An estimated 8,700 loose or stray dogs are on the streets in South Dallas. That's what a summer survey by the Boston Consulting Group found. On Tuesday, the Dallas City Council will discuss recommendations to deal with the city's growing problem.
"It's going to require boots on the ground," said Deanna Sauceda, Director of the Spay Neuter Network and member of the Dallas Animal Commission.
"This is not going to happen overnight. It's going to take many years for us to solve this problem that we have here in Dallas."
Sauceda was one of several volunteers knocking on doors in South Dallas Sunday afternoon, letting people know about a free spay/neuter clinic at the Beckley-Saner Rec Center on September 14 and October 26.
"It's much bigger than just offering free spay and neuter," Sauceda explained. "We have to earn trust with folks who live in neighborhoods who may not have access to these resources."
Dog bites have gone up by 13 percent in Dallas since 2013.
"Eighty-percent of those dog bites come from unaltered males," Sauceda said. "To solve this problem, we have to do it together."
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The Boston Consulting Group recommendations include simple changes, like taking better photos of adoptable dogs, to more extreme measures, like overhauling Dallas Animal Services. The study also recommends a massive low-cost spay and neuter program, as well as partnering with non-profits.
"They need the help. They take in 100 dogs a day in the spring and summer months," said Christina Arriaga of the non-profit Rockwall Pets. She was holding an adoption day at a Petco in Rockwall. "All of the dogs today come from Dallas Animal Services."
Arriaga said Rockwall Pets exclusively rescues dogs from Dallas because they need the most help. "It's just an uphill battle," she said. "There are so many coming in and now with the pressure of taking in the loose dogs, there's just even more coming in."
Dallas District 8 city councilman Erik Wilson represents is included in the survey. Wilson told NBC 5 he expects the city council to follow the recommendations and hopes to get community support to solve the problem.
The problem was thrust into the spotlight in May after Antoinette Brown was mauled to death by a pack of loose dogs. She was bitten more than 100 times.
"Her death is not going to be in vain," Sauceda said. "Because now we have amazing focus on the problem and Dallas can step up."
