincorporated McHenry.
The sheriff’s office said they received a call for an aggressive dog fight in the area.
The owner reported she was unable to separate her dogs were engaged in the fight.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection also responded after the woman reported she had been bitten by one of the dogs while trying to separate them.
A neighbor who attempted to help the owner also suffered bite wounds, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies found three dogs loosely enclosed on a front porch and two dogs corralled in a car.
While speaking with the owners, the three dogs broke through the porch gate and aggressively ran toward responding deputies and fire personnel.
Less-lethal attempts to control the dogs were made by use of tasers and a fire extinguisher. One of the deputies then fatally shot one of the dogs.
A deputy suffered a dog bite and was treated at a nearby hospital. A second deputy who was reported injured declined medical treatment.
McHenry County Animal Control took possession of three dogs but the last remaining dog was reported to be on the loose.
“The Sheriff’s Office understands the bond between an owner and their pet and only resorts to using lethal force when it comes to protecting the safety and well-being of citizens and deputies,” the agency said in a statement.
The dog at large was described as a petite dark brown pit bull with a white stripe on its face.
The McHenry County Animal Control and Adoption Center said late Wednesday afternoon that all surviving pit bulls involved in the incident are now in their care.
“This includes the three dogs taken into Animal Control’s possession on the day of the incident, as well as a fourth dog that was previously at-large following the incident,” the agency said.