Dallas city leaders Tuesday issued promises to implement solutions to the city’s loose dog crisis as they received a consultant’s report with new data and recommendations.
“It is past time to take action on this and I am looking forward to the next steps from here,” Councilman Adam McGough said.
The crisis was highlighted by the May 2016 death of homeless Army veteran Antoinette Brown. The 52-year-old woman suffered more than 100 dog bites in a vacant lot near Fair Park.
“I’m in support of all of the recommendations, as well. I think we need to go big on this,” Councilman Casey Thomas said.
A crowd of advocates was in the room as the Dallas City Council received the report.
Charlie Howell was the victim of a dog attack while walking his dog in north Oak Cliff.
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“We’ve got a good comprehensive plan to address the issues, but it still has to be implemented and that’s still a concern,” Howell said.
The report by The Boston Consulting Group was paid for with donations arranged by Dallas Animal Shelter Advisory Commission Chairman Peter Brodsky.
The firm spent the past three months doing research and conducting interviews.
The consultants estimate 8,700 dogs are loose in Dallas each morning and the number of human dog bites is rising.
Their report recommends substantial increases in the capture of loose dogs, transfer of live captured animals to rescue groups and far more spay and neuter procedures to reduce the birth of new puppies.
The report also recommends Dallas Animal Services should be elevated to a separate city department instead of remaining a branch of Dallas Code Compliance.
“That is problematic in terms of holding people accountable. It’s problematic in terms of execution because the person who’s running DAS is not high enough in the bureaucracy to have a front row seat at the table,” Brodsky said.
Brodsky said the Animal Services Director has a very difficult job that involves much more than just caring about animals.
“There’s logistics, there’s data mining, there’s public relations. There’s an enormous number of high level management tasks and I think with a more prominent position in the city bureaucracy, you would attract the absolute best management talent to run the organization,” Brodsky said.
Current Animal Services Director Jody Jones attended the Tuesday’s briefing, but made no statements and answered no questions.
Councilman Scott Griggs put City Manager A.C. Gonzalez on the spot, asking whether he supports all the recommendations, including a clear mission statement for Animal Services.
“I would like to see more work done on involvement of the community and involvement of the various stakeholders,” Gonzalez said.
Griggs responded that he was hoping to hear enthusiastic support from Gonzalez.
“I think we need to lead, not say ‘wait on the community.’ They're all here waiting for us to do something. We've got this report,” said Griggs.
The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas President James Bias said his agency is ready to take on greater responsibility.
“It's a matter for us to up our game, at the SPCA of Texas, to help out Dallas Animal Services on the issues,” Bias said. “But it’s going to take the community to be part of that process, whether it’s funding or bringing animals in for surgery.”
Councilman Philip Kingston supported the recommendations, but questioned the consultants’ expectations for success when similar efforts have failed in Dallas before.
“I think it’s appropriately optimistic, but I do think it’s optimistic,” Kingston said.
Pleasant Grove Councilman Rickey Callahan said he strongly supports the plans, but also urged pet owners to change attitudes about aggressive dogs.
“Too many people believe it’s a low-cost security system. Put a bowl of food or water on the porch. Go away to work,” Callahan said.
Dallas Animal Shelter Advisory Board Member Maeleska Fletes is also a Dallas Companion Animal Project leader. She praised the consultants’ recommendations.
“This is something that animal activists and the commission, we’ve been asking for, for a long time,” she said. “We need to get everybody on board and I think with this study, we will.”
Officials seized the dogs believed to be responsible for Brown’s death in May, but Fletes said she has been unable to get additional information about the investigation since then.
“I'd love for somebody to tell us why nothing has come of that,” Fletes said. “The animals were picked up. Why hasn't there been any prosecution?”
A community meeting for input Gonzalez requested on the consultant recommendations is scheduled September 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Park South Family YMCA, 2500 Romine Avenue near Metropolitan Avenue and Highway 175 S.M. Wright Freeway.
