Family Dog Kills Infant

A baby girl was killed Saturday night when the family dog turned on her.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators, the six-week-old infant was mauled while her uncle was in another room preparing her formula.

Sheriff's department spokeswoman describes the incident; exclusive pictures of the dog "When he returned to the bedroom, he found the dog on top of the bed with the child's head in its mouth," Sheriff's deputy Roberta Granek told CBS 2 News in Los Angeles.

The horrified man took possession of the newborn and called 911.

Paramedics rushed to the 15,000 block of Fellowship Street in Valinda, but it was apparently too late.

"When they arrived, they found the six-week-old Asian female with severe head trauma," Granek told CBS 2 News. "She was immediately transported to a local hospital," where she was pronounced dead.

It's possible that the child died from a broken neck, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Authorities can only speculate why the dog, a Pomeranian mix, clamped onto the infant. Neighbors told CBS 2 News that they'd seen the animal in its backyard and -- aside from the usual barking -- it didn't appear overly aggressive or vicious.

Relatives were looking after the baby girl because her parents were on a trip overseas. It's unclear whether they've returned, or even been notified of what's happened.

Animal control officers took custody of the dog. A decision on whether to destroy it, Granek said, will likely come in the next several days.