A San Antonio woman is raising alarms about neighborhood safety after a frightening encounter with an aggressive dog on the city’s West Side. Angel Portillo Ariano says both she and her pet narrowly avoided serious harm when a loose dog charged at them during a routine walk.
The incident occurred Monday on Northwest 26th Street. According to Ariano, an American Bully suddenly bolted toward her, targeting her leashed dog without warning.
“Before I could even process what was going on, the dog was already attacking my dog,” Ariano recounted. “I was absolutely terrified and deeply concerned for my pet’s safety.”
Adding to her distress, Ariano expressed frustration with the dog’s owner, who she claims failed to intervene.
“I confronted him, pointing out that I had my dog leashed for a reason,” she said. “Instead of helping, he responded aggressively toward me. That’s not how neighbors should treat each other. We should be looking out for one another, not escalating conflicts.”
Animal Care Services Investigating
San Antonio’s Animal Care Services (ACS) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine whether the attacking dog meets the criteria to be officially classified as aggressive. According to ACS, there are currently 58 dogs legally designated as aggressive within San Antonio, with the majority of these cases concentrated on the West Side.
Under city regulations, aggressive dog designations fall into three levels. The lowest level includes dogs displaying unprovoked aggression and posing a threat. The highest level involves dogs that have caused fatalities or have been repeatedly classified as aggressive.
Public Safety and Accountability in Focus
For Ariano, this encounter underscores broader concerns about responsible pet ownership and public safety.
“I don’t want to see a tragic story unfold in my community because of negligence,” she said. “Situations like this are entirely preventable if owners take responsibility.”
KSAT has reached out to the San Antonio Police Department for additional details regarding the case but has yet to receive a response. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Residents witnessing aggressive dog behavior are urged to report incidents to Animal Care Services by dialing 311.
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