‘Pseudonym program’ for Reporting Dangerous Dogs Proposed to Curb Fear of Retaliation

San Antonio Discusses Ideas Against Loose and Dangerous Dogs

In an effort to increase reports and reduce the risk of dog attacks, San Antonio leaders are reconsidering the method for reporting potentially dangerous dogs. As it currently stands, reporting an aggressive dog requires the submission of an affidavit, complete with the reporter’s name. Recognizing that fear of retaliation may hinder individuals from reporting, city leaders have proposed a new method. As part of a progressive move, District 7 Councilwoman, Marina Alderete Gavito, has proposed a Council Consideration Request (CCR) that would allow citizens to replace their real name with a pseudonym, or fictitious name, during reporting.

A Police Officer’s Inspiration

The pseudonym program was actually inspired by a local police officer. Gavito shared that the officer brought her attention to the need for a safer, more discreet means of reporting dangerous dogs. She stressed that urgent measures were necessary to minimize further attacks, a sentiment strongly echoed at a recent press conference.

Earlier Legislation Attempts

Last year, a similar program was proposed at the state level by State Senator Jose Menendez and State Representative Liz Campos. Their law would have sanctioned anonymous affidavits. However, in spite of having support from both houses, the proposed law was vetoed by Governor, Greg Abbott. The lawmakers’ motivation came from neighbor accounts of threats from dog owners, particularly, reports of retaliation.

Najera’s Retaliation Case

An infamous incident involved Ramon Najera and his wife, Janie, who were attacked by a loose dog in their Southwest neighborhood. A witness to the attack faced retaliation from the dog owners. In fact, Destiny Marie Cardona, sister of one of the dog owners currently facing charges for the attack, was arrested for threatening the witness. Cardona awaits her trial while on bond for the offense. Councilwoman Campos underscored the importance of protecting those who report dangerous animal behavior.

Controversy Over Pseudonym Program Proposal

When the idea of anonymous affidavits was previously raised, it led to a discourse revolving around the alteration of court processes. When questioned whether he anticipated similar pushback to the pseudonym program, Gavito shared insight into how viable this suggestion could be at municipal level, and why the previous proposal failed. She highlighted an urgent need for a more widely accepted measure to report loose and dangerous dogs.

Better Public Safety Measures Can Encourage Reporting

The introduction of a pseudonym program could potentially increase the likelihood of individuals reporting dangerous dogs without the fear of retaliation. Melissa Cabello Havrda, another councilwoman, who also chairs the Public Safety Committee, stated that a pseudonym program could be a game-changer for public safety. Both state leaders remain advocates for the necessary improvements to paperwork processes and pet ownership standards to reduce dog attacks.

Next Steps in Implementation

As reported, the pseudonym proposal falls under a larger Council Consideration Request, which is set to be presented before various committees and then to the full council. Meanwhile, State law and City code continue to define a dangerous dog as one who has made an unprovoked attack on a person resulting in injury, or whose actions cause a person to reasonably believe an attack is imminent. The incident must occur outside the dog’s secure enclosure. Efforts to institute the pseudonym reporting system are ongoing in a bid to increase public safety.