TRIBUTES have been paid to a seven-month-old baby girl who was mauled to death by her family's dog on Father's Day.
The tot was rushed to hospital following the horror on Sunday afternoon on Shorncliffe Road in Coventry, West Midlands.
Tragically she couldn't be saved and was declared dead later afternoon, having suffering serious head injuries.
The pet dog, which is not classed as a dangerous breed, was removed from the home on Sunday and humanely destroyed.
Her devastated parents appear to have not returned to the family semi in Coventry after the tragedy.
Neighbours today told how the infant was the family’s only child – describing the loss as “absolutely tragic”.
One said: "It's horrendous, and on Father's Day as well.
"They are a lovely couple and this is such a shame. The baby was their first child, and she seemed a sweet girl.
"They seemed very happy, and will be absolutely crushed by this.
"I can't imagine anything worse. To lose a baby in this way is just heartbreaking."
Another local added: "I didn't realise anything had happened until I saw it on the news.
"It's just awful. This is just a normal, quiet road and you never in a million years would think something like this would happen here."
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
An elderly woman a few doors down from the family home said she'd seen about three police cars and an ambulance at the scene.
She said: "I saw police cars and ambulances at a home up the road.
"There must have been three police cars and two ambulances.
"It's heartbreaking. Absolutely tragic. Nothing like that should happen to anyone."
Another neighbour who lives across the street said: "They're not there, no one has been there for ages, not since Sunday.
"They've not come back. I've never seen the dog, we didn't hear anything.
"The ambulances came here first and then went over there, apart from that we didn't see anything.
"It was a rapid response, two ambulances and then someone sent them over there."
Another woman said: "I don't know anything… all we saw were the police cars.
"They had a dog, it was a big one, that's all I know.
"All I saw were the police cars. There were a few ambulances. It was around 2pm, I think.
"They must be devastated. They really kept themselves to themselves really, quite quiet."
Full police statement
West Midlands Police said: "A baby has tragically died after being bitten by a pet dog at a home in Coventry.
"We were called to a property at Shorncliffe Road shortly after 3pm on Sunday. Together with our ambulance colleagues we arrived within minutes.
"A seven-month-old baby girl had received serious injuries to her head after being bitten by the family’s dog inside the home.
"She received treatment at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to hospital for further treatment. Tragically, she died a short time later.
"Our thoughts remain with her family at this devastating time.
"We are in the early stages of our investigation and our enquiries are continuing."
Anyone with any information can call police on 101 quoting log 2407 of 16 June.
