The city of San Antonio’s animal control agency says several key indicators point toward improvement in the number of loose dogs moving through neighborhoods, even as officials concede that limited resources prevent a full response to every citizen report. Recent internal analysis shows drops in calls for roaming dogs, aggressive dog reports and physical shelter entries, offering a more hopeful picture than some residents perceive.
At the same time, staff shortages and constrained kennel space continue to shape which complaints get immediate attention. The agency has prioritized public-safety threats, while using data-driven methods to target areas with persistent problems.
What the numbers say
Animal Care Services (ACS) presented an updated set of performance data that includes several notable improvements. The report found a 9.3% decline in roaming dog calls for service, a 14.1% drop in stray dog intakes and an 18.1% decrease in aggressive dog calls overall. Through April, aggressive dog calls were down 10.1% compared with the same period the prior year.
In addition, ACS has increased its response to prioritized incidents: the department’s critical call response rate rose to 93.6%, up from 82.4%. ACS Director Jon Gary summarized the agency’s conclusion that these aggregated trends suggest fewer roaming and stray dogs in the community, while acknowledging that individual experiences may differ.
Changes in counting methodology
One factor affecting intake numbers is a revised approach to counting animals recorded as entering ACS custody. Previously, animals helped through diversion programs were included in intake figures even when they never arrived at the shelter. Starting in fiscal year 2026, intake statistics now include only animals physically brought onto the ACS campus.
Applying the revised definition produced a 7.7% reduction in overall shelter intake compared with the same time in fiscal year 2026, with dog intake down 11.3%. ACS leaders emphasized that even after adjusting for the new methodology, apples-to-apples comparisons across years still show declines in both stray and shelter intake.
How ACS responds and where limits show
City leaders raised concerns during a recent Public Safety Committee briefing that the public may not feel the same improvement reflected in the data. Council members repeatedly noted that many reports of loose dogs across district neighborhoods do not result in an officer visit.
Gary explained the agency’s triage: ACS focuses its limited workforce on the most urgent issues, including aggressive dog incidents, bite reports and cruelty investigations. For animals that are not injured, sick or presenting a public-safety risk, ACS will not always transport them to the facility when kennel space is unavailable.
Data-driven targeting and the Foxtrot team
To maximize impact with constrained resources, ACS collects call data and overlays it on heat maps to identify hotspots. A six-member sweeps unit known as Foxtrot targets those areas and conducts focused outreach and enforcement. Between Oct. 15 and May 15, the team responded to 3,756 calls, impounded 1,040 animals and issued 400 citations.
Over the first seven months of the fiscal year, ACS investigators handled 348 dangerous dog cases, classifying 88 animals as dangerous and 68 as aggressive, with 22 cases involving serious bodily injury. The city maintains a dangerous dog registry listing 207 dogs. In April alone, ACS worked 317 bite cases.
Council priorities and resource questions
Council members urged ACS to specify what additional resources would be required to respond to low-level roaming reports before they escalate into dangerous-dog investigations or bite incidents. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez argued the solution starts with responding to those early calls and pressed the department to identify concrete needs ahead of the upcoming budget cycle.
Gary responded that addressing more low-priority complaints is not a matter of hiring only more field officers. It would also require expanded kennel capacity, additional medical staff and personnel focused on adoptions and placement to manage the intake flow. McKee-Rodriguez noted ACS historically has been underfunded, citing that the department’s budget grew from about $15 million in 2026 to roughly $30 million today, but said more investment may still be necessary.
Enforcement, compliance and community information
Council discussion examined whether current enforcement tools and court processes are effective for dangerous-dog cases. Owners of dogs designated as dangerous must comply with strict requirements: maintaining a secure enclosure, carrying $100,000 in liability insurance, having the animal microchipped and sterilized, and submitting to annual inspections. By April, ACS reported an 82% compliance rate among dangerous-dog owners, slightly above the agency’s 80% target.
City officials also referenced the 2026 death of 81-year-old Ramon Najera, a West Side resident killed in a dog attack, as a continuing impetus behind heightened scrutiny of dangerous dog enforcement and owner accountability. Council members suggested improved public awareness, clearer guidance for victims on filing affidavits, and better transparency could help residents navigate the system.
Assistant City Manager David McCary told the committee the city is developing a district-level dashboard intended to show calls, responses and other performance details. “We’re not going to look the other way,” he said, promising continued work to reduce risks and improve public safety.