The safety of school environments was brought into sharp focus last week in Prichard, Alabama, when Sierra Allen, a third-grade teacher at Collins-Rhodes Elementary School, was viciously attacked by two dogs outside the school. The incident, which occurred on the morning of Tuesday, December 16, has left Allen physically injured, emotionally traumatized, and concerned for the safety of the community. For the first time since the attack, she spoke publicly about her experience, highlighting the severity of the event, the emotional toll it has taken on her, and her fears about the dogs still being at large.
A Harrowing Morning Outside Collins-Rhodes Elementary
According to Sierra Allen, the attack began as she parked her car and walked toward the school entrance. Suddenly, two dogs charged at her with no apparent provocation. “They were biting and snapping and jumping over me,” Allen recounted, describing the frightening encounter. The dogs reportedly bit through her UGG boots and her pants, leaving visible scars on her legs and thighs. She said that the injuries are a constant reminder of the traumatic incident, making simple activities like walking for extended periods painful due to swelling in her left knee and bruising from bite marks on her right thigh.
The attack escalated rapidly as the dogs knocked Sierra Allen to the ground and began snapping at her face and neck. Parents dropping off students acted quickly to intervene, rushing from their vehicles to pull the dogs away. Allen expressed gratitude for their intervention, stating that she likely would not have survived the attack without their help.
Initial reports from the school email to parents claimed that “two students and a teacher were attacked” and described the injuries as “minor.” However, Sierra Allen strongly disputes this characterization, emphasizing the seriousness of her physical injuries and the lasting impact on her mobility and wellbeing. City officials later clarified that one student and one teacher were injured in the incident.
Concerns About Dog Owners and Community Safety
Beyond the immediate physical injuries, Sierra Allen is deeply concerned about the dogs still being unaccounted for. She said that when she contacted Animal Control following the incident, she learned that the owners had claimed they did not know the dogs’ whereabouts.
The city confirmed that Prichard Police and Animal Control had responded promptly, but by the time they arrived, Sierra Allen and the student had already been transported to the hospital. The dogs’ owners were reportedly issued a mandatory 10-day quarantine notice, though Allen’s recent conversations with authorities indicate that the dogs may no longer be confined.
Sierra Allen expressed fear that the dogs could harm someone else in the community, especially children or the elderly. “They can hurt a kid. They can hurt the elderly. They’re vicious, and they need to be captured,” she said. Her concern underscores the potential ongoing risk posed by untrained dogs that were not properly secured or supervised, raising questions about public safety protocols and accountability for pet owners in the area.
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City officials have indicated that Animal Resources and the Mobile County Health Department are investigating the incident and are awaiting photos of Allen’s bite wounds. However, Sierra Allen stated that no one has reached out to her to request these images. The Mobile County Health Department’s Rabies Division is handling the case, though they have been unavailable to provide updates due to the holiday season.
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Fox10 News has also reached out to city officials for clarification on whether the dogs are currently in quarantine and whether law enforcement is actively searching for them, but no response had been received at the time of publication. Officials continue to advise the public not to approach the dogs if they are seen and to immediately contact Prichard Police or Prichard Animal Control.
The Emotional Toll and Future of Allen’s Teaching Career
While the physical injuries from the attack are significant, Sierra Allen has also experienced substantial emotional trauma. She described struggling with anxiety and panic at the thought of returning to the school building where the attack occurred. “I turned in my paperwork and started hyperventilating when I went to the school building. That’s where everything happened,” she said. This emotional impact has led her to consider leaving her teaching position altogether, a decision that reflects the profound effect such traumatic events can have on educators and their ability to feel safe in the workplace.
Allen has also issued a plea to the community to take precautions with their pets, emphasizing the responsibility of animal owners to prevent incidents like hers. “Keep your animals at home. Don’t let them walk to school with your children. Because you don’t know what can happen,” she said. Her warning reflects the broader concern for community safety, highlighting the importance of responsible pet ownership and the potential consequences of failing to secure animals properly.
The incident at Collins-Rhodes Elementary serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of teachers and students to unforeseen dangers outside school premises. Allen’s experience underscores the need for clear protocols to ensure the safety of school staff and students, rapid response from local authorities, and accountability for pet owners who fail to control animals capable of causing harm.
As Sierra Allen continues to recover physically and emotionally, the questions surrounding the whereabouts of the dogs, the adequacy of the city’s response, and the long-term impact on the teacher’s career remain pressing concerns. Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the dogs to prevent further injuries. Allen’s story highlights both the courage required to confront such trauma and the ongoing need for systemic measures to protect those who educate and care for children.
The ongoing investigation and response to this incident will be closely watched by residents, parents, and educators, emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring safe environments around schools and holding accountable those responsible for pets that pose a danger to the community. Sierra Allen’s courage in speaking out brings attention to the physical and emotional toll of such attacks and serves as a call to action for stronger safety measures and responsible community behavior.
Her plea is clear: safeguarding the community, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, requires vigilance, responsible pet ownership, and swift action by authorities. The hope remains that the dogs will be located, contained, and prevented from causing further harm, while Allen and the student continue to recover from a traumatic incident that could have had far more tragic consequences.
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