ANIMAL CARE SERVICES

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.

Local dog owners will soon be able to top off vaccines for their furry friends.

Two abandoned dogs are causing concerns in a Northwest Side neighborhood. Residents are now urging Animal Care Services to pick up the pups for their safety and the dogs'.

A group of puppies were found trapped in a crate and abandoned at a Southeast Side park. Now, they’re looking for their forever homes, according to Animal Care Services.

A city-controlled spay and neuter clinic on the South Side is expected to reopen this summer after months of decreased or non-existent operations.

The Animal Care Services is asking for donations like blankets and food as they are expecting an influx of puppies and kittens.

It was like a scene out of a movie — a young Labrador that would soon be named “Lucky” was trapped on an active railroad track and unable to free himself.

It was like a scene out of a movie — a young Labrador that would soon be named “Lucky” was trapped on an active railroad track and unable to free himself.

Animal Care Services started an overnight shift nearly a year ago. Officers on that shift see everything from bats, to dogs and cats, to snakes.

A cat who made his way onto an Interstate 10 overpass earlier this month is now back with his family.

A cat was rescued from a steep canal at Woodlawn Lake earlier this week. Now, she’s ready to find her forever home, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services.

The San Antonio City Council appears ready to throw Animal Care Services a bone.

The son of the man killed by a dog last month confronted Animal Care Service during an advisory board meeting on Wednesday night.

Bridges, the cat, is now in recovery after being rescued from the ledge of an interstate overpass Friday, according to Animal Care Services.

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.

Did you know you can check on the status of your call Animal Care Services-related call to 311 through the city’s website? An interactive map plots every call with an open status and there are hundreds, if not thousands of open requests.

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.

So, we want to know — 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?

A San Antonio woman was recently reunited with her beloved pet a full 7 years after he disappeared.

A horse was caught “stirring up” trouble in the Beacon Hill neighborhood early Friday and he hasn’t been reunited with his owners yet, according to Animal Care Services.

City of San Antonio animal shelter officials say rates of a highly contagious, potentially deadly, disease are on the rise in local dogs.

If you’ve driven around some parts of San Antonio, you may have noticed many apparent stray dogs. However, according to Animal Care Services, some of them could very well have owners.

Three puppies were found in a ditch during the recent wintry weather in San Antonio, cold, wet and covered in ticks, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services.

As temperatures drop, the number of calls regarding animal neglect or abuse cases has increased.

ACS responded to a home on the city’s West Side and rescued nearly a dozen dogs who were left chained outside in freezing temperatures without proper shelter.

People who dress in Western wear can adopt an animal for free.

A pony was taken in by Animal Care Services, but not before stirring up trouble and treating himself to a night on the town on the West Side.

A San Antonio man found a rare, furry creature clinging to his front porch.

A litter of orphaned puppies are recovering from injuries after being hit by a lawn mower.

A 3-month-old pug that was stolen several weeks ago in San Antonio was reunited with her family after police discovered her in “unsanitary conditions,” according to Animal Care Services.

Why did a chicken cross the road on the East Side? Apparently, to find his new forever home.

Animal Care Services and DaisyCares are teaming up to hold a pet food drive for the holidays.

Animal Care Services has the only officer training academy in the nation that offers people who enjoy animals a chance to learn how to work with them and educate the community on taking care of them properly.

San Antonio Animal Care Services is asking anyone who is interested in fostering or adopting a new furry friend to do so, as time is of the essence for nearly 15 of its animals.

The Animal Care Services is now caring for a goat that was recently found wandering in a San Antonio neighborhood.

A North Side park had a very unlikely visitor early last week -- a 50-pound African Spurred Tortoise -- and it’s still unclear how it got there.

A 56-year-old San Antonio man who was caught on camera punching and kicking his young Rottweiler on the front porch of his home was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

San Antonio Animal Care Services says officers are seeing the number of pet neglect complaints related to heat increase as the Alamo City experiences record-high temperatures this summer.

San Antonio Pets Alive! is a last-chance rescue organization that takes in animals that are at risk of euthanasia at San Antonio’s Animal Care Services. Right now, all three of SAPA!’s locations are full.

A San Antonio family had even more reason to celebrate the Fourth of July after their dog that had been missing for nearly a year was found safe.

A big “Empty the Shelters” animal adoption event is taking place across the United States and more than 20 Texas shelters are taking part.

San Antonio Pets Alive! is a last-chance rescue organization that takes in animals that are at risk of euthanasia at San Antonio’s Animal Care Services. Right now, all three of SAPA!’s locations are full.

Bonnie, the lovable Australian Shepherd puppy that was abandoned at Animal Care Services while covered in urine, dirt and feces with her mouth bound shut, is still recovering from her injuries.

