San Antonio’s Animal Care Services (ACS) announced a fresh study of the city’s free‑roaming dog population that will employ artificial‑intelligence (AI) technology to count and classify dogs more accurately than past human‑based surveys. The effort, set to begin at the end of October and run through December, revisits the same 32 neighborhoods examined in a 2019 citywide survey.
Why the new study matters
In 2019, ACS estimated roughly 34,600 free‑roaming dogs were present on San Antonio streets at any given time. That study found about 93% of the observed dogs appeared to have owners, suggesting most were pets that simply roamed. Since then, ACS data has shown a steady improvement: calls for stray or aggressive dogs have dropped, and the city recorded 5,332 deceased‑dog pickup requests in fiscal year 2026—the lowest number in a decade.
How AI will be used
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will mount smartphones to the windows of survey vehicles. Object‑detection software will scan video footage in real time, flagging canine shapes for further review. After the AI flags potential dogs, both automated systems and human analysts will assess each clip to determine whether the animal appears to be a stray or an owned pet, based on behavior and appearance.
Goals and expectations
ACS Director Jon Gary told the City Council’s Public Safety Committee that early tests showed the AI could spot animals that human observers missed. While the technology will not produce a full census, the side‑by‑side comparison with the 2019 data will give officials a clearer picture of trends over time.
Gary emphasized that the department’s existing metrics already point to progress. “When you look at the data, the data is showing that while we still have a long way to go, there are fewer free‑roaming dogs in the City of San Antonio,” he said.
Council response and next steps
City Council members asked whether the current pace of improvement is sufficient. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez called for a comprehensive master plan that would outline staffing, funding and other resources needed to dramatically reduce roaming dogs, asking, “What would it take to get to no stray roaming animals? Virtually none. How do we get to the smallest number possible?”
Councilwoman Sukh Kaur (District 1) echoed the call for stronger goals, noting that while response times have improved, other community‑wide metrics remain stagnant. “I want to see some really aggressive goals and plans to get there, and figuring out what all the puzzle pieces are to make sure that we can actually make that happen,” she said.
Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez assured the committee that staff will return with a detailed plan before the next budget cycle. The plan is expected to address potential expansions of spay‑and‑neuter services, staffing needs, and cost estimates to further curb the roaming‑dog issue.
What residents can expect
For San Antonio families and pet owners, the study promises more data‑driven decisions about animal‑control resources. By confirming that stray‑dog calls are decreasing, the city can allocate funds toward preventive measures—such as increased spay‑and‑neuter clinics—rather than solely reactive pickups.
Community members are encouraged to continue reporting stray‑dog sightings and to ensure pets are properly secured, helping the city maintain the positive trend highlighted by ACS.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
