BRADY FLANIGANStaff Writer

After an ugly story of bureaucracy and blood spilled, Tullahoma is making a change to its vicious dog ordinance.

Back in July, Brian Mosely’s dog, Bruiser, had his skin peeled open like a soup can by five of his neighbor’s savage shepherds. Bruiser held on for three miserable weeks in the vet, while Mosely shelled out $6,000 trying to save him. But in the end the injuries won, and Bruiser was put down. Mosely shared this nightmare on Aug. 26 before the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and as if once wasn’t enough, these dogs had already sunk their teeth into Bruiser once before.

“The wounds were absolutely horrific,” Mosely said with cracks in his voice. “His throat was nearly ripped out. His belly was punctured in multiple places, and this pack of vicious beasts tore the skin away from his neck halfway down to his torso.” The only reason Bruiser wasn’t killed outright was because of the body harness he wore, a grim souvenir from another attack alleged by the same dogs in March 2022, when they nearly ripped out his throat. Another neighbor didn’t get off much easier—their pet suffered a similar mauling not long after.

The defendant, James Wilson, whose dogs were responsible for these bloody attacks, faced charges the very next day on Aug. 27 in Tullahoma City Court. But for Mosely and other outraged residents, that wasn’t enough. They wanted more than just individual punishment—they wanted the city’s laws fixed before someone else’s pet, or worse, a person, ended up in pieces. “The city code concerning vicious dogs at large must be updated and strengthened to allow animal control to protect the public,” Mosely said. “I pray the city takes action immediately on this issue before a human being becomes the next victim.”

It took two more weeks, but on Sept. 23, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen finally took the first step toward fixing the problem with an amendment to the city’s vicious dog ordinance. City Administrator Jason Quick put it bluntly: “after what happened with Mr. Mosely’s dog and speaking with his neighbors, our police chief, and animal control, it became clear the current ordinance wasn’t cutting it. We needed stronger protections for both the public and our officers dealing with these dogs.”

The new ordinance splits “vicious dogs” into three categories, with level 3 reserved for dogs dangerous to humans. Animal control now has the power to label a dog vicious, impound it, and hold it at the owner’s expense until its enclosure meets city standards. If standards aren’t maintained, the animal can be slated for “destruction”. And the timing couldn’t have been worse—while the ordinance was being written, two more attacks occurred. One was on September 17, when a seven-year-old girl needed surgery after a dog tore up her foot.

Under the new rules, dogs involved in attacks can be held in a shelter until their hearing, and owners who don’t meet the requirements to properly house their dangerous pets face the possibility of their dog being put down. The first reading of the new ordinance passed in a 7-0 vote. The second reading will take place later this month. 

For Brian Mosely and anyone else who’ve had to watch their pets torn apart, the changes are a step forward. Bruiser’s scars, that little girl’s scars, and Mosely’s scars are permanent. But for now there’s hope Tullahoma might be able to move the crosshairs from good people to bad dogs.