โAir of compromiseโ: Abortion travel fund, mental health teams among proposed city budget tweaks
Expanding a popular mental health team, creating a fund to help cover travel to out-of-state abortion clinics, and giving more money for Animal Care Services were among the most high-profile changes council members discussed making to the budget - largely favorably.
San Antonio ACS mistakenly euthanized two dogs with rescue holds
Faced with a flood of strays and other animals they need to take in, the City of San Antonio's Animal Care Services euthanizes hundreds of animals every month. They often do it to make room, but KSAT's Garrett Brnger tells us two dogs did have somewhere to go.
More police, ACS officers, homeless camp cleanups in proposed $3.7 billion San Antonio budget
The City of San Antonio is expected to grow its budget to a whopping $3.7 billion this year as it pumps up its Animal Care Service budget, makes the biggest increase to its police department this side of the millennium, and funds hundreds more homeless camp cleanups.
Abandoned dogs turned dangerous, now attacking cats in far West Side neighborhoods
Residents in the Timber Ridge and Tara neighborhoods are asking for Animal Care Services to do more after dogs continue to roam the area after being abandoned for over two weeks. Neighbors told KSAT they're now attacking pet cats to survive.
City plans increased dog enforcement, program to tackle nuisance neighbors following deadly mauling
The proposed program and dog enforcement efforts stem directly from a West Side home whose dogs were responsible for the brutal Feb. 24 attack that killed an elderly man and sent several others to the hospital.
This map shows active service requests for Animal Care Services in San Antonio
Did you know you can check on the status of your call Animal Care Services-related call to 311 through the cityโs website? An interactive map plots every call with an open status and there are hundreds, if not thousands of open requests.
ACS: Dogs euthanized after deadly mauling had bitten people before
The three dogs were all surrendered by the owner and euthanized by ACS. Norwood said the trio had a previous history of at least three confirmed biting incidents between them, and possibly a fourth. However, not each dog was involved in every incident, she said.
Share your questions about and experiences with aggressive and/or stray dogs in San Antonio
So, we want to know โ what questions do you have about dealing with the problem of aggressive and/or stray dogs in San Antonio? What are your experiences with aggressive dogs in the city? And what solutions do you think the city should try?
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Easter reminder: Itโs illegal to buy, sell or dye chicks, ducklings, baby rabbits in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO โ While chicks, ducklings and baby rabbits could make your Easter celebration cuter, it is illegal to buy, sell or dye them in San Antonio. Animal Care Services is reminding locals that the sale of baby animals as holiday novelties is illegal in San Antonio. โIt is illegal for any person to sell or offer for sale, barter, lease, rent or give away baby chicks or ducklings or rabbits less than 8 weeks old as pets or novelties,โ the cityโs animal laws state. Itโs also against the law to dye or stain baby chicks, ducklings or rabbits, or even have animals that have been colored, according to ACS. The only exception to the โEaster animalโ law applies to licensed hatcheries or businesses raising the animals for commercial purposes.
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Big cats seized from Bexar County home were not properly cared for, San Antonio zoo says
Fish & Wildlife are investigating the recent cases involving big cats seized and spotted in Bexar County-area neighborhoods this month. The big cats taken by authorities were not in good health, said Tim Morrow, president and CEO of the San Antonio Zoo. Thatโs not normal.โAdThe animals will be cared for by the San Antonio Zoo until they are sent to an animal sanctuary, Morrow said. A month ago, a tiger cub was also taken from a home in southwest Bexar County. If enacted, the bill would make it illegal to own tiger petting facilities and exotic big cats.
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Dog reunited with family thanks to ACS Facebook volunteers; hereโs how you can help other lost pets
SAN ANTONIO โ Animal Care Services announced a new program on Monday to help reunite pet owners with lost animals by using the power of social media. ACS officials are calling the effort โThe ACS Lost & Found Pet Network,โ a closed Facebook group that reviews digital flyers of pets brought into the municipal shelter and cross-referenced with the pets in the care of ACS staff. Gypsyโs family was able to send the group a message and was reunited with her, marking the groupโs first successful reunion. AdโGypsy is our first official reunion and weโre thrilled, said Lisa Norwood, ACSโ public relations and outreach manager. Currently, the group has close to 100 members, however, the group is always looking for new partners.
