In Chelsea, Alabama, on November 29, a three-month-old infant succumbed to injuries caused by an attack from the family’s pet wolf-hybrid.
At approximately 12:54 p.m., Shelby County 911 was alerted about an animal attack on an infant near County Road 440. Shelby County deputies, Chelsea firefighters, and animal control officers rapidly responded to the emergency call. The critically injured child was immediately transported to a hospital by Chelsea Fire & Rescue, but the infant did not survive the injuries.
The Shelby County deputies, upon investigation, confirmed the involvement of a wolf-hybrid, a mix of a wolf and a domestic dog, which the family owned as a pet. Linda Evans, the Shelby County Coroner, said that the wolf picked up the baby from the floor, was playing with it, and killed it.
After the incident, the wolf-hybrid was euthanized at the site by a veterinarian, following law enforcement’s request. The animal was then sent to the Alabama State Diagnostics Laboratory for further analysis.
Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer expressed profound sorrow and extended his condolences and prayers to the bereaved family and others affected by this devastating incident. Additional information indicated the presence of other children in the home at the time of the attack.
A comprehensive investigation into the attack’s circumstances is underway by the Department of Human Resources and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
