Toddler Seriously Injured in Rottweiler Attack: Police

A 22-month-old girl is in critical condition after being attacked by at least one Rottweiler during a family Easter celebration, Plainfield police said Tuesday.

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Chief John Konopek said the toddler suffered numerous dog bites throughout her body and significant blood loss in the Easter Sunday attack.

“I’ve seen some pictures of her injuries and I can say it’s the most severe dog attack I’ve ever seen in the Village of Plainfield,” Konopek said.

Officers were called out to assist an ambulance crew at around 5 p.m. Sunday after the girl reportedly wandered away from an Easter party at her family’s home in the 24000 block of Main Street, police said.

Konopek said two Rottweilers were fenced in a nearby backyard but were able to breach the fence, and at least one of the dogs began attacking the toddler.

“That’s still part of the investigation,” he said, adding Will County Animal Control is working to determine whether both dogs were involved.

The girl’s father discovered the violent attack in progress and was able to free his child as relatives called 9-1-1, police said. On Tuesday, Konopek said the toddler was in critical but stable condition at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

“In my experience, it’s the most severe dog attack I’ve ever seen,” said Konopek, an 18-year veteran of the Plainfield Police Department.

Sheila Buffano, supervisor at Will County Animal Control, said investigators have received conflicting reports as to whether both dogs were involved in the attack. 

"At this point, we really can't tell you much because we are doing an investigation," Buffano said.

While animal control is leading the investigation into the attack, Konopek said Plainfield code enforcement officers are looking into whether the dogs were properly secured.

“It doesn’t appear the fence was sufficient for the size of the dog,” Konopek said. He declined to release information on the dogs’ owners, saying no citations had been issued as of Tuesday morning.

He said Plainfield police have no record of prior complaints regarding the two dogs involved in the incident.

Editor's note: Shannon Antinori wrote this article.