A 29-year-old mother has lost her newborn twin daughters after their family dog mauled them to death while she spoke to a neighbor.

Elaine Novais, a council worker was unable to conceive for nine years. Upon her conception, it turned out to be a twin.

Sadly, she left the 26-day-old premature babies at their home in Piripá, in the northeastern state of Bahia, Brazil, on Tuesday, June 23, which unfortunately led to their untimely death.

She had not been gone for long when she heard the girls Anne and Analú crying, and when she rushed back to their bedroom, it was too late.

A nurse who lived nearby performed first aid on the twins. However, they both didn’t make it as one died instantly from her injuries while the other died later at Maria Pedreira Barbosa Municipal Hospital after going into cardiac arrest.

A family member claimed the dog, described as a Labrador and American foxhound crossbreed “was left out in a way, and it no longer had the attention and affection of its owners provided before”, reports The Sun.

“That could have caused some kind of jealousy and led the dog to attack the children,” the source added.

The Twins were buried on Tuesday, at Saudade Dois Cemetery, according to local media, Estadao.