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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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 Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:04 pm Pit Bull Attacks |
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| Quote: | Mother shut boy in basement to protect him from pit bull
12-year-old was killed by family dog; owner sees loss as tragic accident but defends breed as making good pets
C.W. Nevius and Cecilia M. Vega, Chronicle Staff Writers
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Hours before being mauled to death by the family pit bull, 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish had been told to stay in the basement separated from the dogs, said his distraught mother, Maureen Faibish, who called The Chronicle on Saturday, trying to make sense of what she called a "freak accident.''
"I put him down there, with a shovel on the door,'' said Faibish, who had left the boy alone with the dogs on June 3 to run some errands. "He had a bunch of food. And I told him, 'Stay down there until I come back.' Typical Nicky, he wouldn't listen to me.''
Faibish said she was concerned that the male pit bull, Rex, was acting possessive because the female, Ella, was in heat. Apparently, Nicholas found a way to get the door open and come upstairs. At that point Faibish believes he walked in while the dogs were mating and was attacked by Rex.
"It was Rex, I know it in my heart,'' Faibish said. "My younger dog (Ella) was in heat and anyone who came near her, Rex saw as a threat. He may have been trying to mate. It was a freak accident. It was just the heat of the moment.''
Faibish felt compelled to call The Chronicle, she said, because she was upset by comments in a Saturday column that disparaged family members who own pit bulls.
In the column an Oakland surgeon who often treats bites by pit bulls said, "when you have an animal like that in your house you are recklessly endangering your family.''
"They made it sound like we put our kids in a war zone,'' Faibish said in a phone conversation. "That's not true. My kids got along great with (the dogs). We were never seeing any kind of violent tendencies.''
Authorities on Saturday said they had no indication that the dogs had bitten Nicholas prior to the attack, but may have menaced him previously.
On the day of the attack, Maureen Faibish arrived at the family home at 711 Lincoln Way about 3:15 p.m. to discover her son's lifeless body in a front bedroom. His face had been mauled, and he was covered with bite wounds and had a hole in his scalp from the attack.
She hasn't been allowed back into the home because of the police investigation, she said. She has been staying with her father, who lives a few blocks away.
She talked to The Chronicle by telephone and later at her father's home where, sitting on a couch and wrapped in a blanket, Faibish held back tears as she spoke about her son and the day he died.
"It's Nicky's time to go," she said. "When you're born you're destined to go and this was his time."
After police were called to the family's home the day of the attack, an officer shot and killed Ella when the dog prevented him from entering the apartment. Rex was captured in the backyard and taken to the animal shelter.
The family had been packing for a move, and her husband, Steve Faibish, was out of town. Their two other children were also not home.
Maureen Faibish said she put Nicholas rather than the dogs in the basement because the room, which also served as a playroom for the children, was filled with plastic bags in preparation of their move. She figured the dogs would have destroyed the bags filled with clothes.
Before she left the house, Faibish sent her 9-year-old son to the store to buy Nicholas a soda, bagel and chips. He also had video games to keep him busy.
"Nicky was happy down there," she said.
Faibish declined to say what triggered such concern that she insisted her son stay in the basement, away from the dogs.
"I don't want to go into any of that detail," she said. "That's between me and the detectives."
Clearly struggling with her emotions, Faibish said the death of her son had become "a media frenzy.'' On one hand, she continued to defend pit bulls and her dogs.
"Even after the whole thing,'' she said, "I'm not mad at my dogs. I just love them to death.''
Nicky had not known life without pit bulls, she said. When he was a baby, the family had Rex 1.
Ella and Rex II were "family dogs," Faibish said. They spent most of their time inside the house, slept in bed with the children every night and woke Maureen Faibish up every morning by licking her face. Ella was trained to lick her makeup off and kiss her ear.
"The police killed the wrong dog if you ask me," Faibish said.
She would never want Rex back in their house.
"Absolutely not,'' Faibish said. "I told them I wanted him put down. I think of Rex as someone who molested my child, murdered my child.''
Faibish's comments captured the confusion and mixed feelings pit bulls can bring out in their owners. She spoke of Rex waking Nicholas and her up in the morning by licking their faces.
"He's the most loving and giving dog in the world,'' she insisted. "There were no violent tendencies in him at all.''
Nor, she said, would she caution families who have pit bulls as pets. In the wake of this tragedy, some parents are wondering if they should keep their pit bulls.
