Residents warn board of repeated dog attacks near College Hill Elementary; staff to review animal-control practice

A resident from the College Hill neighborhood told the Texarkana Board of Directors on Dec. 8 that two pit bulls have repeatedly escaped their yard over the past four to six weeks, climbing fences and attacking neighborhood pets, and that elderly residents are now afraid to leave their homes.

The speaker, who identified herself only as a local resident, said the dogs have jumped into fenced yards multiple times, including an incident the day before Thanksgiving that “just about killed” her mother’s dog and left elderly neighbors fearful for their safety. She said callers to 911 were repeatedly redirected to animal control, which she described as unable to act “unless they had pictures,” and asked the board whether eyewitness accounts should be sufficient for enforcement.

City staff member Tyler told the board he would “talk to animal control and find out why it is that they’re requiring pictures,” and said he would investigate whether witness statements could be formalized to support enforcement and citations. Assistant Mayor Harris and other board members suggested civil remedies such as small-claims suits could provide additional leverage while staff pursue administrative options.

Board members also raised the question of whether ordinances or enforcement protocols should be changed; the resident urged ordinance revisions to allow action when multiple eyewitnesses corroborate dangerous behavior. Tyler said he would report back after consulting animal control and the municipal judge about evidentiary requirements and possible procedural changes.

The board did not take immediate formal action beyond directing staff to investigate and report back. The matter was raised during the public-comments portion of the meeting and remains a staff-level follow-up item.