Baby mauled to death by dog at Fourth of July party

A 17-month-old child has died after being mauled to death in her playpen by a pit bull as her parents attended a “raging” party downstairs.

Baby mauled to death at party. Picture: GoFundMe

A 17-month-old baby has been mauled to death by a dog as her family attended a party downstairs unaware.

Marley Wilander had gone to a Forth of July party in Illinois, US, with her parents when the horror incident happened.

The bub had been placed in a playpen in an upstairs bedroom at their friend’s house while two pit bull mixes were in the basement.

After hearing a commotion upstairs at about 1.30am, the homeowner went to check it out and discovered one of the dogs biting the little girl, local media reports.

Marley Wilander, pictured with her parents, died aged 17 months after being mauled to death by a dog. Picture: GoFundMe

The homeowner separated the dog from the child, who had “bite marks throughout her body,” and called emergency services, police said.

Marley was rushed to hospital but later died. Preliminary autopsy results show she died from the dog attack.

It is not clear how the dogs escaped from the basement undetected by the adults at the party.

A neighbour who was watching the fireworks nearby described the party as “raging until nearly midnight,” the NY Post reports, adding the suburb was known for having dogs running around unattended.

No charges had been filed in the incident but the dog has been turned over to local animal control.

Marley was upstairs in a playpen at her parents’ friend’s house when the two dogs escaped. Picture: GoFundMe

A GoFundMe page has been set up by two “lifelong friends” of Marley’s parents Daniel Wilander and Chelsea Cirino to help pay for funeral costs and medical bills.

“Marley was not only the whole world and universe of her parents, but a sign that hope, love, innocence and purity was always more powerful than the negative,” the page states.

“We are attempting to accept donations of any kind in hopes to make this time of need as easy as possible for a grieving family recovering from a terrible tragedy.”

She was found with bite marks all over her body, later dying in hospital. Picture: GoFundMe

Currently the fundraiser has donations of over $US28,000 ($A40,000) and has been flooded with messages of condolence.

“I donated because she was such a little bundle of joy. I always felt happier whenever I got to see her. I will forever cherish her in my heart,” one person wrote.

“I am so sorry for your loss. You remain in my thoughts and prayers. May you find the strength to get through this,” another said.

It comes just a week after newborn twins were mauled to death after the family dog turned violent in Brazil.

Anne and Analú, died on June 23, the day they were scheduled to be born by caesarean, having arrived a month early.

Newborn twins Anne and Analú were only 26 days old when they died in a dog attack recently. Picture: FocusOn News

Shocked relatives said the dog, a labrador and American foxhound cross, had been the family’s pet for five years and was usually docile.

The dog is believed to have become jealous after losing affection from his owners.

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