LOS ANGELES - A small Pomeranian dog killed a 6-week-old baby girl in Valinda when the infant's caretaker left the bedroom to prepare a bottle of milk, authorities said Sunday.
A relative left the baby unattended for a moment and when he returned, he found the infant's head in the dog's mouth Saturday night, said county sheriff's Deputy Cruz Solis. The girl died of head trauma at an area hospital, he said.
The names of the victims were withheld by authorities because the baby's parents are out of the country and had not yet been notified, Solis said.
County animal control officers took the dog for an investigation, Solis said.
Pomeranians are a breed of miniature canines that have a foxlike face, pointy ears and long, fluffy hair. The deputy said Pomeranian attacks are rare, especially compared to attacks by bigger dogs such as Rottweilers and pit bulls.
''Obviously it doesn't take much to kill a 6-week old baby but it's not something that happens with that breed,'' Solis said.
The relative, who has not been charged with any crime, was taking care of the baby in the community of Valinda, 20 miles east of Los Angeles.