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Woman concerned about stray dogs in her backyard

Posted at 5:56 PM, Feb 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-24 20:10:06-05

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It's no secret: Stray dogs roam the streets in Corpus Christi.

But what if they continuously broke into your yard, potentially threatening your pets and kids?

Danielle Acuna lives across the street from Zavala Elementary with her three young children and her pit bull.

"I mean, there's kids walking home from school and these dogs are just roaming the streets," she said.

It's a situation she knows all too well.

"I don't know if they have their shots," she said. "I don't know if they have rabies. And they attack. Just like they killed my first dog."

Her dog, Zeus, was attacked twice and died from his injuries after the second attack a year-and-a-half ago.

"It was hard," she said. "And then you depend on animal control and they get here when it's too late."

She said her new dog -- who is in heat -- is getting attacked by strays who are breaking into her yard no matter how she tries to reinforce it.

"I'm not in their streets," she said. "They're on my property."

She said she has called animal control for a week, and no one has come by. She said the most she has heard is, "Your call is in progress."

While Action 10 News was interviewing Acuna on her back porch, there was a loud thump and -- sure enough -- a large dog was hiding right below us.

Animal control officials went to Acuna's home this afternoon, saying calls are prioritized.

For example, a bite call is priority one. They say officers respond to about 100 bite calls a month.

They said they will do everything possible to rectify the situation at Acuna's home.

They also added that they will determine if the roaming dogs have owners. If so, they can be cited for violations.

STATEMENT FROM ANIMAL CONTROL: