A new report on the Dallas stray dog problem says 8,700 canines wander the city's streets, 85 percent of them not spayed or neutered.
The report by the Boston Consulting Group was prepared since the fatal May 2 attack on 52-year-old Antoinette Brown.
Documents: Memo to the Mayor | Loose Dogs: Initiative Detail | Loose Dogs: Whitepaper
"We finally have data that shows that we are heading in the wrong direction," Rawlings said. "This is a public safety issue as well as an animal welfare issue."
The figures show the number of dog bites has increased 15 percent a year since 2011.
"Yes I'm frustrated," Rawlings said. "For the last two years I've said let's fix this."
Boston Consulting Group Senior Partner Dylan Bolden said interviews were conducted with many people across the city.
"We did a significant amount of primary research to do a dog census," Bolden said. "We studied best practices from across the country to understand what other cities have done to attack this problem."
Recommendations from the consultants include city management changes, expanded capture and intake of strays at the city shelter and greatly expanded spay and neuter programs.
"It can't be one thing," said Boston Consulting Group Managing Director Keith Melker. "It can't be a silver bullet. If you just pick up the dogs, then all the intact owned dogs out there will just make more dogs. And if you just spay and neuter the existing dogs, there will still be dogs in the street."
The consultants’ research confirmed that intact male dogs are more aggressive and more likely to roam.
"Nationwide about 70 percent of bites are attributable to male intact dogs," said consultant Stephen Edison.
The consultants recommend 46,000 free or low cost spay and neuter surgeries be provided in Southern Dallas each of the next three years to control the loose dog problem.
Mayor Rawlings said current management structure lacks accountability.
"They report to somebody who reports to somebody who reports to somebody, it's pretty far down the chain," he said. "We have dog bite cards that are filled out manually, sitting in boxes."
Rawlings said more money will be needed from the city and from private donations along with more volunteers. Before seeking charity, Rawlings said he wants new management structure in place to provide assurances the money will be used wisely.
"It's not just a put a put a 'finger in the dike issue.' It's really rebuilding our system," Rawlings said.
Loose Dogs in Dallas: Strategic Recommendations to Improve Public Safety and Animal Welfare in Dallas: Whitepaper
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Loose Dogs in Dallas: Strategic Recommendations to Improve Public Safety and Animal Welfare in Dallas: Initiative Detail
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