A 9-year-old student and a third grade teacher were attacked by two dogs outside Collins-Rhodes Elementary School on Dec. 16 as the morning drop-off rush began, leading to injuries, multiple citations for the dogs’ owner and a coming court date next month, authorities said.
City leaders say the incident has renewed urgency around animal control enforcement and coordination between departments. The Mobile County Health Department’s Rabies Division is reviewing the case while Prichard’s animal resources unit reports issuing several citations tied to vaccination records and quarantine compliance. Council members have directed proposed ordinance changes to a committee as families and staff describe lingering fear at the school. The episode has become a test of how quickly the city can close gaps that surface when a bite case involves school grounds, multiple agencies and state-required quarantine steps.
Shortly before classes on Dec. 16, the third grader was dropped off by his grandmother and ran toward the main entrance, according to the family. Two dogs intercepted him on a campus approach, knocking him to the ground and biting his leg. The child, identified by relatives as Landin Williamson, received eight stitches and was placed on antibiotics. During the same span, third grade teacher Sierra Allen parked and started walking toward the school doors when the dogs charged her. She was knocked down and bitten through her clothing and boots. “They were biting and snapping and jumping over me,” Allen said, describing puncture wounds to her legs and thighs. The boy’s mother, Alexis Ware, said her son now startles awake at night and is fearful of dogs.
Prichard’s animal resources supervisor reported that officers cited the dogs’ owner, including for failure to show proof of rabies vaccination and failure to quarantine a dog after the bite. A municipal court appearance is set for next month. City officials said the Health Department’s Rabies Division is investigating, a routine step after bite cases. Council President Traci Hale said proposed ordinance revisions are headed to the council’s ordinance committee to consider escalating fines for repeat violations and clearer accountability for owners. “Making the owner of the dog more responsible for keeping their dog under control,” Hale said. Mayor Carletta Davis told council members the Public Works Department, which oversees animal control, is operating without a permanent director and she hopes to fill the post within months.
Records and interviews describe a timeline that started with the Dec. 16 attack outside Collins-Rhodes Elementary and moved into the holiday period as citations were issued and medical care continued. Family members said stitches were expected to be removed about two weeks after the attack. The city’s Public Works and Public Safety Committee met the week of Dec. 30 to discuss fine schedules and repeat-offender provisions. Council members also discussed delays caused by state bite-quarantine rules, which require evaluation of animals after documented bites. Officials said the goal is to improve coordination so enforcement steps at the city level move in tandem with state requirements and any Health Department directives that follow a rabies review.
The school sits in a residential area of Prichard in Mobile County, where complaints about stray or free-roaming dogs have periodically surfaced at council meetings, according to city leaders. Allen, the teacher, said the encounter shook her confidence about returning to the same walkway where she was knocked down. Ware, the student’s mother, said her son once liked dogs but now fears them and avoids areas where animals may be present. “I feel terrible this happened to my son — to anybody,” Ware said. Collins-Rhodes did not immediately release detailed changes to its morning procedures, but staff and parents described heightened vigilance at arrival and dismissal while the investigation proceeds.
On the legal and procedural front, the citations issued to the dogs’ owner move to municipal court in January. The ordinance committee will consider changes and could advance an updated animal control measure to the full council after review. Any revision would still require council votes at subsequent meetings. The Health Department’s rabies review typically includes verifying vaccination status and determining quarantine outcomes. City leaders said they want penalties to increase for repeated violations and to align local rules with Alabama code. Hale said stronger fines and enforcement clarity are among the options under discussion, with the aim of curbing repeat problems and improving cross-agency communication during bite cases.
Parents who arrived after winter break described a cautious mood. A grandfather waiting in the queue said families were sharing updates in the parking lot and wanted clear signals that enforcement gaps will close. “Morning drop-off is busy and fast,” he said, “and everybody just wants to know the rules will be enforced.” A staff member said Allen’s experience had rippled through classrooms, with students asking whether dogs could return. Ware said her son is recovering but remains anxious. Allen said she is weighing whether to stay in her current role after the attack. City officials said the top priority is keeping residents safe while they work through the ordinance calendar and administrative hiring for Public Works.
As of Saturday, the case remains under review by the Health Department and the city’s animal resources unit, with the owner’s municipal court appearance expected in January. The council’s ordinance committee is preparing to take up revisions and could outline a timeline at its next scheduled meeting. Further updates are expected once the quarantine status and vaccination records are confirmed.
Author note: Last updated January 3, 2026.