US infant killed by wolf-dog hybrid

A three-month old infant was killed by its family’s pet hybrid wolf-dog in the US state of Alabama, police have said.

The child died on Thursday in Chelsea, about 20 miles (32km) south-west of Birmingham, Alabama, from injuries that are suspected to have been caused by the animal.

The wolf hybrid was euthanised at the scene by a veterinarian, the Shelby County Sheriff’s office said.

The city’s mayor called the death “unfortunate and tragic”.

“It’s been confirmed that one of our children here in Chelsea was killed by an exotic family pet and succumbed to their injuries yesterday afternoon after being taken to the hospital,” said Mayor Tony Picklesimer in a statement.

Police said they were called to the home of the infant on Thursday at around 13:00 (19:00 GMT) local time, after a 911 call was placed for an animal attack.

The infant was then taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead due to injuries sustained from the attack.

Police described the animal as a “wolf hybrid” that was kept by the family of the infant as a pet.

They added that they continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the child’s death.

Mayor Picklesimer told BBC’s US partner CBS that there were other children inside the home at the time of the incident.

A similar incident occurred in 2018, in which an eight-day-old baby died after being attacked by its family’s three-year-old wolf hybrid in Virginia. (BBC)