A tragic accident has left a community devastated following the loss of six-month-old Ember Renee Southard. The young life, full of potential and promise, was cut short in a heartbreaking incident involving a dog attack.

On March 14, Ember’s life came to an end in the most tragic of circumstances. The attack occurred at a family member’s home in Shelby County, Alabama, although Ember was from Bibb County. The terrifying event took place around 10 a.m. while Ember’s mother, Anna, had briefly stepped out to take her grandmother to a doctor’s appointment. Anna had planned to bring Ember along, but her family reassured her that it would be fine to leave her for just a short time.

However, within 20 minutes of leaving, Anna received a call that would change her life forever. Her family member, who was looking after Ember, urgently informed her of the devastating situation. Anna rushed back, arriving just behind the ambulance. When she saw her daughter, Ember appeared lifeless. The mother dropped to her knees in shock, hearing the words “dog attack” and soon learned that Ember had been attacked by an 11-year-old American Bully dog that had previously shown no signs of aggression toward children.

Ember was immediately rushed to the hospital, with Anna in the front of the ambulance. She held onto hope but knew deep down that her daughter wouldn’t survive. Ember’s body was unresponsive, with her skin already turning blue. The medical team at Children’s Hospital did everything they could, but they informed Anna that Ember’s chances of survival were slim. Despite their efforts, Ember passed away at 1:10 p.m.

The dog responsible for the attack, a family pet, was immediately quarantined, along with another dog in the home. Authorities from the Alabaster Police Department are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made as of yet. Investigations are pending, and authorities are awaiting further decisions from the Shelby County District Attorney and Grand Jury.

In an emotional interview, Ember’s mother, Anna, shared the details of the tragic accident. She explained that a family member had fallen asleep with Ember resting on their chest. While asleep, Ember slipped off and was attacked by the dog. The family member, who suffers from epilepsy, had a seizure shortly after the incident occurred.

Anna described her daughter as “sweet” with the “cutest squeal” and a “sweetest smile.” Ember’s nickname, “Noodle,” was given to her because of her little noodly toes as a newborn, and the name stuck. “She was loved by so many people,” Anna shared. “She always had a little smile and big, beautiful eyes. Ember had just learned to roll over and was a joy to everyone she met. There was never a more perfect baby than my Noodle.”

Despite her grief and anger, Anna decided not to press charges against the family member involved, even though her initial reaction was to do so. Instead, she said that she believes the incident was an accident, but one that could have been prevented. “My daughter is gone forever because they couldn’t follow a simple rule,” she expressed. “I follow safe sleep rules to the letter, and I never allow my children around dogs like that. This could have been avoided if the proper precautions had been taken.”

Anna emphasized the importance of safety and urged others to take extra precautions with their children around pets. “The main thing the community can do for me is hold their babies closer. Follow safe sleep. Keep dogs, ALL DOGS, away from your baby. Any dog can kill an infant. There’s no reason to risk it,” she pleaded. “It’s never worth it.”

In response to the overwhelming support from the community, a GoFundMe page was set up to assist the family with funeral expenses. As the family mourns their profound loss, Anna’s message serves as a reminder to all parents and caregivers to be vigilant about child safety, particularly with pets.

Ember’s story, though tragically brief, will live on as a powerful reminder of the importance of safety, supervision, and love. Rest in peace, little Ember.