Two held as 12-day-old boy killed by family dog

A COUPLE have been arrested for manslaughter after a 12-day-old baby boy was mauled to death by the family’s dog.

The newborn was taken to hospital on Sunday afternoon after being attacked by the pet but died a short time later.

Police said a man aged 35 and a 27-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence following the tragic incident in Doncaster. Officers would not confirm how the couple were related to the dead baby.

The arrested pair have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

One neighbour said: ‘[The mother] had a tough life. I don’t know how she will get past this. Her partner died about 18 months ago and she was left to bring up her children.

‘I felt for her when he died.

The baby was with her new partner. The dogs, I think, must have been her new partner’s.’

The baby had three siblings but no one was at the family’s terraced house yesterday evening. South Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the property at 3.30pm on Sunday following reports that a dog had attacked a child.

One neighbour said he believed the family had three dogs, with one ‘big dog’ that was kept in a kennel in the back garden.

A resident, Sally Hooley, said: ‘I drove by as police were removing the dog. [It] was a big fluffy golden dog, it looked harmless though at first glance.

‘I couldn’t tell you the breed... but three police officers were struggling to control it to get it into the dog van. The dog was strong enough to be dragging three officers into the road. It’s so, so sad.’

‘I don’t know how she’ll get past it’