Teacher, 9-year-old student attacked by 2 dogs while headed into school

PRICHARD, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - An Alabama elementary school teacher and a 9-year-old student are traumatized after they were attacked by two dogs while headed into the school building.

Landin Williamson, a third grader at Collins-Rhodes Elementary School, remains terrified after he was attacked by two dogs outside his school Dec. 16, according to his mother, Alexis Ware. After being dropped off by his grandmother, the 9-year-old was running toward the school building as he always does in the morning when the dogs intercepted him, Ware says.

“I guess it triggered the dog, and it grabbed him and brung him down to the ground,” Ware said.

She says Landin suffered multiple bites on his leg, requiring eight stitches. He got an antibiotic at the hospital and was due to return in two weeks to get the stitches out.

Ware says Landin used to like dogs, but now, he’s terrified of them.

“I know he loved dogs, but you can’t pay him to get no dog no more,” she said. “He is terrified of everything. He wake up from his sleep at night, just hollering.”

During this same incident, Sierra Allen, a third grade teacher, suffered dog bites. She told WALA she had parked her car and was walking toward the school’s entrance when the dogs charged her and knocked her to the ground. The attack rattled Allen so much she says she is considering leaving the school.

Prichard’s animal resources supervisor says officers have issued several citations to the dogs’ owner, including failure to show proof of rabies vaccination and failure to quarantine a dog. A court date is set for next month.

The Mobile County Health Department’s Rabies Division is investigating the attack.

“I feel terrible this happened to my son – to anybody,” Ware said. “It scares me about, you know, they need to take care of this situation like they supposed to.”

City council pushes for stronger animal control laws after dog attack

In the wake of the attack, Prichard city council members are pushing for stronger animal control laws and tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Council President and District 3 Councilwoman Traci Hale said the proposed changes are being sent to the ordinance committee for review.

“Making the owner of the dog more responsible for keeping their dog under control,” Hale said.

The City of Prichard’s Public Works & Public Safety Committee met Monday to discuss fines and other penalties that would escalate with repeat violations.

“Even if that means increasing fines. The main concern is to keep residents safe, and we need to be in line with the Alabama state code. We’ve had a lot of complaints about stray dogs, and with recent incidents, we need to look at it and enforce some things,” Hale said.

City leaders say the priority is improving coordination between agencies to prevent attacks and ensuring anyone who repeatedly violates animal control laws faces stronger penalties.