San Antonio Pets Alive! is a last-chance rescue organization that takes in animals that are at risk of euthanasia at San Antonio’s Animal Care Services. Right now, all three of SAPA!’s locations are full.

Animal Care Service is investigating after a woman on the East Side reported her chihuahua was attacked by a pack of loose dogs

SNIPSA offered free spay and neutering for hundreds of animals in select ZIP codes during its 53rd Big Fix event.

An increase in owner-surrendered pets is overrunning local rescues and putting a strain on Animal Care Services.

Four kittens were left on the side of a road, hungry and cold, inside a small box in a brown paper bag late last week.

A big “Empty the Shelters” animal adoption event is taking place nationally to reduce the risk of overcrowding, and San Antonio shelters are taking part.

If you want to celebrate Fiesta with a new furry friend, a few San Antonio pet shelters are offering adoption specials this weekend.

Inflation doesn’t stop at the gas pump or the grocery store; records with the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that it also affects Fido, too.

Nearly 100 dogs and several cats in search of their forever families took to the skies early Saturday out of San Antonio and on to northern state animal shelters.

A rabies-infected fox had contact with someone in Kerrville last week, making it the second rabies case this year in Kerr County.

A pup named Fred has a whole new “leash” on life, all thanks to some H-E-B employees and shoppers who helped rescue him on a cold wintry night after he was struck by a vehicle.

San Antonio Animal Care Services is offering insight into what could happen if you take in a stray.

Animal Care Services and the Animal Defense League are partnering to provide free wellness clinics for pets in some of San Antonio’s underserved neighborhoods.

Winter weather is approaching San Antonio and Animal Care Services is reminding pet owners to bring in their four-legged friends before the freeze.

A San Antonio animal shelter had double the trouble after picking up a pair of pigs that were found roaming freely in city limits.

After missing for six long years, a cat has finally been reunited with her San Antonio family, thanks to a local animal shelter.

It’s not every day that you see a dog at school, but for one eager pup in San Antonio, he just couldn’t wait to get an education.

Two sheep in San Antonio got themselves into a baaaaaad situation after roaming free near an area highway and leading officers on a chase, according to Animal Care Services.

K9s for Warriors is a nonprofit organization that partners service dogs with veterans to help treat service-connected trauma like PTSD.

City of San Antonio Animal Care Services is hosting an emergency adoption event this week in hopes of relieving the overcrowding at the shelter.

One San Antonio animal shelter is in desperate need of fosters to help provide overnight care for several of its bottle-fed kittens.

Looking to find your fur-ever friend? San Antonio Animal Care Services has you covered.

It’s a new beginning for a San Antonio dog owner and his labrador after being reunited for the first time in 10 years.

More than 130 pets from Cedar Creek, Athens and Bexar County are headed to the East Coast in search of their forever homes after they were put on a flight early Wednesday morning.

The Animal Care Services is holding a special on cat and kitten adoptions due to “an ongoing influx.”

It’s almost National Adopt-a-Shelter Cat month (June), but San Antonio’s Animal Care Services is celebrating early with the Kittypoolooza event.

Animal Care Services is seeking foster parents and donations amid an influx of puppies and kittens the shelter has recently received.

The Animal Care Services and BISSELL Pet Foundation are partnering for an Empty the Shelters adoption event this weekend in an effort to pair dogs and cats with families.

It’s a purr-fect family reunion!

Peacocks and parakeets - the two birds you might not have known live in the Alamo City.

San Antonio’s Animal Care Services is adding a new tool to its website to help families reconnect with lost pets.

SAN ANTONIO – 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. “It 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,” the city’s animal laws state. It’s 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 “Easter animal” law applies to licensed hatcheries or businesses raising the animals for commercial purposes.

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. That’s not normal.”AdThe 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.

SAN ANTONIO – 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 “The ACS Lost & Found Pet Network,” 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. Gypsy’s family was able to send the group a message and was reunited with her, marking the group’s first successful reunion. Ad“Gypsy is our first official reunion and we’re thrilled, said Lisa Norwood, ACS’ public relations and outreach manager. Currently, the group has close to 100 members, however, the group is always looking for new partners.

She has settled in, she’s comfortable, she’s playing, she’s exploring.”The six-month-old cub, weighing 79 pounds, also is now on a proper diet with more of the nutrients she needs. Almrud said she’s just grateful that Elsa was rescued just as frigid weather was bearing down. Although it’s 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.

SAN ANTONIO – 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. “The 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, he’s been assured his dogs are waiting patiently for him.