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Elsa, the tiger rescued in Bexar County, now at home in Northeast Texas sanctuary
She has settled in, sheโs comfortable, sheโs playing, sheโs exploring.โThe six-month-old cub, weighing 79 pounds, also is now on a proper diet with more of the nutrients she needs. Almrud said sheโs just grateful that Elsa was rescued just as frigid weather was bearing down. Although itโs illegal to have a tiger in Bexar County, the people who had Elsa only face a misdemeanor. In Texas, SB 641 will be re-introduced this year that was stalled in committee during the last legislative session. She said it would prohibit the private possession of dangerous wild animals that is still legal in much of Texas.
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Time is ticking for pet owners looking for animals lost in winter storm last week
SAN ANTONIO โ During the unprecedented winter weather last week, many animals were lost or left out in the cold, and the small team at Animal Care Services was able to save hundreds of animals. Joe Hernandez waited in line outside ACS on Monday afternoon, hoping to reunite with his two dogs, which he lost during the storm. โThe biggest thing about a microchip is knowing the microchip number. Allan said a skeleton crew braved frigid temperatures and bad road conditions to respond to nonstop calls for abandoned and lost animals. If you have lost your pet, Allan says you should do the following:As for Hernandez, heโs been assured his dogs are waiting patiently for him.
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ACS officer hailed hero after rescuing dog stuck on roof of San Antonio College building
An Animal Care Services officer is being hailed a hero after rescuing a dog that was stuck on the roof of a three-story building on San Antonio Collegeโs campus. (Credit: ACS)SAN ANTONIO โ An Animal Care Services officer is being hailed a hero after rescuing a dog that was stuck on the roof of a three-story building on San Antonio Collegeโs campus during this weekโs snow storm. The incident happened Thursday evening when a caller told ACS they had spotted the dog on the building, according to ACS officials. More college officers assisted Vasquez as they tried to guide the dog to safety. AdThe dog was able to be safely rescued and Vazquez brought her down five flights of stairs, taking her to safety, according to ACS.
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Puppy found abandoned in box outside San Antonio animal shelter finds forever home
A puppy that was found abandoned, in a box, outside of Animal Care Services last month has now found her forever home! SAN ANTONIO โ A puppy that was found abandoned in a box outside of Animal Care Services last month has now found her forever home. As of Thursday, the animal shelter said she had officially been adopted by โa loving family she deserves,โ according to ACSโs Facebook post. That same day, Animal Defense... Posted by City of San Antonio Animal Care Services on Thursday, February 11, 2021Kelly was found on Jan. 7 in a box outside of ACSโs front gate before being rescued. RELATED: Puppy safe after found abandoned in box outside San Antonio animal shelter, ACS says
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San Antonio animal shelters will discount dog, cat adoptions for Valentineโs Day weekend
SAN ANTONIO โ Looking for love in all the wrong places? Two San Antonio shelters, Animals Care Services and San Antonio Humane Society are offering pet adoptions at a discounted rate this Valentineโs Day. AdThose wishing to adopt an animal from ACS, located at 4710 State Highway 151, can make an appointment here. The San Antonio Humane Society, located at 4804 Fredericksburg Road, will have its no-contact adoption special from Wednesday through Tuesday. Potential adopters will still be screened by the Humane Society.
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San Antonio pet owners who leave animals unprotected outside during freezing weather could face $300+ fine
SAN ANTONIO โ With an arctic airmass plunging into South Texas this week, Animal Care Services is reminding San Antonio pet owners to protect their animals as the shelter has a โzero toleranceโ policy. ACS said it is best to keep pets, especially cats, indoors during these cold-weather events. If pet owners are unable to place them indoors, they could purchase or build an insulated dog house or protective enclosure for the outdoors. Owners who do not cooperate with ACS officers in sheltering a pet could face a fine, which generally start at $300 per violation. A City of San Antonio ordinance states a suitable shelter for a pet must include walls, a roof and an elevated floor.
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There are likely more tigers in captivity than in the wild, Humane Society of the United States says
Even though captive tigers are a โserious threat,โ the Humane Society of the United States said there are likely more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild across the world. โThe Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping tigers and other wild animals as pets,โ she said. Hereโs an expanded list of prohibited animals in Bexar County, according to an order from the Commissioners Court:Prohibited animals in Bexar County, according to an order from the Commissioners Court. AdNorwood said more than 15 years have passed since ACS last helped retrieve a tiger from a San Antonio home. Those include game wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the San Antonio Zoo or different animal sanctuaries.