1. 1
Proposal
for:
Reducing
Instances
of
Pet
Abandonment
and
Increasing
the
Presence
of
Positive
Pet
Ownership
Practices
in
San
Antonio
Through
the
Establishment
of
a
Nonprofit
and
Affiliated
Initiatives
Prepared
for:
Ralph
and
Virginia
Mullin
Foundation
2401
E.
Speedway
Tucson,
AZ
85719
By
Nicholas
Gosling,
Technical
Writing
Student
August
31,
2013
2. 2
Table
of
Contents
GRAPHICS
....................................................................................................................................
3
Figure
1
......................................................................................................................................................................
3
Figure
2
......................................................................................................................................................................
4
Figure
3
......................................................................................................................................................................
5
APPENDIX
...................................................................................................................................
6
Appendix
A
...............................................................................................................................................................
6
Appendix
B
...............................................................................................................................................................
8
INFORMATIVE
ABSTRACT
..................................................................................................
10
PROPOSAL
...............................................................................................................................
11
INTRODUCTION
.....................................................................................................................
11
Statement
of
Problem
......................................................................................................................................
11
Objectives
..............................................................................................................................................................
11
Sources
...................................................................................................................................................................
11
Details
of
the
Problem
......................................................................................................................................
11
Severity
.....................................................................................................................................
12
Causes
.......................................................................................................................................
14
Needs
.......................................................................................................................................................................
15
Scope
........................................................................................................................................................................
16
PROPOSED
PLAN
...................................................................................................................
16
Phases
of
the
Plan
..............................................................................................................................................
16
Establish
a
Nonprofit
..................................................................................................................................
16
Implement
Visual
Projects
........................................................................................................................
17
Organize
Education
and
Outreach
.........................................................................................................
18
Encourage
Neighborhood
Involvement
..............................................................................................
19
Future
Actions
................................................................................................................................................
19
Costs
and
Materials
...........................................................................................................................................
19
Schedule
of
Implementation
.........................................................................................................................
20
Personnel
...............................................................................................................................................................
21
Feasibility
..............................................................................................................................................................
21
Benefits
...................................................................................................................................................................
21
CONCLUSION
...........................................................................................................................
22
Conclusion
and
Recommendations
............................................................................................................
22
REFERENCES
...........................................................................................................................
23
6. 6
Appendix
A:
Survey
Given
to
Nonprofits
Survey
Sent
to
35
Nonprofits
and
Rescue
Groups
in
San
Antonio
Survey
Respondents:
4
Question
1:
How
many
dogs
did
your
organization
impound
or
rescue
in
2010,
2011,
and
2012?
Respondent
1:
1,
40,
30
R2:
0,
0,
32
R3:
192,
210,
230
R4:
n/a
Question
2:
Of
those
annual
dog
impounds/rescues,
how
many
were
believed
stray
or
abandoned?
R1:
1,
40,
30
R2:
0,
0,
28
R3:
22,
14,
14
R4:
n/a
Question
3:
How
many
cats
did
your
organization
impound
or
rescue
in
2010,
2011,
and
2012
R1:
0,
0,
0
R2:
0,
0,
4
R3:
0,
0,
0
R4:
n/a
Question
4:
Of
those
annual
cat
impounds/rescues,
how
many
were
believed
stray
or
abandoned?
R1:
0,
0,
0
R2:
0,
0,
4
R3:
0,
0,
0
R4:
n/a
Question
5:
Within
the
last
three
years,
approximately
how
many
dogs
or
cats
have
been
abandoned
at
your
facility
(or
facilities)
in
San
Antonio?
R1:
n/a
R2:
0
R3:
n/a
R4:
We
have
no
standing
facility.
Animal
Care
Services
contacts
us
to
place
adoptable
dogs.
Question
6:
Does
your
organization
take
measures
to
prevent
on-‐site
abandonments,
or
does
it
encourage
this
activity,
and
how?
R1:
n/a
R2:
We
are
a
home
based
rescue;
sometimes
the
animals
will
just
show
up
or
the
neighbors
on
our
street
will
come
to
the
house
with
animals
that
were
dumped.
R3:
n/a
–
We
are
a
foster-‐based
rescue
organization.
R4:
n/a
–
We
have
no
standing
facility.
To
my
knowledge,
no
reputable
organization
encourages
on-‐site
abandonment.
Question
7:
Please
rank
the
following
factors
from
greatest
to
least
(with
1
being
the
greatest)
in
the
order
in
which
you
believe
they
contribute
to
the
stray
dog
and
cat
population
in
San
Antonio:
Choice
A:
un-‐spayed
and
un-‐neutered
dogs
and
cats
Choice
B:
owners
allowing
their
dogs
and
cats
to
run
loose
Choice
C:
animal
dumping
and
abandonment
Choice
D:
illegal
dog
and
cat
breeding
Choice
E:
other
(please
explain)
Choice
F:
other
(please
explain)
7. 7
R1:
A,
D,
B,
C,
E
(ease
of
surrendering
with
no
consequences),
F
(difficulty
in
getting
into
free
spay/neuter
programs
R2:
A,
B,
C,
D
R3:
A,
B,
C,
D
R4:
A,
B,
C,
D
Question
8:
Do
you
or
staff
members
at
your
organization
know
of
any
specific
locations
(i.e.
parks,
streets,
street
corners,
housing
developments,
or
neighborhoods)
within
San
Antonio
where
people
regularly
abandon*
dogs
and
cats?
*This
survey
defines
regular
abandonment
as
three
or
more
individual
instances
of
dogs
or
cats
being
left
in
these
locations
within
the
last
three
years.
R1:
Just
east
of
Animal
Care
Services.
Cemeteries
and
parks
all
over
the
Southside,
such
as
South
Side
Lions
and
Pecan
Valley.
The
city
dump
is
also
a
popular
dumping
site
(due
to
the
belief
that
dogs
will
find
food
there).
R2:
n/a
R3:
n/a
R4:
Olmos
Park
Basin
Athletic
Fields
is
a
notorious
dumping
location
because
of
the
higher
socio-‐economic
status
of
the
surrounding
neighborhoods.
Breckenridge
Park
is
also
an
animal
dumping
site.
8. 8
Appendix
B:
Survey
Given
to
Businesses
(i.e.
Veterinarians
and
Boarders)
Survey
Sent
to
81
Animal
Hospitals
and
Boarding
Businesses
in
San
Antonio
Survey
Respondents:
4
Question
1:
Does
your
organization
treat
stray
or
abandoned
dogs
and
cats?
Respondent
1:
no
R2:
yes
R3:
yes
R4:
yes
Question
2:
Does
your
organization
take
in
or
foster
stray
or
abandoned
dogs
and
cats?
