Family mourn ‘perfect’ baby girl killed by a ‘pocket bully’ attack

The heartbroken family of a baby girl who was mauled to death by a dog have said she was ‘perfect in every way’.

Maggie-May Ann Moody was tragically pronounced dead on April 9 at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

A post-mortem gave her provisional cause of death as a ‘head injury’ after a dog got into a room she was in.

Two dogs were in the Redcar home and it remains unclear which one was responsible for the death of the little girl.

Neighbours claimed the dogs were ‘pocket bullies’ a smaller version of the banned XL Bully.

Police have not confirmed the breed but said they were not illegal to own.

Armed police shot one grey and white dog dead while Cleveland Police later euthanised the other.

Maggie-May’s devastated family paid tribute to her in a funeral notice in the Gazette, writing: ‘Our beautiful baby girl, Maggie-May Ann Moody, of Dormanstown, Redcar, brought sunshine to even the rainiest of days. Though her time with us was far too short, she filled every moment with love, character, and her own little spark.

‘Perfect in every way, Maggie-May already knew what she liked and made sure we all knew what she didn’t. She brought smiles, laughter, and a warmth that will stay with us forever.

‘Cherished and deeply loved by her mam, dad, brother and sister, grandparents, uncles and aunties, and her great aunty and uncle. She was the heart of our family, and her loss leaves a space that can never be filled. We have been robbed of a lifetime with her, but we will carry her in our hearts always.

‘Her memory will live on in every smile, every moment of love, and in the family who will adore her for an eternity.’

An inquest into her death, which opened at Teesside Coroner’s Courtheard the baby girl was one day away from marking her three-month milestone.

Paul Appleton, area coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool, said during the short hearing at Middlesbrough Town Hall: ‘At 1.33pm on April 9, 2026, Cleveland Police force received a 999 call from the ambulance service reporting they required assistance with an incident, in Hardale Grove in Redcar. [They were] responding to a child not breathing and the child had been attacked by a dog.

‘The ambulance service provided instructions via the telephone on how to provide CPR until emergency service workers arrived. I’m told there were two dogs present at the address, which was on Hardale Grove.

‘Initial accounts provided to my officer have indicated that the dogs were originally in the rear garden but then made their way into the room where Maggie was located.’

The inquest heard how the three-month-old was identified by her grandmother, two days after her death on April 11.

Maggie was born in Newcastle weeks earlier on January 10, the inquest heard. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

A 45-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, April 9, on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, and was subsequently released on conditional bail following questioning.

On Monday, April 13, police confirmed two further arrests had been made. A 31-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control resulting in death.

A 36-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control resulting in death. Both individuals have since been released on conditional bail. Neither of those arrested are connected to the family.

The inquest was adjourned.

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