Pit bull's owner appeals euthanasia in fatal mauling of other dog

ILLINOIS -- The owner of a dog that fatally mauled another family's pet in Lincolnwood last month is appealing the order to euthanize the animal, according to police.

Police said Fifi, a 10-year-old Yorkshire terrier, was killed July 30 by Capone, a pit bull.

Iwona Zarebski said her 11-year-old daughter, Klaudia, and a group of friends were walking Fifi in G.G. Rowell Park in Lincolnwood when a brown-and-white pit bull came "out of nowhere."

According to a report from the Lincolnwood Police Department, the dog charged the children, snatching Fifi from Klaudia's arms.

RIP poor Fifi

Klaudia said a man watching the dog for his roommate ran out and was able to pry Fifi from the pit bull's jaws.

The police issued Capone's owner, Jeffrey Goby of the 6500 block of Nokomis Avenue, eight citations for failing to secure his dog, according to Lincolnwood police Chief Bob LaMantia, who said the dog was impounded and is being held at Christensen Animal Hospital in Wilmette.

Goby did not return calls seeking comment. A Lincolnwood police report said Goby, who was not home on the day of the attack, had asked his roommate to look after the dog.

The roommate told police that the pit bull had escaped through a backyard gate accidentally left open by a landscaper, according to the police report.

Authorities said that, under a Cook County animal control ordinance, the dog would have been euthanized if the owner hadn't appealed, which Goby did. Goby is required to appear before a judge at the Skokie courthouse on Aug. 21 at 1:30 p.m. to appeal the county's move to put the dog down, according to LaMantia.

The Zarebski family said they don't plan to protest the appeal.

"How would putting just this one down solve the problem?" said Jacek Zarebski, Klaudia's father. "Unless they're going to euthanize all pit bulls, there's no point."

Seriously? That's like saying, 'There's no reason to execute this rapist unless they execute ALL rapists.'

The Zarebski family has said they want to see Goby face harsher penalties, but LaMantia said the police department does not plan to file any additional charges. LaMantia said there was no evidence of intent to harm.

"He clearly did not secure his dog, but there isn't a crime here," LaMantia said.

Another dog in Lincolnwood was attacked by a pit bull in May, police said. That dog survived.
(Chicago Tribune - Aug 19, 2015)