HOUSTON – 47-year-old Anita Jackson is still recovering in the hospital months after she was brutally attacked by a pack of dogs.
The incident happened in February when she was found in a ditch in Houston’s Fifth Ward. On Tuesday, Jackson spoke with KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel on the phone from her hospital bed.
“My whole body is injured. But my head is the most important thing. The dog hit my skull,” Jackson said.
Her daughter, S. Bailey, revealed that it took five days for her to locate her mother, who was rushed to the hospital under a false name. Bailey recounted her experience after spotting animal control while searching for Jackson.
“I saw the animal control trying to catch a dog. I said, ‘Hey, I’ve been looking for my mom for a couple of days now.’ They said, ‘Well, we thought it was a man in the ditch,’” Bailey said.
According to Bailey, six dogs attacked her mother while she was walking near the intersection of Russell and Legion. The city’s animal control agency, BARC, reported that Jackson was one of five people injured during a two-week period in three separate attacks.
“No one should have to go through this,” Bailey said. “She can’t see her grandkids, she can’t go to church, she can’t see her children.”
In response to the growing issue of stray dogs and attacks, Mayor Whitmire announced that 60 percent of the city’s proposed $7 billion budget for 2026 will be allocated to public safety, including BARC.
“BARC provides a great service. We all love our animals. Animal welfare is a priority for most of us. They’re only answering 54% of code one calls. That means we have a dangerous dog in a neighborhood. Fifty-four percent of those calls are answered,” Whitmire stated.
According to the proposed budget, the goal for the funds are to provide quality and preventive medical care to animals in facility to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Provide humane care of animals brought to the shelter. Decrease stray animal population within the Houston city limits by providing low cost and no cost spay/neuter services. Enforce state and City animal laws in an effort to protect citizens from animal diseases and attacks, and increase compliance for licensing pets with City ordinances. Increase community awareness of BARC to Houstonians to encourage responsible pet ownership. Provide support of BARC’s activities within the Houston communities to increase outreach. Support live release initiatives for animals in BARC’s care to find permanent homes/placement for animals. Provide community education programs for Houstonians to promote live release initiatives and programs.
Bailey expressed her support for the increased funding but emphasized the need for accountability.
“I think that’s a great idea, but they still need to take responsibility for what has happened,” she said. “If the City of Houston had already done their part, none of these things would have been happening.”
Of the six dogs involved in Jackson’s attack, Bailey noted that four belonged to the same owner, while the other two were strays that have never been captured. She mentioned that two of the owner’s dogs have been euthanized, but the family is still pursuing legal action.
“I want to see the owner of the dog go to jail and his dogs put down in compensation for my injuries, as well as BARC and the City of Houston because those dogs should have been put away a long time ago, long before my injuries happened,” Jackson said.
Jackson is scheduled for upcoming surgeries, but it remains unclear when she will be able to leave the hospital. KPRC 2 has been in contact with Jackson’s legal team, who indicated that lawsuits have not yet been officially filed but are in the works.
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