Riding Shotgun With Strays Data Proves San Antonio Has Massive Dog Problem!

Join the official ‪@AnimalRescueNetwork‬ channel to help more dogs:    / @animalrescuenetwork   Riding Shotgun With Strays: Post-4th of July West Side K9 Survey & Community Advocates Join professional filmmaker Tom McPhee and WA2S President Deanna McPhee as they hit the streets of San Antonio's West Side on the morning of July 5th. In this episode of Riding Shotgun With Strays, the team navigates the neighborhoods around Woodlawn Lake following the Fourth of July fireworks to conduct a crucial K9 survey. Utilizing an array of digital tracking tools, including a 360-degree camera audit and the open-source OSMTracker app, Tom and Deanna GPS-tag loose and roaming dogs, building a vital, data-driven "Asset Map" to understand the scope of the crisis. Beyond data collection, this episode captures the heart of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). The team experiences an extraordinary moment when flagged down by a local resident, Shannon, who had been praying for their arrival and eagerly volunteers to be a community advocate. They also discuss the upcoming deployment of the A REST (Animal Rescuer Emotional Support & Therapy) program, designed to provide clinical mental health support to frontline animal welfare workers grappling with the realities seen on these very streets. Video Chapters 00:00:00 - A Prayer Answered A local resident shares how she saw the survey videos and prayed for help for the neighborhood dogs. 00:00:42 - Riding Shotgun Intro Theme music and mapping the streets of San Antonio. 00:01:48 - Welcome to the West Side Tom and Deanna kick off the July 5th morning survey near the Woodlawn Lake area. 00:04:56 - Loose Dogs vs. Stray Dogs Deanna explains the difference between owned dogs running loose and unowned stray dogs, noting how fireworks can trigger escapes. 00:07:12 - Digital Data Collection Tom demonstrates the multi-camera setup and how he uses OSMTracker to log GPS coordinates of roaming animals for an open-source database. 00:10:13 - Culture, Standards, and Pet Ownership A candid discussion on the need for education, shifting cultural standards, and the realities of animal dumping in the city. 00:14:57 - The A REST Program & Community Asset Mapping Tom details the vision for a comprehensive "Asset Map" directory to connect rescuers, groomers, and trappers, alongside the A REST program supporting rescuer mental health. 00:52:00 - Meeting a Frontline Advocate A powerful street-level encounter as the team is flagged down by Shannon, a resident eager to organize her neighborhood and distribute flyers. 01:05:27 - Grassroots Solutions Tom and Deanna reflect on the profound impact of finding willing community members to lead local advocacy efforts. 01:11:00 - Self-Inflicted Wounds & Intact Dogs Observing unaltered dogs roaming freely and discussing the massive, $34 million financial toll this crisis takes on San Antonio taxpayers. 01:14:03 - Wrapping the Survey Track Final thoughts on the morning's ride, making community connections, and a call to action for viewers. 01:16:14 - Live Upload to OpenStreetMap Tom exports the morning's GPS waypoints and track logs, uploading the raw data directly to OpenStreetMap to assist global rescue efforts. Get Involved with WA2S Follow the Data: Our forensic, digital tracking methodology ensures an unvarnished look at the municipal animal crisis. Learn more about our open-source K9 surveys. Unleashed: The Dogs of San Antonio: This survey footage contributes to our longitudinal documentary project examining a decade of data and street-level realities in Texas. Need Help or Want to Help? If you are a resident wanting to step up as an advocate in your own neighborhood, get in touch with us to be added to the community Asset Map. World Animal Awareness Society & WA2S Films http://www.WA2S.org WA2S Films Facebook:   / wa2s.org   Help the World Animal Awareness Society save thousands of at risk dogs around the world. The work never stops, and we need you. Donate and save more lives! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr... Subscribe and stay tuned for more videos from the WA2S Films official YouTube Channel:    / wa2sorg   WA2S Films c. 2026 All Rights Reserved We use a i to enhance our animal stories. http://www.WA2S.org/WA2S-Films 818.561.5109 Studio