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 College’s campus. (Credit: ACS)SAN ANTONIO – 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 College’s campus during this week’s 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.

A puppy that was found abandoned, in a box, outside of Animal Care Services last month has now found her forever home! SAN ANTONIO – 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 “a loving family she deserves,” according to ACS’s 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 ACS’s front gate before being rescued. RELATED: Puppy safe after found abandoned in box outside San Antonio animal shelter, ACS says

SAN ANTONIO – 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 Valentine’s 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.

SAN ANTONIO – 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 “zero tolerance” 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.

Even though captive tigers are a “serious threat,” the Humane Society of the United States said there are likely more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild across the world. “The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping tigers and other wild animals as pets,” she said. Here’s 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.

We don’t have a credible location for the tiger just yet,” said Shannon Sims, interim director for ACS. “I was searching, and then my little cousin was like, ‘I think that is a tiger over there,’” Cruz said. However, in the city of San Antonio, they are forbidden.”Sims said there is a reason why these kinds of animals are forbidden in the city. Rob Coke, director of veterinary care with the San Antonio Zoo, agrees, saying tigers are unpredictable. “There are many cases out there where people have tigers because they are so cute at first,” Coke said.

SAN ANTONIO – An investigation is still underway by Animal Care Services after receiving reports of a loose tiger cub on the Southwest Side. Authorities were notified of the incident around 3:55 p.m., Friday, when a homeowner in the 8600 block of Elk Runner claimed she saw the tiger cub walking around in her backyard. Officers went to her home and by then, the tiger cub had left the scene. Soon after, authorities were able to contact another homeowner, who claimed he had the tiger cub at his residence, officials said. The man told police the tiger cub was from another address in the area and that it was at his home for a few hours so he could show his family.

Two Animal Care Services officers are being hailed heroes for saving the life of a small kitten who was found “frantically crying” inside of a drainage inlet earlier this week. SAN ANTONIO – Two Animal Care Services officers are being hailed heroes for saving the life of a small kitten who was found “frantically crying” inside of a drainage inlet earlier this week. Officer Colon and Officer Winckler received a call about a small kitten frantically crying inside a drainage inlet. The drain itself was six feet deep; however, the officers were still equipped to handle the rescue, the animal shelter said. RELATED: Puppy safe after found abandoned in box outside San Antonio animal shelter, ACS says

SAN ANTONIO – An employee with Animal Care Services fired last year after leaving a euthanized dog in a transport vehicle has lost his bid to be reinstated, according to Human Resources records provided to the KSAT 12 Defenders. The deceased dog remained in the mule for nearly 24 hours, according to city records. The commission unanimously recommended that Perez’s termination be upheld, and City Manager Erik Walsh concurred with the recommendation Dec. 21, city records show. Richard Jasso (KSAT)In March, a city facilities manager found Jasso asleep in a security post near a loading dock, records show. Three months later, in September 2019, the interim general manager again found Jasso asleep as the GM was leaving for the day.

SAN ANTONIO – A puppy was found in a box, left in the cold, in front of a San Antonio animal shelter late last week. Animal Care Services staff found the puppy Thursday morning just outside of its front gate, according to a social media post. 📦 ❓ Our ACS team knows to be aware of their... Posted by City of San Antonio Animal Care Services on Friday, January 8, 2021The puppy, now known as Charlie, was examined by animal shelter staff soon after she was found. “Just a few hours later, Charlie caught the eye of our rescue partners, Animal Defense League of Texas, and was taken into their care,” Animal Care Services said in a Facebook post. RELATED: Animal Care Services reminds ‘pet parents’ to make responsible adoption decisions around holidays

SAN ANTONIO – A man who told Animal Care Officers that his dog died from depression after a neighbor saw him carrying it by its neck has been arrested, according to authorities. An arrest affidavit states a neighbor saw Rose carrying the dog, named “Rocky,” around by its neck on Aug. 8 at an apartment complex. When officers with ACS arrived, Rose told them that he didn’t know how the dog died, police said. Rose said the dog “died from depression,” the affidavit states. The dog appeared to have trouble breathing when they returned to the apartment, Rose told authorities.

A dog in San Antonio was saved in more ways than one this week. SAN ANTONIO – A dog in San Antonio was saved in more ways than one this week. Officials were able to rescue the dog after it got stuck in the San Antonio River. That’s when Officer Winckler, with ACS, backup Animal Care Officers and the San Antonio Fire Department’s water rescue team came to the rescue. The SAFD rescue team then jumped into the water and swam after the dog, getting her to the other side so she could be lifted onto dry ground.

