Newborn Killed By Family Dogs: How Safe Is Your Baby Around Dogs?

A three-day-old infant was accidentally killed by two family dogs in Fresno, California. Three-day-old Susan Kirby was alone on the family couch for a few seconds when the accident with the family dogs occurred.

CBS News reports that that Susan Kirby's mother told the Fresno Police that she thought the family dogs were secured in the backyard. Susan Kirby's mother then opened the door to the house as the day had been warm.

Perez Hilton reports that the mother briefly went to the bathroom while Susan Kirby lay on the couch. The family dogs, both of shar-pei and pit bull mix, entered the house and went directly to the couch.

Susan Kirby gave a scream and the mother immediately came running. Both the mother and the investigators are unclear whether Susan Kirby died from bites from the family dogs or whether the three-day-old infant had been too small to be jostled by the pets.

Susan Kirby's uncle (her mother's brother) who owned the dogs surrendered the family dogs to the Central California Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Both family dogs were euthanized.

According to DogsBite.org 32 fatalities among children in 2013 were associated to dog bites. Of these fatalities in children 78% were associated with pit bulls.

Pit bulls have been listed as the most lethal dog breed in the US. Rottweilers follow at a close second.

A previous story on The Daily Mail cited veterinarian Scott Miller in stating that no dog is safe to leave alone with either a small infant or a child. According to Scott Miller, various factors play into intentional and accidental attacks by family dogs on an infant or a child.

While treating family dogs well, including providing them sufficient food and exercise, is one form of safety measure this is no guarantee against a sudden attack. The nature of dogs and their response to external stimuli will always have to be carefully considered and protected against to maintain safety especially for children in the home.

While not all family dogs turn lethal, safety at home should always be ensured. Where family pets and children are concerned, nothing should be left to chance.