Tragic Incident: Pet Wolf-Hybrid Claims Life of Alabama Infant
Tragedy struck in Alabama as a family's pet wolf-hybrid claimed the life of their 3-month-old baby The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is investigating the heartbreaking incident
A 3-month-old infant in Alabama passed away after a "wolf-hybrid" that was kept as a family pet bit the child, as reported by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Responding to a 911 call about the incident, sheriffs deputies, firefighters, and county animal control officers arrived at the home in Chelsea around 12:54 p.m. on Thursday, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.
The infant was brought to the hospital and declared deceased from injuries believed to be inflicted by the animal, the statement announced.
A wolf-hybrid refers to a dog with a mix of wolf and dog lineage. The family knew that there was wolf ancestry in the dog, confirmed Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans to CNN on Saturday.
Law enforcement requested the animal to be euthanized at the scene and taken to the Alabama State Diagnostics Laboratory. The death is currently under investigation, and an autopsy will be conducted, according to Evans.
"This unfortunate and tragic event has deeply saddened us," Mayor Tony Picklesimer of Chelsea expressed in a statement on Friday. "Our deepest prayers and thoughts are with the family and all those affected."
He also urged caution to exotic pet owners, as reported by CNN affiliate WBRC.
"It's unimaginable that something like this could happen to an innocent baby," he commented. "Owning an exotic pet comes with extra responsibilities to ensure the safety of not only your own family, but also your neighbors."
Located approximately 20 miles southeast of Birmingham, Chelsea is home to around 16,000 residents, according to the US Census.