SAN ANTONIO – A gift that is sure to warm the hearts of even the coldest Grinch is a puppy or kitty, however, Animal Care Services wants to remind the public to make responsible pet adoption decisions around the holidays. The city shelter strongly encourages that “pet parents” make informed decisions when adopting pets at any time of the year because having a pet is a long-term commitment. According to the shelter, area shelters and rescue organizations have hundreds of adoption ready pets who are invested in placing you with the perfect pet. “Vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery are generally included in the adoption fee and many animal agencies will have regular specials during the holidays,” the shelter said in a statement. There is also a change coming in 2021 when it comes to pet stores in the city.

SAN ANTONIO – About 200 hens and roosters were seized Tuesday morning by Animal Care Services on two properties on the city’s South Side. Armed with a search warrant, ACS and the San Antonio Police Department searched the properties in the 300 block of Ansley following complaints from neighbors about an excess amount of roosters. “Anytime there’s a large number of roosters on a property, we want to check it out, first of all, for violation of the number of animals,” said ACS interim director Shannon Sims. “But secondarily, there’s not a lot of reasons to have a large number of roosters other than fighting.”Sims said there appears to be some signs that roosters were being used to fight. A veterinarian is on the scene and will examine the birds, which will be taken to ACS.

With temperatures dipping below freezing on Tuesday, the San Antonio shelter says it is best to keep pets inside or place them in an insulated dog house or protective enclosure. A City of San Antonio ordinance states a suitable shelter for a pet must include walls, a roof and an elevated floor. Owners who do not cooperate with ACS officers in sheltering a pet could face a fine. ACS spokesperson Lisa Norwood told KSAT that citation fees, set by a court and not ACS, start around $300. The release states that vulnerable and elderly pets, shorthaired dogs and all cats shouldn’t be left outside during the winter months.

SAN ANTONIO – If all you want for Christmas is a furry, four-legged friend, now’s the time to adopt. The Animal Care Service’s Black Friday, err “Furday,” deals include free and low-cost pet adoptions from 1 p.m.-7 p.m.Ebony-colored pets will have no placement fees, ACS said in a news release. Animals adopted from ACS include spay/neuter, vaccines, de-wormer and a microchip. Walk-in availability will depend on space in the kennels, ACS says. Those visiting the shelter must wear masks, have their temperatures checked and maintain a social distance from others.

SAN ANTONIO – Employees at San Antonio College made an interesting discovery last week when they found a sly fox inside an office resting on top of cabinets. The Animal Care Services said officers were dispatched to the Moody Learning Center at the college, located just north of downtown, to rescue the fox. The animal had somehow made its way into the office by entering through the ceiling, ACS said in a Facebook post on Monday. ACS and campus police were able to move the cubicle to free the fox. It was taken to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. where it was checked out for injuries, but was ultimately released at Brackenridge Park.

SAN ANTONIO – An adopted dog named Honey has been reunited with his owner 7 years after he disappeared. ACS staff contacted the owner who arrived at the shelter as Honey was getting his shots. Lisa Norwood, a spokesperson for ACS, told KSAT that Honey’s owner cried out for him to see if he remembered her. “He did and she started hugging and kissing her dog who returned her affection with a wildly wagging tail. “Behold the power of the microchip,” Norwood said.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio’s Animal Care Services just announced some of the best news we’ve heard all year - the shelter just ended its fiscal year with the highest live release rate for animals in its history. The 92% live release rate made ACS one of the “most successful animal shelters” in Texas, officials said. The live release percentage is determined by all pets that are adopted, rescued, transferred to another shelter or returned to their owners after being lost. Out of 27,194 animals brought in to the shelter, 2,204 were euthanized, the lowest rate in the shelter’s history, according to ACS officials. An ACS report from last year, shows that the shelter had a 90% euthanasia rate in 2004 and in 2011 had a release rate of just 32%.

SAN ANTONIO – With Halloween coming up, Animal Care Services has put together a list of tips to help keep your pets safe. They offered the following tips to keep pets safe:Chocolate of any type, even a nibble, can be toxic and potentially fatal to dogs and cats. Talk to your kids about the danger of giving your pet Halloween treats. Keep your pet safe inside for the evening if you're worried trick or treaters may scare or bother your outdoor pet. Get your pet in on the Halloween fun by providing a holiday-themed treat for them to enjoy.

SAN ANTONIO – “Sonic” the hedgehog has found a new place to call home in San Antonio. The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services posted on social media Thursday afternoon, saying a resident found the little hedgehog roaming around her yard. ACS staff said Sonic caught the eye of one of their team members and he has since been adopted. “We’re so happy this little guy will be safe and headed to a new home soon,” ACS officials said. San Antonio police find quite an unexpected animal near park trails