Consultant report recommends measures to address loose dog problem in south Dallas
A report from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), hired by the City to address its loose dog problem, has recommended a number of measures to increase positive outcomes for dogs that enter the City’s animal shelter.
“Throughout the months of our partnership, Dallas Animal Services has gone above and beyond to provide BCG with full and open access to their data and staff,” said Assistant City Manager Joey Zapata. “After reading this report, the bottom line is the importance of simultaneously implementing the recommendations and a coordinated surge of funding and resources from both the City and the entire community for positive impact.”
The report estimates there are about 8,700 loose dogs in southern Dallas and notes that about 60 percent of dog bites in Dallas are by loose dogs. The report also suggests that 85 percent of dogs in southern Dallas have not been spayed or neutered, contributing to about 10 percent growth annually. The report recommends providing high volume, low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in southern Dallas through a three-year surge effort.
The report’s recommendations are:
- Publicly adopt a mission statement balancing public safety and animal welfare
- Increase field intake and increase related enforcement and education to prevent dogs from roaming
- Increase the number of positive outcomes for Dallas dogs, euthanizing only the sickest animals
- Provide approximately 46,000 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in southern Dallas each year for the next three years
- Create a collaborative community of partners
- Make animal services a priority and strengthen accountability within the city government
- Ensure efficiency by measuring outcomes and increasing volunteers
Read the full report here: DallasDog_Whitepaper_vPublic
