{"id":445158,"date":"2026-09-23T13:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/445158\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T13:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:50:17","slug":"san-antonio-acs-joins-new-coalition-aimed-at-improving-animal-welfare-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/445158\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio ACS joins new coalition aimed at improving animal welfare in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"An Animal Care Services response vehicle parks outside the department\u2019s West Side headquarters. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

San Antonio Animal Care Services has joined the Texas Animal Welfare Alliance, or TAWA, a statewide coalition aligning more than 25 animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals and policy experts, officials said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The alliance plans to hold regular meetings focused on practical collaboration, emerging animal welfare issues and legislative developments, with the goal of identifying opportunities for coordinated action, officials said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Texas Animal Welfare Alliance gives us a place to bring that knowledge and experience together,\u201d Texas Humane Legislation Senior Director of Communications Kolby Monnig said. \u201cBy communicating regularly and working collaboratively, we can reduce duplication, strengthen our collective impact and achieve better outcomes for animals across our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

A full list<\/a> of participating organizations is available on the TAWA website.<\/p>\n

The heightened collaboration comes as municipalities across Texas continue to struggle with stray and dangerous animals.<\/p>\n

In San Antonio, the city\u2019s dangerous dog problem has prompted public backlash and increased City Council scrutiny. The city made national news in 2023 when U.S. Air Force veteran Ramon Najera was mauled to death<\/a> by a pack of loose canines on the West Side.<\/p>\n

Dallas and Houston face their own problems, with both cities last year ranking among the U.S. Postal Service\u2019s top 10 cities <\/a>for reported dog bites.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tACS officials also revealed at a Thursday public safety meeting that the department doesn\u2019t pick up stray dogs due to a lack of space at its holding facility. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pair\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tA woman was injured in one attack, while a police officer shot a loose dog in another.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tSan Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones cast the sole vote against the measure. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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