Fort Valley residents concerned over string of dog attacks

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Fort Valley pet owners are taking to social media with a call to action to track down a pack of dogs. A few residents said the pack is roaming the city and proceed to attack their animals, usually appearing after dark. 

Marilyn Windham, a resident of the city's historical district, has lived in her home for nearly 40 years. She said recently, her neighborhood has become a hot spot for a pack of dogs, who are making the streets dangerous for other pets. 

Windham has two fur babies but she said her porch is a safe haven for feral cats, too. Now they have to hide in the backyard.

“Cats out at night are just easy prey,” Windham said. 

On the night of July 26, one of Windham's neighbors filed a report with police, saying she saw one of the dogs chase and kill a cat. 

“You could hear the cat screaming and that's not a pleasant sound,” Windham said. 

Animal control confirmed in the report they were not able to track the dog. Windham serves as the historical district neighborhood watch president, the first in the city. She said she spots them on her porch from time to time.

Fort Valley Chief of Police DJ Flores said he recently heard about another pack of dogs.

“I also received information that there was a pack of dogs at a different location in the city, two to be exact, two different locations in the city but whether its the same pack I'm not sure,” Flores said.

He said it's hard to confirm if the dogs move around the city but Windham said when she posted on social media, she hadn't expected to receive an influx of similar experiences from fellow Fort Valley residents.

“It seems like there are dogs killing cats all over town, packs of dogs,” Windham said. 

She said she wants pet owners to be careful, especially at night.

“If these dogs don't have a parent then we need to make sure they won't harm other people's pets,” she said.

Peach County Commissions recently broke ground for a new animal control facility, which received a site approval in 2021. There are animal control services in Fort Valley and Byron but right now, Fort Valley's animal control is staffed by one person, who handles cases as theyre reported.

Chief DJ Flores said he wants people to follow the city's leash ordinance to ensure the safety of the city and remember to report any sightings of loose animals.