by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Early Monday morning, on the way home from his walk, two neighborhood dogs attacked Maxon Lane resident Daniel Holmes. “These two dogs came running at me. A black dog and a golden dog. I was accustomed to it and just kept walking. But they were more aggressive than usual and started biting my jacket and legs,” said Holmes describing the incident. He suffered lacerations on his legs and a puncture wound through the fabric of his tracksuit pants.

Holmes’ wife Stephanie McCarter phoned the Sewanee Police Department. The couple filed a police report and submitted photographs of the injuries. McCarter, like Holmes, a classics professor at the University, spoke with the Messenger in January about the same neighborhood dogs chasing her 11-year-old son on his bike and barking at her when she checked her mail. According to other community members who spoke with the Messenger, the same dogs attacked a cyclist and trail runner. [See Messenger, Feb. 14, 2025]

“I’m worried,” Holmes conceded. “I have two children. They wouldn’t know what to do.” Holmes explained he grew up with dogs in the countryside in Australia. “I know not to engage with them. If they think you’re playing, they’ll start biting back ... Once I got to my house, they gave up,” he said.

The Sewanee Police Department contacted Franklin County Animal Control. “We [Animal Control] went up there,” said Officer Heather Snyder. “I don’t know exactly what happened,” Snyder conceded. Animal Control did not impound the dogs.

Tennessee Annotated Code states violation of the “Dogs not allowed at large” law “is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by fine only if the dog running at large causes bodily injury.” Most jurisdictions also assess court costs of $300 or more even if the dog owner pays the fine prior to court.

Asked if the Sewanee Police Department intended to issue a citation, Police Chief Jeremy Smith replied, “The officer who responded to the call is preparing a report, and until I have the opportunity to review it once completed, I do not have any further details to share at this time. However, I can assure you that the police department is committed to looking into this matter further. Our priority is ensuring that all members of our community feel safe, and we will take the necessary steps to address any concerns.”

“I’m very angry,” McCarter said. “It could have been my child. My husband is big and very experienced with dogs, and he was able to stay calm. If he would have tried to run, they would have attacked him full on aggressively ... I told my son he is not allowed to walk past the [dog owner’s] house. He has to take the long way around.”

“The dogs need to be chained or to be inside a fence or kept inside,” Holmes insisted.

University policy stipulates, “All dogs must be under obvious and effective control of their owners ... Effective control means that a dog will respond to a command given by the owner.” However, nearly all the consequences are prefaced by the word “may.” “Multiple warnings or citations MAY result in referral to Franklin County Animal Control ... If a dog is causing a public hazard or nuisance, the Sewanee Police Department MAY issue a warning or a citation to the owner of the dog. Additionally, Franklin County Animal Control MAY be called and the dog MAY be impounded ... An owner who is issued a citation for a dog running at large or for a dog creating a public nuisance or hazard MAY be subject to fine in accordance with Tennessee law.” [Note: capitalization of the word “may” for purpose of emphasis.]

The policy holds the victim of a dog attack to more rigorous standards: “Any person who is threatened or attacked should (1) inform the dog’s owner, if known; (2) notify the Sewanee Police Department; and/or (3) notify Franklin County Animal Control.”