A 3-year-old boy died Friday morning after being attacked by a dog at a home on Walnut Street in Sulligent, a small Lamar County community in northwest Alabama. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital, and his family has since surrendered the dog that attacked him to police.
The attack happened at approximately 10 a.m. Friday, according to WTVA, which cited Lamar County Coroner Allen Chandler for the time and location of the incident. The station reported that the boy’s family owned the dog involved, a detail attributed to Sulligent Police Chief Michael Franklin. The Lamar County coroner did not release the child’s name.
Dog Surrendered, Then Euthanized in Russellville
After the attack, the family surrendered the dog to police. Officers then took the animal to a veterinarian in Russellville, where it was euthanized. Chief Franklin said the health department ordered both the euthanization and testing of the dog.
Alabama public-health guidance on animals that bite humans generally calls for a 10-day confinement and observation period for dogs, cats and ferrets, a process designed to avoid the need to destroy an animal in order to test it for rabies, according to a fact sheet from the Alabama Department of Public Health. That guidance does not address why the Sulligent dog was instead ordered euthanized and tested rather than confined.
State Health Officials Have Urged Caution Before
The Sulligent case follows a pattern Alabama health officials have flagged repeatedly. After two earlier fatal dog attacks, the Alabama Department of Public Health urged residents to exercise caution around animals, according to ABC 3340. A state public health veterinarian said responsible ownership includes properly confining animals and addressing any vicious-animal issues with a veterinarian before attacks occur, the outlet reported. The same report noted that the CDC recommends supervising children around animals and maintaining a safe distance as ways to help prevent injuries.
Estimates of how often Alabama investigates animal bites vary by source. One Alabama Department of Public Health document puts the figure at approximately 9,500 bites investigated each year statewide, while a report from al.com attributed to the state public health veterinarian cited an average of 7,000 animal bites investigated annually. Neither figure is specific to Sulligent or to this case.
Not the First Fatal Attack on a Young Alabama Child
Fatal dog attacks on children have occurred elsewhere in Alabama in recent months. In March 2025, a 6-month-old girl died after being attacked by a dog while with her great-grandparents in Alabaster, according to WVTM. That July, 7-year-old Noah Jovani “Jerry” Muniz was killed in a dog attack while riding his ATV, al.com reported separately. The Sulligent case remains under investigation, and no additional details about the dog's breed, age or history have been released.
