Nicholas Beintema of Cibolo is refusing a city order to sterilize his 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, Drako, after two impoundments for running loose. The dispute pits a veteran owner against Cibolo Animal Control Services and touches off wider concerns about how the city handles repeat loose dogs and animal welfare complaints involving Officer Monique Mora, the dog Butter, and residents like Jordan Campos and Patricia May. This standoff has neighbors, officials and animal advocates debating mandatory sterilization rules across nearby cities and whether enforcement is fair or heavy-handed.

Beintema says he will not comply with Cibolo’s demand to neuter Drako after the dog was picked up twice for escaping the yard. He adopted Drako from a couple in the Hill Country and describes him as clever and restless. “He’s super smart but also can be a pain in the butt,” Beintema said, noting the dog’s talent for slipping out of his backyard.

Neighbors and social media have tracked Drako’s jailbreaks with photos and posts, and Beintema admits his dog became well known around the block. “Eventually, he was kind of renowned in the neighborhood because he would get out,” he said, which is exactly why Cibolo Animal Control issued the order after a second capture. The agency gave a written notice requiring neutering within 30 days, citing the city ordinance that applies when a dog is impounded twice for running loose.

Beintema disputes the fairness of the rule and says one of the captures actually happened after Drako slipped out while at the animal control building. “I don’t think I should be told to have my dog neutered or spayed because he got out twice,” he said, and he’s pushed back so firmly that Cibolo animal control left a voicemail pressing for proof. “We’re calling to make sure Drako has gotten neutered at this time, and we will need proof of that by the end of today,” an officer said in the message Beintema shared with reporters.

Mandatory sterilization after impoundment isn’t unique to Cibolo, but it’s far from uniform across the region. Cities take different stances on when and whether to force the procedure, and that patchwork leaves owners puzzled about what to expect. The varying rules matter when an owner claims due process or argues the city’s approach punishes them rather than solving root problems like fences or training.

• Cibolo: Requires sterilization after a second incident of a dog running loose
• Schertz: Requires sterilization after the first incident
• San Antonio: Also mandates sterilization after the first incident; Animal Care Services (ACS) may perform the procedure
• Universal City: Only requires sterilization if a dog is deemed aggressive or dangerous
• Live Oak: Has no sterilization ordinance

When asked about Beintema’s case, Cibolo officials first declined to comment because of personnel considerations and later warned the owner he could face more citations if violations continue. “We recognize the community’s concern regarding the dog involved,” the city wrote in a statement explaining the ordinances are intended to encourage responsible ownership and keep animals from roaming. That rationale comforts some residents but angers others who see sterilization orders as an overreach when confinement or behavioral fixes might do the trick.

The disagreement over Drako is happening amid fresh scrutiny of Cibolo Animal Services after a dog named Butter suffered severe injuries and was euthanized following a capture attempt. The incident and the department’s response drew public anger and a police inquiry into Officer Monique Mora’s handling of the animal. Records show a police investigation recommended a short suspension and extra training, but those findings were later reversed by the police chief, and Mora remained on the job.

At a recent city council meeting, Butter’s owner, Jordan Campos, described the dog’s injuries and demanded accountability. “These are the injuries of a dog who was beaten,” Campos said, and other speakers echoed frustration with the agency. Patricia May told officials, “I will not be an advocate of this shelter any more,” signaling waning community trust that complicates cases like Beintema’s.

Cibolo Animal Services posted that Mora remains employed and insisted the agency is committed to safety through education and enforcement while caring for animals. But residents who watched council debates and reviewed the public records say trust will be slow to return unless the city shows clearer standards and safer handling practices. Meanwhile, Beintema stands firm that Drako won’t be neutered by mandate and says he will keep fighting what he views as an unfair intrusion into how he cares for his dog.