R1:
no
R2:
no
R3:
yes
R4:
yes
Question
3:
If
you
answered
yes
to
question
two,
what
does
your
organization
typically
do
with
the
fostered
stray
or
abandoned
dogs
and
cats?
(For
example,
do
you
turn
them
over
to
animal
care
or
to
a
nonprofit
eventually?)
R1:
n/a
R2:
n/a
R3:
We
try
not
to
take
them,
but
if
they
are
abandoned
we
usually
turn
them
over
to
animal
care
services
or
to
a
no-‐kill
rescue
group
if
one
is
available.
R4:
We
attempt
to
adopt/find
them
homes.
We
also
place
them
with
local
rescues
and
shelters.
Question
4:
Which
specific
agencies,
if
any,
does
your
organization
work
with
to
find
homes
for
stray
or
abandoned
dogs
and
cats?
R1:
n/a
R2:
n/a
R3:
Helotes
Humane
Society
R4:
n/a
Question
5:
Within
the
last
three
years,
approximately
how
many
dogs
or
cats
have
been
abandoned
at
your
facility
(or
facilities)
in
San
Antonio?
R1:
n/a
R2:
1-‐2
per
year
R3:
15
R4:
Over
60
adult
dogs,
cats,
puppies,
and
kittens
Question
6:
Does
your
organization
take
measures
to
prevent
on-‐site
abandonments,
or
does
it
encourage
this
activity,
and
how?
R1:
n/a
R2:
We
have
on-‐site
cameras
and
we
properly
train
staff
to
stress
to
good
Samaritans
that
there
are
alternatives,
such
as
shelters
and
online
fostering
groups.
R3:
We
do
not
take
specific
measures
to
prevent
it,
save
telling
people
that
we
are
not
a
rescue
group.
R4:
We
installed
a
sign
stating
that
we
are
not
an
adoption
facility
and
listing
the
contact
info
for
local
shelters
and
rescue
groups
Question
7:
Please
rank
the
following
factors
from
greatest
to
least
(with
1
being
the
greatest)
in
the
order
in
which
you
believe
they
contribute
to
the
stray
dog
and
cat
population
in
San
Antonio:
Choice
A:
un-‐spayed
and
un-‐neutered
dogs
and
cats
Choice
B:
owners
allowing
their
dogs
and
cats
to
run
loose
Choice
C:
animal
dumping
and
abandonment
9. 9
Choice
D:
illegal
dog
and
cat
breeding
Choice
E:
other
(please
explain)
Choice
F:
other
(please
explain)
R1:
A,
C,
B,
D
R2:
A,
C,
E
(cost
of
care
services
and
improper
pet
care
education),
D,
B
R3:
A,
B,
C,
D
R4:
A,
B,
C,
D
Question
8:
Do
you
or
staff
members
at
your
organization
know
of
any
specific
locations
(i.e.
parks,
streets,
street
corners,
housing
developments,
or
neighborhoods)
within
San
Antonio
where
people
regularly
abandon*
dogs
and
cats?
*This
survey
defines
regular
abandonment
as
three
or
more
individual
instances
of
dogs
or
cats
being
left
in
these
locations
within
the
last
three
years.
R1:
Universal
City
Dog
Park
R2:
Country
View
Village
Neighborhood-‐NW
San
Antonio,
McCollum
High
School
near
Formosa
Street,
Wells
Fargo
on
Highway
151
at
Interstate
1604,
Highway
410
at
Sulpher
Springs
road
R3:
My
apartment
complex
and
many
local
parks
R4:
Secluded
and
rural
areas
around
town
10. 10
INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT
The City of San Antonio, Texas, needs an organization devoted primarily to teaching
citizens about the area’s animal laws and to engaging citizens and neighborhood groups
in identifying and eliminating animal cruelty, in particular pet abandonment. Some
potentially effective strategies to addressing these issues include installing educational
signage at popular pet dumping locations and developing presentations on positive pet
care practices for schools and neighborhood groups.
Changing and improving the generally held views and opinions on animal care and pet
ownership in San Antonio is vital to establishing a more appealing, more animal friendly
city. Presently, more than 300,000 stray dogs and cats roam San Antonio streets, parks,
and neighborhoods. These abandoned and loose domesticated and feral animals not only
pose nuisances and dangers to area residents, they create the visage of an unhealthy,
uncaring community. Furthermore, San Antonio’s many rescue groups are forced to
focus on saving these many animals, detracting from the energy and resources they can
expend on better educating the general populace.
This plan establishes an organization and implements projects to increase awareness of
animal abandonment and related cruelty crimes in San Antonio. The first step involves
organizing a nonprofit and applying for 501(c)3 status to allow this entity greater access
to funding sources, such as corporate donations. This stage also entails building an
online database that people may visit to learn about the region’s animal care laws, free-
and reduced-cost pet care clinics, and organizations that rescue strays and surrendered
dogs and cats. Secondly, this entity will implement fixed initiatives, such as signage and
brochure handouts, that build awareness in locations frequented by people who dump
pets. These initiatives will educate people on what to do when they witness an animal
abandonment and direct potential pet dumpers towards resources. The third step involves
organizing outreach activities, such as school presentations and health fair booths. These
activities will raise awareness of the organization and its objectives at the grassroots
level. School presentations will better educate tomorrow’s San Antonians on caring for
their pets, while neighborhood-specific presentations will inform people of the resources
and options available to them. The final step of this multi-stage plan involves creating
volunteer watch groups to help patrol major pet dumping hotspots and build awareness
within their neighborhoods.
The above initiatives benefit the entire community, its individual citizens, and its pet
population. Some of these benefits include:
• Heightened awareness of local animal cruelty and leash/pet control laws and of
the regional resources available to pet owners.
• Increased cooperation in identifying animal cruelty crimes and their victims.
• Enhanced support of rescue groups and Animal Care Services in San Antonio.
• Strengthened community collaboration and engagement in addressing an issue
that affects municipalities nationwide: an opportunity to develop and institute a
model plan implementable in other cities and towns.
11. 11
INTRODUCTION
Statement
of
Problem
The
City
of
San
Antonio,
the
San
Antonio
Animal
Care
Services
(SAACS)
division,
and
their
many
nonprofit
partners
have
made
great
strides
in
the
last
few
years
in
addressing
San
Antonio’s
stray
and
abandoned
pet
population.
In
the
mid
2000s,
SAACS
euthanized
about
9
of
every
10
dogs
and
cats
it
took
in
(Baker,
“Success
in
San
Antonio”).
At
the
time,
San
Antonio
had
one
of
the
highest
per
capita
rates
of
animal
euthanasia
of
any
city
in
the
country.
Today,
SAACS
live
releases
an
average
of
76
percent
of
its
animals
through
its
adoption
program
and
nonprofit
partnerships
(“ACS
Quarterly
Reports:
Third
Quarter”).
