BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Neighbors in a Bexar County community are urging officials to address a stray dog they say charges at children walking home from school, chases cars and growls at other dogs.
Resident Cheslee Parker said the stray dog terrorizes her specific street and has been holed up behind her house for months.
Parker said the dog mainly targets children, like her daughter, when they get off the school bus and walk home.
“Other neighbors have had to intervene to distract the dogs to get her (Parker’s daughter) to feel safe,” Parker said. “I think a few weeks ago she came home crying. I was like, ‘What’s wrong?’ And she said that the dog got real close, started barking, growling at her in her face.”
Parker said there are around five kids on the street that have had issues with the dog. When parents aren’t available, the maintenance worker helps drive the children in a golf cart to avoid the dog.
Still, Parker said the dog chases the cart barking.
Parker and her neighbors said they started contacting Bexar County Animal Control in October about the dog’s aggression, but have only heard excuses.
“One has been told, ‘We can’t do nothing until the dog bites.’ One’s been told, ‘We’re full, we can’t help. We’re not picking up strays right now,’” Parker said.
Parker added she has yet to receive a call back from Animal Control.
“They’ve ignored us for so long,” said the neighborhood manager.
The dog seems fine around some adults, according to the neighborhood manager. But the manager also said she has seen the dog chase a child down the street, prompting her to call the county.
“They told us that they’re full and they can’t do anything,” she said.
After KSAT contacted Bexar County Animal Control, they asked for Parker’s number and sent their officers to the house within the hour.
“When folks feel threatened, when children can’t ride or walk home from the bus, you know, that’s a priority for us,” said Dr. Andrea Guerrero, director of Bexar County’s Public Health Department, which now oversees Animal Control.
Guerrero said officers had been sent, highlighting aggression as a necessary criterion.
“Either they (the dog) weren’t acting aggressively, or they couldn’t locate them at the time. There’s upwards of 30 dogs roaming around that kind of general area.”
Guerrero said the dispatch is voicemail-based, requiring people to leave a message. She said they have animal control officers answer those messages daily.
“We make every effort to try and prioritize the ones that are threat to public safety and make all of those calls back,” Guerrero said.
Parker said if officers were sent in December when she last called, she never saw or heard from them.
“I was never called,” Parker said. “And I work from home, so I have cameras — I watch my cameras all day.”
Parker said she was relieved when Animal Control officers showed up after KSAT’s call.
“They’ve been here several times now,” she said.
The first time, they were able to pick up a dog that was constantly with the aggressive one, but the original problem dog still hasn’t taken the bait.
Guerrero said her team will look into the situation. She emphasized that Animal Control prioritizes calls that report aggressive dogs, regardless of space in the overflowing county shelter.
She said the stray problem is a massive issue she believes is only recently getting the attention and money it deserves.
“Our animal care facility in Kirby is often at 200% of capacity, which is why Commissioners Court approved a $9 million investment in a new facility that is going to break ground in a few months,” Guerrero said.
Another strategy to combat the stray dog problem is a new 10-person Animal Care Advisory Committee to oversee issues.
“They’re all veterinarians and people that work for shelters and fosters who have specific experience in the animal care and control world,” Guerrero said. “And they’re there to help us with compliance and just oversight of all of our programs, and to provide insight and guidance on our operations.”
Guerrero pointed to prevention as the overall solution to the problem.
“I think it’s multi-pronged. I think that strays were once owned, or at least their parent or grandparents, as a pet. I think responsible pet ownership is the biggest priority ... The solution is the prevention piece,” she said.
Going forward, Guerrero said she hopes more people take advantage of the county’s free spay, neuter and microchipping services.
As for the aggressive dog issue, Parker said there is one solution.
“Take everyone’s claim seriously ... Just because, in your opinion, the dog you drove by and the dogs don’t act aggressive, doesn’t mean that the dog’s not aggressive,” she said.
Bexar County Animal Control offered the following advice to anyone calling about an aggressive dog:
- If it’s an active emergency or attack, call 911
- In non-emergencies, call Bexar County Animal Control or the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (Deputies are trained and will coordinate with Animal Control)
- Specify that the dog has been aggressive
- Give a detailed description of the dog (There are many strays in some neighborhoods)
- If you are safely able to, take pictures or videos
- Give your address and phone number and request contact from officers