San Antonio Residents Grapple With Unaddressed Stray Dog Issues Despite Frequent Reports

San Antonio Residents Struggle with Persistent Stray Dog Problem

Residents in San Antonio are expressing growing frustration towards increasing incidents of stray and roaming dogs in various neighborhoods, despite following municipal guidance for addressing the issue.

Frustration and Fear on the Rise Among Residents

Individuals across the city of San Antonio are reporting rising sentiments of anger and fear, feeling seemingly powerless despite their attempts to alert local authorities by calling 311, furnishing online reports, and capturing photographs of stray dogs. Yolanda Garza, one resident experiencing the issue first-hand, explained the sense of trepidation among locals in March, detailing how pedestrians have resorted to arming themselves with sticks for protection while taking walks through the city streets.

A Cycle of Neglect?

Garza and other residents claim to be trapped in a relentless cycle where their repeated reports result in insufficient action from Animal Care Services (ACS). Several years ago, Garza claimed she spoke directly to ACS Director Shannon Sims about the problem, resulting in an immediate response. However, she laments that the same level of swift action seems to have disappeared in recent times.

Solutions Lacking Despite Efforts

In response to these increasing concerns, Sims explained that the main types of reports ACS receives involve stray animals. However, due to manpower and structural limitations, ACS is primarily responding to aggressive dog calls where animals are actively causing issues. This leaves residents feeling neglected, despite constant reports of roaming canines.

The Need for Longer-Term Solutions

Residents have expressed a shared sense of despair and confusion over the ongoing problem when considering the city’s recent funding influxes to ACS. Last fiscal year, the ACS received a record budget increase and acquired 16 new officers. Despite this, residents like Garza still face problems with stray dogs on a daily basis. They are demanding clarity about the allocation of the budget and the lag in tangible results on the ground.

Call to Action for the City

Garza’s message to fellow residents experiencing these issues is to persist in reporting the stray dogs. As for the city, Garza calls upon the ACS to prove the distressed citizens wrong by taking effective action.

How to Report a Stray Dog in San Antonio

To report a stray dog, San Antonio residents can use the city’s website to submit photos and locate the animal. Detailed descriptions of observed behavior, any information on potential owners, and the caller’s phone number are encouraged to improve the responsiveness of authorities. Meanwhile, a survey is due this summer by ACS to help estimate the population count of stray and roaming dogs in the city.