Live
release
refers
to
the
rate
at
which
animal
shelters
rehabilitate
and
relinquish
animals
to
new
or
previous
owners,
to
no-‐kill
rescue
groups,
or
to
other
organizations.
However,
because
of
the
preponderance
of
stray
animals
in
San
Antonio,
SAACS
must
focus
many
of
its
resources
on
one
side
of
the
problem.
On
the
other
side,
San
Antonio
suffers
from
a
culture
of
poor
pet
ownership
practices
and
misinformed
citizens.
Many
dogs
and
cats
end
up
in
the
system
because
their
owners
do
not
adhere
to
the
local
laws,
or
these
same
owners
do
not
know
where
to
turn
when
they
need
pet-‐related
resources
and
assistance.
On
occasion,
they
opt
for
the
cheaper
and
easier
alternative:
abandonment.
Objective
This
proposal
examines
the
plausibility
and
benefits
of
a
San
Antonio-‐based
nonprofit
(referred
to
hereafter
as
an
organization)
focused
on
instilling
in
pet
owners
good
ownership
practices
and
on
educating
San
Antonio
citizens
of
the
area’s
pet-‐related
laws.
While
the
overall
work
of
this
nonprofit
will
center
on
teaching
positive
ownership
practices,
it
will
address
one
issue
above
all
others:
pet
abandonment
(also
known
as
pet
dumping).
This
proposal
analyzes
the
extent
and
severity
of
pet
dumping
in
San
Antonio,
as
well
as
some
of
the
underlying
contributors
and
factors
to
this
terrible
crime.
It
then
lays
out
a
series
of
steps
for
establishing
a
nonprofit
and
implementing
projects
to
address
pet
dumping
and
encourage
healthy
pet
ownership
mannerisms.
Sources
The
data
for
this
proposal
comes
from
three
main
sources:
websites
and
online
articles,
in-‐person
interviews,
and
questionnaire
results.
The
online
resources
include
national
and
regional
statistics
and
news
and
feature
articles.
The
interviews
were
conducted
with
experts
in
animal
care
and
shelter
administration
and
in
nonprofit
development.
Professionals
working
within
San
Antonio’s
animal
care
industry
answered
the
questionnaires.
Details
of
the
Problem
While
this
proposal
evaluates
the
extent
of
pet
dumping
and
animal
abuse
in
San
Antonio,
it
also
offers
solutions
implementable
in
other
urban
and
rural
communities
faced
with
similar
predicaments.
For
comparison,
this
proposal
12. 12
includes
national
statistics,
as
well
as
information
from
a
comparable
problem
in
another
Texas
city.
Severity
Pet
dumping
is
a
global
epidemic
on
par
with
some
of
harshest
animal
cruelty
crimes.
However,
unlike
more
severe
abuses,
such
as
dog
fighting
and
animal
torture,
cases
of
pet
dumping
may
be
found
in
nearly
every
community
in
the
United
States.
Without
the
hope
of
rescue,
abandoned
dogs,
cats,
and
other
former
pets
often
lead
short,
pain-‐filled
lives.
People
for
the
Ethical
Treatment
of
Animals
(PETA)
goes
so
far
as
to
say
that
between
abandoning
and
euthanizing
pets,
humane
euthanasia
performed
using
a
sodium
pentobarbital
injection
provides
a
far
more
compassionate
solution
and
death
(“Euthanasia:
The
Compassionate
Option”).
According
to
PETA,
“Turning
unwanted
animals
loose
to
roam
the
streets
is
not
a
humane
option.
If
they
don’t
starve,
freeze,
get
hit
by
a
car,
or
die
of
disease,
they
may
be
tormented
and
possibly
killed
by
cruel
juveniles
or
picked
up
by
dealers
who
obtain
animals
to
sell
to
laboratories.”
Abandoned
dogs
also
pose
potential
dangers
to
people
and
their
pets.
Within
the
last
six
months,
several
serious
stray
dog
attacks
have
occurred
in
the
United
States.
In
July,
a
Houston,
Texas,
woman
was
mauled
nearly
to
death
by
as
many
as
15
stray
dogs
while
she
was
walking
to
a
city
bus
stop
(“Houston
Woman
Clings
to
Life”).
Earlier
in
the
same
month,
a
resident
of
Liberty
County,
Texas,
was
killed
after
she
intervened
when
a
stray
dog
attacked
the
family
pet
(Horswell,
“Liberty
County
Woman
Killed”).
And
in
May
2013
in
Reedley,
California,
a
pack
of
five
stray
dogs
attacked
and
killed
more
than
70
farm
animals
owned
by
a
high
school
while
teachers
and
students
looked
on
(Rosales,
“Pack
of
Stray
Dogs
Attacks”).
Closer
to
home,
San
Antonio
police
blamed
a
pack
of
stray
dogs
for
thousands
of
dollars
in
vehicle
damages
in
a
San
Antonio
Eastside
neighborhood
(Willson,
“Dogs
Chew
on
Car”).
According
to
the
news
report,
the
pack
of
dogs
was
“terrorizing
an
East
side
neighborhood,
scaring
neighbors
back
into
their
homes.”
While
these
attacks
were
likely
isolated
incidents,
they
are
nonetheless
the
consequence
of
poor
pet
ownership
practices,
practices
that
include
allowing
dogs
and
cats
to
roam
free,
not
spaying
or
neutering
pets,
and
abandoning
dogs
and
cats
instead
of
properly
relinquishing
them
to
shelters.
Within
San
Antonio,
pet
owners
face
fines
and
even
jail
time
for
failing
to
follow
leash
and
control
laws
and
for
abandoning
or
dumping
their
dogs
and
cats.
According
to
Audra
Houghton,
one
of
four
SAACS
Animal
Cruelty
Specialists,
the
fines
for
not
following
leash
laws
and/or
not
properly
securing
dogs
on
owners’
properties
range
from
$100
to
$2,000.
In
Texas,
these
types
of
crimes
are
considered
Class
C
misdemeanors
(“V.T.C.A.,
Penal
Code
§
42.092.”).
Animal
abandonment
crimes
vary
in
severity
from
Class
A
misdemeanors
up
to
third-‐degree
felonies,
depending
on
the
number
of
previous
offenses
by
an
offender.
The
penalties
for
a
misdemeanor
sentence
of
animal
dumping
range
as
high
as
a
$4,000
fine
and
a
year
in
prison
(Houghton).
An
individual
convicted
of
a
third-‐degree
felony
may
face
a
$10,000
fine
and
2
to
10
years
in
jail
(“Texas
Penal
Code
–
Section
12.34”).
However,
simply
having
these
laws
and
penalties
in
place
is
not
enough
to
encourage
healthy
pet
ownership
practices
in
San
Antonio.
13. 13
Each
year,
SAACS
increases
the
number
of
animal
cruelty
cases
it
files
with
the
Bexar
County
District
Attorney’s
office.
