A five-day-old baby girl has died after being attacked by a dog inside a home in Novi, Michigan. The infant was found with several puncture wounds inflicted by the stray dog that her family had recently taken into their home.
Police say the newborn was attacked on Tuesday morning when she was left alone with the dog. By the time her parents were aware of the ordeal and emergency responders were called to the residence, which is just outside Detroit, it was too late to save the baby.
Preliminary reports indicate the baby had been placed in a bassinet when the incident occurred. Investigators believe the dog may have knocked over the sleeping area before lunging at the baby.
The animal involved, described as a mixed-breed dog, had been with the family for a few months. According to Linda French, the infant’s grandmother, there had been at least one previous incident where the dog showed aggressive behaviour when it lunged at her.
Following the mauling incident with her grandchild, the dog was euthanised. Authorities have not disclosed the exact breed of the dog, nor whether any charges will be filed. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
French, who said she had not yet met her granddaughter, expressed deep grief while also raising concerns about the situation. She blamed her stepson, who is the infant’s father, and the child’s mother, for leaving the newborn alone with a dog that was unfamiliar to the family.
“That baby should never have been left alone,” French said in an interview with WXYZ. She added that not only did the parents not know their dog, but they also did not know where he came from. French said the incident has left her devastated.
She also indicated that there were other children in the home at the time, indicating that the couple put those children at risk as well. She painfully added that, after the incident, she does not think the home is safe for the other children to remain.