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| Dog seized after baby death: Police investigation continues | Dog seized after baby death: Police investigation continues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police who have seized a dog from a Carmarthenshire house are continuing to investigate the sudden death of six-day-old baby girl. | Police who have seized a dog from a Carmarthenshire house are continuing to investigate the sudden death of six-day-old baby girl. |
| Eliza-Mae Mullane from Pontyberem was flown to hospital in Cardiff but medical teams were unable to save her. | Eliza-Mae Mullane from Pontyberem was flown to hospital in Cardiff but medical teams were unable to save her. |
| Neighbours have been speaking of their shock at the death on Tuesday just days after the baby came home. | Neighbours have been speaking of their shock at the death on Tuesday just days after the baby came home. |
| An Alaskan Malamute dog has been taken away from the house but the cause of the baby's death is not yet confirmed. | An Alaskan Malamute dog has been taken away from the house but the cause of the baby's death is not yet confirmed. |
| "We are not going to speculate on reports from people in the community and we respectfully ask that you wait for the investigation to run its proper course," a police spokesman said on Tuesday evening. | "We are not going to speculate on reports from people in the community and we respectfully ask that you wait for the investigation to run its proper course," a police spokesman said on Tuesday evening. |
| It is known that the dog taken away was a pet, called Nisha, which was not a banned breed of dog. | It is known that the dog taken away was a pet, called Nisha, which was not a banned breed of dog. |
| Dyfed-Powys Police officers were called to a house in New Road, Pontyberem, shortly before 08:30 GMT on Tuesday. | Dyfed-Powys Police officers were called to a house in New Road, Pontyberem, shortly before 08:30 GMT on Tuesday. |
| Neighbour Patricia Punter, 71, said Eliza-Mae's mother Sharon John ran outside shouting that her baby had died. | Neighbour Patricia Punter, 71, said Eliza-Mae's mother Sharon John ran outside shouting that her baby had died. |
| "It was terrible - I've never heard anything like it. Sharon was in a state of shock and just screaming," she said. | "It was terrible - I've never heard anything like it. Sharon was in a state of shock and just screaming," she said. |
| 'Heartbreaking' | 'Heartbreaking' |
| The neighbour said the dog had been brought to the family home by Ms John's partner Patrick Mullane after a night out at a pub. | The neighbour said the dog had been brought to the family home by Ms John's partner Patrick Mullane after a night out at a pub. |
| "She'd only brought the baby home in the last week. It is just awful - they loved their dogs as much as their children," added Ms Punter. | "She'd only brought the baby home in the last week. It is just awful - they loved their dogs as much as their children," added Ms Punter. |
| The close-knit community of the former mining village has been left grief stricken. | The close-knit community of the former mining village has been left grief stricken. |
| Family friend Gemma Prosser said: "It's just heartbreaking for Sharon and Patrick. | Family friend Gemma Prosser said: "It's just heartbreaking for Sharon and Patrick. |
| "One minute they had a bundle of joy in their arms and all those lovely things to look forward to when you are new parents. | "One minute they had a bundle of joy in their arms and all those lovely things to look forward to when you are new parents. |
| "The next minute they have lost their little girl in such a terrible way." | "The next minute they have lost their little girl in such a terrible way." |
| Plaid Cymru councillor Joy Williams told BBC Radio Wales that Ms John was "a very pleasant and obviously very busy and hardworking mum". | |
| "The village is still stunned and in a state of shock," she said. | |
| "We are all deeply saddened and devastated at what has happened. | |
| "We have heard of other tragedies such as this but they have always been somebody else's tragedy in other parts of the globe - we never for a moment thought a tragedy of this nature could strike a young family in our very own community. | |
| "We will rally round this family and offer help and support needed." | |
| Ch Insp Ieuan Mathews of Dyfed-Powys Police said the investigation into Eliza-Mae's death remained at an early stage. | |
| "The family dog - an Alaskan Malamute - has been seized by police in connection with the ongoing enquiry. I can confirm that this dog is not listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act," he said. | "The family dog - an Alaskan Malamute - has been seized by police in connection with the ongoing enquiry. I can confirm that this dog is not listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act," he said. |
| "I think it's fair to say that [the dog] is a key element of the inquiry from the initial information that was presented to us when the emergency services arrived. | "I think it's fair to say that [the dog] is a key element of the inquiry from the initial information that was presented to us when the emergency services arrived. |
| "As you can imagine, the family are hugely distressed. | "As you can imagine, the family are hugely distressed. |
| He added that these were "very tragic circumstances and our hearts go out to everybody involved". | He added that these were "very tragic circumstances and our hearts go out to everybody involved". |
| Alaskan Malamutes were originally bred as sled dogs for work in the Arctic but have become popular as family pets. | Alaskan Malamutes were originally bred as sled dogs for work in the Arctic but have become popular as family pets. |
| The Alaskan Malamute Club of the United Kingdom described the breed on its website as "heavy boned and powerfully built" as well as affectionate and friendly. | The Alaskan Malamute Club of the United Kingdom described the breed on its website as "heavy boned and powerfully built" as well as affectionate and friendly. |