Family dog kills newborn

WARREN TOWNSHIP - Police said the Monday morning death of a 3-day-old girl was an accident. She was killed by the family dog.

It's unclear why the dog attacked the newborn, but it's suspected the animal mistook the child for a stuffed animal, police Lt. Don Bishop said.

The family brought the newborn home from the hospital Sunday night, according to the lieutenant.

Officers were called to a home on Riverview Drive N.W. about 10:30 a.m., Bishop said.

The baby's father had left the room briefly and returned to find the huskie had attacked the baby, which was in a bassinet, he said.

Bishop said the dog was taken by the Trumbull County dog warden. It's unclear what will happen to it.

The baby had bite marks and scratches all over her body and was taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, he said. Warren Township Fire Chief Kenneth Schick said the baby was in full cardiac arrest when the rescue squad arrived.

She was the couple's first child, Bishop said.

He said the family is devastated and he did not want to release any more information to protect their privacy.

No police report was available because the incident remains under investigation, he said. It's being treated as an accident, not a criminal incident, Bishop said.