An eight-day-old baby boy was killed by the family’s jealous Jack Russell after it escaped from the kitchen where it was being kept.
A post mortem on tragic tot Harry Harper found he died after suffering “a significant head injury” when he was bitten just once by the family’s pooch PJ.
Jack Russell cross PJ was locked in the kitchen while grandparents Gordon and Teresa Bell looked after the tot while exhausted mum Mikayla, 19, was in bed on Tuesday morning.
It is understood the crazed mutt somehow slipped out of the kitchen door before sinking his teeth into Harry.
Emergency crews, including paramedics and police, rushed to the family home in Woodside Road in Ketley, Shrops., shortly after 8am and rushed the tot to hospital who died shortly afterwards.
Police said yesterday that further tests were to be carried out on the body but the death was being treated as an accident.
Supt Nav Malik, of West Mercia Police, said: “The post mortem has concluded that the cause of death was a significant head injury.
“The investigation into this sad incident is ongoing and it is likely to continue for some time.
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“However, the incident continues to be investigated as a tragic accident involving the family’s pet dog.
“Now the post mortem has been completed we are unlikely to make any further comments on this matter as the coroner will opening an inquest in the very near future.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the media – both locally and nationally – for not approaching Harry’s family but would like to reiterate the fact that they do not wish to be contacted at the present time.
“I would once again ask that their request for privacy is respected.
“Now the post mortem has been completed we are unlikely to make any further comments on this matter as the coroner will opening an inquest in the very near future.”
Little Harry died on November 20 at 8am in his grandparent’s home when he was attacked by the family’s dog.
Reports suggested the mutt launched at Harry because he was “jealous” of the new arrival.
Canine magazine Dog’s Today yesterday urged the Government to promote greater awareness of the dangers of keeping dogs near children.
A posting on the magazine’s Facebook page said: “It’s just been announced that the grandparents were looking after the baby and the dog was locked in the kitchen and somehow got out.
“Do we need a safety awareness campaign for grandparents about baby proofing their dogs as this is at least the third time this sort of thing has happened when babies have been looked after grandparents.
“Of course, no dog should ever be left alone with a baby, no matter how well behaved.
“And everyone in the family needs to baby proof their dogs and get them used to less attention and not to associate that lack of attention with the new arrival.
“Huge sympathies to everyone, but can anyone else with a baby coming in their extended family please start despoiling their dog and preparing their houses with baby gates etc to keep everyone safe.”
Pretty mum Mikayla gave birth to 7lb Harry on November 12 and had spoken of her joy on Twitter.
Both she and Harry’s dad, trainee electrician Tom Harper, 19, of Shifnal, Shrops., proudly uploaded photos of the lad wearing an adorable duck baby-grow to Facebook and Twitter.
Part-time model Mikayla is understood to be have been living with grandparents Gordon Bell, 42, and gran Teresa, 40.
Police and ambulance crews rushed to the couple’s #119,000 three-bedroom semi-detached property to find Harry’s distraught mum screaming for help.
One neighbour described how she ran from the house, crying “My Baby! My Baby!” as she pleaded with paramedics to save Harry.
The little lad was rushed to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, but died despite desperate attempts to revive him.
Just weeks before Harry was killed, Mikayla revealed on Twitter that PJ had attacked one of her favourite teddy bears.
She tweeted at the time: “My teddy paddy is dead #cryingrealtears my silly little dog pj took one of his eyes.”
Killer mutt PJ has since been destroyed.
