After a vicious dog attack, a Williamson County Animal Control officer wants to carry a firearm.
Ed Barwick was attacked by a pit bull near Johnston City during a call in May. He required 20 stitches to his arm, leg and face before a neighbor shot the dog multiple times to stop the attack.
Barwick appeared before the Williamson County Board Tuesday to ask the commissioners to allow the officers to go through law enforcement firearms training to carry a weapon.
Barwick says he was virtually defenseless during the attack last month with only a control stick and a can of mace at his disposal.
Barwick says without the neighbor's intervention, he could have been killed. He admits this was a one in a thousand case, but Barwick believes animal control officers need more protection because their job puts them in dangerous situations at times.
The board plans to meet with the sheriff's office and the state's attorney's office to talk about the request.
