Animal Services, Sheriff Office Teaming Up to Reduce Pet Overpopulation

Animal Services, Sheriff Office Teaming Up to Reduce
Pet Overpopulation Outside City Limits

The City of E Paso Animal Services Division is joining forces with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to curtail the pet overpopulation in communities within El Paso County but outside the city limits.

As part of this new partnership Animal Services officers and sheriff deputies are conducting periodic neighborhood sweeps for stray and loose dogs. The neighborhoods targeted have a high concentration of stray dogs.

The next sweep is scheduled for this weekend.

The first sweep took place on Jan. 28, in Montana Vista, Fabens, San Elizario and Tornillo. It yielded six citations – two for no vaccinations, two for no registration, and two for animal not confined to the pet owner’s property.

Increasing community awareness about responsible pet ownership is another critical component of this joint operation.

“As Animal Services officers patrol neighborhoods with sheriff’s deputies they will be providing our citizens with information on pet vaccination, registration and spay and neuter services,” said Pat Fowler, interim Animal Services Division director.

Under Texas law, all pets must be vaccinated against rabies. Fines for pets found unvaccinated or not confined to a property can be as high as to $2,000.

Pets in El Paso County must be registered. However, only pets within the city limits are required to have a microchip.

The neighborhood sweeps for stray or loose animals in the communities outside the city limits is a response to two separate and violent dog attacks that occurred in Fabens in January.

Anyone who encounters stray dogs should call Animal Services at 842-1000. If the incident is a life-threatening emergency the public should call 911.

Citizens may also call 842-1000 for more information on pet vaccinations, registration, and Pet Care-A-Van spay/neuter services. The Pet Care-A-Van program offers free pet spay/neuter surgeries. The program targets pets of low-income families but is available to all El Paso residents.


Quick Facts

Animal Services Inspectors patrol El Paso neighborhoods, including outlying county communities, 7 days a week
On a monthly basis, Animal Services receives more than 1,000 reports about stray animals
Violations for no registration, no vaccination and animal not confined to a property are punishable by Class C misdemeanors
More than 18,000 animals are euthanized in El Paso’s shelter each year due to irresponsible pet ownership and consequent pet overpopulation
By having your dog or cat sterilized, you can help reduce the number of animals euthanized each year in our community
Texas law requires that dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age and on a 1-year or 3-year basis thereafter
El Paso County reported zero canine rabies cases in 2008 - the community has not had a canine rabies case in more than a decade