‘My perfect baby girl’: Distraught family mourns newborn in fatal dog attack

A NSW family has been shattered after their newborn girl was fatally attacked by two rottweilers while she was asleep.

A newborn baby girl fatally attacked by two rottweilers was asleep in a bouncer on the floor when the dogs attacked without anyone witnessing it.

Mia Jade Riley, just five-weeks-old, was with her parents and toddler sister at her grandfather’s house at Moruya, on the NSW south coast, when the tragedy happened on Saturday night.

Police said the baby was being constantly supervised by her parents Lani and Tom Riley, as well as other adults at the family gathering, but at some stage around 10.30pm, the dogs managed to approached the bouncer without anyone realising.

The baby’s distraught parents rushed her to Moruya Hospital themselves, after calling paramedics but deciding not to wait, where she died a few hours later from massive head injuries.

Mia Riley, 5 weeks old, couldn’t be saved after two rottweilers attacked her while she slept in a bouncer. Pictured with her older sister Layla Picture: Facebook

“It is a tragic, tragic accident,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

No charges are expected to be laid.

Just last month, Mr Riley - a chiropractor and owner of South Coast Spine Care - proudly posted photographs of his newborn daughter Mia as he introduced her to his patients.

“Well it was a good thing I blocked out work a week earlier than the due date because sure enough Monday night at 6:16pm my little girl was safely delivered at home surrounded by family,” Mr Riley posted.

“Mum and Baby Mia Jade Riley are in perfect health. I will see you all when I return to work on the 30th Jan after some much needed family time surrounded by all my beautiful girls.”

At the clinic on Tuesday, an answering machine said the business was closed due to a “death in the family”.

Mia was rushed to the Moruya Hospital.

Neighbours in Hawdon St, where the tragedy unfolded, said the family gathering was held at the baby’s grandfather Ross Galvin’s house, who was described as a “lovely family man”.

“We are all in absolute shock...they are a lovely family. Ross is a great bloke,” the neighbour said.

“I knew there was one rottweiler at the house, I’m not sure if there were two or someone else took their dog along as well... I’m just heartbroken for them all.”

A local businessman who knew Mr Galvin said the father and grandfather were “shattered” and “inconsolable”.

Eurobodalla Shire Council rangers seized the dogs on Sunday, and the animals are expected to be euthanised.

The tragedy comes just three months after a toddler was mauled to death by a rottweiler and a cattle dog at a motel in Cowra in the Central West.

Two-year-old Jyedon Pollard was staying at the Country Gardens Inn on November 8 with his mother Takisha, when he found his way into a fenced area where the two dogs were kept.

Jyedon died in hospital later that day from injuries to his heart and lungs.