HOMERVILLE, Ga. — A Homerville resident says she has called 911 at least five or six times since May after a pack of loose dogs killed one of her cats, attacked her dog, and repeatedly entered her property — and she says she still has not received adequate help.

Nora Felder, who lives on Court Street, said the incidents began at 4 a.m. on May 15, when two dogs came onto her porch and killed one of her cats. Security camera footage captured the attack. Felder said she discovered the cat dead on the other side of her yard when she returned home from work that day.

“I just feel like I’ve just had to basically beg, beg, beg for any type of help,” Felder said. “And it’s nothing.”

Dog attacks continue

Felder said the dogs have continued to appear on her property in the weeks since May 15. She said she has had to barricade the front entrance of her porch at night using kitchen chairs to keep the dogs away.

On June 16, Felder said she was inside her home when she heard a commotion outside. She came out to find one of the dogs in her yard chasing a cat, which had climbed into the motor of a truck to escape. Felder said she called 911 and also contacted City Hall, where she was told the city manager would call her back. She said that call never came.

The most recent incident

The most recent event occurred the evening of July 29, when Felder said she was on her porch placing a barricade and heard a noise in the bushes. A dog she identified as “Vader” went around the side of her house and attacked her dog, which was secured on a runner in the yard.

“It took them a while” to pull the dog off, Felder said, referring to three people who were with the animal. Her dog sustained one bite mark on the back of his neck.

Felder said Vader has been a problem in Homerville for years and has bitten people before. She said she was told by an officer that the dog had previously been picked up and held for a period before being returned to its owner.

No local animal control

Homerville does not have its own animal control department. The city relies on an animal control officer based in Lakeland, Georgia, approximately 20 miles away.

Homerville Police Chief Keith Jackson, who has led the department for three years, said in a conversation with WALB that investigations are underway. Jackson said the investigation involves multiple agencies, including code enforcement, animal control, and the Homerville Police Department.

Felder said a code enforcement officer responded to her initial May 15 call and gave her his card. She said she has called that officer numerous times since. On June 6, the Lakeland-based animal control officer called Felder and told her he had come to Homerville, rode around with the code officer, and could not locate the dogs.

“The dogs live right down the street,” Felder said. “Right down the street.”

Felder said the first time a Homerville police officer responded directly to her home was the night of the July 29 dog attack, because the code enforcement officer was already off shift. Felder added the officer who arrived was the most help that she has received.

State law gap

Georgia law does not require counties to operate an animal shelter or local animal control department. According to the Georgia Animal Protection Act, state law defines animal shelters and animal control officers but does not mandate that counties establish or operate either service. Those decisions are left to local governments.

WALB found that 29 counties in Georgia have no animal control ordinance or have poorly written ordinances, which allows them to apply state law instead.

Safety concerns

Felder said she no longer walks or rides her bicycle in the direction of the dogs’ home on Court Street. She said she will not take her grandchildren outside during the day because of the ongoing situation.

“I’ve never had to live like this,” Felder said. “I can’t believe I’ve been living like this.”

Felder said she wants authorities to pick up the two dogs that appeared on her security video on May 15 and the dog that attacked her dog on July 29.

“What would the response be if it was a child?” Felder said.

When asked if she wishes Homerville had its own animal control and city ordinances, Felder said, “Yes, absolutely.”

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