I have a new Pooh.
I have no deer.
I do have groundhogs and raccoons.
Somebody bit off the lower leaves.
Guesses?

I have had a groundhog this year - he has eaten quite a few dahlia leaves, broken off laterals and "topped" a few of the younger plants.

I haven't heard of raccoons damaging dahlias.

Thanks.
If they "top" it, I may abandon my peaceful attitude toward them!

Definitely the piggy woodchucks (groundhogs). They are more than a nuisance. The plants that the chuck got to in my garden early in the season did not recover this year. Most years, most of the plants do. But not this year.

R.I.P. Mr. Greedy. No peaceful person here. I've been at war with them for years.