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Geneva pushes for tougher dog laws after deadly attack
Residents and officials call for stricter regulations and enforcement to address dangerous dog problem in the city
Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:04am
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A grim reminder of the consequences of lax regulations and enforcement around dangerous dogs in this Alabama community.Geneva TodayAfter a deadly dog attack in Geneva, Alabama last month, local officials and residents are calling for the city to pass tougher laws and increase enforcement to address the ongoing issue of dangerous dogs in the community. April Swinton Benford, a local mobile home park owner, says the current laws are "not enough" to protect people, citing previous incidents where her father and others have been attacked by stray dogs with no consequences. Mayor David Hayes acknowledges the need for stiffer fines and penalties, but says the city is limited by its resources, with only one animal patrol officer handling all dangerous dog complaints.
Why it matters
The deadly dog attack has renewed concerns about public safety in Geneva, especially for students who walk near schools located close to areas with stray and aggressive dogs. Residents say the current laws and enforcement are inadequate, and are pushing for the city to take more decisive action to hold dog owners accountable and prevent future attacks.
The details
Last month, Sheila Pate was attacked and killed by dogs in Geneva. April Swinton Benford, who owns a mobile home park near the attack site, says the city has a persistent "dog problem" that has resulted in other incidents, including her father being bitten while mowing the lawn. Benford claims the city only has one animal patrol officer to handle dangerous dog complaints, leading to slow response times. Mayor David Hayes acknowledges the need for tougher laws, including stiffer fines for owners whose pets kill someone, but says the city is limited in its resources and urges residents to be proactive in reporting issues.
- Last month, Sheila Pate was attacked and killed by dogs in Geneva.
- A few years ago, Benford's father was bitten by a dog while cutting grass in Geneva.
The players
Sheila Pate
A Geneva resident who was killed in a dog attack last month.
April Swinton Benford
The owner of T&S Mobile Home Park in Geneva, who says the city has a persistent "dog problem" and inadequate enforcement.
David Hayes
The mayor of Geneva, who acknowledges the need for tougher dog laws and penalties, but says the city is limited in its resources.
What they’re saying
“It's not enough. It's not enough. Something more severe needs to be done. Because currently what they have in place is not working.”
— April Swinton Benford, Mobile home park owner
“If your pets kill somebody, you're responsible. We don't have any ordinance in place for that. And I'm just praying, and I'm just hoping that nobody else has to get hurt or die before something is done.”
— April Swinton Benford, Mobile home park owner
“We find more times than not, no one is called until it's too late or almost too late. We're very proactive on dogs. If you'll call that non-emergency number, it gives us a record of how many times somebody's called. So it helps us track when we don't do our job right, too.”
— David Hayes, Mayor of Geneva
“I believe if we impose a stiff enough fine, we can stop some of it. But we're going to take it as far as we can go with it and push it.”
— David Hayes, Mayor of Geneva
What’s next
The Geneva City Council is expected to revisit the issue of dangerous dog regulations and enforcement in the near future.
The takeaway
This tragic incident has highlighted the need for Geneva to strengthen its laws and resources to better protect residents from dangerous dogs, with officials and the community calling for tougher penalties, increased staffing, and more proactive measures to address the ongoing problem.
