A young baby girl tragically lost her life in a fatal incident involving a suspected pocket bully-type dog, recently identified as Maggie May Ann Moody. The unfortunate incident took place in a residence in Redcar, North Yorkshire, on April 9, just a day shy of Maggie’s third-month milestone, as disclosed during an inquest.
The coroner, Paul Appleton, noted in a brief hearing that the preliminary cause of the infant’s death was attributed to a “head injury.” Maggie passed away at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and was formally identified by her grandmother, Michelle Scott, two days following the incident.
Born on January 10 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Maggie was only a few weeks old when the tragic event occurred. Although two dogs were implicated in the attack, it remains unclear which dog was responsible for the fatal outcome, according to the inquest.
Following the incident, Cleveland Police intervened by fatally shooting one of the dogs at the scene, while the other dog was apprehended and subsequently euthanized. Referred to as “pocket bullys” by witnesses, the breed of the dogs was not officially disclosed by the police, who confirmed that the dogs were not of an illegal breed.
In the aftermath, three individuals were arrested and later released on bail pending further investigations. Among them, a 31-year-old woman faced charges related to child neglect and being in control of a dog that caused harm leading to the child’s death. Additionally, a 36-year-old man was arrested for similar charges, and a 45-year-old man was also detained in connection with the incident.
During the recent inquest proceedings, Mr. Appleton detailed the sequence of events following the tragic occurrence, highlighting the initial emergency response and the involvement of the dogs in the incident. Witnesses recounted how authorities advised residents to seek shelter in cars, homes, or gardens to evade a dog that was roaming in the area.
Reports from residents indicated a tense situation with police intervention to secure the area and control the dogs. One witness described a moment when one of the dogs managed to escape, prompting police action to ensure public safety. A woman sustained an arm injury from a dog bite during the incident and received medical treatment for her injury.
