A 9-year-old student and his third-grade teacher were attacked by two dogs outside Collins-Rhodes Elementary School on Dec. 16, leaving both injured and prompting an investigation by local animal authorities and the county’s rabies division, according to officials and family members.
The incident unfolded just before classes when the student, identified by his family as Landin Williamson, ran toward the entrance after being dropped off. Two dogs rushed him near the curb and dragged him to the pavement, his mother said. Minutes later, the same animals charged Sierra Allen, a teacher arriving for work, biting through her clothing as she tried to shield herself behind a car door. Both were treated for injuries; the boy received eight stitches and the teacher suffered multiple bites and swelling. The case has renewed questions about loose dogs near school grounds and the steps officials can take to prevent repeat attacks.
Relatives said Williamson followed his usual routine that morning, sprinting from the drop-off point toward the building when the dogs intercepted him. Parents hustled children onto sidewalks and yelled for help as staff radioed the office. “He was terrified and bleeding,” his mother, Alexis Ware, said later. After the dogs retreated toward a nearby street, Allen parked and stepped out of her vehicle; witnesses said the animals circled, then lunged, tearing at her pants and legs before bystanders drove them off with shouts and arms raised. “I was trying to get inside when they came at me,” Allen said, describing pain and swelling that persisted for days. Paramedics cleaned wounds at the scene and advised hospital follow-up. The school alerted families that morning and added security at the entrance for dismissal.
Mobile County health officials said the attack triggered standard protocols: locating the dogs, identifying the owner, and placing the animals under observation for signs of rabies. Prichard Animal Resources said it issued a quarantine order tied to two dogs believed to be involved. The owner later told reporters the animals’ whereabouts were uncertain, complicating immediate checks. Allen disputed an early school message that described her injuries as minor, saying bite marks and deep bruising required continued care. Williamson’s family said he now startles at loud barks and resists walking near the area where the attack happened. Staff members who witnessed the scene described parents waving cars forward while others ushered students inside to clear the sidewalk.
The school sits along a residential stretch where unfenced dogs are occasionally seen, according to neighbors who spoke with reporters. Collins-Rhodes is part of the Mobile County Public School System, which said it was cooperating with the city and animal-control officers. Administrators had security staff monitor the drop-off line in the days that followed and reminded families to report loose animals near campus. Records released by animal control showed prior calls in the city related to stray or aggressive dogs, though it was not immediately clear if complaints involved the same animals. The wider Mobile area has seen periodic spikes in calls about dog bites near bus stops and parks, prompting outreach on leash laws and owner responsibility.
Investigators focused on confirming the dogs’ identities, vaccination status and chain of custody. Health officials said rabies exposure is rare but serious, and that the 10-day observation window helps determine if treatment is needed for bite victims. Officers canvassed nearby blocks for home camera footage and asked residents whether the dogs had been roaming in the days before the attack. Parents who were present provided written statements that placed the first bite before the opening bell and the second minutes later as Allen approached a side entrance. The agency also documented the locations of blood drops and torn fabric to establish the path the animals took onto campus.
Under local procedures, animal-control officers can seek citations for dogs running at large and, if warranted, ask a judge for stricter conditions on animals deemed dangerous. Officials did not announce charges as of Sunday. The school district said it would review campus arrival patterns, including where cars unload and whether a second staff post is needed near the curb. Administrators also requested a patrol presence outside the campus during morning drop-off while the investigation continues. If the dogs are located, authorities said they will complete quarantine protocols and finalize a report that determines what penalties or restrictions apply.
Parents who gathered at dismissal the day of the attack described a shaken campus but orderly pickup. One father said he watched staff reposition cones to widen the buffer between the curb and the building. A grandmother who often brings a younger sibling to the same entrance said she now walks the longer way around the block. Teachers traded texts about covering morning duty spots so no one stood alone near the roadway. At a later date, Allen returned to class with bandages and said she remained sore. Williamson’s family said the boy slept with a light on and asked if the dogs could find him at home.
By week’s end, city officials said they were still working to locate the animals for observation and to verify any vaccination records. The Mobile County Health Department’s rabies division continued monitoring the case with the school and families. As of Sunday, no formal enforcement action had been announced, and the district said arrival procedures would remain adjusted while officials complete their review.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.