A 5-day-old infant girl died today after being severely wounded by the family dog on Thursday.
At 10:45 a.m., Feb. 18, the mother entered her bedroom after hearing her newborn crying. As she came into the room, she was shocked to find the family pet, a 3-year-old male Pit Bull-mix, on top of her daughter's bassinet, which was next to her bed. As she approached the bassinet, she realized that the dog had bitten her daughter.
The mother and father took the baby to Rockdale Medical Center where she was airlifted to Egleston Children's Hospital. Surgery was performed on the infant and she was listed in critical condition. She died today as a result of her injuries.
No charges are expected to be filed in this matter.
Animal Control Director CiJi Baker pointed out the dog could have bitten the child for any number of reasons, and that any breed of dog is capable of biting a child, not just Pit Bulls.
The dog was euthanized on Feb. 19, and tests for rabies came back negative. There were no previous reported complaints about the dog at the address of the family.