From
January
to
March
2013,
animal
cruelty
officers
filed
47
cruelty
cases
(“ACS
Quarterly
Report:
Second
Quarter”
8).
In
2012
during
the
same
three-‐month
span,
SAACS
filed
three
cruelty
cases.
“When
we’re
able
to
prove
[the
crime]
we
file
it,”
said
Houghton.
“We
hope
that
we
have
provided
enough
information,
that
we’ve
done
enough
work,
that
the
facts
lead
to
a
prosecution
in
each
case.
And
we
have
a
very
high
percentage
rate
(of
upheld
cases);
I
think
in
the
five
years
that
I’ve
been
here,
there’s
been
one
case
that
led
to
an
acquittal.”
Lisa
Norwood,
Public
Information
Officer
at
SAACS,
said
that
many
more
people
are
going
to
jail
now
for
felony-‐level
animal
cruelty
crimes
than
did
in
the
past.
This
uptick
in
holding
more
people
accountable
has
made
SAACS
unpopular
among
some
populations
in
San
Antonio,
including
by
“a
particular
audience
that
is
not
interested
in
being
responsible,”
she
added.
The
City
of
San
Antonio
and
Bexar
County
suffer
from
an
overpopulation
of
stray
dogs
and
cats
that
stems
largely
from
citizens
with
misinformed
or
lazy
ideologies
on
caring
for
their
pets.
According
to
Best
Friends
Animal
Society,
approximately
150,000
dogs
and
187,000
cats
currently
roam
San
Antonio
streets
and
parks;
some
are
owned
and
allowed
to
run
free
while
others
were
lost,
abandoned,
or
born
in
the
wild
(Vincent
T.,
“Thousands
of
Unleashed,
Unloved
Animals
Roam
S.A.
Streets”).
In
San
Antonio,
pet
dumpers
frequently
target
city
and
county
parks
and
rural
areas
just
outside
of
city
limits,
according
to
Joseph
Flores,
SAACS
Animal
Cruelty
Specialist.
“Pretty
much
anywhere
there
is
a
park,”
replied
Flores
when
asked
where
locals
frequently
dump
their
pets.
“Animals
being
dumped
on
the
side
of
the
road
are
going
to
be
in
your
lower
income
areas
and
the
rural
areas
of
those
lower
income
areas.”
However,
cases
of
abandonment
in
which
pet
owners
simply
leave
their
dogs
or
cats
behind
at
their
former
houses
before
moving
exists
city-‐
and
county-‐wide
(Flores).
In
a
survey
of
nonprofits
and
shelters
(see
Appendix
A)
that
deal
with
pets
and
veterinary
hospitals
and
boarding
kennels
(see
Appendix
B)
located
throughout
San
Antonio
and
enclave
communities,
respondents
identified
numerous
areas,
including
many
parks,
with
high
concentrations
of
pet
dumping
(see
Figure
1).
One
respondent,
Dr.
Benjamin
Espy
of
Spay
Neuter
Inject
Protect
San
Antonio
(SNIPSA),
added
that
his
organization
often
finds
that
pet
owners
from
“lower
socio-‐economic
classes
dump
dogs
in
higher
socio-‐economic
areas
in
hopes
that
someone
will
have
the
financial
means
to
rescue
these
animals.”
The
survey
also
asked
for
respondents’
input
regarding
the
top
factors
that
contribute
to
San
Antonio’s
stray
pet
population.
The
majority
of
respondents
listed
un-‐neutered
and
un-‐spayed
dogs
and
cats
as
the
greatest
contributor.
Roughly
half
of
respondents
identified
owners
who
allow
their
pets
to
roam
freely
as
the
second
greatest
factor,
while
animal
dumping
and
abandonment
ranked
as
the
third
largest
contributor.
14. 14
Causes
People
abandon
their
cats,
dogs,
and
other
pets
for
many
different
reasons.
Ultimately,
pet
dumping
stems
from
irresponsible
pet
ownership,
explained
Houghton.
“Financial
issues
and
ignorance
are
the
two
most
common
reasons
that
people
commit
offenses
of
animal
cruelty
at
that
[misdemeanor]
level,
i.e.
the
neglect
and
abandonment
cases,”
she
said.
In
a
nationwide
survey
of
animal
shelters,
the
National
Council
on
Pet
Population
Study
and
Policy
(NCPPSP)
examined
the
top
reasons
that
people
surrender
their
pets
(“The
Top
Ten
Reasons
for
Pet
Relinquishment”).
The
primary
justifications
varied
between
dog
and
cat
owners.
Dog
owners
often
cited
moving
as
the
top
reason
they
needed
to
surrender
their
pet,
followed
by
landlord/rental
property
restrictions,
the
costs
of
upkeep,
limited
time
for
the
pet,
and
inadequate
facilities.
The
NCPPSP
study
identified
the
main
reason
for
relinquishment
among
cat
owners
as
owning
too
many
cats.
Other
reasons
that
topped
the
list
included
family
member(s)
with
allergies,
relocation,
the
cost
of
upkeep,
and
landlord/rental
restrictions.
In
recent
years,
the
recession
and
foreclosure
crisis
has
indirectly
produced
an
overwhelming
number
of
pet
abandonment
cases
in
the
United
States.
As
a
result,
the
term
“foreclosure
pets”
was
coined
to
identify
those
dogs
and
cats
abandoned
in
foreclosed-‐upon
homes
after
the
former
owners
left
(“Abandoned
pets”).
Former
owners
often
leave
them
behind
because
of
financial
difficulties
and
the
uncertainty
and
instability
in
their
own
lives.
Many
of
these
foreclosure
pets
die
of
starvation
or
exposure
after
being
locked
within
their
house
or
tied
up
in
the
yard
for
days
or
weeks
before
real
estate
agents
ever
discover
them.
At
least
one
state
has
a
bill
in
the
works
that
would
require
real
estate
professionals
to
visit
foreclosed
homes
within
a
certain
timeframe
to
check
for
abandoned
pets
(Fucci,
“Legislature
Makes
Change
to
Eldridge
Bill”).
As
a
result
of
these
and
other
contributing
factors,
between
5
million
and
7
million
pets
enter
U.S.
animal
shelters
each
year,
according
to
the
American
Society
for
the
Prevention
of
Cruelty
to
Animals
(“Pet
Statistics”).
Roughly
3
million
to
4
million
(or
60
percent
of
dogs
and
70
percent
of
cats)
never
leave
these
shelters
alive.
Kill
shelters
euthanize
approximately
5
out
of
every
10
dogs,
and
7
out
of
10
cats,
because
of
a
lack
of
forever-‐home
adopters.
In
San
Antonio,
statistics
for
live
releases
slightly
exceed
the
national
average.
