Southeast Houston residents say stray dogs are terrorizing their neighborhood. The city says BARC is stepping up enforcement after new attacks.
HOUSTON — Neighbors in one southeast Houston community say a growing pack of stray dogs has turned their streets into a danger zone — attacking pets, chasing people, and leaving residents fearful to walk outside.
The latest attack happened near Selinsky Road, where neighbors say nearly half a dozen dogs went after a puppy. The puppy was badly injured before a woman scared the dogs off by shaking a fence.
“We watched at least eight wild dogs — the same ones we’ve been having problems with for over a year and a half — just attack this 6-to-8-month-old puppy,” said Cheryl Klaus, a nearby property manager. “If we hadn’t stopped them on Saturday, it would have torn that poor dog apart.”
Klaus says these strays have injured and even killed other pets before. She worries the next victim could be a child and hopes something is done soon, “before they really hurt a child bad.”
Residents say the problem has gotten worse near an apartment complex close to Sterling High School, where students often walk home in the afternoon.
“I had to recently grab a stick to keep my dogs away,” said Wyatt Singh, a student who has had run-ins with the strays. “I hope animal control can help them find a home and give them some kind of treatment.”
The City of Houston confirmed the incident and said its animal enforcement team is stepping back in. In a statement, officials said, “BARC Enforcement officers will revisit the area this weekend and attempt to locate the strays. BARC has impounded 14 dogs from that area in the last four months.”
Experts warn that dog attacks can happen fast. If one occurs, they advise not to run but to stand your ground and put an object—like a trash can, car, or even a water bottle—between you and the animal while firmly saying “no.”
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