Shock as six-month-old child dies in horrifying dog attack

A community has been united in grief by the death of a baby in a savage dog attack.

The six-month-old girl was mauled in front of a horrified family member, who desperately tried to free her from its jaws.

The relative is understood to have been badly injured in the fight to protect the helpless tot from the savage attack.

The ferocity of the episode left hardened police officers called to the quiet street where it happened traumatised.

Neighbours today spoke of their shock as the community reeled at the tragedy.

One heartbroken neighbour Denise Dodd, herself a dog owner, said: “It’s terrible. A dog must know its place and always be kept there.

“I love my dog but she has to know we’re the boss of her. It’s so sad. The poor child, the poor parents as well.”

Another neighbour Tony Prior added: “It must be terrible for the family.”

Emergency services desperately battled to resuscitate the baby after racing to the property in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

There, they found a scene of horror with the shocked family member also nursing bite injuries.

Despite their best efforts, the infant was pronounced dead at Northampton General Hospital after suffering horrendous injuries.

The fatal attack happened at 10.30pm on Friday in Morning Star Road, a smart, new housing estate.

Ashen faced officers confirmed the out-of-control dog was destroyed at the scene and police said tests on its body will be carried out this week to identify the breed.

The baby, who has not yet been named, is the fourth person to die in a dog attack since 2012 and it comes just weeks after two American bulldogs savaged their owner in the north-east resulting in his arm being amputated.

Detective Sergeant Gary Baker, who is leading the investigation, said: “Incidents like these are extremely rare in this country, but that will be of little comfort to the relatives of this tragically young victim.”

Daventry Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris said the officers who answered the call were left shocked at the “horrific incident” they witnessed.

He said: “Obviously my thoughts and prayers are with the family. I would especially like to thank the officers who attended the scene. I understand they attempted to revive the baby and are badly affected by what they experienced.”

Last October, it was revealed there are an average of 100 dog attacks a week in England and Wales and it is understood Northamptonshire Police have dealt with 62 incidents over the past two years.

The tragedy has sparked calls for new, tougher rules to be put in place to prevent potentially dangerous dogs from being housed in family homes.

Chris Over, a Conservative councillor on Daventry District Council, said the death was a “wake-up call” to bring back dog licensing which was abolished in 1987.

He said: “This is shocking. The trauma for the family must be awful and our hearts go out to them.

“It is a wake-up call for people to make certain that when they select a dog it is a breed that has a good reputation and that they are able to control the dog. This tragedy highlights responsible dog ownership is something we must encourage.”

Phil Morris, spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “We received an emergency call reporting that a baby girl had been attacked by a dog at an address in Daventry.

“Crews provided emergency treatment to the baby who was then taken to the Northampton General Hospital. Although our staff did everything possible, tragically the baby did not survive. This was a distressing incident and we offer our deepest sympathies to the family.”

There have been other incidents of dogs attacking children in nearby villages.

In December 2012, Milly-Anne Hemley, from Long Buckby just four miles from Daventry, lost part of her leg when her Staffordshire bull terrier bit her as she got ready for school, according to reports.

The schoolgirl, who was 10 at the time, had to have her leg amputated at the calf following the mauling.

Last month, dog breeder Stephen Potts, whose American bulldogs savaged him while they were out for a walk, was forced to have an arm amputated. Mr Potts, of Low Pittington, County Durham, was mauled in front of horrified onlookers who drove a car over the beasts to try to free him.