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Animal Care Services says department is halfway to meeting 2024 critical call response time goals

Goal is to respond to 64% of critical calls in fiscal year 2024

SAN ANTONIO – After the City of San Antonio approved a record budget increase for Animal Care Services, the department shared data showing its progress toward meeting its goals.

The budget bump came after several notable dog attacks, including one that led to the death of an elderly man.

ACS laid out several goals tied to an increase in funding, which includes increasing its response time on critical calls for service to 100% by fiscal year 2025.

  • FY 2023 - 44%
  • FY 2024 - 64%
  • FY 2025 - 100%

During a Tuesday morning meeting, ACS said its response rate to critical calls has increased to 52%.

“We’re about halfway there,” said ACS assistant director Brad Davenport.

Several council members, including District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, want to see more growth.

“A strategic plan is a start, but we really need to amp this up if we’re gonna make a change here,” she said.

Taxpayers are glad to see some improvements.

“I’d like them to be at 60 or more,” said dog owner Linda Espinosa. “But at least they’ve got a goal and they’re shooting for the goal, so I think that’s a good thing. But I don’t know how much more money they could put into the budget and how many more cases they can actually follow up with.”

For a complete breakdown of ACS’ FY 2024 goals, click here.


About the Authors
Daniela Ibarra headshot

Daniela Ibarra joined the KSAT News team in July 2023. This isn’t her first time in the KSAT newsroom– the San Antonio native spent the summer of 2017 as an intern. Daniela is a proud Mean Green alum, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas.

Ken Huizar headshot

Before starting at KSAT in August 2011, Ken was a news photographer at KENS. Before that he was a news photographer at KVDA TV in San Antonio. Ken graduated from San Antonio College with an associate's degree in Radio, TV and Film. Ken has won a Sun Coast Emmy and four Lone Star Emmys. Ken has been in the TV industry since 1994.

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