Community ‘in shock’ after nine-month-old baby killed in dog attack

A community in Wales has been left in “shock” after a nine-month-old baby was killed by a dog.

Paramedics from Gwent Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to an address in Crossway, Rogiet, at 6pm on Sunday following reports of a dog attack.

It was determined that the child died at the scene. The dog was seized and removed from the scene.

Peter Strong, councilor for Monmouthshire’s Rogiet ward, described the incident as “incredibly awful”.

“I think the community is in great mourning, there’s a deep sense of shock,” he said.

“(People are) really stunned, I think. Frankly, our thoughts are with the family, to lose a baby in these circumstances, to have a deep sense of happiness and love, to have that taken away from you… It’s incredibly awful.”

“I would like to appeal to the community to remain calm, give the police a chance to do their job and give the family a chance to grieve in peace.”

Katherine Close, trustee of Rogiet Community Junction cafe, said: “The community is in shock, you never expect this.

“We don’t see a lot of emergency vehicles around, so when that happens you know something serious has happened.

“We’re just waiting to hear… And then it starts from there, we support the family, we support our neighbors, we support our community.

“There have been so many mothers and babies coming to the cafe over the years… It’s truly heartbreaking.”