I've got rabbits that come around here in the night and feast. So, that is a possibility. Or maybe someone wanted a stem cutting.

We had a friend who planted roses in his front yard. At night someone would come and quickly twist it out and walk away with it. After 5 thefts, my friend decided to plant in the back.

I suspect a rabbit though in your case.

Rabbits eat dahlias? I did not know this. A foot of growth seems like an awful lot.
Do deer eat the dahlias as well?

The rabbits here eat almost anything. I've seen them out and about the yard at 3:00 a.m. They eat the pelargonia, the geraniums, the daisies, the burning bush, the magnolia, the orange blossom, the smoke bush, the roses. I had 4 foot tall rose bushes in the fall, but now they are 3 inches tall. @#$% rabbits. Maybe Elmer Fudd had a point.

Wascals. We have so few rabbits as to consider a sighting a rare and wonderful historical thing. We see the bobcat more often than a bunny. Bobcats do not eat dahlias, they eat rabbits.

Yes, deer eat dahlias.

ATl Gardener, your lost growth might come back. Don't give up.

Anybody know where to get a bobcat?

hehe dunno where to get a bob cat but mom always uses dried blood to keep the rabbits off her plants in the garden. Since rabbits are herbivors they dont like the smell or taste of dried blood so they let them alone. try it i dont know how if it does affect the plant. :o)
carrie

Blood meal is a good source of nitrogen, I just put around my Hosta and some other stuff. My dog sure is interested in the smell, but she is pretty good about staying out of the garden beds. The neighbor's canines are not....
I purchased it in the hope that it will repel those rotten rabbits and (in my dreams) deer. But I also am going to use "Liquid Fence".

I had planted dahlia seeds for the first time, they grew to 2" tall and had 3 sets of leaves, looked very healthy, got up this morning and all 3 plants were gone. These were growing indoors, with a grow light. Can anyone tell me what happened to them. Leaves stem and roots all gone. I searched through the dirt to see if there was any type of insects, nothing was found Help please.