Sheriff says Alabama family’s pet 'wolf-hybrid’ killed their 3-month-old boy

CHELSEA, Ala. — A 3-month-old boy was killed when his parents tried to save the baby from the family pet, a hybrid animal that was part dog and part wolf, authorities said.

The boy had been bitten but was still alive when first responders arrived at the Chelsea home shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday. He was transported to Grandview Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, news media reported.

The “wolf hybrid” was euthanized and taken to the Alabama State Diagnostics Laboratory in Auburn for further testing, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said.

Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans said the family and investigators know the dog's lineage and confirmed there is a wolf in that lineage.

The International Wolf Center has published an extensive online warning against bringing such hybrids into family homes.

“People who own hybrids often find that their pet's behavior makes them challenging to care for,” because their genetic makeup makes their behavior inconsistent and unpredictable in ways that pose safety risks to humans, the center says.

Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer confirmed the child's death, reporting that the baby had been killed by an “exotic family pet.”

“It's unthinkable,” Picklesimer said. “How do you ever get over that?”