From
January
to
March
2013,
SAACS
achieved
its
highest
live
release
rate
to
date:
over
80
percent
for
all
adoptable
and
non-‐adoptable
animals
over
a
three-‐
month
period
(“ACS
Quarterly
Report:
Second
Quarter”
3).
By
July
2013
that
number
had
dipped
slightly
to
approximately
76
percent
(“ACS
Asilomar
Report”).
During
that
same
January-‐March
2013
time
span,
San
Antonio’s
Solid
Waste
Management
division
retrieved
between
2,450
and
2,800
deceased
animals
per
month
from
city
streets
and
properties
(“ACS
Quarterly
Report:
Second
Quarter”
7).
Each
year
SAACS
receives
approximately
84,000
calls
for
assistance.
However,
determining
which
intake
animals
were
abandoned
by
their
owners
from
15. 15
which
animals
were
allowed
to
run
loose
or
were
born
to
feral
parents
presents
a
nearly
impossible
task
according
to
officers
Houghton
and
Flores.
“It’s
very
difficult
to
give
you
exact
numbers
because
of
the
way
that
our
system
is
set
up,”
said
Houghton.
“[The
system]
does
not
separate
the
cases
by
type
of
abandonment,
or
even
necessarily
by
abandonment.”
“However,
we
don’t
have
[cases
of
pet
dumping]
nearly
as
frequently
as
we
have
instances
of
people
moving
out
and
leaving
their
pets
behind,”
she
added.
What
is
known,
said
Norwood,
is
that
many
San
Antonians
need
“a
change
in
the
mindset”
of
they
view
and
approach
pet
ownership
and
pet
care.
“We
can
pick
up
dozens
of
dogs
in
the
city
parks,
where
they’re
hanging
out
either
because
they
live
there
or
that’s
where
they
go
to
spend
the
day;
whatever
the
case
may
be,”
she
said.
“But
if
we’re
not
addressing
the
issue
of
why
they
are
in
the
parks
to
begin
with…we’re
not
doing
ourselves
any
favors.
We’re
putting
a
Band-‐
Aid
on
a
gaping
wound.”
Gavin
Nichols,
a
Community
Initiatives
Program
Officer
for
the
San
Antonio
Area
Foundation
(SAAF),
agrees
in
the
importance
of
education,
especially
when
it
comes
to
teaching
people
about
secure
dog
laws.
Nichols,
who
works
with
several
animal-‐oriented
nonprofits
and
shelters
in
the
region,
said
that
many
of
San
Antonio’s
strays
are
owned
pets
allowed
to
roam
freely.
However,
he
added,
an
even
greater
contributor
to
San
Antonio’s
stray
pet
population
includes
people
not
spaying
or
neutering
their
pets.
Needs
Currently
there
exist
plenty
of
nonprofits
and
community
initiatives
in
San
Antonio
that
rescue
and
help
adopt
out
stray
dogs
and
cats
from
the
area.
However,
many
of
these
organizations
lack
the
time,
resources,
and
manpower
to
focus
on
effective
local
education
and
outreach.
San
Antonio
needs
an
organization
that
(1)
develops
unique
programs
to
inform
pet
owners
of
the
regional
laws
and
the
local
resources
available
to
them
and
(2)
identifies
and
implements
innovative
plans
to
reduce
cruelty
crimes,
such
as
abandonment,
while
addressing
the
ideologies
that
many
San
Antonians
possess
regarding
pet
care
and
ownership.
Recently
announced
developments
at
SAACS
and
its’
partner
agencies
suggest
that
the
present
political
climate
and
population
base
in
San
Antonio
would
help
to
sustain
a
pet-‐oriented
education
and
outreach
organization
in
the
area.
For
example,
SAACS
plans
to
open
an
8,200-‐square-‐foot
shelter
in
San
Antonio’s
Breckenridge
Park
in
the
fall
of
2013;
this
new
facility
will
allow
the
municipal
organization
and
its
partners
to
greatly
increase
the
number
of
dogs
and
cats
they
save
and
further
expand
their
operations
(Vincent
T.,
“Multipurpose
Pet
Adoption
Center
Unveiled”).
Furthermore,
San
Antonio’s
City
Council
and
local
voters
previously
approved
a
multimillion-‐dollar
bond
to
construct
new
kennels
at
the
Animal
Defense
League
in
San
Antonio
(Aldridge).
When
completed,
these
new
kennels
will
increase
the
capacity
of
this
no-‐kill
nonprofit
and
the
number
of
animals
it
can
pull
from
SAACS
for
adoption.
16. 16
Scope
This
proposal
provides
an
assessment
of
projects
and
initiatives
that
would
address
pet
dumping
and
abandonment
in
San
Antonio
and
generate
interest
in
local
animal
laws
and
positive
pet
ownership
practices.
The
proposal
includes
individual
sections
for
an
estimate
of
cost
and
materials,
a
schedule
of
project
implementation,
an
overview
of
required
personnel,
and
an
analysis
of
project
benefits.
PROPOSED
PLAN
Plan
Phases
This
plan
outlines
several
short-‐
and
long-‐term
projects
that
address
animal
abandonment
and
other
negative
pet
ownership
practices
in
San
Antonio.
The
four
major
prerogatives
of
this
plan
include:
(1)
establishing
a
vehicle
for
fundraising
and
grants
acquisition;
(2)
implementing
fixed
initiatives
to
raise
awareness
of
the
laws
regarding
pet
ownership
and
animal
abandonment;
(3)
organizing
outreach
and
educational
presentations;
(4)
encouraging
active
citizen
involvement
in
meeting
all
these
objectives.
Establish
a
Nonprofit
and
Online
Presence.
The
first
prerogative
to
developing
an
effective
education
and
outreach
organization
in
San
Antonio
starts
with
applying
for
501(c)3
status
with
the
federal
and
state
governments.
According
to
Rhonda
Heffernan,
co-‐founder
of
Stop
the
Crosby
Puppy
Massacres
in
Crosby,
Texas,
achieving
nonprofit
status
opens
doors
to
important
resources,
such
as
corporate
donations
and
grants.
However,
actually
receiving
501(c)3
status
may
take
up
to
a
year,
said
Heffernan,
who
is
still
waiting
on
her
nonprofit
approval.
Heffernan
established
Stop
the
Crosby
Puppy
Massacres
more
than
two
years
ago
in
response
to
a
major
pet
and
garbage
dumping
site
off
of
U.S.
Route
90
in
Crosby,
a
community
just
outside
of
Houston.
She
first
heard
about
the
site
through
a
local
animal
rescue
organization.
During
her
initial
visit
to
the
area,
she
came
across
a
horrific
discovery:
several
two-‐month-‐old
puppies
tortured,
killed,
and
unceremoniously
thrown
out
like
discarded
litter.
