Tragic NYC Infant Death: Puppy Mauls Baby in Queensbridge Horror

In a heart-wrenching tragedy in New York City’s Queensbridge Houses, a one-month-old infant was fatally mauled by the family’s pit bull–German shepherd mix puppy early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 6:40 a.m. while the baby slept between her 27-year-old mother and stepfather in their apartment. Police found the unresponsive infant, who had suffered severe facial injuries, and she was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.

The puppy, just six weeks old, reportedly bit off a significant portion of the baby’s face, leaving neighbors and family in shock. Screams from the mother echoed through the building, with one neighbor recalling the chilling moment EMS arrived. A friend of the mother recounted her anguish, saying she awoke to find the dog attacking her child, despite sleeping right beside her. Questions linger about how the cries went unheard.

Neighbors had previously warned the mother to leash the dog, citing its potential danger, but she dismissed concerns, insisting it didn’t bite. The infant’s grandmother, devastated by the loss, revealed she had offered to care for the newborn while the mother, living in a shelter, secured better housing. Tragically, she never met her granddaughter before the incident.

The city’s Animal Care Centers removed the puppy and another dog from the home. This unimaginable loss raises urgent questions about pet safety around infants and the responsibilities of pet owners in vulnerable living situations.