Tragic Incident: Infant Dies After Puppy Attack While Parents Sleep
Tragic tragedy in NYC as a weeks-old girl is fatally attacked by a pit bull–German shepherd mix puppy while sleeping with her parents.
A tragic incident unfolded early Tuesday morning in New York City, where a 1-month-old infant girl was killed by the family dog while she slept beside her parents. Police were called to the Queensbridge Houses public housing complex in Queens at around 6:40 a.m. after receiving a distressing 911 call.
According to investigators, the baby was found unresponsive with severe injuries to her face that had been inflicted by the family’s puppy, described as a pit bull–German shepherd mix. Emergency medical services arrived quickly but pronounced the child dead at the scene.
Sources told local media outlets that the dog bit off a “substantial portion” of the child’s face. The baby was born just last month, on April 13, and the dog was reportedly only six weeks old.
Neighbors described the aftermath as harrowing, recalling the mother’s screams echoing through the building as emergency workers attempted to help. “She told me she woke up, and the dog was eating the baby!” recounted a friend of the mother, describing the scene in shock. Questions arose among friends and neighbors as to why neither parent seemed to hear the attack happening despite sleeping right next to the infant.
Several neighbors stated they had warned the mother about the dog’s behavior in the days leading up to the tragedy, suggesting it should be put on a leash for safety. Shanel Norville, a resident in the building, said her warnings were dismissed by the mother, who insisted the dog would not bite.
The baby’s grandmother revealed that she had offered to care for the newborn when the mother, then residing in a shelter, gave birth. Although the mother declined, expressing her intention to care for the child herself, the grandmother never had the chance to meet her granddaughter. “How could they have a dog with a baby? The dog shouldn’t be in the house,” she lamented.
Following the incident, animal control authorities removed both the puppy and another dog from the apartment. The mother, adopted at age two and one of nine siblings, is now facing immense grief as the community reacts to the shocking loss.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack continues, as questions remain about supervision and pet safety in homes with infants. The infant is survived by an older brother.
