SAN ANTONIO – A South Bexar County pet owner recently surrendered more than a dozen dogs, citing health issues. The county says that the owner gave up the dogs before the situation became unsafe.
County officials say this case is part of a larger issue they’ve been working to address through early intervention efforts.
Dr. Andrea Guerrero, Public Health Director, says cases like these don’t come as a surprise.
“A lot of the places where there are what we consider hoarding dogs, or a large number of dogs, are known to us,” Guerrero said.
Bexar County does not have a legal limit on how many dogs a resident can own, unlike the city of San Antonio. That often leads to situations where multiple dogs are kept under one roof, sometimes in conditions that deteriorate over time.
“It really is developing a relationship over time and developing trust that our animal care officers are there to be a resource,” Guerrero explained.
Officers check in with these owners to ensure the animals have enough food and water, their gates are adequately secure, and that the owners are equipped to care for them.
Officials stress that without proactive intervention, situations with lots of dogs can quickly become dangerous—not just for the dogs but for the community as well.
“It can deteriorate into a place where dogs are being neglected,” Guerrero warned.
Sheriff Javier Salazar echoed these concerns, emphasizing that loose and abandoned dogs can form dangerous roaming packs if they escape their owners’ properties.
“We don’t just have necessarily a stray dog or two stray dogs. We’ve got packs of animals roaming wild in the county in some instances,” Salazar said.
The risks of stray dog packs became evident this week when a deputy was bitten after encountering a group of dogs running loose.
Officials say these cases are not just a safety concern but also a financial burden on taxpayers.
“All of those man hours that go into investigating something that deteriorates to that level costs taxpayers money,” Guerrero noted.
Officials acknowledge that not all large-quantity dog owners are neglectful and that not all stray dogs pose a threat. However, they say their proactive approach aims to ensure the animals and community are as safe as possible.
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