Dear Editor,

I am writing to you about the article “Homewood board updates off-leash pet violation fines” published on page 31 of the Dec. 1 edition of the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle. While I am thankful that your staff covered the story and provided notice to those reading the Chronicle that fines would be increasing, I find it necessary to clarify and expound on what was mentioned in the article.  

Specifically, around “A resident asked the board to consider updating village fines. His wife was bitten by a stray dog.” I am the resident and my wife, Karen Smith, was the one that was viciously attacked, not bitten.  

While Karen was walking on the sidewalk in the Southgate neighborhood in Homewood, the dog owner opened their gate and the dog ran directly towards Karen and began attacking her. She sustained injuries that required, to date: three surgeries (with a possible fourth in early 2026), countless hours of physical and occupational therapy and well over $100,000 in medical expenses. 

This was not a simple case of a loose or stray dog, this was a negligent owner who failed to control their dog and the result was Karen’s life changing forever. 

While Karen and I worked through the village process we were shocked to see how many loose dog incidents there were in Homewood and how low the fine was. Knowing firsthand how truly impactful a careless dog owner action (or inaction) can be on residents in Homewood, we found it imperative that the fine of $25 be raised to at least $150.

We started our quest to have this fine raised in May of 2025, eight months after the attack. For over five months, we sent emails, had phone calls, and attended village meetings to plead our case to village leadership. We even went so far as to research both surrounding municipality loose dog fines (ensuring we are only looking at non-homerule communities) and requesting Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) requests on registered dogs, loose dogs, and dog bites/attacks in Homewood over the last six years. 

This information was presented to village leadership in August 2025, showing not only does Homewood have a loose dog problem (almost 1 in 5 registered dogs in Homewood are reported loose), but of those almost 50% result in a bite incident. 

To be clear we do not see this as a dog problem, we have a dog and are dog loving people, but rather irresponsible dog owners – thus the request to have a more impactful fine.  

I’ll close by saying that, in our experience, a resident that wants change in Homewood needs to be prepared for village leadership push back and/or lack of initiative, but to please not be dissuaded, persistence and resolve will overcome their resistance to change.

Thank you.

Mike Dickover
Homewood