SAN ANTONIO — Stricter regulations for owners of loose and dangerous dogs are one step closer to becoming reality in San Antonio.
On Wednesday, the Governance Committee decided to forward Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito's Council Consideration Request to the Public Safety Committee.
Alderete Gavito is seeking three major changes to policy, including harsher monetary penalties; letting Animal Care Services (ACS) spay or neuter dogs found running loose in the streets, so long as they are medically cleared for sterilization; and the ability for residents anonymously report dangerous dogs.
"The dangerous dog problem is a public safety issue, and so we needed to address it," she said. "Today I was glad that the governance committee pushed forward my policy proposals to address it."
David McCary, assistant city manager and interim ACS director, expressed support for Alderete Gavito's proposal.
"We don't ever want to forget that a life was lost as a result of a roaming dog. It's tragic," he said. "We're never going to forget it. We want the community to know that not only do we care for them, but we're going to do everything within our authority to make certain that doesn't happen again."
Ramon Najera, 81, was killed in February 2023 while visiting a west-side neighborhood when dogs from a nearby property got loose and attacked. Najera died from his injuries. His wife, who was also attacked, survived.
Even though two dogs in the attack had three prior bite reports, no dangerous dog affidavit was ever filed. Because of that, after those bite incidents, the dogs were allowed to return home.
Before Wednesday, ACS was not confident they could keep those that report dangerous dogs anonymous.
"Our staff originally thought that we didn't have the power to do that," McCary said. "So, it's not so much that as a shift that we wouldn't want someone that came forward to identify with a dangerous dog in protecting their name in the interim. That's something we think is is a good thing."
Currently, Councilmember Alderete Gavito is working to make sure those that report anonymously can stay anonymous throughout the entire process.
"We are working closely with municipal courts to see how we can make sure residents are protected throughout that whole process," she said.
However, State Sen. José Menéndez, who was present at Wednesday's Governance Committee meeting, believes that once the case becomes criminal, protecting anonymity is not possible.
"If you get to criminal proceedings, you become a witness and then you tell them what the ramifications of testifying," he said "It's just like any criminal case. You know, there are witnesses that are scared to testify. And yeah, at that point, you may need some witness protection of some kind depending on the criminal."
The proposal now heads to the Public Safety Committee, which will provide its input and decide whether it eventually moves on to full City Council for a vote.
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