Chelsea City mayor in Alabama is warning against owning exotic animals after a baby was killed by the family’s pet wolf.
A 3-month-old boy was killed Thursday by a wolf-hybrid that the family owned as a pet, WBRC reported. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department said that the incident happened on County Road 440 in Chelsea.
Parents told authorities that the baby was on the floor when the wolf-hybrid picked him up and started playing with him. The parents reportedly tried to grab the baby from their pet, but they couldn’t.
Chelsea city spokesperson Wayne Morris said that other children were present at the house.
The baby was transferred to Grandview Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, a veterinarian euthanized the wolf-hybrid upon a request by law enforcement.
“It’s just unthinkable that this could happen to this baby. If you choose to own an exotic pet, what comes with that is additional responsibility to be sure that not only your family is safe, but your neighbors are safe,” Chelsea’s Mayor Tony Picklesimer said on Friday, according to WBRC.
It’s legal to own a wolf-hybrid in Chelsea and Alabama, according to the mayor.
“Alabama is one of four states in the United States that does not have a code against exotic animals. Once they get a taste, nature takes over and it’s just very sad,” he said.
