10/12/2026
An Update on the Sylacauga Dogs Along Highway 280
We know people are frustrated that it has taken this long to begin trapping the dogs along Highway 280 in Sylacauga. We are frustrated, too.
Here is why it has taken time and what happens next.
The first phase is scheduled feeding. Starting tomorrow, GBHS, in coordination with Sylacauga Animal Control, will feed the dogs every day at designated locations and at the same time each day.
This daily feeding will ensure that the dogs receive food, draw them away from Highway 280 and teach them to come to a safe location on a predictable schedule. Establishing that pattern is what will allow us to trap the dogs together.
For the plan to work, the coordinated feeding stations need to be the dogs' only food source. If food is left in other locations, the dogs may not come to the designated sites at feeding time, and the capture plan may not succeed.
The group may include 40 or more dogs. They live and travel across private property owned by multiple companies and individuals, including pastures, wooded lots and land behind businesses on both sides of Highway 280.
GBHS could not enter any property or place traps, cameras, feeding stations or other equipment until the owner or management company responsible for each location had provided written permission.
The City of Sylacauga's attorney handled that process. Each property owner had different requirements, and the city attorney worked to obtain the necessary written permissions and confirm that the requested insurance and liability protections were in place. The City notified us this past Friday that this work was complete. Our team will begin setting up tomorrow.
Over the past several weeks, GBHS has:
- Built and tested our large humane corral trap at our facility so it can be installed quickly and quietly at the capture site once a feeding pattern has been established.
- Purchased materials for additional Missy traps and remote monitoring equipment dedicated to the Sylacauga operation, so the sites can be monitored around the clock without reducing the services we provide in Jefferson County, Walker County, Jasper, Pell City and St. Clair County.
- Arranged for veterinary care to be available on site during capture days.
- Planned each step to protect the dogs, members of the public and everyone involved in the response.
These dogs live and travel as a group. When dogs are trapped or pursued one at a time, the remaining dogs may scatter and learn to avoid people and traps. That can make every remaining dog more difficult to reach and may leave the dogs near a busy four-lane highway longer.
We are grateful that one injured dog has been captured and is receiving care. Her injury limited her mobility and made an individual capture possible. The healthy dogs remaining in the group are mobile and are unlikely to be caught in the same way.
Our approach is designed to bring the remaining dogs in together, humanely, with veterinary care available. We will then conduct a careful search for any dogs that remain, using live camera feeds and individual Missy traps as needed. We are keeping human activity around the dogs to a minimum so that each dog can be captured safely.
How you can help:
- Please do not set traps, chase or attempt to catch the dogs.
- Please do not feed the dogs or leave food in the area. GBHS will feed them every day, and food from other sources may keep them from coming to the locations where we can safely help them.
- Please report sightings or concerns to Sylacauga Animal Control or the Sylacauga Police Department.
Our goal is the same as everyone else's: to get every one of these dogs away from the highway, safely captured and into appropriate care.
Thank you for caring about them.
Greater Birmingham Humane Society
Photo credit: WVTM13
