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She had a family once, she had a home once, she had a name once and she had a life once, that was until an ill-fated event that led to her unfortunate, untimely and senseless death.
We christened her Aiyana and she was a female Rottweiler that was shot Monday, August 21th by a forest preserve police officer simply because she was there. Her story is simple, she wandered into a picnic area looking for food. She was not showing aggression or acting in a threatening way, at all. After one family befriended her and shared their lunch, Aiyana went to lay under another picnic table to rest. It was then that an officer spotted her and when she approached him expecting more treats she received the shock of her life. According to eyewitnesses, the officer got onto the picnic table and while Aiyana sat looking at him he drew his gun and, to the horror of those watching, shot her. The first shot went through her abdomen. She made her way back to the first family and then went off toward the woods(Picture). Two more officers had now arrived and immediately went to the spot where Aiyana was lying (Pictures). Despite the pleas from the picnickers to not hurt her, that she was harmless and they should call the humane society, they shot Aiyana, again, this time providing a fatal blow to her head. The officers then picked up the body, walked further into the woods and threw her into a ravine that flows into a nearby lake (Picture). As they were coming up the path they were overheard to say that they would not report this incident.
On Saturday, two people who witnessed the event entered the humane society and reported the happenings to a licensed humane investigator. When it happened, they said they were not sure what to do, but as the week progressed, the madder they got and came to the shelter seeking advice. I had been standing at the counter, half listening to their story, but offered to go and help retrieve the body. It was then that I found out that they were talking about a Rottweiler. We went to the site, saw the blood stains still visible in the dirt and proceeded down the hill in search of the body. We finally found Aiyana's badly decomposed body in the lake just a few feet off shore (Picture). Not having the proper equipment with us, we were unable to retrieve her. The two gentlemen returned the next morning and got her out.
On Sunday, we again went back to the site and bundled the body in plastic bags (Picture) and brought her to the shelter. We cleaned her off (Picture) and located the first bullet's entrance and exit wound in her abdomen, then found the entrance area in her head. The body was transferred to a local veterinarian where an xray was taken in hopes of locating the bullet lodged in the brain. It was found and removed and is now in possession of the humane investigator. When the forest preserve police were first contacted they stated that there was no record of shots fired by any of their officers, but we know differently and have proof.
Judging by the condition of her teeth, Aiyana was approximately 4 to 5 years of age, was not a big girl and may have been pregnant. She was not wearing a collar and tags and was not chipped. Those that saw her before she died said she was a good girl, very friendly, very pretty.
Aiyana means eternal bloom. It seemed like such a beautiful name for a once beautiful rottie. Aiyana is representative of all rotties that have died needlessly at the hands of humans. Although frightened and scared when she died we will make sure that she will have a peaceful place to rest for all eternity. She will be cremated and placed to rest at a local pet cemetery.
Our intention in bringing this to you is not to appeal for funds. The public needs to be aware of situations like this to prevent them from happening again. Aiyana's story is particularly heinous. The shelter where she was brought was the South Suburban Humane Society, located in Chicago Heights, IL. They have one of the most effective abuse programs in the state and their licensed investigative team is very dedicated and will not let anything stand in their way. If you feel that you want to help, then please help them. Send your gift to the shelter in Aiyana's name to support their program. The shelter's address is P.O. Box 744, Chicago Heights, IL 60412. The case is now in their hands and we will update you as things progress.
(Barb Williams - 8/30/00)
Aiyana's remains will be laid to rest today in a plot donated by Kozy Acres Pet Cemetary in Joliet, IL.
As for the officer that shot this dog, Internal Affairs from the Cook County Forest Preserve District has become involved and have begun an investigation into the incident. Charges are also being made by the State of Illinois Humane Investigator under the Humane Care for Animal Act.
One of the local news channels (Channel 7 in Chicago) has also picked up the story and plans to be at the cemetary. Afterwards they will interview the witnesses at the forest preserve site. Please remember that this incident not only involved this rottie, but also the family who witnessed the shooting. There is a little boy that has been having nightmares, and wonders if he should ever trust law enforcement officials again.
Aiyana ashes were laid to rest this afternoon at Kozy Acres Pet Cemetary in Joliet, IL (Picture). A small gathering of friends, both human and canine, attended this very brief, but moving memorial (Picture). Her ashes were placed in the plot by one of the gentlemen that witnessed her shooting, and everyone helped by filling in her grave (Picture). After her grave was filled, an honor guard of rotties took their places around her the site to say their final farewells (Picture).
Aiyana's place of rest. How beautiful.(Picture) It is a crime this beautiful little girl ended up here. Lets hope this never happens again to any baby. They all deserve better than this.
