Family of 26-day twins ‘ripped apart’ by jealous pet Labrador say ‘our hearts will hurt forever’
THE family of two newborn twin girls that were murdered by their own dog has spoken of their total heartbreak.
Baby twins Anna and Analu's aunt Jade Novais has paid tribute to them, describing the "nightmare" the family is going through.
The girls were victims of their dog, who had begun behaving uncharacteristically jealous since their birth.
Their aunt wrote: "My princesses, your aunt writes now with tears in her eyes for remembering everything we experienced so far and the nightmare we are living at this monent.
"It's been little more than 26 days since our story stated...we lived out most beautiful days in those 26 days.
"You guys warmed our hearts so much, we care for you so much, but unfortunately tragedies happen that we can't explain.
"There are no words that comfort in a moment of so much pain, a pain that I wish on no one...it's so much pain that it doesn't even fit inside us.
"You guys made me the happiest person in the whole world. I love you the size of the universe, infinite and infinite times and it will forever be like this.
"Missing you will hurt our hearts every day, but the certainty that you are in a beautiful place, free from all the evil in the world."
Police reports in Brazil describe the tragic incident after a mother briefly left her premature babies to speak to a neighbour, leaving the animal to begin his savage attack.
The twins Anne and Analú died on June 23, the day they were scheduled to be born by cesarean, having arrived a month early.
Shocked relatives describe the dog, a mixed breed of Labrador and American foxhound who had spent five years with the family, as usually docile.
But since the arrival of the twins, the dog is believed to have become jealous after losing affection from his owners
Heartbroken mother Elaine Novais, 29, had raced to her bedroom where the 26 day-old children lay after hearing their cries.
She dragged the mutt away to stop the grizzly assault but he had already inflicted critical damage to their abdomen.
A neighbour, a nursing assistant, administered first aid before they were rushed to hospital.
Doctors confirmed that one of the twins had died instantly from her wounds while the other was gravely injured and suffered a cardiac arrest, with the medical team unable to save her.
The incident in Piripá, in the northeastern state of Bahia, has shocked the local community.
A family member who asked not to be named told local media that the dog was usually affectionate and gentle.
"We think that with the arrival of the twins, the animal no longer had the attention and affection of its owners that it had been used to.
"This may have caused some kind of jealousy and led what was normally a docile animal to attack the children."
The family have two dogs but the second one is not believed to have been involved in the attack.
For new mum Elaine and husband Regis, 32, the devastating events follows a desperate nine year long attempt to start a family.
Elaine had to be sedated after collapsing with shock at Maria Pedreira Barbosa Municipal Hospital.
Neighbour, Maria de Jesus speaking to FocusOn News said: “This has devastated the parents.
"I pray that they don’t fall into a depression but it will be difficult because the children were beautiful, really loved and desperately wanted.”
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Midwives involved with the family described Elaine as a doting mother who showed "care and responsibility"; throughout her pregnancy.
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The police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the twins' death.
It is unclear what triggered the dog's attack or what has happened to the dog following the incident.
