A family of a 2-day-old baby boy killed in a dog attack said they want their dog back.
Howard Nicholson was attacked in his home at 1713 Scott St. by one of the family's dogs at approximately 9:32 a.m. Thursday. The boy was flown by helicopter to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where he was pronounced dead a short time later at 10:55 a.m.
On Friday, family and friends placed stuffed animals, candles and flowers outside the house as a memorial to the infant.
McKeesport animal control officer Ken Ferree identified the dog as Niko, a 1 1/2-year-old male husky with an unknown background the family recently acquired from another town.
He said he was contacted by the boy's family members about returning the dog.
"We're waiting to see what the (Allegheny County) District Attorney's office decides before any moves are made," Ferree said.
The dog is recovering from a front right leg injury when it reportedly jumped over a fence a few weeks ago. Its leg is in a makeshift cast, and was examined by veterinarians at the White Oak Animal Safe Haven Friday afternoon.
Ferree said he was told by the family the cast was put on by an unknown vet.
"We don't know what vet they had seen, whether (the family) put that type of contraption on themselves or not. We haven't confirmed anything yet," Ferree said. "We haven't had many husky attack incidents like this. Of course any dog has the propensity to attack."
Investigators said the boy's mother who's been identified as Brandy Furlong discovered the dog hovering over the child in the living room. The boy's father Harold Nicholson Sr. was not home at the time of the incident.
McKeesport police Capt. of Detectives Tim Hanna reported Thursday the mother had left the child unattended in a baby carrier tucked near a mattress. When she
returned to the room she saw the dog by the baby and pulled the dog away, but not before the child had suffered severe trauma.
Hanna said local investigators contacted the homicide division of the Allegheny County police to assist with the investigation due to the severity of the child's injuries.
County police will file their findings with the Allegheny County District Attorney's office, which will determine whether charges will be filed against the mother, Hanna said Friday.
District attorney's office spokesman Mike Manko said Friday the case remains under investigation.
"While our review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of the newborn is not yet complete, initial findings indicate that there were no crimes committed leading up to and contributing to the death of the baby," he said in a written statement.
The husky and a pit bull were removed from the home by Ferree. Two other dogs remained in the home in the immediate hours following the attack.
"Given the circumstances, the kid could have been doomed from (the) get go," Ferree said. "We found out the dog was new to the family some couple of weeks. They got it from out of (Allegheny) County. They have no idea what background there was on this dog. Subsequently they brought a ticking time bomb into the house, and to introduce a new dog to a new house, to three new dogs, to two new owners, to a new infant, that's asking too much of pretty much any dog. ... It's difficult to put blame specifically somewhere. You have a dozen wrongs. They don't add up to a right."
