A 6-week-old girl died in Queens early Tuesday after the family dog, a pit bull mix puppy, bit her, cops said.
The infant was in bed between her 26-year-old mother and her stepfather in the family’s apartment in NYCHA’s Queensbridge North Houses when the couple woke up about 6:30 a.m. and saw the puppy biting the baby’s face, cops were told.
The infant died at the scene on 12th St. near 41st Ave. in Long Island City.
The adoptive mother of the child’s mom told the Daily News that she had offered to take the newborn in while the mom, who was living in a shelter at the time, was trying to secure better housing.
“I learned that she was pregnant maybe a couple days before she gave birth,” the adoptive mother, who wished not to be named, said. “After she gave birth, she loved the baby. I asked her if she had any problems and if she wanted to give me the baby. She said no, she’d take care of her. She would manage.”
The adoptive mom had not yet gotten to meet her new granddaughter when she learned of her death Tuesday.
“How could they have a dog with a baby?” she asked. “The dog shouldn’t be in the house.”
The puppy as well as another dog were expected to be given to the city’s Animal Care Centers of NYC.
A large dog crate was seen outside the apartment as cops closed off the crime scene.
No arrests have been made.
The infant’s mother was adopted at age 2, one of nine children raised by the adoptive mother. The infant is survived by an older brother.
“It would be better if she gave me the baby,” the mother’s adoptive mom said. “This wouldn’t have happened.”
