3-Year-Old August Scherer Injured In Decatur Dog Attack

Personal Injury - June 29, 2026

GoFundMe Created After Neighborhood Dog Attack 3-Year-Old August Scherer Outside Home

Aggressive dog biting

DECATUR, ILLINOIS (June 29, 2026) – A three-year-old girl identified as August Scherer was violently attacked in a Decatur dog attack outside of the family’s home.

Decatur officials are saying that the dog attack took place on April 30, 2026. For undetermined reasons, August Scherer was attacked by a neighborhood dog.

The dog bit the girl in the middle of her forehead and left deep laceration wounds. Family members called an ambulance, and August Scherer was taken to St. John’s Hospital to receive treatment.

The girl has been left with deep wounds, and the family is facing numerous medical bills and other challenges. You can help support the victim and her family through the GoFundMe set up by her father Michael Scherer.

According to the online fundraiser, “On Thursday, April 30, 2026, August, our 3-year-old daughter was violently attacked by a neighbor dog. She sustained serious cranial injuries. The attack took the middle of her forehead, and she lost all her skin, tissue, and layers of muscle. She also has several other head wounds. Due to the force of the bite, she was seconds away from being killed. It was a terrifying experience, and we are so grateful that the dog’s owner was able to pull the dog off before it was too late.”

Liability for Decatur Dog Attacks

Dog owners have a legal obligation to properly secure their animal and protect against their dog attacking someone. According to Illinois Civil Code 510 ILCS 5/16, “If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.” Dog owners should take several measures to prevent attacks.

  • Secure: Dog owners should properly secure their animal in their home or within the yard of their home.

  • Leash: Dog owners should keep their dog on a leash except in designated off-leash areas.

  • Socialization: Dog owners should socialize their animals at a young age to reduce the likelihood that they will become aggressive as they grow.

If a dog owner fails to properly secure their animal, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Illinois typically pursues these cases under strict liability. In other words, a dog owner will still be liable if her dog attacked someone, even if the dog did not have a history of being aggressive. Courts will typically carve out exceptions if a dog was being provoked or attacked in some way before biting someone.

Injuries Associated With Illinois Dog Attacks

Dog attacks remain a major source of preventable injury for young children. According to one study in BMJ Journals, “From 2001 to 2017, there was a clinically significant decrease of 34% in dog bite injuries among children, adolescents, and young adults aged 0–19 years of age. However, during that time period, dog bite injuries still accounted for nearly 2.5 million emergency department (ED) visits in the pediatric population.” There are many injuries commonly associated with dog attacks.

  • Victims may sustain deep lacerations.

  • Infections are another serious concern after a dog bite.

  • Many dog attack victims sustain tears to their muscles that require reconstructive surgery.

  • Broken bones are another serious concern, particularly if a victim is knocked to the ground.

Even if a victim’s wounds completely heal physically, the trauma of being attacked by a dog can leave victims with lasting psychological injuries. This trauma can manifest through anxiety, depression, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is important that the victims of dog attacks understand that they do have rights. They are able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a civil claim.

Investigating Decatur Dog Attacks

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to August Scherer and her family as she continues to recover. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be some accountability on the part of the dog owner. People that choose to own dogs must act responsibly to prevent attacks like this.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Decatur dog attack? You may have legal recourse. Our team of experienced dog bite injury lawyers is here to help you. We are committed to helping victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover from their injuries. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney may be able to help, we are here to support you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.