AVERY COUNTY STRAY DOG ATTACK: Stray dog attack highlights lack of local animal services

AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — A man says he had to have surgery and receive rabies shots after he was bitten several times on different parts of his body after being attacked by a stray dog in Avery County.

Channel 9’s Dave Faherty notes that right now Avery County has no Animal Shelter officers to handle cases like this.

Bobby Loven was attacked and says it all happened very quickly, and he worked to get back to his vehicle while facing the dog.

Now, his hope is that more can be done to keep someone else from being hurt.

Ten days after the attack, Loven still has bandages around both of his arms and bite marks on his leg. He says he had just gotten out of his truck along this stretch of road in Pineola when a large dog charged him and repeatedly bit.

“It only took maybe 20-30 seconds for the dog to really do a lot of damage,” Loven said, “If someone had just been walking down that road it could really damage someone or maybe kill them”

Loven and his family say Avery County doesn’t have animal control officers or a shelter despite other attacks and complaints over the last 30 years.

“Stories from people back in 1997 that went before our county board that have been attacked by animals or their children have been attacked by animals,” daughter Julie Snyder said.

Avery County’s manager is aware of the attack and sent us a statement saying, in part saying:

“ Avery County has been actively working to strengthen animal services and improve the resources available to our citizens. As part of those efforts, the County has been working toward the development of an Animal Services Center.”

The sheriff confirmed to Channel 9 that money has been appropriated and a site has been identified. Loven is thankful he wasn’t hurt worse.

“Had it been a child or had it been someone who is not as physically agile as I am I don’t know if they could have gotten away from him”

The county manager says they have received grant money for animal services. She says her thoughts are with Bobby and his family as he recovers.