Family of six month old baby girl who died after being attacked by a dog are 'devastated'

The family of a six-month-old baby girl who died after being attacked by a dog have been left ‘devastated’.

Police and paramedics were called to an address in Daventry, Northamptonshire at around 10.30pm on Friday night after receiving reports that the infant was being savaged by a dog.

Despite their efforts the girl could not be saved and the dog, thought to be the family’s pet Pit Bull Terrier, was destroyed at the scene.

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The six-month old girl was attacked at 10.30pm on Friday while being cared for by a relative, file picture

Her grandmother, who was caring for her at the time, also suffered deep cuts to her hands and arms as she tried to wrestle the animal off.

Northamptonshire Police said they ‘cannot confirm the breed of dog’ at this stage but experts will carry out tests early next week to determine exactly what kind of dog it was.

Detective Sergeant Gary Baker, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This was a deeply distressing and tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family who have been left devastated.

‘Incidents such as these are extremely rare in this country, but that will be of little comfort to the relatives of this tragically young victim.

‘The family have requested that they be left to grieve at this difficult time.’ 

A spokesman from the force added that one of the major lines of inquiry by officers was to discover whether the destroyed animal was an illegally-held breed such as a Pit Bull terrier.

But they refused to comment on whether anyone was due to be arrested. 

It is thought that the horrific tragedy took place in the family home. The girl's grandmother was babysitting her while her mother was out. 

The family is understood to have owned two dogs, which neighbours say were pit bulls. One neighbour called them 'devil dogs' because they were always barking and fighting each other. 

A couple that live on the same street say neighbours had reported the dogs to Daventry District Council on multiple occasions but nothing had been done.

The residents, who did not want to be named, said the dogs were walked with muzzles.

They added: 'The neighbours whose homes back on to the side of the house have been complaining to the district council and dog wardens since May.

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Morning Star Road in Daventry, where the incident happened.The baby lived with her mother and grandmother

'They have complained multiple times but nothing has been done. They were even recording sound levels.

'You could hear the dogs killing each other fighting non-stop in the house from 100ft away inside our house.

'They were screeching, growling and barking all the time. It was terrifying, they are known as the devil dogs.

'One of the ladies who complained said she was worried her two young children would be killed if they escaped.

'You see all the emergency services there and you really feel for the family.

'But at the end of the day if something had been done and the complaints were listened to then that little girl might still be alive.' 

But councillors who represent the ward which covers Morning Star Road said they were unaware of any complaints about the dogs in the past.

Tory Councillor Chris Long, who has served in the area for over eight years, said: 'Nothing has been brought to my attention in eight-and-a-half years with respect to problems with dogs in that location or anywhere else in Daventry.

'If it had been I can assure you we would have done something about it very quickly. 

'It's a tragedy for the family involved and my hearts go out to them.

'Daventry is a really safe place to live, it is one of the safest in the county.'

Cllr Long went on to say that any complaints by residents could have been directed to officers at Daventry District Council rather than towards the councillors.

Nigel Carr, UKIP Councillor for Abbey North, added: 'I have heard about the attack but it wasn't brought to my attention about the dogs in the past. 

'It is a real tragedy.' 

Marek Gajewski, 47, who lives next door, said he believed an older lady lived at the house with her daughter and grandchild.

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The incident is said to have taken place in Morning Star Road in the Daventry area of Northamptonshire 

He said: 'Two ladies live there with one child.

'There are two dogs as well. They aren't very big but maybe they are a pit bull. They are both the same breed, one is dark and one is white. I sometimes see her letting them out in the garden.

'We weren't here last night because we were coming back from holiday but there have been police cars parked in the parking spaces behind the house today.

'It is just tragic though and so sad, my heart goes out to that family.'

Neighbour Anna Lopeman told the Sunday People: 'We used to see the girl in her 20s pushing the baby in her pram. I think she lived with the baby's grandmother. We'd see her walking two dogs.' 

Another neighbour, who refused to be named, said: 'I didn't know them or who else lived there but I heard it was an older lady and she was looking after the baby. I don't know if the mum was out or lives somewhere else.

'Someone said the dogs had been known to be a little bit aggressive but there are always people walking dogs around this estate and I have never heard of any trouble.'

Police attended the scene and paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service took her to Northampton General Hospital. 

Medics attempted to resuscitate the baby but she was declared dead shortly after arrival.   

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The attack happened at a female relative's house on Morningstar Road in Daventry at 10.30 pm on Friday

Phil Morris from the East Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We received an emergency call from the Northamptonshire Police on Friday night at 10.31 pm reporting that a baby girl had been attacked by a dog at an address in Daventry.

'We responded by dispatching three clinicians in fast response cars, a double crewed ambulance and a doctor.

'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 her injuries.

'This was a very distressing incident and we offer our deepest sympathies to the family. Our crews were understandably saddened by their experiences and we are providing support to all colleagues who responded.'

Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire Adam Simmonds sympathised with the family 

A post mortem examination is to be carried out on the girl's body to establish the exact cause of her death.

It is expected that the examination will be conducted by a Home Office pathologist at Northampton General Hospital. 

An inquest was also expected to be opened early next week and then adjourned for further inquiries to be carried out. 

The Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire Adam Simmonds said on Twitter: 'Thoughts are with the family of a young girl killed by a dog; my thanks to police colleagues who attended difficult scene and tried to save her life.' 

Daventry Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris said the officers who went to the scene in Morning Star Road were left traumatised 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 girl and are badly affected by what they experienced.' 

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The baby girl was raced to Northampton General Hospital, pictured, where she died soon after arrival 

It is understood the force have dealt with 62 instances of attacks involving dogs in 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.

He said: 'This is shocking. This is a terrible situation - 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.

'It seems like this dog couldn't be controlled and restrained by the relative who intervened.

'This tragedy highlights that responsible dog ownership is something we must encourage.

'There have been a number of incidents like this around the country in recent times. It seems to me that there should be some kind of legislation in place. Dog licences would mean that hopefully only responsible people would own dogs.'

Dog owners in Britain used to be required to have a licence but they were widely ignored and eventually abolished in 1987. 

New laws introduced in May can see owners of a dangerous dog jailed for up to 14 years if their pet gets past them. 

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The baby girl was staying in a female relative's house when she was attacked by the killer dog

Also, the new laws enable police to prosecute the owners of dangerous dogs even if the attack happened in their own home. 

Since 2005, at least 20 people have died in dog attacks across Britain. 

In 2012 in the nearby village of Long Buckby just four miles from Daventry, Milly-Anne Hemley lost part of her leg when her Staffordshire bull terrier bit her as she got ready for school. 

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

Under the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act, the sentence for a dog attack that leads to an injury has been increased from two years to five years.

The number of dogs seized by police officers have gone up by as much as 50 per cent in just two years in some forces.

Forces in Lancashire, Avon and Somerset, Surrey, South Wales, North Wales, Warwickshire, Cleveland and Gwent Police all reported a rise in the number of dangerous dogs seized last year, according to Freedom of Information responses.

The country’s second largest force, West Midlands Police, revealed that the number of animals seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act rose by 50 per cent in two years - up to 412 dogs in 2013, compared with 275 in 2011. It led to 181 being destroyed. 

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