In
the
months
and
years
since,
Heffernan
has
worked
diligently
to
clean
up
and
close
this
popular
dumping
ground.
Her
organization
has
rescued
87
live
dogs,
seven
cats,
and
one
burro
from
the
area;
she
has,
however,
seen
numerous
more
tortured
and/or
killed
pets,
many
of
them
placed
in
trash
bags
and
left
to
rot.
While
Heffernan
used
to
find
newly
dumped
live
dogs
and
cats
at
the
site
every
week,
she
now
reports
that
those
cases
of
abandonment
have
slowed
to
about
once
per
month.
The
change,
however,
did
not
occur
overnight
and
not
without
significant
amounts
of
hard
work
and
regional
networking.
After
several
months
of
reaching
out
to
law
enforcement
officials
and
animal
protection
agencies
without
success,
Stop
the
Crosby
Puppy
Massacres
attracted
the
attention
of
local
media
(Heffernan).
From
there,
interest
snowballed.
The
Harris
County
District
Attorney’s
Office
became
involved,
as
well
as
animal
cruelty
specialists
from
the
Houston
Police
Department.
And
the
organization’s
online
support
skyrocketed,
said
Heffernan.
“Facebook
and
social
media
have
been
the
things
that
have
gotten
us
down
the
road,”
she
replied
when
asked
what
worked
best
in
building
her
organization.
“We
have
over
3,000
[Facebook]
followers
now;
these
followers
spread
our
message
17. 17
and
help
us
raise
money
for
the
animals.
Social
media
also
attracted
the
interest
of
traditional
media
as
well.”
The
outpouring
of
support
from
local
citizens
and
the
cooperation
of
the
District
Attorney’s
Office
and
other
government
agencies
allowed
Heffernan
and
her
colleagues
to
add
other
preventative
measures
at
the
site,
such
as
signs
educating
potential
animal
dumpers
of
the
legal
consequences
and
a
billboard
asking
for
help
in
identifying
these
criminals.
Even
more
recently,
highway
crews
installed
an
eight-‐foot-‐high
fence,
making
it
nearly
impossible
for
people
to
dump
in
the
area
out
of
view
of
passersby.
Next,
Heffernan
and
her
colleagues
plan
to
focus
on
outreach
by
canvassing
local
neighborhoods
with
flyers
on
animal
abandonment,
dog
fighting,
and
similar
crimes.
Structure
of
Nonprofit
Before
applying
for
501(c)3
status,
the
proposed
organization
will
need
a
name
and
mission
statement
(“How
to
Start
a
501c3
Nonprofit
Organization”).
It
will
eventually
require
a
board
of
directors
and
a
strong
online
and
social
media
presence.
Names:
Potential
organization
names
include:
1. San
Antonio
Pet
Dumping
Awareness
Initiative
2. End
Pet
Dumping
San
Antonio
3. Responsible
Pet
Owners
for
South
Texas
Mission
Statement:
The
mission
of
this
organization
is
to
promote
responsible
pet
ownership
and
reduce
instances
of
animal
cruelty
in
San
Antonio
through
education,
outreach,
and
community
initiatives.
Board
of
Directors:
Invite
local
leaders
from
nonprofits
and
businesses
operating
in
the
animal
care/rescue
sector
to
serve
on
the
board
of
directors.
Board
members
will
help
network
and
fundraise
within
the
community
and
recommend
projects
and
partnerships
for
the
organization.
Online
Presence:
Set
up
a
website
and
Facebook
page
for
the
organization.
Establish
strong
Facebook
and
Twitter
followings;
incorporate
search
engine
optimization
strategies
to
build
online
awareness;
develop
e-‐mail
newsletter
campaign
for
contributors;
and
incorporate
other
social
media
channels,
such
as
YouTube
and
Vine.
Implement
Visual
Projects
that
Increase
Awareness.
San
Antonio
needs
widespread
initiatives
that
educate
residents
on
the
penalties
affiliated
with
pet
dumping
and
that
enlist
bystander
help
in
identifying
these
criminals.
One
way
to
achieve
this
is
through
informative
signage
strategically
placed
in
popular
dumping
areas.
Signage
While
some
parks
in
San
Antonio
currently
maintain
anti-‐pet
dumping
signage,
according
to
Lisa
Norwood
of
SAACS,
many
do
not.
English-‐
and
Spanish-‐language
signs
could
be
added
at
county
and
city
parks,
as
well
as
in
neighborhoods
with
high
incidences
of
pet
dumping
(see
Figure
1).
At
each
location,
two
types
of
signs
could
be
added:
one
to
educate
people
and
one
to
encourage
bystander
engagement
in
reporting
pet
dumping.
18. 18
Educational
Signs
(see
Figure
2):
These
signs
will
educate
people
on
the
legal
consequences
of
abandoning
their
pets
and
identify
organizations
that
can
help
them
to
properly
relinquish
their
pets.
The
upper
half
of
these
signs
will
list
misdemeanor
charges
affiliated
with
abandoning
animals.
The
bottom
halves
will
list
several
regional
shelters,
including
SAACS,
and
their
contact
information.
Engagement
Signs
(see
Figure
3):
These
signs
will
inform
bystanders
which
local
number
to
call
(311)
and
what
information
to
report
when
they
witness
an
animal
abandonment
or
dumping
in
progress.
According
to
Officer
Houghton,
bystanders
must
identify
the
vehicle
license
plate
number
of
any
perpetrators
in
their
reports
and
preferably
provide
descriptions
of
the
criminal
or
criminals.
While
the
311-‐phone
service
allows
people
to
report
crimes
unanimously,
bystanders
should
leave
their
contact
information
for
their
eyewitness
accounts
to
effectively
help
in
any
criminal
proceedings.
According
to
The
Humane
Society
of
the
United
States
(HSUS),
people
reporting
animal
cruelty
crimes
should
also
provide
the
location,
date,
and
time
of
the
incident
and
the
names
of
other
people
who
witnessed
the
crime.
Furthermore,
HSUS
recommends
that,
if
possible,
bystanders
use
their
phones
or
other
devices
to
take
video
or
photographic
documentation
(“Report
Animal
Cruelty”).
Visual
documentation
will
help
to
strengthen
any
resulting
case.
Brochures
Tri-‐fold
brochures
printed
on
quality
stock
paper
will
also
support
the
education
and
outreach
objectives
of
this
organization.
These
brochures
will
include
greater
details
than
the
signage
regarding
city
and
county
animal
care
laws.
They
will
also
list
many
more
local
shelters
and
nonprofits
and
provide
details
on
low-‐cost
spay
and
neuter
clinics
and
similar
programs
in
San
Antonio.
Additionally,
the
brochures
will
educate
people
on
local
leash
laws
and
the
related
citation
penalties
and,
much
like
the
signs,
inform
readers
of
what
to
do
and
who
to
call
when
they
witness
a
person
dumping
one
or
more
pets.
