Six out of the seven hybrid wolfdogs accused of attacking neighbors animals in Grant are now in custody at Marshall County Animal Control. The shelter is working with the owners to apprehend the final dog.
The dogs will remain at the shelter until a judge decides what to do with them.
“As far as I know it would be safer for the community,” the shelter director Kevin Hooks said. “It would also be safe for the man who owns the dogs because they’re kept in a good facility, a safe facility, so we’re going to keep them, water them, feed them, and take care of them.”
The pet owners began looking into sanctuaries to hold the animals permanently.
High Rock Wolfdogs Education Center in Attalla tells WAAY 31 they’ve been in communication with the family.
The director of the only non-profit wolf-dog sanctuary in the state says education is the key to help keep wolf-dogs and the community safe.
Amy Byrd says the main thing dog owners should know, is how to take care of the animals they purchase.
“I feel that breeders should be more responsible in their practices in homing these animals or selling these animals,” Byrd said.
When people have issues with wolf-dogs, Byrd says it’s often caused by breeders, not the animals.
Byrd’s sanctuary receives more than five calls a day from people trying to surrender their pets but she says her non-profit is full. She believes this is heavily caused by pet owners not doing the proper research before getting a dog.
In the Grant dog attack case, Byrd says the owner started having health problems. She says less attention on the dogs could have led the animals to act out and escape more frequently.
To help protect the wolf-dog breed and the people around them, Byrd believes more regulations need to be set on the breeders.
“More responsibility of the breeders to maintain a more ethical practice in the placement of these animals that have these special needs and requirements,” Byrd said. “Knowing the people that they’re placing them with are responsible.”
Byrd believes the breeders need to be held responsible for every dog they create. In turn, she says this would benefit the sanctuaries, dogs, and community.
If you have to surrender one of these animals, Byrd recommends calling your local shelter and ask for resources available in your area.
Otherwise, Marshall County Animal Control says they will take any animal that needs help relocating in their county.
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