SAN ANTONIO – Jonathan Gary has only been the director of Animal Care Services for two weeks, but his message to San Antonio is clear: Pet owners must take responsibility for their animals.
“It’s a community problem that’s going to take a community solution,” Gary said. “We have an obligation to keep our community safe and do what we can do to help animals.”
He met with media crews on Wednesday for the first time, talking candidly about his past experience and priorities for the city.
After 25 years of working in Oklahoma City animal welfare, Gary moved down to San Antonio in late 2024. While in Oklahoma City, he served as the Animal Welfare Division’s director for the past eight years.
Since starting the new job, Gary said he’s been in a lot of meetings. He said he’s using this time to learn the city and listen to the community.
“We’re a resource to them, and we need their help to fix this problem,” Gary said.
Gary acknowledged that ACS has faced difficulties, calling it “a rough couple of years.” But he said he believes dog bites and maulings show a lack of responsibility from pet owners.
“It really falls back on the owners being responsible,” Gary said. “Nothing that happens here is the fault of our staff.”
When asked about community concerns regarding ACS’s response rate and staffing, Gary said “it’s too early” for him to directly respond, but he’s working on hiring more officers.
“We’ll continue to evaluate,” Gary said. “This isn’t going to happen overnight. In a year from now, we’re still going to have some struggles. We’re still going to have a few issues. But if we’re better now than we are today, then I can be okay with that.”
The city’s current budget includes expanded support for ACS, including additional staff to handle calls and operate two new spay and neuter clinics that are set to open soon. Gary sees these resources as essential to improving the department’s ability to respond to the growing demand for service.
Gary said he hopes to foster a stronger connection with San Antonio residents.
“I want all eyes on us,” Gary said. “That’s the way we’re going to fix this problem — by making people aware of it.”