BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Tarrant Police state 2 individuals were seriously hurt and hospitalized previously today, after being assaulted by 2 roaming dogs.
Tarrant authorities said one dog was discovered with a lock and chain around it’s neck. They think that implies it most likely has an owner and was chained up outdoors. Police now state that based of that lock and chain, they have a suspect in this case. This suspect is somebody they think might be the owner of the 2 dogs and they’re working talk with that individual.
“We have tracked that person down,” Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major said. “It is maybe an employer lock, that a person had at their employer. It had a plastic case with a photograph image on it, as well as some information, at least a name. We are trying to locate that individual, get an interview from them, as well as try to find out if that person’s neighbors were aware that they had any animals and if those animals still exist.”
Major said they discovered an image online that reveals this suspect to have a comparable looking dog to the 2 from the attack. He said the chain might suggest the dogs were possibly connected exterior.
“We want to know if this person did in fact own these animals,” Major said. “If the animals they did own are missing, when did he come to not be in possession of them, and how that happened.”
Stray and connected dogs are an issue throughout the county. Officials with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society said strays in Jefferson County have actually doubled in the last couple of months.
“We have seen an unbelievable increase in the number of stray dogs in Jefferson County,” Allison Black Cornelius with GBHS said. “Especially in the city of Birmingham and Bessemer in the last several months. Start putting some effective ordinances in place that hold people accountable for letting their dogs run free, in other words, enforce leash laws. Enforce tethering acts. If you are a Mayor or a city council right now, you ought to be passing an anti-tethering act to protect your citizens.”
The city of Birmingham passed an anti-tethering act in 2020, however GBHS said it’s still among the worst cities for roaming animals.
“Allow your animal control officers to site and ticket people that continually violate it,” Black Cornelius said. “It doesn’t do good in any city to have a tethering act if we aren’t going to enforce it.”
“Our leaders need to pass progressive policy that would prevent these attacks, that would be an even more effective way to save lives,” she said. “We are seeing an increase in these attacks.”
Tarrant Police said the 2 victims are doing much better. The female victim, who actioned in to help the attack, is home recuperating tonight. The male victim, who at first had extremely serious injuries, is still in the health center today, however has actually been updated to steady condition.
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