Baytown Animal Services took two dogs away from the scene. Police said the dogs belonged to the baby’s parents.
BAYTOWN, Texas — A 6-month-old girl has died after being attacked by a dog Tuesday afternoon at an apartment complex in Baytown, according to police.
Baytown police and EMS responded to the attack just before 4 p.m. at an apartment complex on E. James Avenue near Highway 99, according to Jason Calder, a public information officer for the City of Baytown. The baby girl was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
Air 11 video showed police vehicles and investigators along a street in the neighborhood. Police tape marked off a section near the apartment complex.
According to police, the infant was attacked inside the family’s apartment. Baytown Animal Services responded to the scene and took two dogs from the apartment into custody.
Calder confirmed that both dogs are male pit bull mixes. He said the dog responsible for the attack was a red-collared pit bull mix, approximately 1 year old. The second dog, which had a blue collar, was not involved in the attack and was inside a kennel at the time, Calder said.
“The dogs were newer to the apartment,” Calder said.
A neighbor told KHOU 11’s Amanda Henderson that he helped the family get the baby girl to an ambulance and that the family had just moved into the complex.
“It wasn’t pretty. There was blood all over the baby’s head. Prayers out to the baby,” neighbor Ken Sheltoe said.
Sheltoe described at least one of the dogs as “aggressive.”
“He needs to be put down,” Sheltoe said.
Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she made the 911 call after the baby’s mother ran to her apartment holding the child.
“She just had the baby in her hands saying ‘God I trust you, God I trust you God,’” the neighbor said.
Two adults, identified by neighbors as the baby’s parents, returned to the scene later. KHOU 11 observed them speaking with police and embracing outside the apartment.
On Wednesday, Calder said the family signed over ownership of both dogs to the city. The pit bull mix that attacked the child will be euthanized, he said. The second dog will eventually be released back to the family.
Animal Control officers entered the apartment and secured both dogs to ensure the situation was under control, according to Calder.
“This whole situation is unfortunate,” Calder said.
As of Wednesday, police said no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed. The case remains under investigation.