The crackdown on dangerous dogs in Bexar County has led to the euthanization of three such dogs, with the owner questioning the county's approach. Fox San Antonio reported that the dogs were put down on March 20 after their owner, Juan Ramirez, failed to meet county-imposed safety requirements.
Last year, these three dogs escaped, attacking another dog and biting a man, causing "minor abrasions" to his left hand and rib area. Since the attack and further incidents which included the killing of a neighbor's dog, the county had taken measures to ensure the dogs were registered as dangerous. Despite being given time to comply with state guidelines, which required rabies shots, $100,000 in liability insurance, and a secure enclosure, Ramirez fell short and the animals were deemed non-compliant. According to an interview with Ramirez by Fox San Antonio, Ramirez was unaware of their death, stating, "Nobody would ever tell me anything, and now that you told me that they euthanized them, that's pretty sad."
In addition to those three, there's one remaining dangerous dog in Bexar County, now in compliance with all regulations. Dr. Andrea Guerrero, Bexar County's Director of Public Health, stressed the importance of public safety, saying if owners wish to keep dangerous dogs, they must adhere to the law. Guerrero told Fox San Antonio that "If someone wants to maintain possession of their dogs, even though they're deemed dangerous, we're okay with that. But you have to comply."
The contention centers around the county's apparent diligent attempts to communicate the necessary steps to Ramirez, which included an ample window to appeal decisions, and directives to fix the non-compliant kennel. Court documents, obtained by Fox San Antonio, show officials believed Ramirez did not act on these instructions. He countered, claiming difficulty reaching county officials to obtain clarification. "They didn't want to listen to me, I had no say so," Ramirez told Fox San Antonio, as he called for better communication from county officials regarding dangerous dog cases.
In accordance with county statements, the remaining owner of the last dangerous dog has complied, signaling a potential end to a turbulent chapter of pet ownership and public safety concerns.