Lastly,
the
brochures
will
direct
people
towards
the
organization’s
website
for
further
resources.
These
brochures
may
be
posted
within
parks
to
support
signage
coverage.
They
can
also
be
used
in
neighborhood
and
park
canvassing
operations
and
handed
out
during
outreach
events.
Additionally,
they
may
be
added
to
existing
literature
and
handouts
available
at
regional
shelters.
Organize
Educational
Presentations
and
Event
Appearances.
Effectively
transforming
local
ideologies
on
pet
care
depends
on
education
in
the
classroom
and
the
community.
Under
the
guidance
of
its
directorial
board,
this
organization
will
develop
educational
programs
oriented
towards
children,
adolescents,
and
low-‐
income
communities
and
neighborhood
groups.
Outreach
presentations
will
educate
viewers
on
local
animal
care
and
cruelty
laws
and
explain
that
abandoned
pets
suffer,
sometimes
horribly.
In
addition,
these
presentations
will
outline
alternatives
to
pet
dumping
and
provide
people
with
literature
on
local
resources
and
agencies
willing
to
help
them.
Secondly,
this
organization
will
set
up
booths
at
community
health
and
wellness
fairs
and
neighborhood
street
events,
where
volunteers
will
hand
out
brochures
and
talk
to
people
about
the
issues
and
how
best
to
address
them.
By
19. 19
attending
community
events,
the
organization
will
also
generate
supporters
and
build
interest
in
its
initiatives
at
the
local
level.
Build
Support
and
Involvement
at
the
Neighborhood
Level.
The
success
of
this
organization
depends
on
community
and
citizen
collaboration.
To
further
solidify
this
bond,
the
organization
will
work
with
communities
and
neighborhoods
with
parks
and
other
areas
that
people
frequently
target
for
pet
dumping.
Using
local
volunteers,
neighborhood
watch-‐like
groups
will
operate
within
these
pet-‐dumping
hotspots
to
further
deter
criminals.
With
the
logistical
assistance
of
the
organization,
volunteer
members
will
establish
patrolling
schedules
and
pass
out
brochures
at
parks
and
other
hotspots.
These
initiatives
will
bring
neighbors
and
area
residents
closer
together
in
support
of
a
common
cause
while
simultaneously
helping
to
cut
down
on
local
crime.
These
park
watch
groups
could
be
modeled
after
The
National
Sheriffs’
Association’s
Neighborhood
Watch
Program.
According
to
The
National
Sheriffs’
Association’s
website,
creating
an
effective
watch
group
requires
five
major
steps
(“About
Neighborhood
Watch”).
These
steps
include
mapping
out
target
areas
and
crime
patterns,
building
partnerships
with
local
law
enforcement,
assessing
the
needs
of
the
neighborhood,
selecting
and
training
volunteers,
and
implementing
meaningful
projects.
These
steps
will
serve
as
guidelines
in
creating
park
watch
groups.
Future
Initiatives.
The
above
four
project
phases
represent
the
potential
beginning
work
of
this
organization.
As
the
organization
grows
and
develops,
it
can
identify
and
implement
new
initiatives,
such
as
renting
billboards
to
increase
interest
and
support
and
installing
cameras
to
catch
perpetrators
at
major
dumping
sites.
Once
the
organization
achieves
nonprofit
status
and
builds
a
volunteer
base,
it
can
develop
major
fundraising
campaigns
and
help
adopt
out
strays
found
wandering
popular
dumping
sites.
In
the
future,
the
organization
may
even
add
boarding
kennels
and
work
with
fosterers
to
alleviate
the
number
of
pets
in
San
Antonio
without
forever
homes.
Cost
and
Materials
The
following
provides
an
estimate
of
the
costs
and
materials
needed
to
implement
the
first
four
phases
of
this
plan:
• Signs:
The
largest
cost
affiliated
with
this
project
includes
that
required
to
create
custom,
durable
road
signs.
A
30-‐inch-‐by-‐30-‐inch
square
sign
should
provide
enough
space
for
the
necessary
text
(see
Figure
2
and
Figure
3).
According
to
RoadTrafficSigns.com,
a
rigid
aluminum
sign
of
this
size
costs
$78.65
apiece.
An
order
of
20
reduces
the
price
per
sign
to
$51.65.
An
initial
run
of
20
signs
with
anti-‐graffiti
laminate
and
mounting
equipment
costs
$1,802.45.
Estimate:
$2,000
first
run
(10
education
and
10
engagement
signs)
20. 20
• 501(c)3
Status:
The
second
largest
cost
includes
that
affiliated
with
applying
for
nonprofit
status.
Incorporating
within
the
state
costs
approximately
$100,
according
to
Petfinder.com
(“How
Much
Will
It
Cost?”).
Applying
for
federal
tax-‐exempt
status
will
cost
$400
for
an
institution
with
average
gross
receipts
less
than
$10,000
per
year
over
a
four-‐year
span.
However,
because
of
the
complexity
involved
in
filing
an
IRS
Form
1023,
many
online
sources
recommend
hiring
a
professional.
Some
Web-‐based
template
services
charge
a
fraction
(as
little
as
$500)
of
the
fees
that
most
attorneys
and
accountants
request
for
similar
work
(Woodward,
“How
Much
Will
It
Cost”).
Estimate:
$100
state
incorporation,
$400
federal
incorporation,
$600
filing
fees
Total:
$1,100
one
time
• Brochures:
The
third
cost
affiliated
with
this
plan
includes
brochure
printing.
Based
on
orders
from
three
online
printing
services
(UPrinting.com,
PrintingForLess.com,
and
PsPrint),
an
order
of
2,000
8.5-‐inch-‐by-‐11-‐inch
brochures
will
cost
between
$275
and
$400.
2,000
brochures
will
provide
enough
to
post
at
parks
and
dumping
hotspots
and
to
hand
out
at
events.
Total:
$300
first
run
• Website
Hosting:
Lastly,
website
hosting
costs
approximately
$100
a
year.
Design
of
website
and
social
media
pages
will
be
handled
in-‐house.
Total:
$100
per
year
Schedule
of
Implementation
The
success
of
this
proposal
depends
on
the
immediate
implementation
of
certain
phases
in
order
to
pursue
and
achieve
other
stages.
With
the
acquisition
of
initial
start-‐up
costs,
the
timeline
of
implementation
would
begin
with:
• Applying
for
state
and
federal
incorporation
as
a
nonprofit.
Since
it
takes
up
to
a
year
to
receive
nonprofit
status
from
the
government,
undertaking
this
step
early
will
set
up
the
organization
for
long-‐term
success.
• Developing
a
website,
Facebook
page,
and
online
identity.
• Designing
and
printing
brochures
with
necessary
information.