"Oh, they should keep their pit bulls,'' Faibish said. "Even though my son has been killed in a tragic accident, I don't think they should be banned. You've just got to worry about them when they are in heat. I didn't know Rex was going to be so possessive.''
Faibish said she and her husband decided not to spay or neuter their dogs because they wanted their puppies. She said Rex had been eager to mate with Ella, but the female dog was resisting his advances.
"I used to say to Ella, just go ahead and let him do it," Faibish said. "Get it over with.''
Deeply remorseful, Faibish says she continues to think of what she might have done differently. For one, she wishes she'd persuaded Nicholas to go to a picnic with his younger sister, Ashley.
But she insists, "I have no regrets about that day," Faibish said.
She's also fed up with the second-guessing from public figures who, she feels, do not understand the situation. She says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who made strong comments about restricting pit bulls, got an earful when he called.
"Just for the record, I yelled at Gavin Newsom,'' she said. "I told him off. How dare him say anything about my family?"
Newsom spokesman Peter Ragone said Saturday the mayor is deeply remorseful over her loss.
"Certainly, she's going through a very difficult time, and we extend our deepest sympathy to her for her loss," said Ragone.
Ragone said the mayor must also consider what policies should be taken regarding the wider issue of public safety.
"There's no question about the fact that the mayor, like most in the city, believe actions must be taken to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future," Ragone said.
While the public debate about pit bulls rages on, Faibish is left with the memories of her son, a popular and good-natured sixth-grader at Roosevelt Middle School.
"This isn't about a dog,'' she said. "This is about my boy. My precious little boy.''
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There was a new article about this in todays USA Today. Over 300 of these dogs that were "confiscated" in cities where they are now banned have been put down. I find that totally unfair. It's how you raise the dog. I mean, you can get chickens to be violent and fight, should we put them down, too?
Last edited by Theresa on Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:07 pm |
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Yes, they're talking about banning pit bulls here in Ontario, although I'm not quite sure of the progress of the law. I agree that it's unfair. I think it's one of those things that must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and it's totally the responsibility of the owner.
We might as well ban SUVs and trucks just because they're larger and therefore more likely to cause damage when they get in a car accident; or ban people from wearing black clothing when it's dark out. Just because some people don't raise their dog properly is no reason we should infringe upon the liberties of the rest of the population.
(And I don't even like dogs in general, although I know and love a few.)
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:20 pm |
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It's the owner's write to get the dog they like. However, it's also their RESPONSABILITY to keep everyone else SAFE. Perhaps the government should just check in on a pit bull owner every once and a while and see what precautions are taken to protect others. There's some other dog that is often used that I heard about that does these things, but I can't remember it...A woman was taking care of a friend's dog (that kind) and had a 6 month (at least I think it was 6 month) baby in her hands, and the dog ripped it out of her hands and mawled it to death. Horrifying. And injured the woman.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:42 pm |
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I'm all for personal choice, but pit bulls... I wouldn't protest a ban on pit bulls. They've been bred to be killers. As "nice" as some of them can be, I can't see trusting them. They're crazy.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:04 pm |
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First it was German Shepherds, then Dobermans, then Rotties, now Pit Bulls... German Shepherds are now considered a great family dog. It's totally not right to be killing them because of stupid people.
A friend of a co-worker has a pit bull, he found it amusing that she'd jump and hang from a rag until her gums bled. He didn't find it so amusing the day his leg was dangling from a rafter and she went after it. Stupid people.
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:04 pm |
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Why would anyone want a pitbull?
I say they shoud stop being bred. They're simply bred to be viscious.
Get a freakin' Beagle!  
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:06 pm |
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I hope they do ban pit bulls. I have never heard a good story with a pit bull in it, only tragic ones like these where little kids die. I don't think these dogs can really be trained that well. Either way, I don't really care, I am just all for a ban.
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:10 pm |
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I have friends with pit bulls, and they're really nice dogs. Its partly the owner, and partly in-breeding and the such that turns these dogs into unsafe animals. Its sad that a dog should be persecuted for how the owner brings it up.
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:44 pm |
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| LightningBoy wrote: | Why would anyone want a pitbull?
I say they shoud stop being bred. They're simply bred to be viscious. |
Thats why I want one. If someone pisses me off I would unleash it. Stupid no pet rule where I live.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:45 pm |
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And you are the kind of potential owner that is making something like this even an issue.
