MARTINEZ, Ga. (AP) — A seven-month-old infant died Tuesday after being attacked by a family dog in suburban Augusta.
The attack happened around noon at a home in the town of Martinez, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said.
The baby, Serenity Garnett, was being watched by her great-grandmother when the American Bulldog Great Pyrenees mix attacked her, news outlets reported. Both the child and the woman were taken to the AU Medical Center for treatment.
Columbia County Assistant Medical Examiner Martha Lappe said the child died from her injuries, WJBF-TV reported.
The great-grandmother’s injuries are not life-threatening, said Sheriff Major Steve Morris.
Exactly what happened to trigger the attack is still under investigation, he said.
Neighbors told the TV station that the dog was difficult to control.
“She didn’t have the strength to deal with that dog,” Stephen Fox said of the woman with the baby. “…When he dropped out occasionally, it was very difficult to come back.”
A spokesman for the sheriff’s office said the dog has been quarantined for rabies testing, but said there were no immediate concerns about an infectious disease.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed without permission.