Owner of dogs involved in attack on woman and vehicles in San Antonio apologizes

SAN ANTONIO – A man who became the owner of a pack of dogs involved in an attack on a woman Wednesday afternoon told KSAT 12 News he is sorry about the incident.

The man arrived at his South Side home Thursday morning just as animal control officers returned to confiscate a dog they had abandoned Wednesday night.

The man said he worked out of town and was not home when they escaped from his yard.

“Unfortunately, the worst case scenario has happened,” said the owner, who wished to remain anonymous in an interview with KSAT. “I want to apologize for being an irresponsible pet owner.”

He said officers took seven dogs from his home and left two with him.

According to a San Antonio Police report, a 44-year-old woman walking along West Southcross Boulevard near Somerset Road shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday was attacked by several dogs.

The report states that she suffered a bite to the leg, a minor injury. It also said that the dogs bit an ACS patrol vehicle and truck.

A video from a nearby store shows the animals ripping apart a light on the front of a SAPD vehicle.

However, the owner said that his dogs were usually well-balanced and “nice.”

“They’re not aggressive. They bark. They bark at dogs. They bark at cars,” he said.

However, neighbors seemed to disagree with the owner. KSAT 12 News spoke to several people behind the scenes.

One man spoke out on condition that we keep his identity secret. He said he had been afraid of the owner’s dogs for a while.

“If you walk, you have to walk on the other side of the street,” the man said.

Michael Calloway passed by the area Thursday morning after dropping off his car for repairs and shared his thoughts.

“Dog owners must be held accountable for their animals,” Calloway said.

Calloway, who owns five dogs himself, said he always makes sure to keep his pets under control.

Just recently, Calloway said, a relative in another part of town was attacked by another person’s stray pets.

“About four or five dogs,” Calloway said. “(He) had to be taken to the hospital. Stitches in both arms.”

The dog owner, meanwhile, said he will face serious consequences. During a press conference Thursday afternoon, ACS interim director Mike Shannon said ACS has issued the pet owner more than 30 tickets for multiple violations of the law.

“This is an example of a dog owner creating a dangerous situation,” Shannon said Thursday. “This was not a single misstep. There were several.”

In the case of the woman who was bitten on West Southcross Boulevard, police expect her minor injuries to be resolved soon. Shannon said Thursday that the victim has been released from the hospital.

The owner said his attempt to keep a pet began with good intentions. A few years ago, he said, he took in a pregnant stray dog, but the single pet quickly turned into a pack.

“This one dog left a litter that became another litter,” the owner said.

In 2021, San Antonio Police officers were called to the home because three dogs were running loose and chasing people.

The owner said ACS confiscated several of his pets at the time.

The dog owner said the animals, which were neither vaccinated nor neutered, continued to multiply and their numbers were once again out of control.

He said he had nine dogs at the time of Wednesday’s attack and had repeatedly tried to keep them under control.

More coverage of this story on KSAT: