Student, 9, and Teacher Attacked by ‘Vicious’ Dogs Outside School, as Owner Says They ‘Don’t Know’ Where the Pets Are Now

A young student and an elementary school teacher are recovering after being attacked by two dogs outside a school in Alabama.

On Tuesday, Dec. 16, nine-year-old Landin Williamson was running toward Collins-Rhodes Elementary School in Prichard after being dropped off by his mother when the dogs suddenly attacked, Fox 10 News reported.

“I guess it triggered the dog and grabbed him and brought him down to the ground,” his mother, Alexis Ware, told the outlet. Williamson suffered multiple bite wounds that required eight stitches.

Third-grade teacher Sierra Allen had just parked her car near the school when the same dogs reportedly charged at her without warning.

“They were biting and snapping and jumping over me,” Allen told Fox 10 News. “They bit through my UGG boots, they bit through my pants. I have scars on my legs and thighs. It’s awful to look at — it’s a constant reminder of what happened to me one week ago today.”

Allen was bitten on both legs before a group of parents who were dropping off their children rushed in to pull the dogs away, according to Fox 10 News.

“They were snapping at my face and at my neck,” Allen said. “I want to say thank you to the parents — I probably wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them.”

Police officers and animal control responded after both victims had already been transported to the hospital, Fox 10 News reported.

Following the incident, the elementary school initially emailed parents stating that two students and a teacher had been attacked. The City of Prichard later clarified that one student and one teacher were involved and described the injuries as “minor,” a characterization Allen strongly disputes.

“I cannot walk for extended periods of time without my left knee swelling,” Allen told Fox 10 News. “I’ve never had that problem before. The bite marks on my right thigh — where the teeth went through — they’re still knotted and bruised.”

The two dogs involved reportedly belong to the same owner and were placed under a mandatory 10-day quarantine after the attack, according to Fox 10 News.

Allen also alleged that the owner claimed they did not know where the dogs were after the incident. “Those dogs were not trained to be around people,” she said. “They’re vicious, and they need to be captured.”

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

The attack has had a lasting emotional impact on both victims. Allen said she is now considering leaving her teaching job, while Landin’s mother told KOLD that her son is deeply traumatized.

“He is terrified,” Ware said. “He wakes up out of his sleep at night just hollering.”

City officials and the Mobile County Health Department’s Rabies Division have been contacted for comment.