Time to hunt pitbulls? I think so

miller8966miller8966 Posts: 1,450
edited October 2006 in A Moving Train
Typical trash pitbull owner bullshit. States it was her son's "time to go" and wants dog back.
(CBS 5 / AP / BCN) SAN FRANCISCO

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 is trying to make sense of what she called a "accident.''

"I put him down there,'' said Faibish, who had left the boy alone with the dogs on June 3 to run some errands. "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 went upstairs anyway. At that point he was attacked.

"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. He couldn't help it. Don't blame the dog. 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 evidence that the dogs had bitten Nicholas prior to the attack.

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 to the bone, and he was covered with bite wounds and had holes 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.

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 were wrong to shot my dog if you ask me," Faibish said "and I want Rex back."

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, they're great'' 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 or upset. I didn't know Rex was going to be so possessive that day.''

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 pit bulls?"

Newsom spokesman Peter Ragone said Saturday the mayor is deeply remorseful over her loss. 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.


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Comments

  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Pitbulls are a genetic result that man is responsible for. Sure some are cute, but we'd be better off if they stopped breeding them... Whats wrong with a good old lab or German Shepard people?
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    The sun must be rising in the west Miller, because I totally agree with you here. I think pit bulls are really too dangerous for average people to keep as pets. Its the same reason most people don't have a lion as a pet. The animals themselves aren't bad or evil but their natural tendencies don't make them a good companion animal IMO. The saddest thing here is that little boy lost his life at 12 years old for such a stupid reason.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
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  • OneLoveOneLove Posts: 563
    There is so much going wrong here I don't even know where to begin. What a sad story :(

    First and foremost, who the hell leaves their 12 year old home alone, but sequestered to the basement? alone? so that the dog can roam the house? whats wrong with the priorities of these people?

    Bad parenting. Bad dog ownership. I say neuter them all! Seriously.

    As far as pits go, I used to work in animal hospitals, so I have seen plenty of nice ones, I'd say more than 75% were total lovebugs. That said, I do not believe that folks should be allowed to keep un neutered males, period, especially in the company of a female in heat. This situation sounds like it was trouble waiting to happen (or maybe the child had already been bit?).

    I am a dog lover by all acounts, but I do believe that something needs to be done with pit bulls. I can't say what, becuase I honestly do not know what the answer is. It is sad, we as humans have really done the breed a disservice. And those who breed specifically for their less desireable traits are the least likely to respond to any restrictions or bans on the breed.

    YIKES! What is wrong with people.
  • Jammin909Jammin909 Posts: 888
    The system is flawed if this mom doesnt spend a good couple years behind bars. Your sons face is chewed to the bone but you still profess your love for the dog?
    The less you know, the more you believe.
  • OneLove wrote:
    who the hell leaves their 12 year old home alone,

    a lot of people do.
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    woah out of context quote there
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    OneLove wrote:
    There is so much going wrong here I don't even know where to begin. What a sad story :(

    First and foremost, who the hell leaves their 12 year old home alone, but sequestered to the basement? alone? so that the dog can roam the house? whats wrong with the priorities of these people?

    Bad parenting. Bad dog ownership. I say neuter them all! Seriously.

    As far as pits go, I used to work in animal hospitals, so I have seen plenty of nice ones, I'd say more than 75% were total lovebugs. That said, I do not believe that folks should be allowed to keep un neutered males, period, especially in the company of a female in heat. This situation sounds like it was trouble waiting to happen (or maybe the child had already been bit?).

    I am a dog lover by all acounts, but I do believe that something needs to be done with pit bulls. I can't say what, becuase I honestly do not know what the answer is. It is sad, we as humans have really done the breed a disservice. And those who breed specifically for their less desireable traits are the least likely to respond to any restrictions or bans on the breed.

    YIKES! What is wrong with people.

    I completly agree. And to the poster above me, I've agreed with miller twice this week! Things may be getting better around here!
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  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    I have been told by a friend who is an independent insurance agent that many companies will not write homeowner's insurance on homes where pit bulls and similar breeds are kept....the ones that do, jack up prices........simply because of shit like this.

    An animal is an animal.....will always revert to its base instincts in certain situations.....like breeding.

    Poor kid.....looks like he chose shitty parents....or least one shitty parent.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • PaperPlatesPaperPlates Posts: 1,745
    Pitbulls don't kill people, people kill....................nah nevermind, pitbulls DO kill people. What a shame. I have a friend whose son was recently attacked by a Rottie, took over 80 stiches to "fix" him. Dog owners should do SERIOUS jailtime when their pets do the unthinkable.
    Why go home

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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    I guess that also means her dogs weren't fixed, which should be a crime, IMO.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    What a sad story :(

    I wish something could be done about all the people who selectively breed dogs for viciousness, and people who think you need to make a dog "mean" in order to have a good guard dog.

