San Antonio’s Animal Care Services (ACS) anticipates returning approximately 4,800 impounded pets to owners without having been neutered by the end of the fiscal year 2024. This revelation during a City Council briefing raised concerns among officials, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, about the city’s efforts to reduce stray and roaming animals.
The city currently funds 40,000 free or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries annually and has allocated additional funds in this year’s budget to expand capacity with two new clinics. Despite these efforts, Nirenberg emphasized the need to prioritize addressing unsterilized roaming animals, which pose risks to public safety.
One proposed change under consideration is a requirement for ACS to sterilize impounded animals before returning them to owners, a practice already implemented in other Texas cities. However, ACS leaders cited current capacity limitations at the city shelter, where a new animal hospital is planned for completion by 2027.
In the interim, ACS issues sterilization agreements to pet owners, requiring them to ensure their animals are spayed or neutered within 30 days of reclaiming them if found roaming unrestrained.
This discussion underscores ongoing efforts and challenges in managing San Antonio’s animal population and promoting responsible pet ownership.
