City Counts Loose Dogs as Attacks Persist
San Antonio is surveying roaming dogs with AI and vehicle-mounted cameras for the first time since 2019 amid questions about its attack response.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Dogs
Live Poll
Do you trust San Antonio's approach to handling loose and dangerous dogs?
San Antonio is counting loose dogs for the first time since 2019 using AI and video cameras mounted on cars, with Southwest Research Institute conducting the survey. The effort comes as city records show a rise in reported severe bites, even as aggressive critical calls for service have declined.
Why it matters
Fatal attacks in 2023, including the death of Ramon Najera, 81, prompted the city council to expand enforcement against owners of loose dogs and stray pick-ups. Public safety advocates question whether those efforts are working.
Animal Care Services recorded 3,407 aggressive critical calls in fiscal year 2025, while San Antonio issued 11,297 dog-related citations. The current loose dog population is not yet known, since the new count is still underway.
The players
Southwest Research Institute
A nonprofit research organization conducting the city's loose dog survey using AI and vehicle-mounted cameras.
San Antonio Animal Care Services
The city department responsible for animal control, shelter operations, and enforcement against loose dogs.
The details
Southwest Research Institute is using AI and video cameras mounted on cars to count loose dogs across the city. The council raised the department's fiscal 2024 budget to $28.5 million, a 33% increase, and funded 29 new positions.
Timeline
2019: The city last counted loose dogs before the current survey.
2023: Loose dogs with owners killed Ramon Najera and fatally injured Paul Anthony Striegl.
December 2024: The council set a $1,000 minimum first-offense fine for unprovoked bites.
Pet Policy Context
The December 2024 ordinance set a $1,000 minimum first-offense fine for unprovoked bites, and the new loose dog count will show whether that enforcement has changed the roaming population. The count also follows the city's 2019 survey, which provides the only prior baseline.
Residents with dogs face the $1,000 minimum first-offense fine if an unprovoked bite occurs, so keeping pets secured matters now. Neighbors may see more enforcement activity as the department expands with 29 new positions.
The takeaway
Owners can reduce risk by keeping dogs fenced and leashed, since the city's enforcement now carries a $1,000 minimum fine for a first unprovoked bite. Tracking the forthcoming count will show whether the expanded effort is shrinking the loose dog population.
What happens next
Fieldwork for the loose dog count is expected to continue through December, and ACS statistics were given to the City Council public safety committee on Oct. 20, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local pet policy, see Dogs coverage across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texas Public Radio.
Live Poll
Do you trust San Antonio's approach to handling loose and dangerous dogs?
