Packs of wild dogs roaming near Fayetteville

“We have a serious problem with packs of aggressive dogs running in the city and county, and we need to be proactive to protect our citizens from these wild animals,” said Dr. John Lauby, a veterinarian and Animal Services director.

Animal Services has received reports of rabbits, cats and other small animals being killed in their yards by wild dogs. Packs have been seen and reported in the following areas:

Lauby has called for additional night patrols by Animal Services enforcement officers to try to capture them as they roam between 3 and 5 a.m.

“Trapping won’t work on these packs, as they are very wary," he said. "Often, we can’t get close enough to dart the dogs with tranquilizers, and when we do, the sedation doesn’t work fast enough to capture them before they go in the brush, where we cannot track them."

Shooting the animals in the field is a drastic measure that might become necessary, he said.

“These dogs are dangerous to other animals and people. They attack and bite. They are not social animals because they have never had human interaction,” he said.

When wild dogs are captured, they are taken back to the Animal Services Shelter to be euthanized because they are not adoptable.

Anyone who sees a pack of wild dogs is asked to call Cumberland County Animal Services at 910-321-6852. After 5 p.m. and on weekends or holidays, people can call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500 or a local police department.