A seven-month-old baby girl has died after being attacked by her family's pet dog at her home in Coventry. The infant, named by police as Elle Doherty, suffered serious head injuries in the incident on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the property on Shorncliffe Road at 3.01pm. Two ambulances, a specialist paramedic, a paramedic officer, and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended. Despite treatment at the scene and being taken to hospital, Elle was pronounced dead.
The dog, registered as a Belgian Malinois, was removed from the house and destroyed on the same day. Following a detailed investigation, West Midlands Police confirmed on Friday that no criminal offence was committed.
A force spokesperson said: 'Following a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the death of a baby who tragically died after being bitten by a pet dog at a home in Coventry, detectives are now satisfied that there have been no criminal offences.' The family has asked for privacy to grieve.
The Belgian Malinois is a breed of Belgian Shepherd known for being energetic, smart, and loyal. The incident comes amid a surge in fatal dog attacks, with 16 deaths recorded in 2023 compared to six in 2022, prompting the previous government to ban XL Bully dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
