AL: Woman airlifted after dog attack

AL: Woman airlifted after dog attack
August 29, 2007

ANNISTON -- A 51-year-old Anniston woman mauled by four pit bulls was airlifted to a Birmingham hospital. Police in Anniston said Olivia Thompson was found just before 2 a.m. Friday, lying against a fence on McKleroy Avenue in the Blue Mountain area. She was yelling for help. When police arrived, one of the pit bulls charged the animal-control officer and was shot and killed.

Police Sgt. Allen George said Thompson received severe injuries to her scalp and extremities and was taken to Regional Medical Center, then airlifted to University Hospital in Birmingham where she was in intensive care Saturday. One of the three remaining dogs was captured at the scene, according to police, while two dogs were surrendered to police by David Zackery, the alleged owner.

The dogs were euthanized and sent to a state lab for rabies tests. Zackery was issued 10 citations at the scene, and police expect more charges. Police said the attack took place outside Zackery's residence.
-- AP
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Woman attacked by 4 pit bulls in fair condition, but still in ICU
By Dan Whisenhunt
Star Staff Writer
08-29-2007

In the wake of another high profile pit bull attack the Anniston City Council is looking for ways to tighten its animal control laws. The council discussed the strengths of several animal control ordinances around the state before its regular meeting on Tuesday, and Councilman Ben Little is calling for a special meeting to deal with the issue.

Anniston resident Olivia Thompson was found just before 2 a.m. Friday by a fence near the 3000 block of McKleroy Avenue, badly injured and yelling for help after an attack by four pit bulls. Thompson sustained major injuries to her scalp, arms and extremeties. A spokesman for University Hospitals Birmingham said Thompson, 51, was upgraded from critical to fair condition Tuesday but was still in the intensive care unit.

One of the dogs was shot by an animal control officer after it charged him. The remaining three have been euthanized, Thompson's daughter Melissa confirmed Tuesday.

The dogs' alleged owner, David Zackery was issued a total of 10 citations for infractions of city law including loud and vicious dogs running at large, no rabies tags and no licenses. Thompson's case is the second high-profile dog attack reported this summer. In June, a Golden Springs woman was attacked by a pit bull, and other recent dog attacks were reported in Goshen and Jacksonville.

Anniston City Manager George Monk told the Council Tuesday he authorized the use of funds from the city's traffic management program to allow for an additional officer to work overtime with animal control. Monk said the extra officer is helping to more strictly enforce compliance with city laws already on the books.

City attorney Polly Russell compiled a list of animal control laws in cities around the state, noting which ones she thought would work well in Anniston. The four main areas of the law the council should consider, Russell said, are how the city licenses animals, how residents confine them and the process for seizing and destroying vicious animals. Russell placed special emphasis on confinement, saying the city of Montgomery has a law mandating vicious dogs be kept behind a perimeter and a secondary fence. "I think the problem with the bites is the dogs are getting out," Russell said.

City Councilman Jeff Fink asked whether the city ought to focus on licensing vicious animals only. "My concern is not whether someone's Chihuahua is registered," Finks said. Fink and other council members requested staff recommendations on how it should change its existing law.

Melissa Thompson said something should be done to strengthen the city's animal control laws. "I wish they would do something about putting leashes on dogs," Thompson said. "This should be a wakeup call for a lot of people."

In other business Tuesday, the City Council:

• Approved zoning for Southern States Bank for a site at 615 Quintard Avenue.

• Approved the price of full-size police cars for the coming budget year from Sunny King Ford for $21,629 per vehicle.

• Approved the purchase of a 15 passenger van from Sunny King Ford for the Parks and Recreation Department for $23,350.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is at 7 p.m., Sept. 11 at City Hall.
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