A Novi family is reeling after a 5-day-old baby girl died this morning when the family dog reportedly attacked her, according to police. Relatives in the home told investigators they found the infant unresponsive and had seen the dog mauling the newborn. Animal-control officers removed the dog from the residence, and officials say the case remains under investigation.
Officers were called around 8:30 a.m. to a mobile-home residence in the 42000 block of Liberte, where they found the injured infant, FOX 2 Detroit reports. Investigators suspect the newborn was killed by the mauling, and a family member told officers they witnessed the dog attacking the baby. Animal-control officers seized the dog, and authorities have not yet identified the animal’s breed or said whether any charges will be filed.
Why infants are especially vulnerable
Fatal dog attacks are rare, but public-health research shows that very young children face the highest risk when they do occur. A national review of mortality data documented 468 deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog between 2011 and 2021 and noted an uptick in recent years, according to the CDC. A long-running analysis of U.S. fatalities has similarly found that children, particularly infants and toddlers, are at greatest risk and that many deadly incidents involve a dog the child knows, as summarized in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
Investigation and next steps
Novi police said animal-control officers have taken custody of the dog while investigators work to determine exactly what happened, according to FOX 2 Detroit. Authorities have not publicly identified the infant or the dog and have not announced whether criminal charges or child-protective referrals will result from the case. Officials have asked anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact the Novi Police Department.
How families can reduce risk
Pediatric and animal-health groups say most serious dog bites to children happen at home and are often preventable with basic precautions. Experts recommend never leaving infants or toddlers alone with any dog, no matter how trusted the animal may be. They also advise using physical barriers such as baby gates to keep pets and infants separated when close supervision is not possible, and seeking help from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist if a pet shows troubling or aggressive behavior, according to the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association. After any bite or concerning incident, local animal-control agencies and pediatric clinicians can guide families on quarantine rules, testing and immediate medical care.
