MOBILE, Ala. — A Mobile County dog attack on a quiet residential street has left a senior citizen in the hospital, where she is working through physical therapy and hoping to be home by the end of the week.
Billie Dunn said she was out for her regular morning walk on Wenonah Drive on Sept. 16 when two dogs came charging toward her. Within moments, she said, both animals were biting her.
“They put seven holes in my leg,” Dunn said. “And I have scratches and bruises on the other one, but seven holes in my leg.”
A Morning Walk Interrupted
Dunn said the attack happened early, at about a quarter to 7 in the morning, as she was making her usual loop through the neighborhood.
She said she spotted the dogs running down the street toward her and tried to make it back to the safety of her own gate. She did not get there in time.
“The dogs come running down the street, and I thought maybe I could get back to my gate, but I didn’t make it,” Dunn said. “And they both just started biting, and I started screaming and started beating with my right arm, which I had had surgery on in July.”
That detail underscores how vulnerable she was in the moment. Dunn was fighting off two animals with an arm that was still recovering from an operation only weeks earlier.
Injuries and Recovery
Dunn suffered puncture wounds, bruises and scratches to both legs. The worst of the damage was to one leg, where she said the dogs left seven separate bite wounds.
She remains hospitalized and is undergoing physical therapy. Dunn said she hopes to be released and return home Friday if her recovery continues to go well.
It has not been publicly reported who owns the dogs, whether the animals have been picked up by animal control, or whether any citations or charges have been filed in connection with the attack.
‘I Want People to Be Responsible’
For Dunn, the message she wants neighbors and pet owners to take away is a simple one.
“I want people to be responsible for their dogs,” she said. “I want people to know where their dogs are.”
Her plea comes during a stretch in which dog attacks and the responsibilities of dog owners have been a recurring subject across the region. In Baldwin County, a Foley man was arrested last month and charged under Alabama’s dangerous dog law after a woman was mauled at a home on McGaster Trail. In Spanish Fort, a mother offered a reward after a loose dog attacked her family’s pet while her young daughter held the leash.
What Alabama Law Says About Dangerous Dogs
Alabama’s primary dangerous dog statute is commonly known as Emily’s Law. It was adopted in 2018 and is named for Emily Colvin, a Jackson County woman who was killed by a pack of dogs in 2017.
The law gives local authorities a process for investigating a reported attack, holding a hearing, and having a court declare a dog dangerous. Once a dog is declared dangerous, its owner must meet specific requirements, and a court can order a dog destroyed in serious cases. The law also allows criminal charges against an owner when a dog attacks without provocation and causes serious injury or death, with penalties that depend in part on whether the owner knew the animal was dangerous.
A separate state law, known as Beau’s Law, took effect Oct. 1. It sets statewide care standards for dogs kept outdoors, covering food, water, shelter and tethering. Among its provisions, dogs kept in an enclosure must be in a secure, fully fenced area and must not be able to leave the property.
What to Do If You Are Threatened or Bitten by a Dog
Animal safety and public health agencies offer consistent advice for anyone who finds themselves facing an aggressive dog:
- Do not run if you can avoid it. Running can trigger a dog’s instinct to chase. Stay as still and calm as possible, and avoid direct eye contact.
- Put something between you and the dog. A bag, jacket, umbrella or walking stick can be used as a barrier.
- If you are knocked down, curl into a ball, protect your face, head and neck with your arms and hands, and try to stay still.
- Get medical care. Even bites that look minor can become infected. Clean the wound and see a doctor, especially for puncture wounds.
- Report the bite. Contact animal control or law enforcement so the animal can be identified and its vaccination status checked. Reports also create a record if the same dog is involved in later incidents.
Reporting Loose or Aggressive Dogs
Residents who see loose or aggressive dogs should report them before someone gets hurt. Within the city of Mobile, Mobile Animal Services handles animal control complaints. Residents in unincorporated parts of the county or in other municipalities should contact their local animal control office or law enforcement agency. In an emergency, when someone is being attacked, call 911.
Dog owners can reduce the risk of attacks by keeping fences and gates secure, keeping dogs leashed when they are off the owner’s property, and making sure pets are vaccinated and licensed as required by local ordinance.
Looking Ahead
For now, Dunn’s focus is on her recovery and getting back home. She said she is hopeful that Friday will be the day, as long as her therapy continues to go well.
Her experience, she said, should serve as a reminder to every dog owner on every street: know where your dogs are.