Ohio Baby Killed by Dog

A seven-month-old baby girl was killed in a dog attack in Ohio on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at a home in south Columbus on Wednesday morning. Authorities were notified of the baby's injuries when her mother rushed her to a nearby fire station.

The baby was then taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital, but was later pronounced dead just before midday, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Newsweek has contacted the Columbus Division of Police for comment outside of normal working hours.

Why It Matters

This is the fourth fatal dog attack in Ohio since the start of 2024, and the third involving a child.

Police have said the family will likely not face charges, and are encouraging the public to educate themselves on how to secure pets from small children.

What To Know

Three dogs were taken away from the property by Franklin County Animal Control following the incident, according to local news station WCMH.

Two of the dogs were placed easily in the animal control van, but the third had to be wrangled out of the home, according to reports.

No information has currently been released about the breed of dogs involved in the attack.

According to a neighbor, the family had moved to the neighborhood just a week prior to the attack.

Columbus police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said the incident was a "tragic situation" and that the family will likely not face charges.

In Ohio, most dog law violations are seen as misdemeanors with fines starting at $25. However, if there is documentation of a dog's previous violent behavior before it goes on to kill someone, the owner could face felony charges.

What People Are Saying

Sgt. Fuqua said on Wednesday: "This is one of those moments where we want to continue to educate people to ensure... you're doing everything possible to safely secure your pets from your young children and making sure they're safe to be around your children."

He also told WCMH: "There's really not a lot of words I can say to convey how I feel and how the officers who arrived, family, everyone involved in this process is literally grieving as if this child belonged to us, because most of us, again, are parents and can't imagine just how tragic this scene is."

What Happens Next

No charges have currently been filed. Franklin County Animal Control has taken over the case, and the three dogs remain in their custody.