Dog At Center Of Deadly Attack 'Very Well Cared For' By Owner

FOX LAKE, IL — The three dogs owned by an Ingleside woman who died as a result of injuries from a dog attack are in the possession of Lake County Animal Care and Control, authorities said. One of the dogs authorities said was involved in the deadly attack on 52-year-old Lisa Urso was a 55-pound dark-colored French bulldog-bulldog mix, named Blue, animal control confirmed to Patch.

A second, smaller and light-colored French bulldog, named Rocco, was also found at the scene, and both dogs had blood on them, according to authorities.

However, it does not seem that Urso's third dog, a border collie-cattle dog mix, named Spike, was involved in the fatal attack "in any way," Lake County Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Hannah Goering told Patch, clarifying that the French bulldog-bulldog and the French bulldog are the dogs being "looked at" in the attack, although all three dogs in the possession of animal control. Goering added that they are not able to determine the extent to which either of the two dogs were involved in the attack, but did receive the two with blood on them.

"The collie mix was found in an upstairs room and did not appear to have been downstairs or be involved in the incident," Goering told Patch.

While Urso posted on Facebook in 2018 that the dogs were "shorty bullies," described as "a compact and muscular bulldog of small stature," the breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

"We have no vaccination/medical records to verify how long she had the dogs, but we believe she had them as puppies," Goering told Patch. "If she had rescued the dogs from a licensed rescue center they would have been micro chipped, and they were not."

Goering also said that since animal care and control doesn't have the dogs' pas vaccination records, they do not know with certainty how old the dogs are. However, reported ages of 2 (Blue), 2 (Rocco) and 15 (Spike) "seem accurate," Goering added.

According to Goering, Blue did not show any signs of aggression when he was recently held at animal care and control after the second of two April biting incidents at Urso's home. Because the first biting incident happened at the home, standard protocol allowed the dog to stay put and be quarantined and observed for rabies, Goering said. Goering added that due to a second biting incident at the home, the dog had to be observed at animal care and control.

Because both bites took place in the home and not in public, Urso could request her dog be returned to her on April 30 when the rabies observation ended, according to Goering.

"After the dog was released back to the owner on April 30, we didn't have any additional reports or reports of aggression," which makes what happened on May 9 "such an unusual" matter, Goering said.

However, Goering told Patch Friday that Blue, who did not behave aggressively after being placed in the care of animal control in April, is now "acting very differently" and showing signs of aggression.

Although the Lake County Coroner's office said the dog had been bred to fight, Lake County Animal Control said there is "no evidence that this dog was mistreated or that this dog was involved in any sort of fighting."

"This dog was in very good health, very well cared for," Goering told Patch, adding that dogs that are involved in fighting will typically have a lot of scarring on their face and possible bites and damage to their ears.

"There is none of that with this dog," Goering told Patch. "It was clear the owner loved him. Sometimes these things just happen, and we don't necessarily know why."

However, because of the dog's history of aggression and what's taken place, he will likely be euthanized, according to animal care and control.

"We will not be recommending he be placed in a home," Goering told Patch, adding that animal care and control hasn't received any requests for his placement elsewhere, and if someone were to petition he be placed in a home, animal care and control would then petition the court.

The observation period for the two other dogs — the other French bulldog mix and border collie-cattle dog mix — ends Monday. Goering told Patch that family members have priority when it comes to their adoption.

"Our role is to observe the dogs we have right now, not speculate what happened during the attack," Goering told Patch.

According to animal care and control, "any dog can bite." However, Goering added that "the severity of injuries caused by a dog bite do somewhat vary by breed."

"This isn't so much about the breed of the dog when it comes to this incident," Goering told Patch. "It's such a tragic situation, a very unique and isolated situation. It's not necessarily because of the breed of the dog. We are not going to understand why this happened."

When it comes to adopting a dog, Goering said do your research and ask whether you can provide the right care, and decide whether a certain dog or breed is the best for your family. However, she added that despite doing all of this, there are times when you "just never know."

The preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Tuesday on Urso show she died as a result of injuries from a dog attack, Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said, in a news release.

The Lake County Coroner's office and the Fox Lake Police Department are continuing to investigate Urso's death.

Fox Lake police officers were called at 4:43 p.m. Saturday to the home, where Urso was found unresponsive outside, according to the news release.

"The initial attack took place inside her home," Cooper said in the news release. "She did exit the home, onto her patio, which is where she ultimately died. Toxicology results are pending."

Less than two hours after police arrived to the home, the coroner's office was notified to come for a death investigation, according to the news release.

“We have been in close contact with Ms. Urso’s family and our deepest condolences go out to them during this difficult time," Cooper said. "This is truly a tragedy."

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