    As for this woman, she's not fit to have kids OR dogs. I think a jail cell would suit her nicely.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • Echoes wrote:
    woah out of context quote there


    maybe.
    when i intially read it is that was "bad thing" ... basement was "worse thing" and "violent dogs roaming around" was worst thing...

    perhaps they meant it was bad only in the context of "along in the basement"
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    Pitbulls don't kill people, people kill....................nah nevermind, pitbulls DO kill people. What a shame. I have a friend whose son was recently attacked by a Rottie, took over 80 stiches to "fix" him. Dog owners should do SERIOUS jailtime when their pets do the unthinkable.
    I'm so sorry to hear that :(

    I had a Rottie for 12 years, sweetest dog that ever lived. They're not for everyone though. I wouldn't recommend them to people who don't have a lot of experience with dogs because they're very strong-willed and they tend to be out of control with people who don't know what they're doing, and with their size and strength they can be very dangerous when they're not well behaved.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • Sad indeed. It's a shame pit bulls have gotten so popular - they are not for everyone. In fact I would say few people have the knowledge and skills to have them as pets. You need someone who knows dog behavior to judge when the situation becomes dangerous, and actually even before then - to train and raise the dog in such a way that it never gets to that point. I have a "dangerous" breed of dog, a Doberman, but I bought him from responsible breeders who breed for good and stable temperament, I neutered him early, and I socialized and trained him (gently, but firmly) to be a good citizen and to know what is acceptable behavior. My dog is a service dog (I'm disabled) so temperament was my most important criteria for selecting a dog, and he is exactly what I wanted - a gentle giant with excellent work ethic and nerves of steel.
    And to the person who said "what's wrong with a lab or a german sheppard" - there are aggressive labs out there, plus with a couple of generations of selective breeding and training you can make any breed mean. So if pitts are banned, what breed will be chosen next by the idiots that want "protective" dogs?
    Monika
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    Gypsy125 wrote:
    And to the person who said "what's wrong with a lab or a german sheppard" - there are aggressive labs out there, plus with a couple of generations of selective breeding and training you can make any breed mean.
    Very true. The worst dog I've ever known is a German Shepherd. He's huge, and absolutely gorgeous, it's heartbreaking what's become of him. He spends 95% of his life either chained in the back yard or locked in the kitchen because he can't be trusted with most people. The problem is that he's about 100 times smarter than the idiot who owns him, so he's been in charge since day one, and now he's totally out of control.
    Gypsy125 wrote:
    So if pitts are banned, what breed will be chosen next by the idiots that want "protective" dogs?
    Rotts, Dobies and Shepherds ... all smart, wonderful dogs that can be ruined by idiots who have no business owning any dog at all :(
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • miller8966miller8966 Posts: 1,450
    Pitbulls in general though seem to cause more harm than good. My cousin has a pitbull and its not a bad dog, but its scary as a mother fucker! It kills birds that land in the backyard...the things insane

    btw that lady should get the chair....fucking idiot
    America...the greatest Country in the world.
  • miller8966 wrote:
    Pitbulls in general though seem to cause more harm than good. My cousin has a pitbull and its not a bad dog, but its scary as a mother fucker! It kills birds that land in the backyard...the things insane

    btw that lady should get the chair....fucking idiot


    Nah. Don't hunt the dogs...hunt the people who do this to the dogs.
  • OneLoveOneLove Posts: 563
    maybe.
    when i intially read it is that was "bad thing" ... basement was "worse thing" and "violent dogs roaming around" was worst thing...

    perhaps they meant it was bad only in the context of "along in the basement"

    Fair enough :) To me, the child comes first, perhaps that was why I made that statement first.

    The whole theory that we put our child in the basement so we can go shopping, so that the kid will be safe from harm from the violent dog really baffles me. You'd think, at the VERY least, that the dog woud be banished to the basement.

    Again, I understand what you're saying.

    Oh, and by the way... I ment to say folks should NOT be allowed to own un-altered males.

    A little proofreading goes along way ;)
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    OneLove wrote:
    There is so much going wrong here I don't even know where to begin. What a sad story :(

    First and foremost, who the hell leaves their 12 year old home alone, but sequestered to the basement? alone? so that the dog can roam the house? whats wrong with the priorities of these people?

    Bad parenting. Bad dog ownership. I say neuter them all! Seriously.

    As far as pits go, I used to work in animal hospitals, so I have seen plenty of nice ones, I'd say more than 75% were total lovebugs. That said, I do not believe that folks should be allowed to keep un neutered males, period, especially in the company of a female in heat. This situation sounds like it was trouble waiting to happen (or maybe the child had already been bit?).

    I am a dog lover by all acounts, but I do believe that something needs to be done with pit bulls. I can't say what, becuase I honestly do not know what the answer is. It is sad, we as humans have really done the breed a disservice. And those who breed specifically for their less desireable traits are the least likely to respond to any restrictions or bans on the breed.

