For the past six years, Dallas has operated a program aimed at quelling the city’s loose dog problem, but that program has now ended.
Throughout its run, the Spay Neuter Surge program successfully neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped 68,000 dogs.
According to a report by the Jan Reese-Jones Foundation, the initiative substantially helped to mitigate the city’s problem with loose dogs running rampant. The initiative reduced the number of loose dogs by 58% in southern Dallas.
“There were 108,000 fewer intact dogs than if the project had not happened,” said project director Aaron Asmus, as reported by Fox 4.
He said the program has been “a huge benefit for the community today moving forward.”
“The work is not done, but we made enormous strides,” added Jordan Craig, executive director of Spay Neuter Network, according to Fox 4. “The long-lasting impact is created by community partners and clinics where there were veterinary desserts [sic] before, and they are not going away.”
A presentation from Dallas Animal Services (DAS) reportedly showed that there were 568 loose dog bites in the fiscal year 2021. That number jumped to 805 in the fiscal year 2022.
However, numbers provided by DAS this week show a quarterly drop. From October 2022 to January 2023, there were 205 bites reported. There were 242 bites from October 2021 to January 2022.
DAS Director Melissa Webber said, “What Dallas Animal Services has done is continue to subsidize spay-neuter services for dogs that get a violation or citation,” as reported by Fox 4.
She added that residents whose dogs are not yet altered can make an appointment for the surgery with a $20 copay. The City of Dallas requires that all dogs and cats in the city be spayed or neutered.
The Spay Neuter Network provides the surgeries for $80-$120. The surgery normally costs between $300 and $600.
Additionally, the SPCA of Texas offers these surgeries at the Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Care Clinic. More information can be found here.
The Dallas Express reached out to the SPCA of Texas, Dallas Animal Services, and the Spay Neuter Network for additional information or comment. No responses were received by the publication deadline.
The Spay Neuter Surge program was funded with nearly $13 million from a private coalition, according to the City.