San Antonio’s roster of officially labeled “dangerous” dogs has ballooned between 2024 and 2025, and plenty of residents are now zooming in on the city’s online map to see what is lurking on their own block. City officials say the spike has more to do with increased reporting and bolstered investigative staff at Animal Care Services than with a sudden surge of violent pets. The Dangerous Dog Registry now gives residents a block-by-block snapshot of where incidents were reported and which properties have active designations.
According to KSAT, in 2024 just over 100 dogs were labeled dangerous and 69 labeled aggressive; by 2025 those counts rose to 283 dangerous and 103 aggressive. Those year-over-year totals have put a spotlight on how the city tracks, classifies and responds to dog attacks.
Animal Care Services Director Jon Gary told the city’s Public Safety Committee that increased staffing and funding have allowed more officers to respond to calls and formally investigate attacks, which helps explain the jump in designations. "We fully recognize that we still have a huge free roaming dog issue here in San Antonio," Gary said, as reported by the San Antonio Report.
How The City’s Dog Danger Map Works
The Dangerous & Aggressive Dog Registry is an interactive ArcGIS map that lists addresses and the number of designated animals at each location. The tool also includes an affidavit form to kick off an investigation and other resources for neighbors and investigators, according to the City of San Antonio website.
Owners of dogs declared dangerous must meet strict rules under city code - the animal must be licensed and microchipped, kept in a secure enclosure, spayed or neutered, muzzled when outside, and owners must post warning signs and carry significant liability coverage. Failure to follow those rules can lead to seizure or euthanasia under the ordinance. The specific definitions and penalties are laid out in local law, per the San Antonio Code of Ordinances.
Why The Numbers Swing So Sharply
Annual designation counts, active registry listings and investigator caseloads all measure different parts of the same problem. One tally logs new formal findings in a given year, while the public map shows only current active listings. The city currently lists roughly 207 animals on the active Dangerous Dog Registry, according to the San Antonio Report.
How To Report Trouble And Protect Your Block
If a dog poses an immediate threat, residents are urged to call 911. For non-emergency concerns, people can file a sworn affidavit with ACS or report an incident through 3-1-1 so investigators can prioritize responses. ACS pages host the affidavit PDF and the public registry, allowing neighbors to search by street and provide details that help officers, according to the City of San Antonio.
Legal Notes
State law and the city code define the thresholds for “dangerous” and “aggressive” designations and give Animal Care Services enforcement authority, including civil exposure and potential criminal citations for violations. For ordinance language and the statutory framework, see the San Antonio Code of Ordinances.
City leaders say the long-term goal is to reduce attacks to zero, but officials emphasize that will take continued reporting, enforcement and resources. The registry gives neighbors a clearer view of risk on their block and a starting point for filing affidavits and tips with ACS, as KSAT reported.
