16 Residents Speak Out at San Angelo Council Meeting Over Animal Services

SAN ANGELO, TX - “This isn’t just an animal problem; it’s a people problem,” Mayor Brenda Gunter said during the San Angelo City Council meeting this morning.

On the agenda today was an item regarding animal services dog intake policies. This single agenda item stretched over two and a half hours on Tuesday. 

The council confronted the city’s animal services policies, which have left residents frustrated over stray dog populations, a limited intake policy, and what many described as an enforcement system in disarray.

The meeting, attended by dozens of concerned citizens and city officials, centered on whether the city’s animal services policies should prioritize public safety and health over broader animal welfare initiatives.

San Angelo Animal Services has faced mounting criticism for its no-kill policies, limited intake measures, and reliance on the Good Samaritan program, which encourages residents to temporarily house stray animals they find.

Residents and advocates expressed concern over the city’s perceived failure to address the growing number of stray animals and implement meaningful spay-neuter enforcement.

The most contentious issue revolved around the shelter’s capacity policy, adopted in December 2022, which allows the facility to turn away healthy animals when it exceeds 170 dogs.

Morgan Chegwidden, Assistant Director of Neighborhood and Family Services, acknowledged the policy’s challenges, explaining, “We recognize that’s the biggest sticking point for most of our interactions at the front counter. It’s tough to turn people away, but our resources are limited.”

The policy, coupled with enforcement gaps, has led to an increase in stray dogs roaming neighborhoods, forming packs, and posing safety threats. Recently, a city employee was mauled by a dog while on duty—an event repeatedly referenced as a turning point for city leaders.

The meeting’s public comment section had remarks from 16 residents. Advocates and critics alike shared stories of abandoned dogs, personal injuries, and the broader impact on the community, some of whom said they couldn't even walk in their own neighborhood. 

One resident described her frustration after witnessing a puppy being dumped and the lack of follow-up from authorities.

“I chased the guy, took pictures, and filed a police report, but nothing was done. Law enforcement has to participate, too,” she said.

Others expressed support for the shelter’s efforts despite its limitations. One man who said he was a longtime rescuer, said, “I’ve pulled over 100 dogs out of that shelter over the years. The staff at the shelter and PAWS have always gone the extra mile to help me.”

Another man recounted a horrible experience during his comments to the council, highlighting the legal challenges he faced while trying to help an abandoned pit bull. “I took in a dog that had been neglected for six years, thinking I was doing the right thing,” he said.

Instead, he received 17 citations from Animal Control. While most of the citations were later dropped, Fitch remains entangled in court proceedings. “This has been a nightmare,” he said. “I’m just trying to do what’s right.”

Many called for stronger enforcement of existing ordinances. The director of the Critter Shack Rescue was particularly blunt: “The no-kill initiative has been an abysmal failure. Dogs are being left to suffer on the streets, forming packs, spreading disease, and endangering the public. Is that more humane than euthanizing at the shelter?”

Another woman delivered a plea while an associate with her held up a disturbing image of a dog she named “Toast.” The dog, she explained, had been brutally abused, its body burned after being filled with accelerants. “This is what you are driving people to,” she said. She asked the council to prioritize spay and neuter initiatives to prevent such tragedies. “It is cheaper for you to pay for spay and neuter than to let this happen,” she said. 

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