A tragic accident has left a community mourning the loss of 6-month-old Ember Renee Southard, who was fatally attacked by a family dog.

The incident occurred on March 14 in Shelby County, Alabama. Ember’s mother, Anna, had briefly left her daughter with a family member while taking her grandmother to a doctor’s appointment. Less than 20 minutes later, she received a devastating call. Upon arriving home, she found Ember lifeless after being mauled by an 11-year-old American Bully.

Rushed to the hospital, Ember was treated by a trauma team, but despite their efforts, she passed away at 1:10 p.m. The dog responsible, a long-time family pet, along with another dog in the home, was taken into quarantine. Authorities are investigating, with no arrests made as they await legal decisions.

Anna revealed that Ember was asleep on a family member’s chest when she slipped off and was attacked. The relative, who has epilepsy, later suffered a seizure. Though Anna initially wanted charges filed, she now believes the guilt will be punishment enough.

Heartbroken, she remembers Ember’s sweet smile and joyful personality. A GoFundMe has been set up for funeral expenses, and Anna urges parents to follow safe sleep practices and never leave babies alone with dogs, emphasizing, “Any dog can kill an infant. It’s never worth the risk.”