A week-old baby has died after being bitten by a pet Jack Russell dog.

Eight-day-old Harry Harper was attacked by the pet dog while he was staying at his grandparents' house.

Paramedics had rushed to the scene Tuesday morning, and despite efforts to save him, the baby boy died from his injuries at the Princess Royal Hospital in the UK.

"As a family we are absolutely devastated by Harry's death and have no words to describe the loss we have suffered," the boy's family said in a statement released by the police.

"We have no wish to speak publicly about yesterday's events and would ask that we are left in peace to grieve and begin to deal with our loss."

Harry's mother, 19-year-old Mikayla, who gave birth to her son on November 12, was staying with her parents Gordon Bell, 42, and Teresa, 40, when the dog attacked Harry.

Police are now standing guard outside the grandparents' home in Ketley, Telford.

While the investigation is ongoing, police said that it appears that the boy died as a result of a dog bite.

The family's pet dog has been put down and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the exact cause of Harry's death.

"A post-mortem will be taking place to establish the exact cause of this baby's death but at this stage it does appear to be a tragic accident," Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, of West Mercia Police, said in a statement.

"With an investigation ongoing, there is no further comment I can make on this matter apart from to say that all our thoughts are with the family of the baby at this extremely sad time," he added.

"Police and ambulance were called to an address in Woodside Road, Ketley, about a young baby that was unwell," a spokesman said, according to The Telegraph.

"He was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford by paramedics but died soon after. As in all cases of the death of a young child, West Mercia Police has launched an investigation to establish the exact circumstances."

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