A harrowing tragedy unfolded in Dover Township, Ohio on the evening of July 2, 2025, when a family pit bull suddenly attacked a 1‑year‑old girl, Blakely Blosser, fatally mauling her even as her mother fought fiercely to save her.
According to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis L. Campbell, the horrifying incident occurred just before 6 p.m. in the family’s Lake Road home. The mother had entered carrying Blakely, then briefly bent over to gather laundry. In that unthinkable moment, the pit bull lunged—biting the toddler in the face and throat with deadly force.
The mother, acting with instinctive courage, was bitten herself as she tried to pry the dog’s jaws from her daughter and dial 911. Deputies responding to the chaotic second call found both mother and child injured; the child was already deceased from catastrophic wounds . The pit bull, a cherished family pet heretofore, had displayed aggression toward other dogs but had never previously attacked humans.
Blakely’s father, who was working outdoors at the time, was summoned to the scene and made the heartbreaking decision—“with authorities’ permission”—to euthanize the dog that night. Sheriff Campbell described the event as “about as terrible an ordeal as we’ve come across in a long time”.
The community is now rallying around the grieving family. A GoFundMe campaign set up in Blakely’s name to help with funeral expenses has already raised over $13,000 and continues to grow. Family members fondly remember Blakely as a bright, spirited child whose favorite pastimes included playing with her brother, pushing her toy wagon, going on tractor rides, and meowing at the family cat. Blakely’s solemn obituary reads: “Her joyful essence shone brightest when she was playing with her brother. Their bond was pure and filled with laughter, offering moments of joy that will forever reverberate in the hearts of our family.”
An official investigation is underway. Detectives gathered evidence at the home and determined no indication of foul play—despite the dog’s recent aggression toward other pets—leading prosecutors to conclude it was a tragic accident. No criminal charges are currently anticipated.
In a span of seconds, a peaceful evening in Dover Township turned into a family’s worst nightmare. A mother’s desperate, valiant efforts could not prevent the unthinkable. Now, the community mourns, searches wallets and hearts ache, and collective shock lingers. As law enforcement confirms no criminal intent and the pit bull’s euthanasia marks a final, sorrow-filled end, the tragedy reverberates far beyond the Blosser family—prompting renewed calls for awareness, education, and vigilance in families with pets and children.
