Irresponsible Pet Owners Have Created a Deadly Puppy Problem in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO – Irresponsible dog owners in San Angelo who don't spay or neuter their pets and allow backyard breeding have created an untenable population of unwanted dogs.  The San Angelo Animal Shelter is facing an ongoing crisis of over population of puppies and will have to start killing dogs at the end of November if San Angeloans don't take this crisis seriously.  

San Angelo Animal Services Director Morgan Chedwidden and Concho Valley PAWS Director Jenie Wilson detailed the crisis in a live interview with San Angelo LIVE! Thursday.  That discussion begins at 12:37 in this livestream.

The over population of pets in San Angelo and the over abundance of stray animals has forced the City of San Angelo Animal Services to take drastic measures including possibly euthanizing dozens of pets per month because of irresponsible pet owners.  

See the Chart at the bottom of this article for details on the overcrowding crisis at the Animal Shelter for the month of September, 2022.  

Effective Aug. 16, 2022, citizens who have failed to prove compliance for spaying or neutering their pets have received citations through a newly approved process that allows violations to be issued by mail rather than in person. This has replaced the shelter’s practice of allowing a 10-day grace period to collect proof of compliance for those in violation.  

Citizens must appear before Municipal Court as required for any other class C misdemeanor. There they may plead guilty, not guilty or no contest and are assessed fines and court costs. All of this can be avoided by instead spaying or neutering their pet. 

Here's the latest information from the City of San Angelo on the pet crisis at the shelter: 

This is largely in response to the significant influx of canines under six months of age entering the shelter in fiscal year 2022. The City of San Angelo intends to improve upon this notable decrease in spay/neuter compliance. Adopted in Oct. 2015, citizens of San Angelo must spay or neuter their pet cats and dogs more than four months of age at their own expense. Certain exceptions can apply, such as fragile health of the pet does not warrant undergoing surgery or those with breeder’s permits.  

We encourage citizens to take advantage of the low-cost spay/neuter services offered in San Angelo. Head to cvpaws.org/vouchers today to learn more.  

Concho Valley PAWS event

In addition, Concho Valley PAWS will be holding a spay/neuter voucher sale this weekend. We encourage everyone to come out if you need to purchase a voucher to spay/neuter your pet.

What: Concho Valley PAWS spay and neuter voucher sale
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8
Where: 3134 N. US Hwy 67
Cost: $25 for cats, $50 for dogs
*Cash or check only. Valid for 45 days from issue.