Animal Care & Control

By Lieutenant Gilbert Duquette

July 4th is a day celebrated all around us. Additionally, the hot temperatures are a daily occurrence, often exceeding 90+ degrees. It is important to make sure each homeowner keeps their pets secure and safe for the surroundings. Unfortunately, in the month of July, there is always an increase in lost pets, due to illegal fireworks in our city and legal launchings in the surrounding county.

Make sure your pets are kept in a safe, cool, and sheltered environment. Keep your gates closed and locked. Also, check your backyard fence line to make sure there are no holes, easy digging spots, or items that a pet can jump on to leap over the fence. Dogs and cats tend to be afraid of fireworks and loud sounds. Keep your pets safe and secure.

City Code requires domestic pet owners to register their pets with the City. Chapter 6, Article III, Section 6-59(a) of City Code states the owner of any dog or cat over four months of age shall carry a license and register their pet with the City withing two (2) months of moving into Windcrest. Make sure your pets wear their tags with a collar and with current information. Contact us at 210-655-2666 to report a lost or found pet.

We also highly encourage all pet owners to have their pet microchipped. These services are provided at many locations. You can reach out to us for more information on locations for microchipping services. By microchipping your pet and keeping the information current, anyone who finds your pet can take them to most vets to be scanned and returned to you or their owner.

Residents with feral cat colonies help us by feeding the cats just enough and taking up any uneaten food. We have strays and wildlife that are happily feasting on the food left out at each home and station. This encourages animals, both wild and domestic, to enjoy this food source while hanging out in backyards and around homes. All an animal will need is food, water, and shelter to make your backyard, shed, and patio their new home. Please help us by keeping food only out for those you are planning on feeding. Lastly, it’s HOT! Keep cool water available for your pets. Watch out for the wild animals that are looking for a water source. Consider a fence around your pool or a ramp for them to escape a watery death. Children and animals are at a higher risk of an accident when the water is hot.