San Antonio ACS touts new hiring days after attorney accuses department of negligence

San Antonio Animal Care Services sent out a press release Monday touting the "early impacts" of a strategic plan the embattled city department put in place after a major budget increase last fall. After City Council voted to bump up ACS's annual budget by 33% to $28.5 million, the department hired "close to 20" additional animal-care officers, according to the announcement. ACS Director Shannon Sims, who's set to retire this summer, told council last fall he'd add a total of 29 staffers if given the proposed budget boost. ACS issued Monday's release days after attorneys representing a couple charged in a deadly 2023 dog attack told the Express-News that the department's negligence led to the fatality.