Lubbock seeking to reduce number of loose pets and stray animals

The Lubbock Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 3323 SE Loop 289 (Photo by Urvi Dalal).

By Collin Lee

Dangerous encounters with stray animals and overpopulation at local shelters have been plaguing Lubbock for years, but a community outreach program may finally bring some good news. 

Most animals running around the city have escaped their homes, Lubbock Animal Shelter Director Steven Greene said, so the shelter has started a community outreach program focusing on small fence repairs to reduce the number of escaped pets and has helped by donating materials, among other things. 

“In West Texas with the wind with the dry conditions, the fences here seem to deteriorate rather quickly,” Greene said. “The more we can do to help citizens keep those animals contained on their property and out of the streets, it’s a win-win situation.”  

Jimmy Aleman, an LAS officer, said the number of stray or loose dogs coming into the shelter has posed a difficult challenge.

“We get a lot of litters because [animals] are not fixed. All of these strays are out there, and it’s just hard,” Aleman said. “We have a lot of people bringing in dogs, and we have more dogs coming in than we do have going out, so it affects us that way.”

LAS data show 3,063 live intakes between Oct. 2022 and Feb. 2023. Only 278, or 9%, were returned to their owners.

About 8% of the live intakes between October and February were surrendered by an owner — meaning most animals were stray animals or loose pets that were never claimed.

Aleman said ensuring every animal that leaves the shelter is spayed or neutered can prevent future overpopulation. The shelter offers vouchers for people who can’t afford the operation.

Nonetheless, Greene said many pets in Lubbock get loose and continue to produce litters outside of their homes.

“There’s just so many animals out there that just, for whatever reason, people don’t get fixed,” Greene said.

From October through February, LAS performed 1,126 spay and neuter procedures, involving 37% of the 3,063 live intakes during that time period.

 Greene said the number of stray and loose animals in Lubbock has been on the decline over time.

“I’ve been with the department for almost 10 years, and whenever I started, we would bring, I’m going to say over 10,000 animals,” Greene said. “That has dropped dramatically over the last few years. Last fiscal year, we brought in 7,443 live animals.

The 3,063 live animals brought in since October have put the shelter on pace for 7,351 total live intakes over 12 months.

The loose and stray animal population in Lubbock has been linked to some dangerous encounters. In September, a man was killed by a group of stray dogs. Over the last five months, Lubbock Animal Services has reported 371 total bite cases, 88% of which were from dogs.

Morgan Davee, lead animal services officer at LAS, said citizens who encounter loose animals should contact animal services right away.

“Any time that happens, we can’t respond if we’re not aware of it,” Davee said.

Citizens can call Lubbock Animal Services at (806) 775-2057.