Two Central Coast parents are this week dealing with the unimaginable heartache after their five-week-old baby boy was mauled to death by the family’s pet dog.
Emergency services were called to the Kariong home in the early hours of Sunday morning following reports a newborn had been attacked by a six-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier.
Paramedics performed CPR on the child, but the infant could not be revived and died at the scene.
The dog was seized by Central Coast Council and has since been put down.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this terrible time,” said a Central Coast Council spokesperson.
“The dog had a previous attack registered against it last month, which occurred in its own back yard.
“The family was undertaking a breed and temperament assessment at the request of Council.”
Police say there’s no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Meanwhile tributes are flowing to the family – with a memorial site set up at the tennis courts at Kariong Hall.
A member of the local community said, “We were heartbroken to hear the news, it’s just terrible.”
“The Kariong community is behind the parents; we just wish we could do something, and we all send our best wishes on.”
A crowd-funding campaign for the family is currently being set up.
Skaie Hull