They Came Like A Pack of Wolves

One Couple’s Backyard Turned Battleground

This story originally ran in the September 5, 2025 issue of the Pinewood News.

It was supposed to be a peaceful morning. A rare Friday off together. Clayton and Chris Wooley sat under their backyard gazebo, sipping coffee and enjoying the stillness. Their dog, Freckles, an Australian Shepherd, was tied securely nearby, and their brand-new puppy, also a cattle dog, just two days home, was leashed to a chair close to Chris. For Clayton and Chris, this was sacred time. Calm. Safe.

Until it wasn’t.

Out of nowhere, the peace was shattered. A low rumble of barking cut through the morning stillness. Then, chaos. Three pit bulls came charging from a neighboring yard. No collars. No leashes. No warning.

Freckles, doing what any protective dog would do, darted toward the threat, her lead stretching to its limit, snapping her off her feet. She landed hard on her back, stunned. Immediately, the dogs were on her.

“They went for her throat,” Clayton recalls. “I’ve seen a pit bull attack before. I knew what was about to happen. They were trying to kill her.”

He dove into the frenzy, fists swinging, shoving the snarling jaws away from Freckles’ exposed neck, screaming for help, but no one came. Then a fourth dog rushed in. Now Clayton was facing four large dogs with only his bare hands and raw desperation.

While Clayton is fighting off a massive dog attack, four Jack Russell Terriers appeared and began biting Clayton’s ankles before swarming Chris. Eight dogs in total. Eight unleashed animals, attacking in a wave of chaos and violence.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the yard, Chris was fighting to protect their new puppy, who had become tangled in her leash. With no way to free her, Chris threw herself on top of the tiny dog, using her own body as a shield while the Jack Russells clawed and bit at her, trying to get to the puppy underneath.

By sheer instinct and adrenaline, Clayton managed to unhook Freckles and drag her to safety inside the house. When he came back out, bloodied and breathless, one of the dog owners, an aggressive and belligerent man, confronted him.

The man grabbed Clayton’s shoulders, and began yelling at him. Still shaken, Clayton swept his hands off and said, “Don’t touch me!”, putting him on notice. 

The man had the audacity to say it was Clayton’s fault. That Freckles, a leashed dog in her own backyard, had “started it.” That lie was only the beginning. They claimed they only had five dogs, and there were eight.

Chris and Clayton did the right thing by calling Animal Control. Officers took statements, confirmed the dogs were illegally off leash, and ordered a ten-day quarantine for one pit bull. But so far, there have been no citations. The incident remains under investigation.

Clayton was bitten in the face, with a punctured nose and aggravated spinal injuries. Chris suffered bruises and scrapes. Freckles was bitten in the jaw, and their puppy, only two days home, was left traumatized. Now the family is burdened with emergency room bills, veterinary costs, and ongoing medical care.

The Off-Leash Culture That’s Putting Everyone at Risk

This is not just about one attack. It is about a culture in Munds Park that looks the other way. This place is a haven for dogs, and that’s a beautiful thing. But it is also known for owners who let their dogs roam off leash, don’t supervise them, and allow them to slip out of yards and into danger.

Story after story surfaces about people being rushed, bitten, or knocked down on walks. Facebook feeds are full of posts about loose dogs, and yet people scroll past them like it is normal. It is not.

Clayton and Chris did everything right. Their dogs were restrained. They were in their own yard. And still, they were attacked. This didn’t happen in isolation. It happened in a community where far too many people stay silent, where calling it in is treated like tattling, and where reckless dog owners keep getting away with it.

If your dog roams or escapes and you fail to fix it, you are putting people and pets in danger. Posting about a loose dog on Facebook is a start, but it is not enough. If you do not call it in, Animal Control has no way of knowing what is happening in the Park, and they cannot do anything about it. And if the owner never sees the Facebook post, then what? You still have a loose dog, and nothing gets resolved.

Call it in. Speak up. Hold people accountable. That is how we make this stop.

How to Protect Yourself, Your Children & Your Pets

After an attack like this, the question becomes unavoidable: how do you protect yourself, your pets, and your peace of mind in a community where dogs are often off leash?

Some residents in Munds Park have started carrying pepper spray, tasers, or even firearms while walking their dogs. The fear is real. However, it is essential to understand what is actually legal, effective, and safe in Arizona before anyone makes a terrible situation worse.

