Animal Services director: San Antonio aims for 6,000 spay/neuter surgeries next year as clinics expand

John Gary, director of Animal Care Services, told the San Antonio Public Safety Committee that the department has opened two new spay/neuter clinics and plans to expand capacity to reach a goal of 6,000 surgeries next year. "Nuestra meta es hacer 6000 cirugías en las 2 clínicas," he said during the committee presentation.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed staff for data because appointments are booked months in advance and a large waiting list creates access barriers for owners. Gary said the clinics on the west and east sides are operating and that daily capacity ranges roughly from 15 to 20 surgeries per clinic depending on staffing. He reported 1,789 surgeries completed in fiscal year 25 and said appointments are filled through the end of February.

Details from the presentation: Gary said the department hired veterinary staff and secured funding for veterinarian contracts ("540000 en financiamiento para el contrato de veterinarios"), and reported nearly 8,000 animals returned to owners (a 15% increase), more than 12,000 animal transfers and outreach metrics including 3,930 homes reached and 629 direct resident interactions. He described community programs that provide microchips, vaccinations and distributed pet food through partner organizations.

Council response and next steps: Councilmembers welcomed Saturday clinic hours to serve residents who cannot attend weekday appointments and asked staff for ZIP‑code breakdowns, daily intake numbers and clearer surrender‑vs. emergency triage criteria. Councilmember Castillo said many constituents asked for weekend appointments; staff replied that triage prioritizes public‑safety and medical emergencies and that technology portals and partner veterinarians are being used to expand capacity.

Follow-up requested: Councilmembers asked for a feasibility study and budget estimates to scale successful pilots beyond a pilot phase, plus improved tracking of municipal‑court citations related to animal control and a cross‑department comparison of staffing and outcomes. The department agreed to provide preliminary ZIP‑code and scheduling data and to continue outreach to districts.

The committee approved the meeting minutes earlier in the session; no ordinance or budget vote on Animal Services was taken during this presentation. The committee adjourned after other agenda items and asked staff to return with requested metrics and feasibility information.