San Antonio faces a troubling rise in abandoned puppies, prompting officials to emphasize spaying and neutering to curb the trend.
SAN ANTONIO — A box left behind a dumpster. Inside, a puppy abandoned and alone.
San Antonio Animal Care Services officials said scenes like that are becoming more common. ACS reported a recent uptick in puppies being abandoned across the city.
“It is heartbreaking,” said Jon Gary, director of San Antonio’s Animal Care Services. “No one wants to see animals being dumped, especially puppies who are going to have problems taking care of themselves.”
In just one week, ACS officers found about 20 puppies abandoned in several locations throughout San Antonio. Some were discovered in a box behind a dumpster, while others were left at Southside Lions Park. In another case, five- to eight-week-old puppies were found abandoned underneath a house.
Gary said abandoning animals is illegal under Texas law and carries serious consequences.
“First and foremost, it is illegal,” he said. “If you are caught doing it, we will prosecute. If you are caught doing it, it could be up to a year in jail or a $4,000 fine.”
Despite ongoing capacity challenges, Gary emphasized that Animal Care Services remains a resource for residents who can no longer care for animals.
“Obviously, we do stay at capacity,” he said. “But if the alternative is to dump them, then by all means bring them here.” “I know a lot of people worry if we bring them to the shelter they will be euthanized,” he said. “While that is always a chance, it is much better than what could happen if they are just dumped somewhere. At the end of the day, we do good with puppies, so the likelihood of being euthanized is pretty small.”
To help address the issue, ACS is encouraging residents to foster animals and take advantage of preventive services. Gary said spaying and neutering pets is one of the most effective ways to reduce unwanted litters.
“Spay and neuter — that is going to prevent the litters from being born to begin with,” he said. “And we have it available to our residents for free.”
Gary added that an increase in abandoned puppies is unusual for this time of year and stressed that dumping animals is unnecessary.
“At the end of the day, it is just not necessary,” he said. “There is no need to dump a puppy. We are here.”
The puppies found during the recent incidents are now being cared for by ACS partners and foster volunteers. Officials say the next step is finding permanent homes for them.