Woman Walking Dogs That Attacked And Killed Pet Charged 4 Times

PALATINE, IL — The owner of two dogs, a pit bull and Akita, that attacked two pets and their owners on Monday night has been cited with 13 ordinance violations, police said Tuesday.

The owner was not walking the dogs during the attack, but the woman who was walking them was charged with reckless conduct.

The dogs' owner, Meleina Teodoro, a 22-year-old Palatine resident, is scheduled to appear in court on June 3. According to a relative of one of the victims, the animals were released back to Teodoro after the attack.

Police said Teodoro's relative, 32-year-old Julia Paulino, was walking the dogs. She was charged with four counts of reckless conduct for failing to secure the dogs with a proper collar, police said. Paulino is scheduled to appear in court in Rolling Meadows on July 1.

Of the two dogs attacked, one died at Golf Rose Animal Hospital and the other suffered bite wounds. Both owners of the attacked dogs were taken to Northwest Community Hospital with bite wounds.

Police said the woman lost control of the pit bull and Akita, which then attacked and killed a smaller dog. The woman walking the small dog tried to shield her pet before she was bitten and injured.

The owner did not regain control of her dogs until after they charged and attacked another small dog walking in the area, police said. The second small dog and its owner, a man, suffered bite wounds.

Police said the pit bull and Akita had received their rabies vaccines. The Palatine animal warden investigated.