Clearwater police: Dog fatally attacks 7-month-old baby girl

CLEARWATER — A 7-month-old infant was fatally attacked by a dog on Friday, according to Clearwater officials.

The incident took place at 1125 Fairwood Ave. The report of a child bitten by a dog was called in at 2:12 p.m.

The dog, a family pet, attacked the baby girl at that address, police said. Paramedics rushed the child to Mease Countryside Hospital for medical treatment. The child was pronounced dead there.

Joshua Scott, who lives two doors down from the home on the other side, said he saw a gurney come out of the home after the incident but he thought it was empty.

"We didn't know at the time there was actually a child on the gurney," he said. "I've come to find out it was a terrible scene."

No other details were released, including the identity of the child or the owners of the dog.

Clearwater police are now investigating the incident along with the Department of Children and Families.

The dog was taken into custody by Pinellas County Animal Control.

The attack stunned the neighborhood, where each house has a driveway and on Friday peacocks roamed front lawns under the twilight.

"That's so sad," said Shemica Keese, who lives two doors down from the home where the attack happened. "That's horrific."

Contact Suhauna Hussain at shussain@tampabay.com. Follow @suhaunah.