THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

---

Trainkill Or Not?

Police Say Dead Pit Bull Was Hit By Train; Resident Who Spotted Carcass Not So Sure

By TODD WESSELL

Journal & Topics Editor

For many of the 31 years Don Rudd has been living in Des Plaines, his routine of regularly walking his dog along the Union Pacific freight line railroad tracks near Algonquin Road west of Wolf Road has been uneventful.

Late last Saturday afternoon, that mold was broken. While walking his dog along the east side of the tracks south of Algonquin Road near Juno Lighting, Rudd came upon a grisly scene. Lying about eight feet from the tracks was the charred and mutilated carcass of a brown pit bull dog.

Rudd quickly called Des Plaines Police to report his discovery. Two hours later while back at the scene, Rudd flagged a passing squad car. A police officer said he had responded earlier, observed the dead canine and concluded that it appeared to have been hit by a train.

"I've been walking my dogs there for all these years. I've seen all kinds of dead animals in that area like skunks, raccoons and cats. This dog was not killed by a train," said Rudd.

The remains of the animal showed that its left legs had been severed and right side appeared to be burned. A Des Plaines Public Works crew disposed of the carcass Monday morning. Rudd was surprised when the police told him that the animal's remains would not be picked up until Monday morning. He said he frequently sees children walking along the tracks on their way to nearby Prairie Lakes Park, which is located across Algonquin.

Deputy Police Chief Angela Burton Monday said records show that the responding officer said it seemed like a train hit the dog. However, she said she will forward the report to the department's Investigations and Patrol divisions to alert officers to be on the look out for any future suspicious activity in that area.