A tragic incident unfolded in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where a family’s pit bull fatally attacked their one-year-old girl on July 2, 2025. The child, Blakely Blosser, suffered severe injuries to her face and throat and was declared dead at the scene.

Deputies from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from the family’s home on Lake Road just before 6 p.m. Sheriff Orvis L. Campbell noted that the initial call was inaudible, but upon a callback, they connected with the child’s mother, who confirmed that the family dog had killed her baby.

The attack happened as the mother was picking up laundry after giving Blakely a bath. Blakely was right behind her mother. Law enforcement reported that the mother received defensive wounds while trying to protect her daughter. Campbell described the incident as “about as terrible of an ordeal as we’ve come across in a long time.”

Detective Captain Adam Fisher stated that the attack seemed unprovoked, occurring during the family’s usual daily routine. The mother mentioned that while the eight-year-old pit bull had shown aggression towards other dogs, it had never attacked humans before.

The child’s father, who was not at home during the attack, later euthanized the dog with law enforcement’s consent. Emergency responders from the sheriff’s office and the Dover Fire Department were on the scene, alongside investigators and the Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office.

Fisher explained that Ohio law mandates an autopsy when a child under two years old dies unexpectedly and was previously in good health.

Family members commemorated Blakely in an online obituary, highlighting her cheerful demeanor and strong bond with her brother. They shared that her happiest moments were playing with her sibling, and she enjoyed tractor rides with her father and playing with her pink wagon.

To help cover expenses related to the incident, the family launched a fundraising campaign. They expressed their Christian faith, trusting in a life beyond this world where “tears are wiped away and all things are made new.”

Sheriff Campbell indicated that no foul play is suspected. Prosecutors will review the case, but charges are not anticipated. The investigation continues, and officials classify the death as a tragic accident.

This event occurs amid other recent dog-related incidents in Ohio. On July 4, four people were injured in separate dog attacks in Columbus’ Franklinton neighborhood. In that incident, police shot a dog that attacked a man, leaving him in critical condition, while two other victims from the same attack and one from a separate attack were stable.

The Dover Township incident underscores the unpredictable nature of dog attacks, even involving family pets with no prior history of aggression toward humans. Law enforcement noted that the attack happened without warning during routine family activities.