San Antonio City Council is reviewing a substantial budget boost for the Animal Care Services Department (ACS). The proposal would raise the department’s budget by 76% over the next four years, funding a new animal hospital at the Westside shelter, expanding free spay‑neuter clinics and adding more officers to answer resident calls about stray or dangerous animals.
Progress reported by ACS leadership
ACS Director John Gary told council members on Aug. 25 that the department has seen measurable improvements since the last funding increase. He cited higher response rates to public calls, fewer incidents involving deceased animals or road‑kill, and a decline in reports of stray or dangerous dogs.
Gary emphasized that ACS does not aim for a “no‑kill” status but uses a data‑driven prioritization system. Calls are triaged based on risk, and the department employs heat‑mapping to direct its Foxtrot team for targeted sweeps.
Council members weigh results
Councilman Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez, a longtime supporter of ACS funding, expressed disappointment that the city has not yet achieved a “no‑kill” shelter or eliminated roaming dogs. He warned that cutting back on the program could allow the stray‑animal problem to grow exponentially.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asked whether euthanizing more animals might be cheaper than expanding spay‑neuter services, highlighting the tension between cost concerns and humane practices.
From euthanasia to prevention
Two decades ago San Antonio euthanized roughly 50,000 animals annually, one of the highest rates in the nation. Today the city performs a comparable number of spay‑neuter surgeries each year, and about 88% of animals entering ACS are adopted or returned to owners.
Gary noted that the city’s free community spay‑neuter clinics, soon to be managed by a private partner capable of higher surgical throughput, are a key part of the new strategy. A new animal hospital is also slated to open by next year.
Looking ahead
The most recent study of stray dogs, conducted in 2019, estimated about 35,000 unrestrained dogs on San Antonio streets at any given time. ACS plans to commission a new study within the year to gauge the impact of the expanded budget.
Council members remain divided on how quickly the department should shift resources from live‑release efforts to more aggressive sweeps, but most agree that sustained investment is essential to curb a problem that can reproduce exponentially.
Budget timeline
- FY 2023: $21.4 million
- FY 2024: $28.5 million
- FY 2025: $32.3 million
- FY 2026: $33.6 million
- FY 2027 (proposed): $38 million
As the city tightens its belt elsewhere, the ACS budget increase reflects a commitment to humane, community‑focused animal welfare that aligns with public‑safety goals and responsible pet ownership.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
