South San Antonio News

San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) is making early impacts with its Strategic Plan, which aims to create safer neighborhoods and promote public safety. The plan, released by the City department, focuses on supporting a safe community and advancing community accountability.

As part of their commitment to public safety, SAACS has increased their Animal Care Officers by bringing on close to twenty additional officers. They are also planning to train a new group of cadets by the end of February. These officers will join the first responder and investigative teams who have already issued over 2,300 citations this fiscal year. Additionally, they have declared sixty-two dogs as Dangerous or Aggressive and have brought close to 11,000 animals into the shelter. SAACS has also made efforts to reunite lost pets with their owners, successfully returning 2,369 animals to their homes.

SAACS has also focused on providing resources for pet owners in need through their Community Animal Support and Assistance team (CASA). Since its establishment in 2022, CASA has helped 3,700 at-risk pets stay with their families by providing support and resources. They have also distributed nearly 6,000 tangible resources to local pet guardians, encouraging compliance and education among pet owners.

Recognizing the link between unsterilized pets, roaming animals, and public safety, SAACS is opening two additional affordable spay-neuter clinics in underserved areas of the community. This initiative is guided by a San Antonio "veterinary desert" map, which identifies areas in need of veterinary services. The budget funding for community pet sterilization opportunities has increased to over 1.6 million dollars annually.

The Animal Care Services Strategic Plan is a comprehensive city-sanctioned document that aims to balance animal care and control. It can be reviewed at SAACS.info/StrategicPlan.

In the pursuit of safer neighborhoods, SAACS is working towards empowering the community and promoting public safety. Through increased patrols, additional resources, and collaboration with pet owners, they are making early impacts on creating a safe community for all.