District 1 Councilmember Announces Pilot Effort to Curb Loose Animals

Published on February 14, 2025

SAN ANTONIO (February 14, 2025) – At yesterday’s City Council A Session, District 1 Councilmember Dr. Sukh Kaur voted to approve six spay and neuter veterinarian contracts in support of San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS). The discussion emphasized District 1’s ongoing collaboration with SAACS and its partners to find meaningful solutions for the community.

“After meeting with our SAACS partners, we learned that one of their biggest challenges is finding consistent veterinarian support due to the cost in the market,” Councilmember Kaur said. “Through this new ordinance, SAACS leadership will be able to contract six veterinarians to support the opening of two new SAACS Spay and Neuter clinic locations, including one that is only a short distance from District 1. We applaud the work of the SAACS leadership for getting us to this moment. These new contracts will provide essential veterinary care and help SAACS fulfill its mission to improve animal welfare across the city.”

Over the last year, District 1 has been working closely with SAACS, its partners, and the District 7 office to identify the challenges hindering progress toward shared animal care goals. Through this collaboration, proactive solutions are being developed to improve services and address critical issues in animal welfare.

One of these solutions is a new pilot program to fill fencing gaps and reduce frequent dig-out areas that contribute to loose animals. In partnership with SAACS and other City departments, District 1 will test “tamp-down” fencing to help residents better secure their yards.

This effort will be part of a series of events led by SAACS, beginning February 26 and running for four weeks. The District 1 team will be actively involved, providing on-the-ground assistance to residents. These events will focus on areas in greatest need — determined by data on aggressive animal calls, roaming pets, and insights from the Equity Atlas, an online resource that maps out disparities within the city. By addressing these issues, District 1 aims to improve safety for both residents and their pets.