GENEVA TOWNSHIP – A Geneva Township man whose two dogs escaped his yard and attacked a neighbor’s pet was charged with creating a public nuisance by allowing his dogs to run at large, according to Kane County Sheriff’s reports.

Kevin C. Woods of the 38W200 block of Glenwood Drive, Geneva Township, is scheduled to appear in branch court May 29.

According to the county’s ordinance, Woods faces a fine of $75 to $500.

Woods said his 1-year-old pit bulls, Biggie and Athena, got loose on April 2 when someone left open the gate to his property. When he came home from work that day, he let the dogs out of the house and they ran out through the open gate.

According to Therese Schafer, who was walking her leashed Labrador retriever, Willie, down Glenwood Drive, Woods’ dogs ran across the street and attacked hers, unprovoked, in her driveway.

Schafer, who lives across the street from Woods, said she walks her dog up and down the street regularly about 4 p.m. every day. She had not previously had any altercations with Biggie and Athena.

According to the sheriff’s report, when officers arrived, the dogs were separated and “the owner of … Willie … was in tears with blood all over her hands from her dog’s wounds. … [And] there was blood all over the driveway from the attack.”

Woods said he responded to hearing yelling and when he checked the backyard and did not see his dogs, he went to the front yard and saw Schafer trying to stop the attack with a garden hose. Woods said he commanded his dogs to stop and they did instantly.

The results of the attack were significant. The day it happened, Willie received stitches and the veterinarian inserted drains in eight major wounds the dog suffered. Willie remained at the vet for seven days. Now at home, he must be taken back every day for follow-up and had a procedure April 12 to insert another drain for fluid building up in his ear, Schafer said.

“I don’t think there is a spot on him that isn’t bit,” Schafer said. “It’s horrific. He is walking, but is swollen all over. One ear is giving him a lot of trouble and it will take a long time to heal. But he’s still here.”

Schafer said Willie did not do anything to provoke the attack – and she believes that the pit bulls’ owner did not intend for the attack to happen.

“I have put a chain and more security on the gate so nobody can open it up,” Woods said. “I am sorry for what happened to the woman’s dog.

“If my fence had not been open or tampered with, my dogs would not have gotten out of my yard,” Woods added. “My dogs have been around other dogs and they just don’t go attacking dogs or other people.”

Woods said he has found new homes for Biggie and Athena, and that he intends to pay for all of Willie’s vet bills, something he told Schafer, as well.

“I appreciated that so much,” Schafer said.

Schafer said she is speaking out about Willie’s attack because she would like to help prevent another from happening.

“I love Kane County, but I would like to see stricter laws about what happens when dogs that act that viciously – unprovoked,” Schafer said. “I would like people surrounding the place where we are to be notified of how dogs have behaved in the past.”