Under Arizona law, you are only legally allowed to use deadly force, such as a firearm, if a person’s life is in immediate danger. Pets, under state law, are considered property. That means shooting a dog because it is attacking your dog could land you in criminal or civil court. You might think you are doing the right thing, but the law may not be on your side.

Pepper spray and tasers might seem like safer options, but they come with their own risks. Pepper spray can blow back in your face, especially with wind. It does not always stop a dog and can actually make aggressive dogs more frantic. Tasers are even less reliable. Most do not penetrate thick fur, and if you miss, you may just provoke the dog further. Legally, using these tools on someone else’s dog, even in defense, could still lead to claims of property damage or even animal cruelty. The law is vague, and there are no clear protections in place for defending your pet with these methods.

So what are your options?

Report every incident. Always. According to Coconino County, every dog roaming at large should be reported. A dog should never be roaming without a human. Posting a photo on Facebook might help identify the owner, but that is not enough. Call Animal Control. You have no idea what you might be preventing—a future attack, an injured animal, or a child in danger. You could even be saving that dog’s life. Making the call is not just smart. It is the right thing to do.

If you or your animal is attacked or rushed, call Animal Control immediately. Do not hesitate. And if you are actively being attacked, like in the case of Clayton and Chris, call 911 as soon as possible. That will dispatch law enforcement, Animal Control, and medical responders. It takes time for help to reach Munds Park, so call quickly. This is why these services exist. This is what our tax dollars support. Use them.

Have important numbers saved in your phone, and you can always find them in the back of the Pinewood News. For your convenience, we’ve listed them here, plug them in your phone now while its on your mind.

Coconino County Animal Management: (928) 679-8756

Sheriff’s non-emergency dispatch: (928) 774-4523

Even the non-emergency line goes through dispatch and can trigger a response.

Use non-lethal tools that work. Carrying an air horn, a loud whistle, or a sturdy walking stick might sound simple, but they are highly effective. These tools can startle a charging dog, create space, and give you time to get away without escalating the danger or risking legal trouble.

Know how to act. Experts recommend avoiding eye contact with an aggressive dog, turning your body sideways, and speaking in a calm, firm voice. Do not scream or run. That can trigger the dog further. If a dog approaches, use your stick to create a barrier or your horn to surprise and stop it.

Push for enforcement. The laws to prevent attacks like the one Clayton and Chris experienced already exist. What is missing is accountability. The more reports that come in, the more pressure there is on the county to act. When people stay silent, dangerous behavior goes unchecked. Authorities cannot act on what they do not know. Every report matters.

This is about more than one family’s trauma. It is about public safety and the right to feel safe in your own community. Take action. Make the call. And help protect others by doing what the county is asking every resident to do. Call.

A Note from the Editor

This was a follow-up article that ran in the September 19, 2025, issue.

A few hours after our September 5 issue went live with a story about a Munds Park couple whose dog was attacked in their backyard, my phone rang. It was Wendy, owner of the other dogs involved. She was furious. Said we got it wrong.

Wendy asked why I didn’t bother to get her side of the story. Fair question. And to be transparent, it didn’t even cross my mind. That’s Journalism 101. I missed it.

I know Clayton and Chris Wooley, and I know they’re trusted in the community. When I interviewed Clayton, I had no reason to doubt him. I saw the blood on his face in the photo taken right after the attack. I saw the puncture wound on his nose when he came to my office. I saw his hands shake as he showed me the video.

I believe Clayton. I believe he was scared. I believe he was hurt. And I believe he did his best to recall what happened in the middle of chaos.

Some of his details, like the number of dogs, don’t match up with the county’s report. Maybe that’s stress. Maybe it’s just what happens when adrenaline takes over. But the heart of what he said, that unleashed dogs came into his yard and things went sideways, that holds up. And that’s the story we were telling.

This wasn’t a neighbor dispute story. It was a leash law story. And in Munds Park, it’s one we’ve told too many times.

Still, Wendy has her version. I didn’t ask for it the first time, so I’m sharing it now. Not because it changes the outcome, but because she deserves to be heard.

Here’s what she wants you to know.

Wendy says she owns five dogs, not eight, as Clayton told both Pinewood News and Coconino County Animal Services. She admits all five were off-leash. According to her, she was moving them from her RV to her back patio when Freckles, Clayton’s dog, tied to a lead that was too long, crossed just over the property line and started barking. Her dogs, which she describes as well-trained, reacted to what they saw as a threat.

