Crime & Safety

Dogs Thrown Off Hospital Parking Tower in Oak Lawn: Police

Cops say dogs were thrown off a 5-story parking tower at Advocate Christ Medical Center. One dog has died, and the other has broken legs.

OAK LAWN, IL — Two gravely injured dogs were found Saturday afternoon on the Advocate Christ Medical Center campus in Oak Lawn. Oak Lawn police say it appears that the dogs may have been thrown off a parking tower.

Oak Lawn Police Chief Michael Murray said the first call came around 12:07 p.m. Saturday. Officers went to the medical center campus, where two dogs were found between parking towers B and C on Kostner Avenue near 93rd Street. Parking Tower C is a free patient and visitor lot. Parking B provides permit parking. Both towers are five stories tall.

Officers on the scene said it appeared that one or both dogs may have been thrown off the parking towers. One of the injured dogs died. The surviving dog suffered broken legs and is being treated at Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge.

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No arrests have been made. Oak Lawn police are currently reviewing security video with Advocate Christ’s Public Safety Department. The investigation remains ongoing. The police chief said one of the dogs has a breeder’s microchip, but it was not helpful in locating the dog’s owner.

Village Manager Larry Deetjen said he was unable to comment on the size or breed of the dogs, citing the active investigation.

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“It’s a horrific act of barbarism,” Deetjen said. “We take this matter just as seriously as we do with human life and encourage those responsible to turn themselves into the Oak Lawn Police Department or face the potential of even more serious charges.”

The story has been updated to include the time and date that the injured dogs were found.


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