South Suburban Humane Society and Recycled Rotts would like to extend a special thanks to Kozy Acres Cementary for donating a larger plot in the main cemetery and the headstone that will be placed on her grave. Her headstone will be engraved as follows: "AIYANA In honor of all dogs that have been victims of abuse."
We will post information as it becomes available.
Sorry to have been so long in posting updates. Want to let everyone know that this case has not yet been settled. In the past week, the news media has taken an interest and stories have been published in one local paper (see copy from 9/17 below), plus Channel Two News (Chicago) did a short piece. Cook County Forest Preserve officials are not saying a lot, but the question that is still in everyone's mind is why did this officer shoot the dog. The one consistent story, from both sides, is that the dog was not showing any signs of aggressive behavior. A hearing is being scheduled to be held within the next two weeks, time and date have not yet been released. Also, we do not know if this will be an open or a closed hearing.
The hearing for the officer that shot this dog resulted in the following recommendation. He was to receive 29 days suspension without pay, plus other penalities in regard to his rank and job status. As for the other officers involved, it is my understanding that they were not reprimanded. Any charges under animal cruelty were dropped. He felt he was "justified" in the shooting as he states the dog was acting aggressively. His suspension was the result of discharging the firearm, the illegal dumping of the body, and failure to file a report. I am sorry to say that I have not been back out to the cemetary, will do so as soon as possible and post a picture of Aiyana's grave with her headstone in place.
We will post more information as it becomes available.
The Star
Preserve officer faces disciplinary hearing for dog's death
Sunday, September 17, 2000
By Michael Drakulich
A disciplinary hearing looks imminent for a Cook County Forest Preserve Police officer accused of shooting a dog in a Chicago Heights forest preserve last month. A local animal activist is hoping for a swift and appropriate resolution to the incident.
Steve Mayberry, a forest preserve police spokesman said Thursday the first phase of the internal investigation into the shooting is complete, and he expects a disciplinary hearing to be scheduled for the unnamed officer within two weeks.
Mayberry denied reports that the officer had already received a suspension but said the investigation concluded proper department procedures had been violated.
"We have evidence that our set procedures for paperwork and incident reports were not followed here," said Mayberry. Mayberry said that forest preserve police officers are "fully empowered" to shoot an animal if they are under attack or feel threatened. "
However, Mayberry said that when the call came to the police about the dog there was no mention that it exhibited aggressive behavior. Witnesses who encountered the dog minutes before the shooting said the dog did not display aggression.
The shooting occurred Aug. 21 in the Sauk Woods Forest Preserve in Chicago Heights, near 26th Street. According to a relative, the Rev. Raphael Rivera, Daniel Rivera, and Daniel's 9-year old son Kyle were eating lunch that day when a Rottweiler dog approached them.
Family relative Robert Toon recounted the story to forest preserve police and the South Suburban Humane Society because the family doesn't speak English. Feeling no threat from it, Kyle Rivera fed the dog some of his french fries before it wandered off.
Shortly afterward, a forest preserve police officer approached the family and asked if they had seen the dog. Kyle pointed to it as it lay next to a nearby picnic table, Toon related.
According to the witnesses, the officer allegedly stood atop the table and fired a bullet into the dog's abdomen. Three more officers then arrived. The four officers went over where the dog had staggered, and the officer who fired the first shot fired a second, this time into the dog's head, according to Toon.
The Riveras said the four officers then picked up the dog's body and disposed of it in a nearby lake. When they returned, Raphael Rivera said he heard the officers laughing and joking about the incident. The officer who did the shooting allegedly said, "I don't think we'll do a report on this one," according to Rivera.
When Kyle Rivera asked the officer why he shot the dog, the officer allegedly replied, "I don't trust dogs."
Local animal activist Barb Williams called the incident "particularly heinous." Williams volunteers for the South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights and heard about the story when the Riveras went to the shelter to report the incident.
Williams also operates Recycled Rotts, an organization that places abandoned or abused Rottweilers. Her organization went with the Riveras and recovered the dog's body. "If you're afraid of dogs, that's not enough of a reason to shoot them," said Williams. She said there were several other options the officer could have explored to capture the dog without harming it, such as asking an animal control agency to assist.
Williams said that, if anything, the dog was a victim of prejudice against the Rottweiler breed. The breed is known for being a favorite of gangs and used in illegal dog fights. "This case hit me hard because of the attitudes against Rottweilers.
Police officers are starting to think, 'when I see one I have to shoot it.'" Williams' organization had the dog's body cremated and buried in a pet cemetery in Joliet.
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