SAN ANTONIO – On Thursday morning, residents in the Misty Oaks neighborhood on the Northwest Side of San Antonio were startled by loud noises resembling distressed animals. This prompted multiple social media posts from concerned neighbors.
“We heard some noises outside,” reported Juan Realpe. “It was like cats and dogs, very loud.”
The source of the commotion was soon identified by Lauren Wilkinson, a local resident. “We thankfully have a glass door, so we opened the front door, and we could see my cat and see the dogs off to the side, just protecting their dead,” she explained.
Realpe witnessed the distressing scene before leaving for the day but returned to find the dogs lingering in his driveway. Concerned for his safety, he initially called the city’s service request number, 311, but was directed to leave a message. Subsequently, he contacted the San Antonio Police Department for immediate assistance.
“I was afraid of coming out of my car,” Realpe admitted. “I was afraid of coming out after I saw what I saw.”
Upon arrival, police were informed by Realpe that the dogs remained uncontained. The officer later discovered the dogs at a nearby residence on Roundhill Street, where they were reportedly attacking another cat.
The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted an alarming interaction with the officer via her Ring doorbell. “The officer informed me that two pit bulls had attacked my tabby and chased it and broke down my door, my wooden door, and got to the backyard,” she said.
The officer managed to secure the dogs by closing the gate, but the situation took a heartbreaking turn. The homeowner described her panic: “I immediately went into hysterics because that mama cat that had been killed had kittens in my backyard, and the kittens were in my greenhouse.”
Animal Care Services (ACS) arrived on the scene to take custody of the animals; however, their stay was short-lived. “The following day, I called to find out that they had been released to their owners,” the homeowner lamented.
The incident sparked outrage on local social media platforms, with residents discussing the implications of the pit bulls’ attack and subsequent release. Comments flooded the Misty Oaks Nextdoor and Facebook pages, with many neighbors expressing their concerns over the potential for future attacks.
“They’re gonna get out again,” Wilkinson warned. “They can kill five cats in a matter of four hours. When is a person coming next?”
Residents have learned that filing a four-page affidavit is necessary to initiate an investigation into the matter. According to the city’s website, once the affidavit is submitted, ACS will investigate to determine if Texas laws have been violated, potentially holding the animal’s owner liable both civilly and criminally.
As community members band together to file affidavits, their collective anxiety remains palpable. They are determined to advocate for their safety and the safety of their pets in light of this troubling incident.
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