Jacqueline Summer Beard, a 58-year-old Alabama Public Health Officer, died Friday in a wild attack in Red Bay, near the Alabama-Mississippi border, according to authorities. The office of Franklin County Sheriff Ms. Byrd had gone to the rural area to follow up on an incident earlier in the week where a woman was attacked by a herd of dogs. Investigators believe he was trying to contact the dog’s owner about the incident when he was attacked and killed by the same dogs. Dog owner Brandy Dowdy, 39, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Police found Ms. Byrd’s tanned body when they were called to report a suspicious vehicle on Crumpton Road in a rural area outside Red Bay. When they reached the spot, they saw many of the dogs starting to attack some locals. Some of the dangerous dogs had to be destroyed immediately, the sheriff’s office said. Police later found Ms. Beard’s body nearby. The woman who was injured in the initial dog attack remained in the Mississippi hospital in serious condition since Saturday, according to information AL.com. A third person was injured in the attack in front of the police. The state health department paid tribute to Ms. Beard as an “outstanding person” and “outstanding team worker” who had joined the agency almost 17 years ago. “The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Summer Beard following her tragic death,” an ADPH spokeswoman told AL.com. “Summer was known to her colleagues as a great person. She was an awesome team and was loved by those who knew her. “This is a very sad day for ADPH and we urge everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this most difficult time.” Ms. Dowdy is being held in Franklin County Jail for the charges. Under Emily’s law, signed by Governor Kay Ivey in March 2018, owners of dangerous dogs can be sent to jail if their animals seriously injure or kill someone. The bill was named in honor of 24-year-old Emily Colvin, who was killed by dogs outside her home in Jackson County.
