McHENRY, Ill.— Chaos ensued in McHenry County yesterday after a series of dog attacks left multiple people injured, including a sheriff's deputy, according to police statements. The McHenry County Sheriff's Office responded to a call regarding an aggressive dog fight on Huemann Drive and Stilling Boulevard, with the scene escalating to the point where one dog was shot by law enforcement, as reported by NBC Chicago.
Officials arriving at the incident found a challenging situation with three dogs confined on a front porch and two others in a vehicle, according to authorities, the situation grew tense when the dogs broke free and charged at officers and firefighters resulting in the use of tasers and a fire extinguisher in what was described as "less-lethal" attempts to subdue the animals; the efforts culminated in a deputy discharging their weapon at one of the dogs, as detailed by NBC Chicago.
While the majority of the dogs are now in the custody of McHenry County Animal Control, one dog—a petite brown pit bull with a distinctive white stripe on its face—remains at large, prompting warnings to the community and a call from authorities for any sightings to be reported to the sheriff's office at 815-338-2144. Nearby residents were initially told to stay indoors for their safety, but this advisory has since been lifted, although the dog, deemed aggressive, is still unaccounted for, as per ABC7 Chicago.
A resident, Jerry O'Rourke, relayed the audible chaos of the incident, stating "I heard three gunshots go off and my wife comes out of the other room and there was a presence of police here with the two ambulances," adding tension to an already fraught situation that for him, wasn't the first occurrence of its kind but certainly the first to involve gunfire, this account was given during an ABC7 Chicago interview.
According to NBC Chicago, The McHenry County sheriff's deputy who was bitten during the altercation received medical treatment at a nearby hospital, ensuring that those serving to protect are also afforded protection and care as they face the unforeseen perils embedded in the call of duty.
