Pet Rottweiler Mauls 19-Month-Old NYC Toddler To Death

KEY POINTS

The toddler was left alone with his two young brothers aged 11 and 9
The victim was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead
The family pet had also attacked victim's older brother before the incident

A toddler was mauled to death by the family’s dog as he and his two young brothers were left alone at their Brooklyn home.

On Tuesday, around 10:40 p.m. the 19-month-old baby was attacked by their pet Rottweiler at a residence in E. 17th St. at Cortelyou Road in Flatbush, police said. According to New York Daily, before leaving for work the toddler’s father left the baby in the care of his two young brothers aged 11 and 9 in their ground-floor apartment.

The dog attacked the baby and injured his neck and head while the two frightened brothers ran out to the street and flagged down a passerby for help. The baby covered in blood was pulled out of the apartment by the samaritan.

Responding officers found the baby “bleeding heavily” from the bite wounds, reported the New York Post. The toddler was then rushed to the Maimonides Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The toddler's 11-year-old sibling told police that he was also attacked by the dog before. Responding officers found the Rottweiler locked in a bathroom. It was taken away by Animal Care and Control of New York City.

Investigators later questioned the child's parents as they returned home from the hospital. As of Wednesday morning, police did not make any arrests and no charges have been filed in regards to the incident, according to New York Post.

A 2019 study of dog attacks put Rottweilers at the second number of breeds responsible for fatal attacks.

“Most problematic are dogs who are aggressive toward children, especially children in the family,” read a statement by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “Not only is aggression toward children exceedingly difficult to treat because of safety concerns, the likelihood that a dog with this problem will ever become trustworthy is slim.”

For most dogs to attack, there must be a trigger, explained dog bite expert Richard Polsky to LiveScience. Experts believe small children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks. Dogs are believed to attack children because of their small stature, exploratory behavior and tendency to crawl and play on the ground.