San Antonio’s Animal Care Services up for 26% funding boost in new budget

Following a string of high-profile dog attacks, the City of San Antonio has proposed a steep funding increase for its Animal Control Services unit.

Under the proposed 2024 budget presented to city council Aug. 10, ACS would receive $27 million, a 26% boost from the prior fiscal year’s funding and the largest percentage increase for any city department. The overall budget — the largest in San Antonio history — is up 9% year over year.

ACS wants to use the new funding to hire 15 additional animal-care officers to improve its response to dog-attack calls, according to the Express-News.

The boost in ACS funding — a small part of the city’s proposed $3.7 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year — comes after a string of vicious dog attacks that made national headlines.

In February, 81-year-old Air Force Veteran Ramon Najera  Jr. was mauled to death by pit bulls while visiting a friend’s house on the West Side. Months later, a San Antonio woman was hit by a car after she was chased into the street by a loose dog.

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This article appears in Aug 9-22, 2023.