    YIKES! What is wrong with people.


    *points bolded by me....and HELL YES!
    our next door neighbors have a pit bull as a pet, with 2 very small children...and that dog is a sweetheart! do not punish the breed/dog for irresponsible owners/parents. perhaps stricter standards for ownership should be established? dunno. this is an utter tragedy, but more than ANYthing...entirely dependent on bad parenting. don't blame the dogs for being dogs....blame the humans responsible for it. :( an utter tragedy/shame, it disgusts me.
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  • wolfbearwolfbear Posts: 3,965
    *points bolded by me....and HELL YES!
    our next door neighbors have a pit bull as a pet, with 2 very small children...and that dog is a sweetheart! do not punish the breed/dog for irresponsible owners/parents. perhaps stricter standards for ownership should be established? dunno. this is an utter tragedy, but more than ANYthing...entirely dependent on bad parenting. don't blame the dogs for being dogs....blame the humans responsible for it. :( an utter tragedy/shame, it disgusts me.
    Good points. At the shelter I volunteer at, pit bulls are some of the staff's favorites. Most are sweethearts, BUT, they don't let just anyone adopt. All have to go through classes and lots of training. It's so sad, because they are or can be great dogs. Alot of people get them for the wrong reasons, can't handle them, and they end up in shelters or worse, like this story. So sad.
    "I'd rather be with an animal." "Those that can be trusted can change their mind." "The in between is mine." "If I don't lose control, explore and not explode, a preternatural other plane with the power to maintain." "Yeh this is living." "Life is what you make it."
  • Heatherj43Heatherj43 Posts: 1,254
    WTF??? I am stuck on the part that she put her kid in the basement???!!!! Why didn't she put the dogs in the basement? The kid likely did not come upstairs to be near the dogs, but to oh...say...use the bathroom, eat food, play in his room, whatever. The dogs should had been in the basement. He wouldn't had been near them then!!! DUH?
    My daughter was mauled by a known viscious dog when she 8. She lived, but it put a huge hole in her ankle, cut up her thumb, and left her entire right side of her body purple.
    She had to be hospitalized.
    WHat happened was that my ex took her to his sister's out of state. The sister lives in the hills of Kentucky. She has a couple dogs. One is chow. She was told to go out to play, but stay away from the dogs.
    She was 8...those idiots!!!!
    Anyway, my daughter claims the dog came to her, not her to it. It was real bad. My ex and the sis yelled at my daughter for this.
    Adults should be criminally charged for crap like this.
    The dog who got my daughter, and the adults, got away with this. In hindsight....I wish I had pursued it more.
    Save room for dessert!
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,290
    When I was a kid (7-8) I was over at some friends of my parents who had a pitbull. I was by myself watching tv and the dog came over and wouldn't leave me alone. It kept trying to bit my shoes! Fucker!
    Anyways, I get up to go elsewhere cause the damn dog was pissing me off. I walk away and the stupid fuckin' dog jumps on my back and knocks me over. It didn't bite me or anything but it scared the shit outta me!
    I am NOT a fan of these dogs at all!
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    miller8966 wrote:
    "He's the most loving and giving dog in the world,'' she insisted. "There were no violent tendencies in him at all.''

    obviously. sheesh. :rolleyes:

    then perhaps she can explain to us why she told her son to stay in the basement until she returned. if the dog was so loving why the precaution?
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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    obviously. sheesh. :rolleyes:

    then perhaps she can explain to us why she told her son to stay in the basement until she returned. if the dog was so loving why the precaution?

    because the bitch was in heat
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    sponger wrote:
    because the bitch was in heat

    and thus she expected the male to defend what he saw as his. which he did.
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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    and thus she expected the male to defend what he saw as his. which he did.

    so what's your question?
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    sponger wrote:
    so what's your question?
    there's no question. i'm just trying to make sense of the nonsensical.
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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    there's no question. i'm just trying to make sense of the nonsensical.

    You asked why the precaution if the dog is so loving. You mean to say that you were just thinking out loud? It was a rhetorical question, so to speak?
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    sponger wrote:
    You asked why the precaution if the dog is so loving. You mean to say that you were just thinking out loud? It was a rhetorical question, so to speak?

    yes. i guess it was rhetorical then.
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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    It's hard for me to believe this kid was 12 years old. When I was 12, I understood what it meant to stay far away from a possessive pit bull. I'm not saying this mom was right to put her kid in the basement, but if I was that kid, I wouldn't have come out of that basement. Or I at least would've made a bee-line for the front door. Then I would've used my neighbor's phone to call child protection services to tell them that my mom is a nutjob who expects me to hide in the basement so that the family pitbulls can roam freely in the house. I would've grabbed a baseball bat from the garage and carried it with me at all times. I would've spent my allowance on a couple of chocolate bars and slipped them into the dog food.
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