Video of dog being dragged at San Antonio Animal Care Services facility sparks outrage

San Antonio’s embattled Animal Care Services department is making headlines again, this time over a now-viral video that appears to show a since-fired employee using a leash to drag a rescued canine.

On Saturday, a temporary ACS employee was captured on video dragging an Alaskan husky named Hilo across the floor of the department’s West Side adoption facility, according to anonymous online poster who said they serve as a volunteer with the department.  

The person who shared the seven-second video to the San Antonio Urgents & Adoptables Facebook group also alleged the employee in question had an earlier record of mistreating ACS animals.

“This worker also hits cages and yells at these dogs,” the anonymous poster said in the Facebook group. “She was cussing at a momma dog who had been separated from her babies for feeding. She is always telling them to shut up. She seems so mean towards the dogs.”

The clip, which shows Hilo trembling in fear while being dragged, has garnered nearly 3,000 shares as of press time.

ACS didn’t respond to the Current’s questions about the video and the anonymous tipster’s allegations. However, the department said Sunday on social media that it’s since fired the employee.

“This unacceptable behavior goes against our values and commitment to humane animal care,” ACS wrote in its Facebook post. “Immediate action was taken, and the temporary worker was terminated.”

ACS also said Hilo is being transferred to a partner facility.

ACS has come under fire over the past two years as the city grappled with a series of grisly dog attacks, most notably the death of 81-year-old Ramon Najera Jr., who was killed by a pack of canines while visiting a friend’s West Side home. Critics also accused the agency of not responding to calls from concerned residents.

Last month, newly appointed ACS director Jonathon Gary, in his first press conference, maintained that bad pet owners are responsible for San Antonio’s dangerous dog problem — a claim some animal advocates argue was meant to deflect from his department’s record.

“It really falls back on the owners being responsible,” Gary told reporters. “Nothing that happens here is the fault of our staff.”

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This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2025.