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Animal Care Services welcomes 16 new hires as department pushes to improve service

ACS hopes to hire 15 more officers by next year

SAN ANTONIO – Stray dog complaints are becoming more common in almost every part of San Antonio.

City Council is listening and boosting the budget for Animal Care Services to increase its staffing.

On Wednesday, the largest graduating cadet class for their program took center stage. Sixteen officers have now officially joined the force.

Director Shannon Sims said the increase will make a difference in their plan to improve animal call services. It’s the start of the path forward.

“It’s going to be significant from a perspective of it gives us more boots on the ground,” he said.

The 2024 approved budget of $28.5 million added an additional 29 positions to ACS. Sims said the salary increases and paid apprenticeships are helping retain and recruit.

Sims hopes to hire 15 more officers by next year. The only problem they’re facing is the lack of space to train the recruits and the lack of available vehicles for hired officers to work out of.

Anyone interested in working for ACS can click here for an application.


Find more local news on KSAT.com here


About the Authors
Patty Santos headshot

Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. She has a proven track record of reporting on hard-hitting news that affects the community.

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Joe Arredondo is a photojournalist at KSAT 12.

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