Authorities have released the name of a 3-day-old baby boy who was fatally attacked by his family's dog in their Mira Mesa home last week.
Sebastian Caban's parents told authorities they were watching television in bed with the newborn and their Great Dane-terrier mix at their Flanders Drive residence Thursday night. The mother coughed, which startled the dog and prompted it to bite the infant's head, according to San Diego police and the county Medical Examiner's Office.
The couple attempted to call for help twice, but were placed on hold each time, according to news reports.
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"Multiple attempts to call 911 were made by the parents. However they were unable to get through so they drove the decedent to UCSD Thornton Hospital Emergency Department," according to the Medical Examiner's Office.
The baby was pronounced dead at the hospital, authorities said.
The county Department of Animal Services took custody of the 2-year-old dog, a neutered male named Polo. The canine will undergo a 10-day quarantine to make sure he is not rabid, after which he will be euthanized unless his owners decide to reclaim him, Department of Animal Services spokesman Dan DeSousa said.
The dog had no history of being dangerously aggressive, DeSousa said.
