BARC intends to use the money to pay enforcement officers overtime. They’re focused on rounding up stray dogs in the wake of recent dog attacks.
HOUSTON — A major donation could be a solution to an ongoing issue across Houston involving stray dogs.
A total of $40,000 to focus on rounding up stray dogs in the wake of recent dog attacks. The money is coming from District B Councilwoman Tarsha Jackson, and it is a personal fight for her, as she is a dog attack survivor.
BARC, the agency getting the funds and the city’s animal shelter, intends to use this money to pay enforcement officers overtime. This will allow them to catch more stray dogs in District B, which includes the Greater Fifth Ward and BARC’s building.
Standing shoulder to shoulder in the parking lot of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, city leaders shared a crystal-clear message about stray and dangerous dogs.
“People should feel safe in their neighborhoods, but that’s not the case,” Jackson said.
Jackson said addressing stray dogs is a personal fight for her.
“When I was in the 3rd grade, I was attacked by five dogs walking home from school and if it wasn’t for a bus driver who stopped and pulled over and found a tree and a limb and started hitting the dogs off of me, no telling, I probably wouldn’t be here today,” Jackson said.
The announcement also comes a little more than a month after the dog attack death of 65-year-old Hariette Phillips.
“We just lost a senior that was mauled in her backyard where she should have felt safe, but instead the dogs came into her backyard and killed her,” Jackson said.
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Photos from the incident report show the dogs involved and a broken fence. Right now, there is no official confirmation that the dogs involved were considered strays at the time of the attack.
Marshall Paul Garrett, 38, faces three counts of felony criminal negligence in connection with the attack.
“We’re talking about a concern that affects our community deeply,” BARC Director Jarrad Mears said.
The money comes right before FY26 budget workshops are set to start. BARC’s budget in FY24 was $15,644,388 and in FY25 is $15,238,744.
Mears said the money will lead to results.
“I would suspect that we will pick up anywhere between 80 and 100 [stray dogs] on this round,” Mear said.
Their goal is to talk with the owners of any stray dogs as well.
The solution will start soon. Mears said the extra money will help them begin additional stray dog sweeps in District B next week.
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