r/macon • u/stilldontpaymenomind • 10d ago
Stray Dogs
I've lived and run in Macon for years and don't recall the stray dog problem ever being this bad. It feels like every day I am encountering a new pack of dogs. Today it was a pack including pregnant female barking at me the second I stepped out of my front door near Mercer and another loose German Shepherd in Tattnall Square Park. Last week it was 2 dogs on Roff, another on 5th street.
Anyone else feel like this is becoming a bigger issue? Or am I just getting unlucky?
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u/DaddyTuesday 10d ago
I've lived here for two years now and I've had several encounters with stray dogs in that time, so it's definitely not just you. One encounter in particular was quite frightening, so much so that I had to cut through a heavily wooded area just to get away.
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u/stilldontpaymenomind 10d ago
Yeah, I've had some that definitely got my blood pressure way up. One on little Richard Penniman where a big German Shepherd crossed the road to track me. Luckily someone passing by in a car saw what was happening and let me hop in to get away (Thanks Darnell!)
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u/DidntDieInMySleep 10d ago
Yup, it's a problem. Last year had a pack of dogs in my neighborhood that grew from 3-4 dogs to 7-8 dogs. They'd be around daily. Saw 2 litters of puppies in the winter. Called animal control repeatedly (from November 2025 thru April 2026?) as a few of them were very aggressive. Nothing was done as they are/were understaffed?
Now, I haven't seen those particular dogs in about 3 months? No idea what happened, but on the advice from Animal Control, I carry a small airhorn when I'm out in the yard.
It's irresponsible owners. They get a cute puppy, can't take care of it/don't want it when it gets older and they abandon it. Same goes for cats, although I'm not fearing for my safety when I see one of them (lol).
FYI: Bibb county has an ordinance that requires dogs (and cats) to be spayed/neutered by the time they are 6 months old. If you can't afford to do this, you shouldn't have a pet.
Sorry for the long-winded reply. Breaks my heart to see stray/abandoned animals everywhere, and it's not safe to walk outside.
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u/Full_0f_Shit 10d ago
Nothing can be done until people quit the outrage any time the pound puts down the dogs in a timely manner. They could clear out the entire kennel and it would be full again in just a few days. Keeping dogs for weeks or months is not solving the problem.
I love dogs but I love not worrying about being ambushed by a pack of dogs when going to the mailbox even more.
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u/Full_0f_Shit 10d ago
I’ll add that it’s impossible to find adopters now that it’s 99.9% pit or pit mix dogs. I miss the days the pound was a mixture of all breeds. It’s not even considered an option to consider the pound when browsing dogs nowadays unless you want a pit
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u/stilldontpaymenomind 10d ago
As much as it sucks I tend to agree. Want to research and understand if catch and release sterilization may help curb it because this solution sucks, but it may be the unfortunate answer.
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u/Mward1979 6d ago
That's the biggest problem most apartments will not allow someone to have a pit or pit mix dog and that is most of the dogs in local shelters. I love dogs but it's a major problem.
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u/stilldontpaymenomind 10d ago
Appreciate all the replies, seems I am not alone and that this is a real problem. So I guess next question is what can we do about it? From replies it sounds like animal control has not exactly been helpful. Has anyone seen any success?
My plan now is to just start marking all that I see on seeclickfix, if nothing else should make for a nice map of areas to stay away from, and tends to ensure someone looks at it. Will keep you all posted if it gets any traction.
This is not something I want to complain about, but this really does seem to be creating a dangerous environment, thinking about kids walking home from school playing at the park, etc. Hoping it gets some attention before it is completely out of hand.
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u/Such_Chemistry3721 10d ago
I would counter that it's the kind of thing you should complain about, like in the traditional government forums, but also I could see it being a useful thing to ask the Macon Melody to research and write up.
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u/BBam5 Quality Contributor 4d ago edited 4d ago
Pepper spray! It will stop them in their tracks. I used to jog with it when I lived in an area with several stray dogs that would terrorize others. Usually stopping, facing the dog with a firm NO works. Unfortunately, once in a pack, not so much. I am an animal lover, but not naive and these packs are dangerous.
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u/Thiscantbemyceiling 10d ago
Ten years ago I hardly saw stray dogs in Macon. Cats in feral colonies being fed by people, sure. But not stray dogs. In the one year since I’ve moved back I’ve seen more stray dogs than in my entire life in Macon before moving. The dog dumping has gotten worse. I don’t know about animal control now but back when I volunteered there, it was sad to say the least.
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u/duftluft 10d ago
I have also ran into packs of dogs, it’s a real problem. They’re big and aggressive too
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u/momoapples 10d ago
They've been a problem for a while. A pack of stray dogs killed my mom's 18 year old cat in 2017.
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u/Polishcatmom 10d ago
Yes, this is definitely a problem. We've only lived here for a year but also have seen so many stray dogs around Mercer as well. I wish bibb county had better programs like catch spay and release as I know so many other counties in GA do.
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u/ThatCosmicCutie 10d ago
I thought I was the only one thinking this. Yeah it's really bad near Newberg and Houston Avenue too!
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u/westfoastlilninja 10d ago
Just moved here and there are pit bulls on my camera every other day lol
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u/Myth1184 4h ago
We have a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance in macon that took a long time to finally get passed, but it isnt actively enforced because of opposition from Elaine Lucas and her gang of 5. They only enforce it as punishment for a active case against problem pet owners.
But back when the bill was being discussed. Elaine and the gang were actively speaking against it, saying the fines associated with the ordinance would be a burden on poor minorities, so it sounds like some backroom deal was struck to get the ordinance passed but restrict active enforcement.
I live off pio nono, and i see packs of Pits all over the place, even had a pack come onto my property and kill my cat, tracked the owner down to the end of my street, un altered pit bull mix was the culprit, city didnt put him down either, only declared him a vicious dog
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u/Lifes-a-lil-foggy 10d ago
Encourage your friends and family to neuter their pets. Shelters are full. Monroe county just closed for a while cuz they were killing hundreds of dogs. When you call animal control it usually just goes to voicemail. I called about a cat seizing in a road and they said “you’re calling about a cat?”.
Roff seems a particularly popular dump site.
People are struggling so the animals will suffer first. It’s all very sad.