A young infant girl tragically lost her life in an incident involving a suspected pocket bully-type dog, as revealed in a recent inquest. The baby, named Maggie May Ann Moody, passed away at a residence in Redcar, North Yorkshire, just a day before reaching three months of age. The coroner, Paul Appleton, indicated that the initial cause of death was identified as a “head injury” during a brief hearing.
Following the distressing event, Maggie was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where she was pronounced dead. Two days later, her grandmother, Michelle Scott, formally identified her body. Maggie was born on January 10 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a few weeks before the tragic incident occurred. Although two dogs were involved in the attack, it remains uncertain which dog was responsible for the fatal injuries inflicted on Maggie.
Law enforcement officers from Cleveland Police responded to the scene, where one of the dogs was shot and the other was apprehended and later euthanized. While residents described the dogs as “pocket bullys,” the specific breed was not disclosed by the police, who confirmed that the dogs were not of an illegal breed.
In connection with the incident, three individuals were arrested and subsequently released on bail pending further investigations. Among them, a 31-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and owning a dangerously out-of-control dog that caused a fatality. Additionally, a 36-year-old man was arrested for the same offense, and a 45-year-old man was apprehended on suspicion of owning a dog that caused injury resulting in death.
During the inquest proceedings, Coroner Appleton detailed the sequence of events following the tragedy. Emergency services were alerted at 1:33 pm on April 9, 2026, after paramedics reported a child not breathing due to a dog attack at a residence on Hardale Drive in Redcar. Describing the situation, Appleton mentioned that CPR instructions were provided over the phone until help arrived, noting the presence of two dogs at the scene.
Witnesses recounted how the community was instructed to seek shelter indoors to avoid a dog that was roaming the area. Scarlett Calvert, who witnessed the aftermath, described witnessing one of the dogs escaping while police were containing the situation. A woman, aged 31, sustained an arm injury from a dog bite during the incident and received medical treatment for her injuries.