7-month-old baby girl in foster care killed by dog in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) - A 7-month-old baby girl is dead after a vicious dog bite in Clearwater.

It happened at a home on Fairwood Avenue in Clearwater. Police initially said the little girl was with her grandparents when the attack happened. They now confirm she was a foster baby.

According to police, the baby was with the parents of one of her foster parents. The Department of Children and Families said there was no history of abuse or neglect involving the family prior to the incident. 

The family's dog, a pit bull mix named Lynnie, attacked the baby.

Judging by its size, Lynnie doesn't look like a dangerous animal. But the dog delivered a fatal bite to a 7-month-old girl.

Clearwater Fire Rescue came to the house shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.

Neighbor Joshua Scott saw the fire trucks and ambulance rush to the scene.

“We saw a gurney go in, come back out. It looked like it came back out. It looked like it was empty. We didn't know at the time there was actually a child on the gurney,” said Scott.

An ambulance took the child to Mease Countryside Hospital, where she died.

Scott, a new father himself, said Pinellas Animal Services responded.

“Dog was not happy. Situation was real tense. And after a couple of hours, everybody left,” he said.

“Whoo! That baby, 7-months-old, I can't. That's so sad,” said neighbor, Shemica Keese.

News of the tragic death is circulating in the neighborhood.

“Oh yes, that's devastating. The baby, oh my gosh! I didn't, it's so sad. That's horrible,” said Keese.

For Scott, the tragedy hit close to home.

“Just concerned that I have a new family here too, so living two doors down, ya know, you're just concerned about what could possibly be going on,” said Scott.

The pit bull mix is at Pinellas Animal Services. She will be under rabies quarantine for 10 days.

Clearwater police are investigating, along with the Department of Children and Families.

The DCF has released the following statement: 

The Department of Children and Families is committed to ensuring the safety of all children, especially those in the care of foster parents. Any time a child dies in foster care, the department will conduct a thorough review to ensure the highest quality of care for children in the child welfare system.

Understanding of the high levels of trust and responsibility placed upon them, we are forever grateful to the thousands of wonderful families across Florida who support vulnerable children and make the choice to bring a child into their homes and their hearts.

DCF will support the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office as they investigate this child’s death and the department has also initiated a multidisciplinary review team to review this child’s history with the child welfare system.