CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 7-month-old girl died Friday after she was bitten by a family pet.
- Fire Rescue called to Clearwater home at 2:12 p.m.
- Grandparents were watching toddler at time
- Dog removed from home, now with county Animal Services
Clearwater Fire Rescue responded to a call at 1125 Fairwood Avenue about 2:12 p.m. Friday.
"I just saw all the chaos and I was like, 'Oh my gosh,' and when I saw the yellow tape go up I knew something bad had happened down there," said Shemica Keese, who lives nearby.
Authorities said the girl was being taken care of by her grandparents when a mixed-breed dog named Lynnie bit her.
The girl was transported to Mease Countryside Hospital, where she later died.
"That's just so awful," said Keese. "If I got that news about my baby, oh my gosh, I don't know what I would do."
Joshua Scott and his family live close to the house where it happened. He has a young child and he wondered what was happening.
"Just concerned that I have a new family here, too, so living two doors down you're concerned about what could possibly be going on," he said.
As is customary in such cases, Clearwater Police are conducting an investigation, in conjunction with the Department of Children and Families.
The dog has been removed from the home and taken to Pinellas County Animal Services.