Baby dies from vicious dog attack

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 June 2018, 12:00AM

A two-month-old baby has died from head injuries sustained during a vicious dog attack.

The incident occurred Monday afternoon in Fasitoo-tai village and has shocked the local community.

A family member of the victim, who did not want to be identified, said the infant was bitten after his mother dropped him when she was attacked.

"The mother of the infant is my uncle's wife – she went to charge her mobile phone – when the dogs attacked her," said the family member.

"She went with her son to charge her phone.

"The dogs attacked while she was holding her son and then he fell and that’s when the dogs bit the baby's head.

"We are all shocked by what had happened.

"We didn't (hear) her scream and it wasn't until she came with her son, that's how we found out about the incident.

The family rushed the baby to the hospital but he did not recover from his injuries.

Asked about the two dogs that attacked them, the family member said the animals are at the site of the incident and were checked by the police. 

In an attempt to talk to the baby’s mother, Samoa Observer located her at the home of the dogs’ owners.  A woman came out and advised this newspaper that they were meeting with the distraught parents. 

"At the moment, the couple is here," she said.

"But they will not speak to anyone, at the moment we are having a meeting with them to sort things out so I apologize."

It is not known if the police will put down the dogs or issue a warning to their owners following the death of the infant. Police comments have been sought.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 June 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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