Covy Moore/Rocky View Publishing

Insp. Tony Hamori answers questions from reporters during a press conference, Feb. 16, regarding a husky dog that killed an infant baby boy in Airdrie, Feb. 15. The incident is not considered a crime and police will not press charges. The dog is in quarantine in Calgary for 10 days after which its fate will be determined by the family and City of Airdrie bylaw services.

view all photos (-count-)

Airdrie newborn dies after dog attack (update)

The city is reeling after learning a baby boy was killed last week by a family dog, Feb. 15.

The fatal mauling, done by a nine-year-old Siberian husky with no prior history of violence, occurred at about 10 a.m. in King’s Heights. The boy was with his mother at the time of the attack.

The baby was rushed to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, but was pronounced dead 12 hours later.

The dog was quarantined at an undisclosed facility in Calgary for 10 days where bylaw services and the family will decide how to proceed.

The parents run a home-based dog-sledding equipment business and had three other dogs in the house at the time of the attack. The couple has another child, a two-and-a-half-year old son.

There are no charges pending regarding the death, according to RCMP.

“Unfortunately it’s just a very tragic accident,” said RCMP Insp. Tony Hamori at a press conference.

“We do not feel there is anything criminal in nature.”

“It seems to be very isolated,” he said, adding families should remain vigilant with their pets.

In Airdrie, there’s been 16 dog attacks in the last three years: four in 2009, five in 2010 and seven in 2011.

“We do not know what is going to happen to the animal because it’s under investigation,” said Darryl Poburan, manager of municipal enforcement with the City.

There are 5,500 dogs licensed in Airdrie and another 4,500 unlicensed, according to Poburan.