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Family asks for privacy after baby mauled

KETLEY, England, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The family of a baby mauled to death by a pet terrier at his grandparents' home in Ketley, England, asked for privacy while police investigate.

Eight-day-old Harry Harper was attacked by the Jack Russell terrier Tuesday morning at his grandparents' home. He later died from his injuries at The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

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The child's mother Mikayla, 19, was staying with her parents, Gordon Bell, 42, and Teresa, 40, when the attack occurred, The Daily Telegraph reported. Her boyfriend lives a short distance away.

The dog was put down, the report said.

The newspaper said the family was struggling with the loss, making a statement through police: "As a family we are absolutely devastated by Harry's death and have no words to describe the loss we have suffered. At the present time we have no wish to speak publicly about yesterday's events and would ask that we are left in peace to grieve and begin to deal with our loss."

"They only brought the baby home from hospital a few days ago," neighbor Nigel Pitchford, 71, told the newspaper. "The dog is only little, but it is very vicious. I tried to post a Christmas card through their letterbox last year, and it went for my hand as I posted it through. It was only small but a vicious little thing."

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