Animal Care Services

Neighborhoods should be safe for people and animals. Public health should be protected against rabies and other animal diseases dangerous to humans. Alamo Heights Animal Care Services strives to address the dangers and nuisances caused by unrestrained pets as well as to protect pets from abuse, neglect, and homelessness.

The primary focus of Animal Care Service is to re-unite pets with their owners when they are wearing collars having rabies vaccination and/or owner identification tags, match descriptions provided by owners for lost pets or those having a readable microchip implant. Should those efforts fail, displaced pets are provided with safe, temporary shelter and, if injured, necessary veterinary care.

Chapter 4 of the Alamo Heights City Codes provides for animal control, to include licenses and registration, rabies protection, domestic pets running at large, animal bite procedures, impoundment, and disposition of unclaimed domestic animals.

When a pet is picked up, it will be transported to the contract Animal Care facility for five (5) working days. Owners should call the Alamo Heights Police Department to look for missing/lost pets within this five (5) working day period. If the pet is not at the contract Animal Care facility, a lost report and/or a picture can be posted at the Police Department.

If the pet is impounded, the owner will need proof of ownership. This can be the rabies certificate (preferred), a current photo of the animal or vet records. In order to reclaim an impounded dog or cat the owner must secure a release form from the Alamo Heights Police Department. Release forms are issued upon:

• payment of (1) a license fee (if unregistered);
• an administrative fee (if applicable);
• payment of all boarding charges due the impoundment facility;
• proof of current rabies vaccination. If proof of current rabies vaccination cannot be provided, the animal must be vaccinated, at the owner's expense, prior to the animal being released.

Wildlife Concerns

Wild animals should be left alone. Please do not trap healthy raccoons, skunks, opossum, or other wild animals. If you are concerned about wildlife that are active on or near your property, be sure all garbage containers are securely sealed, do not feed pets outdoors, remove bird and squirrel feeders, and seal up any holes that might allow a wild animal to access your house, garage, shed, attic, or under your porch for shelter. You should also trim back or remove shrubs and trees from your fence lines and any that touch your home or other structures.

Animal Care Services will only relocate healthy wild animals in accordance with State Law that have been trapped in private traps. A wild animal will be relocated to an area that will sustain wildlife with natural sources of food, water and shelter.

If you see a raccoon, skunk or opossum during daylight hours, especially if it appears to be sick, disoriented, or injured, or if such an animal has been touched or handled by a person or a pet, call the Police Dispatcher at (210) 822-3321.

Questions or animal concerns may be directed to the Alamo Heights Police Department at (210) 822-3321.