Fundraiser To Help Mourning Mom Of Newborn Mauled By Dog

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — The community is attempting to rally around a grieving woman living a mother's nightmare: the loss of her newborn, mauled to death by a dog Saturday in Sherman Oaks.

Three-month old Gaia Nova died when the family dog attacked her after her grandmother left the room to get a bottle. It was the first time the baby's mother had been apart from little Gaia since she was born, according to a GoFundMe account set up by a friend of the family. The tragedy, a parent's nightmare, has touched a nerve in the community.

"Gaia's life was cut short that by a split-second, instantaneous attack by the family dog. It is absolutely unimaginable that such an awful event would occur. The family is absolutely devastated, and the mother --my wonderful, beautiful friend of 7 years -- has to fight for the will to go on in this life without her daughter; we will rally behind her to keep her as strong and as comforted as we can...this would have been her very first Mother's Day ever this Sunday," the fundraising page reads.

Friends of the family hope to raise $5,000 to help Gaia's mother with expenses.

"As a single mom, my friend Jennifer worked hard to provide for her and Gaia...and it is at this stage where she needs a helping hand financially as it would be difficult for any parent to function at such a tough time," the page reads. "No parent EVER wants to bury their children, especially not at just three months old."

Gaia died at a hospital shortly after the attack, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office reported. Because authorities don't know which of the family's three dogs — a Rottweiler, a Labrador Retriever and a terrier — killed the baby, all three pets were taken into animal control custody.

At 3:25 p.m. Saturday, authorities were called to 14400 block of Benefit Street, said Officer Stacy Ball of the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station.

"This is a horrible case," Capt. Lillian Carranza of the LAPD's Van Nuys Station told the Los Angeles Times. "It has touched all involved family, friends and first responders. Our hearts go out to the family and friends. As I understand, next Sunday would have been the mother's first Mother's Day."

Click here for the GoFundMe page.

Go Fund Me is a Patch promotional partner.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: GoFundMe