Phenix City man dies after dog attack

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WTVM) - A Phenix City man is dead after a dog attack.

According to Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr., 70-year-old Frank Cobb was attacked by a pit bull and died from his injuries on Tuesday night, Sept. 21.

On September 21, at approximately 2 a.m., Phenix City police were dispatched to the area of the 100 block of 17th Ave. in reference to a dog bite. Upon arrival, officers found Cobb suffering from wounds.

Cobb was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional, however, his wounds were so severe that he had to be transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

“I was walking back from the Big Cat. I heard someone say help. I heard dogs barking. It was dark and they were black. I went to help Red. It was blood everywhere. I was devastated, I mean flabbergasted. I tried to help Red. I grabbed the dog by its neck and by his nose and I took off running down the street so he could chase me, but he had already seen the blood,” Witness Kenny Bo recalled.

Officers engaged in a search of the area for the dog, but had no luck in finding it at the time of the incident. A dog was later discovered on US Highway 431 south, dead after being struck by a vehicle, which fit the description of the dog that attacked Cobb.

Walter Irby, who says he is Cobb’s cousin says the streets don’t feel safe.

“It’s getting so, it seems like you can’t even walk the streets. You got a dog attacking you,” said Irby. “Dogs are not for that purpose. If you ask me I think pit bulls should be banned from society. Because it seems to me, they’re the worst dogs and the only dogs to attack somebody like this.”

An animal behaviorist we spoke with says, 9 out of 10 times, dogs will not attack you unless they’re provoked.

Police say, it’s believed the dog responsible for Cobb’s death was a stray.

The dog was sent to the lab for testing. Cobb’s body is being sent to the Alabama Department of Forensics Science for an autopsy.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information should call the Phenix City Police Department at 334-298-0611.

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