ANIMAL CARE

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Animal Care Concerns in San Antonio: What's Going On?

San Antonio is dealing with some serious issues when it comes to animal care—especially when it comes to loose dogs, dangerous encounters, and frustrated residents.

Loose Dogs & Dog Attacks

In recent years, the number of dog attacks in the city has gone up, and in 2023, two tragic incidents really brought attention to the problem.

• In February, an 81-year-old man named Ramon Najera was killed by two pit bulls that got loose from their yard on the West Side.

• Then in October, another man died after being attacked in his own backyard by dogs that had escaped from a neighbor’s fenced-in area.

These heartbreaking events have made people more aware—and more concerned—about how the city is handling stray and aggressive animals.

What Are People Complaining About?

Every year, San Antonio's Animal Care Services (ACS) gets around 50,000 serious calls. These include reports of dangerous animals, neglect, abuse, and pets running loose. Unfortunately, the department has only been able to respond to about 44% of those calls—though they’re working to improve that number.

To make matters worse, serious dog bites—ones that cause things like broken bones or disfigurement—have gone up by 70% since 2018.

What’s the City Doing About It?

City leaders have started taking steps to improve things:

• More Funding and Staff: They're planning to boost the ACS budget by 26%, which would allow them to hire more staff to respond faster to emergency calls.

• Tougher Fines: If your dog gets out once, you’ll get a warning. But if it happens again, expect a $500 fine—and $750 for a third time.

• Spay and Neuter Rules: If your pet is found roaming loose, the city now requires it to be spayed or neutered. This helps cut down on overpopulation and future stray animals.

• Help for Pet Owners: The city is offering low-cost clinics and educational programs so owners can better care for their animals and prevent issues before they happen.

What More Can Be Done?

While current efforts are a step in the right direction, here are some additional ideas San Antonio could consider:

1. Dedicated Animal Response Teams in High-Need Areas: Focus more officers and resources in neighborhoods where the most complaints and attacks happen.

2. Public Reporting App: Create an easy-to-use mobile app where residents can quickly report loose animals, track follow-up, and get alerts about aggressive animals in their area.

3. Stray Animal Task Force: Form a city-county partnership with veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and law enforcement to target stray populations in a coordinated way.

4. Temporary Fencing Grants: Help low-income residents secure their yards with temporary fencing kits or grants to prevent dogs from escaping.

5. Neighborhood Watch-style Pet Patrols: Encourage residents to organize block groups that can monitor and report issues, while educating others about leash laws and pet safety.

6. Faster Legal Process for Dangerous Dogs: Speed up the legal process for declaring a dog dangerous and removing it from unsafe environments.

By combining enforcement, education, and community involvement, San Antonio can create a safer city for people—and a better life for animals too.