She says only one pit bull engaged, a Jack Russell was roaming, and the rest were restrained before they could join in. She also says there’s no way to know which dog bit Clayton, suggesting Freckles might’ve done it himself in the chaos.

But here’s the thing.

That bite, no matter who delivered it, wouldn’t have happened if the dogs were leashed.

Her version conflicts with Clayton’s. Both differ from the Animal Services report. The investigator reviewed the video and noted three of Wendy’s dogs were on the Wooleys’ property, not two as she claimed and not eight as Clayton reported.

Wendy says we sensationalized the story, that it wasn’t “a pack of dogs.” But again, three off-leash dogs in your yard? Most people would call that a pack. Especially if you’re the ones standing in the middle of it.

She also believes the whole incident was the Wooleys’ fault. That it could have been avoided if Freckles hadn’t barked or crossed the line.

Let’s be honest.

Dogs don’t know where property lines start or stop. That’s the whole point of a leash. You don’t know what’s going to set a dog off. No matter how “well-trained” or “friendly” they are, if they’re off-leash, you’re rolling the dice. And sometimes that gamble ends in a backyard fight, a trip to urgent care, and a visit from Animal Control.

In Munds Park, this is not new. I hear from readers all the time—people with scars, people afraid to walk their dogs. Go to a town hall. You’ll hear the same stories. It’s time we stop pretending this isn’t a pattern and shine some light on the problem.

Was It Biased?

Wendy said the article was one-sided. That it showed bias.

What I showed was my intent. I was telling a story about what happens when dogs aren’t leashed. That was the point.

It’s like covering a robbery. You don’t need the robber’s side to explain why robbery is a problem. The story speaks for itself.

But this wasn’t a straight incident report. It was a feature. It was bold. And in a small community like this, I should have gotten Wendy’s perspective. Not because it would have changed the outcome, but because her family is part of this community. Out of respect, I should have asked.

I won’t make that mistake again.

I also want to address the perception of bias in the paper. It’s a fair question, and I’ve heard it before. The truth is, I have strong views on certain issues — leash laws, short-term rentals, respect for the land, and the right to free speech. Those views show up in my writing. That’s not bias. That’s transparency.

Bias is when you distort the facts to make a point. Transparency is being clear about where you stand while still reporting the facts fairly.

The facts aren’t negotiable. I work hard to get them right. And when I don’t, I correct it. Readers call me out. That’s part of the deal.

Not everyone’s going to agree with me, and that’s fine. I’m not here to echo every viewpoint. I’m here to share what’s happening in our community, call attention to what matters, and make sure people feel heard — even when they disagree.

We read every email. We print every correction. And if you think we got something wrong or missed the mark, you’ll always have a way to say so in these pages.

Our readers can reach us at Hello@ThePinewoodNews.com.

AGAIN - Another Dog Attack Reportedin Munds Park

Since our last issue, a second serious dog attack has been reported in Munds Park. According to witnesses, three large dogs escaped from a residence and attacked a smaller dog being walked by its owner. The owner was knocked to the ground during the incident, and the dog sustained multiple puncture wounds and a possible leg injury requiring further veterinary evaluation.

The incident was reported to 911, and Animal Control responded. The dogs have since been located and placed under quarantine. According to Animal Control, the case will result in a court appearance and fines.

This was the second reported incident involving the same dogs in recent weeks. During the first incident on August 28, the dogs reportedly escaped and attacked two leashed dogs that happened to be passing by with separate owners.

Leash Laws in Coconino County

In Public (Including Federal Lands):

Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, held by a responsible person. Running at large is prohibited.

On Private Property (Not Your Own):

Dogs are not allowed on private property without the owner’s permission. This is considered “at large” under county ordinance.

On Your Own Property:

Dogs must be secured within a suitable enclosure. If no fence or enclosure is available, they must be restrained by a rope or chain at least 10 feet long to prevent them from leaving the property.

At Parks and Schools (Arizona State Law):

Dogs must be on a leash, in a cage, in a vehicle, or otherwise confined. Exceptions apply only for certain events like licensed kennel club shows or school programs.

Where Off-Leash May Be Allowed

• Your own fenced property

• Designated off-leash dog parks

• During official events like field trials or obedience training

• When assisting in legal hunting or herding (must still be under control)

Note: In some areas of Coconino National Forest, leash rules may be enforced on a complaint basis, but this is not guaranteed. Leashing is still the default expectation.

Violations can result in citations, especially if your dog leaves your property, gets into a fight, or causes injury.