Owner responsibility.
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Jeff Miller
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Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:49 pm |
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oh well, it's either a well trained guard dog. Or a gun. I prefer the less leathal way.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:53 pm |
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A dog ripping someone to shreds... (it's been compared to a shark attack), or a bullet, that actually cauterizes as it passes through... You tell me which is potentially "less lethal".
Guard dogs are fine, but you dont' sic them on someone because they "piss you off".
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:19 pm |
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| Quote: | Faibish declined to say what triggered such concern that she insisted her son stay in the basement, away from the dogs.
"I don't want to go into any of that detail," she said. "That's between me and the detectives." |
In other words, somthing happend that would call for an imediate arrest.
I dont think its right to ban a kind of dog, go to people homes, kidnap them, then murder them.
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Alucard
Vampire
Joined: 06 Nov 2004
Posts: 2780
Location: Caaaaaanada
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| Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:31 pm |
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| Lord Borg wrote: | | Quote: | Faibish declined to say what triggered such concern that she insisted her son stay in the basement, away from the dogs.
"I don't want to go into any of that detail," she said. "That's between me and the detectives." |
In other words, somthing happend that would call for an imediate arrest. |
That's what I'm thinking
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:07 am |
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:-?Do dog 'lovers' put their pit bulls before their kids now?If she locked the kid in the basement to keep the dogs away from him.She obviously knew that they were a danger to him.For her to 'Defend the 'dog' and say it didnt mean it,is just horrific in itself.She needs to be charged with recklessly endangering her child just by having the dogs in the house with him!
The people who are defending the'dog' need to do an emotion check.I would want that dog dead,and be absolutely shattered that my baby died such a horrific/painful and terrifing death because of me!
These dogs need to be banned,in australia they are looking at banning this breed here too.There have been attacks on kids/elderly,the owners also swear and declair the dogs are friendly and gentle too!
She said it slept on their beds,licked their faces,sounds like they 'brought him up to be a non-aggressive 'family' dog.
That surely proves that this breed is unpredictable and had nothing to do with his upbringing.
Pit bulls are a cross bred dog,specifically designed to fight!Not as a family pet!They are purposely inbred to be vicious,they all need a bullet in their heads right now,before other 'innocent kids/people are killed or mauled! 
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:58 am |
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Pit bulls are no more vicious by nature than other dogs their size. It's how they are raised and treated.
Owners should be responsible for what their pets do. Pit bull or porcupine, it doesn't matter. Your pet, your problem.
This case stinks. Why not separate the dogs? Why not put them outside? Why DID she put the kid in the basement? The autopsy should be interesting.
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:04 pm |
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^ Exactly, to bann a type of dog, because the actions of the few. Pit bulls may be agressive, but you know what? My dog abbie has been know to be on the mean side a time or two, and she is gentle. I guess that means shes to be banned eh? It's all how owners raise the pets
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:12 pm |
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| Lord Borg wrote: | | ^ Exactly, to bann a type of dog, because the actions of the few. Pit bulls may be agressive, but you know what? My dog abbie has been know to be on the mean side a time or two, and she is gentle. I guess that means shes to be banned eh? It's all how owners raise the pets |
Or, if you live in Boulder, Colorado, how guardians raise their pets. (People can't own dogs there, only be guardians of them.) I agree with LB. It's the responsability of the owner, NOT the dog.
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:09 am |
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 A family pet dog getting a bit snappy towards a child/person is no comparison to a pit bull attacking over and over ripping/bitting/tearing to shreds a child/person til they no longer move.
The dog was RAISED properly,it was apparently friendly,slept on their beds,licked faces and trusted.Accept when the female was on heat.
She KNEW it wasnt safe to leave her son alone with them,so she locked her son in the basement!
Can anyone honestly say their pet dog,pit bull or other breed would savage someone to the point of a bloody massace that that poor boy was left in?
That dog did what its IN-BREEDING instincts told it to do KILL! 
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:22 pm |
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Pedigree dogs are a lot more bad tempered than mutts because they have a smaller gene pool leading to personality defects. Pits were bred to be nasty dogs, and the inbreeding hasn't helped them one bit. Pedigree breeding is inhumane, it's like trying to create a master race.
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Kasey
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 287
Location: Somewhere
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| Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:26 pm |
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You can train a dog however you like, they still turn on ya. My uncle had a pit bull once. He trained him well, but he turned on my cousin.
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