Our beloved family dog, Oliver, recently experienced a minor incident involving one of our neighbors and their dogs. Amid the upheaval, our neighbor was accidentally scratched, but there was no dog bite involved. Despite this, the neighbor took advantage of the city of San Antonio's "dangerous dog affidavit" program, which resulted in Oliver being quarantined for possible rabies, a measure typically reserved for cases where a bite has occurred. Following this, we were informed by the city authorities that Oliver will now be labeled as a "dangerous dog,” even though he has never bitten anyone. The family is now being told that Oliver will not be returned to us until all of the extensive "dangerous dog" requirements have been met - meaning he could spend weeks "behind bars" without even being able to go outside to use the restroom. 

This regrettable situation exposes the grave flaws in San Antonio's "Dangerous Dog Program." The current "dangerous dog process" gives almost unilateral deference to the individual making the complaint, allowing animals like Oliver, who have not bitten anyone, to be unfairly classified and punished. This misclassification not only causes distress for pets and their owners, but it could also potentially lead to the misuse of city resources meant for genuinely dangerous cases.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a dog like Oliver, who has scratched but not bitten, doesn't necessarily pose a significant danger to the community. The term "dangerous" should be reserved for dogs that have shown a propensity for unprovoked aggression or those who have caused serious injury (Source: AVMA).

For all of the above reasons, we urge the city of San Antonio to re-evaluate their "Dangerous Dog Program." A more careful assessment procedure, considering a dog's complete behavioral history rather than a single incident, needs to be implemented. We must balance the safety of our community with fairness to our animal companions and their families.

Help us prevent innocent pets like Oliver from being unjustly labeled as "dangerous" and re-focus the City's program on reaching truly dangerous animals that pose a threat to our community. Sign this petition today.