New Report Proposes Costly Solutions To Loose Dog Problem In Dallas

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DALLAS (CBS11) - A deadly dog attack in South Dallas highlighted the problem of loose dogs for many people.

But those who live south of the Trinity River have known about it for years.

Now, a new report makes a number of recommendations to solve the problem.

The report by BCG Consulting comes nearly four months after the pack of dogs mauled Antoinette Brown, causing her death.

Jackie Humphrey says she's still haunted by Brown's screams for help outside her bedroom window around 4:45 a.m.

"I wake-up every morning just when that woman was hollering for help," said Humphrey. "I cannot get it out of my mind. I wake up every morning."

On Friday morning, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings stood with the city's consultants and outlined solutions.

"This is a public safety issue," said Mayor Rawlings.

The consultants recommend providing 46,000 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in South Dallas each year for the next three years.

That could cost $15 to $21 million.

"The dog population would grow at 15 percent with no intervention here, so not only the problem we have now, but at an annual rate, this problem would get significantly worse in the next 4 to 5 years," said Rawlings.

Stephen Edison, a consultant with BCG, said, "In-tact dogs are more likely to bite. Nationwide, 75 percent of bites are attributed to in-tact male dogs."

The mayor says while this is a priority, taxpayers won't be the only ones footing the bill.

He says the city is also counting on private donors and animal services agencies to help pay for it.

Consultants found 8,700 loose dogs roaming South Dallas recently, and estimate 85 percent of them aren't spay or neutered.

Keith Melker, also of BCG, said there are two main reasons for this: "There are no a lot of veterinarian choices nearby also on a limited paycheck, an extra $150 for a spay-neuter, is meaningful."

During the past several years, the consultants say only about six thousand dogs were spay or neutered, which isn't even close to what's needed.

Every dog owner, except for approved breeders, are required to get their dogs the surgery.

Jackie Humphrey says to have her dog get the surgery was nearly $170.

"It was very expensive so I didn't get to do it," said Humphey.

But she says her pet Chihuahua was killed by the same pack of dogs months before they're accused of killing Antoinette Brown.

She has a message for the city council. "I'd tell them to do it, do it, help these people. Do it."

The Mayor says the city needs to take these loose dogs off the streets.

But he says the problem is the city doesn't have the space to house them, and he's hoping the animal services agencies will provide that space.

The city council will be briefed on the report Tuesday.

Rawlings says he's giving city manager A.C. Gonzalez 30 days to develop an action plan.

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