Residents of a Cleveland neighborhood say they’re living in fear, unable to leave their homes due to an increasing number of dog attacks happening day and night. The issue has left the community frustrated and desperate for action as stray dogs roam freely, terrorizing people and creating a dangerous environment.
KPRC 2 reporter T.J. Parker witnessed the dangerous conditions firsthand while reporting live from the neighborhood, where stray dogs were seen roaming freely.
After repeated attempts of contact, KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel visited the Liberty County Commissioner’s Courthouse to get answers from Judge Jay Knight.
[Click here to see what officials had to say]
Two of the most recent attacks occurred on Thanksgiving Day, further escalating the urgency for a solution.
One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said her cousin was attacked just outside their door while trying to protect a delivery driver from the aggressive dogs. When paramedics arrived to provide assistance, the same dogs reportedly attempted to attack them as well.
Emily Curtis, another victim, was attacked while trying to leave her home for work. Curtis described the harrowing experience, saying the attack was unprovoked and nearly fatal.
“I feel every bite, I remember every ripping of the dogs’ heads, and I just thank God that a neighbor came out and got them off of me because I may have been dead,” Curtis shared.
She added that the same pack of dogs has attacked Amazon drivers, Terminix employees, and other residents in the neighborhood.
Curtis and others in the community are pleading for action. They claim Liberty County lacks the necessary resources to address the growing issue and that their safety is at risk.
“I don’t have a life; I can’t go out. I’m constantly scared about leaving my house. Coming home at night, I have to stay in my car for 35 minutes to an hour to make sure these dogs are not anywhere around,” another resident said.
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the problem but says the county does not have its own animal control division. Deputies respond to 911 calls involving dog bites, but if the dogs’ owners cannot be located, or if the animals are strays, they rely on animal control services from nearby cities like Dayton or Liberty. However, these cities’ animal control teams are often unavailable after hours, leaving residents feeling helpless.
Captain Meyers with the Sheriff’s Office explained the challenges deputies face when responding to these incidents. Often, the dogs leave the scene before animal control can arrive, making it difficult to apprehend them.
Frustrated with the lack of immediate solutions, some residents have resorted to setting up their own traps in an attempt to control the stray dog population. However, they emphasize that this is not a sustainable or safe solution.