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San Antonio outlines animal services budget, expands PetCare Connect pilot and spay/neuter clinics
Summary
Animal Services presented a FY2026 budget and described a pilot outreach program that delivered resources to 4,000 households and new municipal spay/neuter capacity; councilmembers asked for response‑time maps and continued county collaboration.
John Gerry, director of Animal Services, presented the department’s FY2026 proposed budget and several program updates, including the PetCare Connect pilot, two new spay/neuter clinics and expanded wellness clinics and outreach.
Gerry said the department projects a proposed budget of about $33 million and 245 full‑time positions for FY2026; he said roughly 26 percent of operations fund field responses and about 25 percent fund shelter operations and that the department has added staff to increase investigations and field work. He described PetCare Connect as a neighborhood pilot that has visited multiple council districts, provided food, vaccines and pet resources and recorded more than 4,000 households reached, about 600 direct interactions and roughly 1,400 pet‑care resources distributed during the pilot period.
Gerry reported adoption and return‑to‑owner rates the presentation listed as about 85 percent for dogs and 90 percent for cats and said the city transferred roughly 12,000 animals to rescue partners in a recent year. He also said the department increased surgeries and is approaching an annual target the presentation cited as 41,000 surgeries; in FY2025 the presentation showed about 38,000 surgeries performed.
Council members commended PetCare Connect but asked staff for more program metrics, including whether the pilot reduced nonurgent calls and how response times varied by neighborhood. Gerry said the pilot is too early for definitive systemwide impact results but that the department is tracking call volume and will provide more data at year end. Several councilmembers requested a map of encampments and of response coverage and asked Animal Services to coordinate more with county partners to reduce duplication and increase efficiency.
Gerry said two municipal clinics opened in the summer and that the city’s vaccination clinics have provided free shots to more than 6,000 pets; the department also plans future large wellness events in partnership with PetSmart and other nonprofits. Staff noted a modest proposed reduction in discretionary travel and a restructuring intended to achieve savings without reducing core community services.
No formal votes on the department budget were recorded during the presentation. Councilmembers appeared to support continued investment in field outreach and the pilot program but asked staff to return with further data on impacts and operational metrics.
