A San Antonio City Council member wants to encourage more renters to adopt pets in the area by helping them pay for pet rental deposits.
San Antonio District 2 City Councilman Jalen Mackey Rodriguez filed a Congressional Review Request (CCR) on February 16 to create a new pet deposit subsidy program.
The proposed city program would pay all or part of a pet deposit to individuals who choose to foster or adopt a pet from San Antonio Animal Services or partner shelters.
It is aimed at dealing with stray and wandering animals in San Antonio.
“San Antonio's large number of stray and wandering pets pose a serious threat to the safety and welfare of residents and animals,” Mackey Rodriguez said in a news release.
“I will continue to work with the Department of Animal Protective Services to find innovative ways to address this problem, and I will continue to partner with the San Antonio Apartment Association to create safe and secure solutions for pets in our city. We are happy to have found a long-term home.”
CCR currently has signatures of support from several other council members, including Suk Kaul, Adriana Rocha-Garcia, Teri Castillo, and Melissa Cabello-Havrda.
The next step in the process includes scheduling the item on the agenda of a future governance committee meeting.
San Antonio ACS recently strengthened its enforcement as part of its strategic plan. The plan aims to promote personal and public safety and ensure people feel safe from animals when walking through their neighborhoods and streets.
The agency reported that it has added 20 officers since the beginning of this year as part of the plan.
To date, more than 2,300 citations have been issued and more than 11,000 animals have been brought into shelters.
