Animal Welfare in Our Community

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Animal welfare is more than kindness—it’s a reflection of the health, safety, and compassion of an entire community.

Here in San Antonio, the reality is clear: thousands of animals rely on people like you to step in, take action, and be part of the solution.

The Reality in San Antonio

San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) is one of the region’s largest open-admission municipal shelters and serves as a critical safety net for animals across San Antonio. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, ACS reported an adjusted intake of 35,768 animals.

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The majority of animals entering the shelter system came from the community. Approximately 64% of intake was stray-related, meaning animals were found in neighborhoods, public spaces, or brought in by community members. Owner-related situations—including owner surrenders, owner surrender diversion, and owner-requested euthanasia—accounted for nearly 14% of intake. Another 6% of intake involved animals returning from foster, adoption, or rescue placements. These numbers show that San Antonio’s homeless pet challenge is not limited to animals living on the streets. It is also connected to the pressures faced by pet owners, the need for education, the importance of pet retention resources, and the ongoing demand for foster and rescue support.

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At the same time, the data also shows the powerful impact of community action. Of the animals with recorded outcomes, nearly 59% were either adopted or released to rescue groups. When animals returned to their owners are included, nearly 85% had a positive live outcome through adoption, rescue transfer, return-to-owner, or Trap/Neuter/Return.

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Progress is happening—but thousands of animals still depend on people stepping in. Education, responsible pet ownership, fostering, adoption, rescue partnerships, and community involvement all play a critical role in reducing shelter intake and improving outcomes for animals across San Antonio.

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The Challenge

• 35,768 animals entered ACS as adjusted intake in FY2025

• 64% of intake was stray-related

• 14% involved owner-related situations, including surrenders, surrender diversion, and owner-requested euthanasia

• 6% involved animals returning from foster, adoption, or rescue placements

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The Impact

• 5,915 animals were adopted

• 12,112 animals were released to rescue groups

• 18,027 animals were adopted or released to rescue

• Nearly 59% of recorded outcomes were adoption or rescue transfer

• More than 86% had a positive live outcome when adoption, rescue, return-to-owner, and Trap/Neuter/Return are included

• Yet despite these efforts, more than 4,400 animals were still euthanized in FY2025. This is why prevention matters. Spay/neuter, responsible pet ownership, rescue support, and community involvement are essential to reducing the number of animals entering the system in the first place.

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Why This Happens

The number of homeless pets in our community is not the result of one issue—it’s the result of many interconnected challenges:

• Limited access to affordable spay and neuter services

• Lack of awareness around responsible pet ownership

• Unplanned litters and free-roaming pets

• Capacity limitations within shelters and rescue groups

Rescues and shelters work tirelessly, but they cannot solve this alone. Without community involvement, the cycle continues.

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The Solution: Education + Community Action

Lasting change doesn’t come from rescue alone—it comes from informed, empowered individuals taking action in their everyday lives.

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Spay/Neuter

Spay and neuter is critical to solving the homeless pet crisis. Rescue alone cannot keep up when unwanted litters continue to be born faster than homes can be found. By preventing those litters before they happen, spay/neuter reduces shelter overcrowding, lessens the burden on rescues and fosters, decreases the number of animals suffering on the streets, and helps create a healthier, more humane community for pets and people.

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Education

Understanding responsible pet ownership, preventative care, and how to respond when you encounter animals in need helps reduce the number of pets entering the system in the first place.

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Rescue Support

Rescue organizations rely on the community to help bridge gaps—especially through fostering and temporary care.

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Community Involvement

Neighbors helping neighbors—sharing information, reporting lost pets, and stepping in when an animal needs help—creates safer outcomes for both animals and people.

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Our Role at AAPAW

AAPAW serves as a connection point between the public and local rescue partners. We focus on education, resource-sharing, and helping individuals take effective, compassionate action when they encounter animals in need. We do not operate as a shelter—instead, we empower the community with the tools and guidance needed to create better outcomes.

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How This Helps Our Community

Improving animal welfare benefits more than just the animals—it strengthens the entire community:

• Fewer animals living on the streets

• Reduced strain on shelters and public resources

• Improved public health and safety

• Stronger, more connected neighborhoods

When people understand how to help, better outcomes follow.

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Be Part of the Solution

Every action—big or small—helps move our community forward.

• 🐾 Learn what to do if you find a stray

• 🔍 Help reunite lost pets with their families

• 🏡 Open your home by fostering a pet

• 💛 Explore ways to get involved

Together, we can reduce the number of homeless pets and create a safer, more compassionate community for all.