This
stage
requires
collaboration
with
local
nonprofits
to
determine
exactly
what
information
these
brochures
should
include.
• Networking
with
area
shelters
and
nonprofits
to
distribute
brochures.
• Coordinating
with
SAACS
and
San
Antonio
Parks
and
Recreation
to
present
signage
project.
• Purchasing
signs
and
implementing
project
with
approval
and
support
of
SA
Parks
and
Rec.
• Establishing
presence
within
the
community
at
health
and
wellness
fairs
and
similar
events.
• Developing
school
and
community
group
presentations.
21. 21
• Networking
with
school
and
neighborhood
associations
to
organize
and
present
informational
sessions
and
discussions.
• Organizing
volunteer
park
watch
groups
at
the
neighborhood
level.
Personnel
This
proposal
lays
out
a
plan
for
an
independently
operating
organization
that
will
grow
and
evolve
while
addressing
critical
pet-‐
and
animal-‐related
issues
in
San
Antonio.
However,
a
large
portion
of
the
success
of
this
organization
depends
on
cooperation
with
other
community
entities,
including
government
institutions,
existing
nonprofits,
and
citizen
groups.
For
example,
the
signage
project
focuses
on
the
installation
of
informational
signs
in
public
areas.
The
City
of
San
Antonio
and
the
SA
Parks
and
Recreation
Department
might
reject
the
installation
of
signage
in
city
parks
for
any
number
of
reasons,
such
as
the
cost
or
time
required
for
sign
maintenance
or
a
divergent
opinion
from
the
messages
expressed
in
these
signs.
However
other
projects,
such
as
the
distribution
of
informational
brochures,
depend
less
on
the
cooperation
of
local
institutions
and
more
on
the
outreach
efforts
of
this
organization
and
its
volunteer
force.
The
need
for
more
informed
citizens
on
pet
care
and
positive
pet
ownership
practices
exists
throughout
San
Antonio;
thus,
the
most
effective
solution
to
this
problem
is
a
unified
front
of
cooperating
agencies
and
individuals.
Any
nonprofit
will
need
to
collaborate
with
other
regional
organizations
already
working
within
this
field
to
effect
change,
both
locally
and
widespread.
Feasibility
The
feasibility
of
this
proposal
is
mixed.
Certain
components
were
based
off
of
successful
initiatives
developed
by
other
organizations,
such
as
the
work
of
Stop
the
Crosby
Puppy
Massacres,
while
other
projects
were
loosely
modeled
according
to
expert
input,
including
that
provided
by
The
National
Sheriffs’
Association
regarding
establishment
of
neighborhood
watch
groups.
Other
portions
of
this
plan
will
pave
new
or
lightly
treaded
ground.
Building
this
organization
and
implementing
its
individual
projects
will
take
time.
However,
I
see
it
as
a
necessary
next
stage
in
the
evolution
of
pet
ownership
ideologies
in
San
Antonio,
an
evolution
that
began
a
decade
ago
with
the
overhaul
of
SAACS
and
the
implementation
of
a
plan
to
one
day
make
San
Antonio
a
no-‐kill
community.
I
believe
that
many
San
Antonians,
maybe
even
a
majority,
will
support
the
agenda
and
initiatives
of
this
organization
because
of
their
similar
support
for
a
no-‐kill
pet
community.
Benefits
The
advantages
to
implementing
this
plan
far
outweigh
any
disadvantages.
I
believe
that
as
humans,
we
each
possess
an
intrinsic
responsibility
to
help
those
individuals
and
creatures
incapable
of
caring
for
themselves.
That
responsibility
extends
to
domesticated
animals
that
lack
the
innate
abilities
to
survive
alone
in
the
wild.
And
while
the
City
of
San
Antonio
and
its
partners
and
citizens
are
moving
in
the
right
22. 22
direction
in
terms
of
improving
the
culture
of
pet
care
in
the
region,
they
still
need
assistance
and
support
in
achieving
their
ultimate
objectives.
This
proposed
plan
adds
one
more
resource
to
the
community
and
one
more
piece
to
the
puzzle
needed
to
create
a
more
caring,
pet
friendly
city.
CONCLUSION
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
San
Antonio
needs
an
organization
dedicated
primarily
to
educating
people
about
the
importance
of
responsible
pet
ownership.
With
so
many
groups
devoted
to
saving
stray
dogs
and
cats
in
San
Antonio,
the
city
needs
an
entity
to
focus
almost
exclusively
on
the
other
side
of
the
issue:
the
human
involvement
that
resulted
in
these
dogs
and
cats
running
loose
or
abandoned
in
the
first
place.
SAACS
officials
agree
in
the
importance
of
pet
ownership
education.
“As
a
pet
owner,
it
is
your
responsibility
to
know
what
the
laws
are
here
in
the
City
of
San
Antonio
governing
your
pet,”
said
Lisa
Norwood.
“The
old
‘I
had
no
idea
that
it
wasn’t
ok
to
abandon
my
pet
in
this
city
park’
is
not
an
excuse
that
is
going
to
fly.
Our
cruelty
investigators,
and
our
officers
too,
are
holding
more
people
responsible;
as
a
result,
there’s
been
an
increase
in
citations
given
to
people.”
Informing
citizens
of
the
pet-‐related
laws
and
resources
in
their
communities
serves
as
a
critical
step
in
solving
the
growing
nationwide
epidemic
of
unmanageable
stray
dog
and
cat
populations
found
in
both
urban
and
rural
areas.
In
the
United
States,
approximately
10,000
human
babies
are
born
every
day.
According
to
Animals
Abused
&
Abandoned,
Inc.,
some
70,000
puppies
and
kitten
are
also
born
every
day
(“Addressing
a
Pet
Overpopulation
Tragedy”),
contributing
to
a
massive
imbalance
in
the
number
of
potential
pet
owners
verses
the
number
of
available
pets
and
ultimately
adding
to
the
widespread
population
of
homeless
dogs
and
cats
in
America.
San
Antonio
needs
the
initiatives
outlined
in
this
proposal,
if
for
nothing
more
than
to
build
a
safer,
happier
community
for
the
people
and
pets
that
live
here.
As
a
San
Antonian,
I
want
to
see
my
community
and
its
inhabitants
work
together
towards
a
common
goal
that
benefits
us
all,
resulting
in
a
better
place
to
live
and
work.
As
a
pet
owner,
I
believe
that
dogs
and
cats
offer
important
camaraderie
and
kinship
by
contributing
to
our
overall
happiness
and
the
happiness
of
our
families.
As
a
compassionate,
ethical
person,
I
recognize
that
domesticated
animals
suffer
when
set
loose
in
the
wild,
and
I
advocate
that
they
deserve
more
than
abandonment
and
likely
death
because
of
our
own
hardships
and
misguided
beliefs.
23. 23
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