San Antonio city council strengthens aggressive dog enforcement in wake of fatal attack
Published: Sun, 08/20/23
San Antonio city council strengthens aggressive dog enforcement in wake of fatal attack
San Antonio city council strengthens aggressive dog enforcement in wake of fatal attack
(Getty Images)
News4 San Antonio
by SBG San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO- San Antonio city council members talked about their plans to beef up enforcement efforts for aggressive dogs in our city.
City officials are trying to tackle residential properties with a significant number of 911, 311, and non-emergency calls.
The proposed program and dog enforcement efforts stem directly from a west side home whose dogs were responsible for the brutal February 24th attack that killed an elderly man and sent several others to the hospital.
The two dogs involved in the attack and a third that had been loose at the time were all euthanized,
The owners were arrested for the felony charge of attack by a dangerous dog resulting in death and injury to an elderly person.
Many efforts have already been started to enhance enforcement to mitigate the hazards of bites, dangerous dogs, and aggressive animals.
ACS will cite owners criminally for bites that happen while the dog was unrestrained and off the owner's property. It's also implementing a new home quarantine policy for cases where a bite happens on the owner's property.
ACS is canvassing areas with a high density of bites and calls about aggressive dogs. They will talk with owners to ensure dogs aren't loose or a threat to the community.
The city has also worked with state legislators to enhance dangerous dog enforcement at the state level.
The bills proposed would increase the criminal penalty related to an attack by a dangerous dog, allow animal services to deem a dog dangerous without a victim’s affidavit, and allow victims to anonymously file a dangerous dog affidavit.
The city has also worked with state legislators to enhance dangerous dog enforcement at the state level.