San Antonio councilmember takes aim at loose dogs
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San Antonio could sterilize loose dogs and offer protections to neighbors who report "dangerous" dogs under a new set of policy proposals unveiled this week.
Why it matters: The proposals are the latest response to two fatal canine attacks last year that left the public stunned and put pressure on the city's Animal Care Services to prevent something similar from happening again.
The big picture: San Antonio has long had a problem with roaming animals and a low rate of pet sterilization.
- A 2019 study found that, at any given time, there were 34,636 unrestrained dogs in the city — and that the large majority have owners.
- Plus, only about 30% of owned animals in the city are sterilized, according to ACS.
- That combination of factors leads to an overflow of animals in San Antonio and a city shelter that has been bursting at the seams and euthanizing more animals.
The latest: District 7 Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito stood with the families of victims of canine attacks in announcing her three requests for the City Council on Wednesday. They are to:
- Increase the fines for owners of dogs repeatedly found running loose, to $500 for a second offense and $750 thereafter. The current fines are a minimum of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $300 for a third.
- Ask ACS to spay or neuter any canine found roaming before releasing the animal, at cost to the owner.
- Begin a pseudonym program to protect the identity of people who file dangerous or "aggressive" dog affidavits.
Context: Spaying or neutering dogs before releasing them would mark a major shift for ACS, which does not currently sterilize owned animals.
Flashback: Gov. Greg Abbott last year vetoed legislation from San Antonio lawmakers that would have created an anonymous reporting process for dangerous dogs, among other changes.
What they're saying: Beatrice De Los Santos — whose husband Max underwent more than a dozen surgeries and lost both his legs after an attack last year — said the changes are "reasonable" and could prevent more injuries and deaths.
- "We need to wake up and take action, especially if it's within our control," De Los Santos said.
Family members and Alderete Gavito placed responsibility on dog owners.
- "The majority of dog-related issues can be traced back to irresponsible dog owners, so we need to hold them accountable before tragedy repeats itself," Alderete Gavito said.
Zoom out: The number of severe canine bites in San Antonio rose nearly 50% in a recent four-year period, News 4 reported.
Reality check: City Council proposals typically move slowly and can change along the way. It takes months, sometimes years, before the city enacts anything.
Yes, but: Recent changes mean that proposals should be taken up by a council committee within two months. Alderete Gavito hopes that will speed things up.
- She says her office worked with the city manager, City Attorney's Office and ACS to address questions about the legality and capacity of ACS to perform more sterilizations.
Raymond Najera, whose father, Ramon Najera, died in February last year in a dog attack that shocked the city, said he owes it to his father to keep pushing for changes.
- "Maybe my father was there for a reason," Najera tells Axios.