San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) has launched an aggressive new strategy aimed at boosting the care of our furry friends across the city. The strategic plan, recently highlighted on the City of San Antonio website, covers five focus areas that target a comprehensive approach to pet welfare and animal control. At the heart of their mission is a commitment to keeping pets with their families and ensuring that those in the shelter receive top-notch care and achieve lifesaving placements.
In executing this plan from FY23 to date, over 4,400 interventions have been made by the SAACS Community Animal Support and Assistance Team (CASA) to help keep pets in their homes, and an additional 9,406 dogs and cats have been joyfully reunited with their owners. While most of these pets were merely lost, a slice were found roaming due to owner neglect, leading to citations and necessary education on responsible pet ownership.
The plan’s outreach has been effective, with SAACS reporting an impressive 85 percent placement rate for FY24. This equates to more than 30,000 animals finding their forever homes, a significant uptick thanks to the organization's efforts including adoptions, partnerships with rescues, and off-site events. Two hundred and thirty-one pets enjoyed a ride to their new homes via rescue transports.
Alongside expanding shelter enrichment programs, SAACS has its eyes set on gauging local views on humane pet care this spring through a community survey. This outreach, which will take place via public workshops, seeks to establish a community standard of pet care in San Antonio. The findings from this survey may even lay the groundwork for revising local pet care ordinances, making it a potential game-changer in how pets are cared for city-wide.
The full SAACS Strategic Plan is an inclusive blueprint approved by the city, guiding the humane treatment of animals under the watchful eyes of dedicated staff and volunteers. For those interested, the plan is available for public review on the official Animal Care Services website.
