Hailey Nunez had a broad smile on her face as she stood shyly in front of her Laurel Street apartment, a pink heart in her hair and several fresh scars on her face.
As the line of police and fire vehicles filled the neighborhood with their red and blue emergency lights flashing, National City Police Chief Adolfo Gonzales walked up and handed her a bouquet of balloons and a big bag filled with gifts. He shook her hand as an assembled crowd of first-responders and neighbors gathered around and applauded. “We’re happy you’re home,” Gonzales said.
The chief said the officers and others just wanted to make the family know the community supported them.
Hailey was attacked at the complex the morning of Oct. 9 after she asked the dog’s owner if she could pet it. Its owner, neighbor Brittany Gardiner, 22, gave her permission. When the child walked up to the canine, it unexpectedly lunged at her.
“It grabbed her face and started shaking,” Sgt. Julian Villagomez said. A neighbor hit the dog with a brick to make it stop, Villagomez said.
Hailey was bitten on the face and shoulder and suffered deep cuts to her lip, cheek, chin and shoulder. She underwent surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she stayed for 3½ days before coming home.
Her mother, Ruby Nunez, said while her daughter was in the hospital she was almost unrecognizable.
The police chief said it was good to see the girl smiling and happy. “We hear such tragic stories of pit bull attacks,” Gonzales said.
On the same day Hailey was attacked, a National City police officer shot and killed two pit bulls that were running loose near a school. Just hours before visiting the Nunez home, officers had to corral a 100-pound dog of the same breed that was out of its yard.
Hailey took her presents out of the bag — which was almost as big as her — one by one. Her favorite was a Barbie doll dressed in a glittery pink dress.
She looked up and shyly said, “Thank you.”
“I’m very happy,” her mother said. “I want to thank everybody for doing this.”
Nunez said her daughter is still frightened to go outside and has had some trouble sleeping, but the attention and gifts have made her very happy.
Hailey is on medication and still has to see the doctor every week and may have to undergo more surgery, Nunez said.
Gardiner, who had the dog in the car and was trying to leave when police arrived, was arrested and jailed on suspicion of felony child endangerment, obstructing an officer and owning an animal that caused serious injury.
She relinquished the dog and it was euthanized later that day, Villagomez said.
National City Councilwoman Rosalie Zarate, who also attended the festivities and helped Hailey open the Barbie doll box, said that it was great that people in the city can come together to help a little girl.
“It’s just great to see the smile on her face,” Zarate said.
(U-T San Diego - Oct 19, 2012)
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