Newborn Baby Killed by Family Dog in San Diego

A 3-day-old newborn in San Diego was killed by a family dog while in the parents’ bed on Friday.

Police said the mother and father were watching television with the baby and the American Staffordshire terrier, when the mother coughed and startled the dog, who bit the baby, NBC San Diego reported.

“The parents were able to separate the dog from the baby and they rushed him to the hospital but they were not able to save him,” said Sergeant Tu Nguyen of the San Diego police child abuse unit, according to the Guardian.

The dog has been taken into custody and quarantined by animal services for 10 days. The family will have the option to euthanize or claim the dog after the quarantine, the Guardian reported.