Infant mauled to death by family pet

A one-year-old boy died after being attacked by a dog at a relative’s home, police in the UK said.

The boy was in the yard of the home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, when the family pet, a rottweiler, launched the attack yesterday afternoon.

He was taken to Pinderfields General Hospital with serious injuries but died last night.

A post-mortem examination will take place today.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said they received an emergency call at 3.30pm.

He said: “Police officers attended and the dog was destroyed in order to ensure the safety of others at the address.”

The boy’s family was being supported by specially-trained officers, he added.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said paramedics were called to the scene at 3.29pm.

Police said they would not yet disclose the address where the attack happened because investigations were continuing.