Warning: Images consisted of in this story are graphic and might be troubling to some readers. Discretion is encouraged.
While San Antonians enjoy their animals, producing a healthy mix of dog parks in addition to dog-friendly dining establishments and tourist attractions, there’s no rejecting that pet-related concerns still pester the city. Though the spotlight was cast on Animal Care Services following the heartbreaking February 24 mauling of 81-year-old Ramon Najera, one regional homeowner is working to guarantee that other pet concerns in San Antonio are attended to also.
And she’s using TikTok to do so.
Jenna Loos is a Michigan native who moved to San Antonio about four years ago with the intent to address pet issues in the Alamo City. She learned from her sister, who was already living in San Antonio, that stray and roaming dogs, dumping of animals, and an overpopulation of dogs were major issues plaguing the city.
“I just didn’t realize how bad it was until I got down here,” Loos, 25, tells MySA.
San Antonio homeowner Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet concerns in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
While her cross-country move was a culture shock in many ways, Loos says dogs roaming the streets in San Antonio was the biggest surprise. She admits that these issues are not special to San Antonio, but are noticeably more serious here.
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“These dogs are just deteriorating right in front of people’s eyes and nobody’s doing anything,” Loos says.
Loos decided to take action into her own hands, utilizing her TikTok @jennasavesdogs to share her experiences as an independent dog rescuer and animal advocate. While she’s done her part to help dogs in the past, she became fully invested in her mission after going out to rescue Angel, a street dog that community members saw deteriorate over a couple of years. Loos went out to pick up Angel one day without success. When she returned to the area the next day, she learned Angel had died.
“Just one day and that was it. It just ripped me to shreds,” Loos tells MySA. “If people really saw what was going on here, even out of San Antonio, I think that would be more pressure to fix the problem rather than pretend that it’s not happening.”
With TikTok, Loos is able to not only show how serious these problems are in San Antonio, but get people from beyond Loop 1604 to help.
“A lot of people are shocked, especially the ones not in San Antonio, to see what’s going on. There are so many animal lovers that want to help that don’t live here,” she says. “They can still help by purchasing something off an Amazon wish list or donating for medical bills.”
San Antonio resident Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet concerns in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
San Antonio resident Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet issues in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
In her TikToks, Loos will often show the dogs she rescues, from picking them up off the streets and getting them the care and attention they need to finding them a forever home, often working with various shelters and animal-focused organizations. While her followers are happy to help by donating funds and buying treats for these dogs, she says rescuers like her usually take the dogs that nobody else wants, often due to behavioral issues or medical responsibilities.
“Everything that I do either comes from people wanting to donate or out-of-pocket,” Loos says.
Even then, Loos is more than willing to help in any way she can – and not just in San Antonio.
“I have brought dogs from Houston down here for rescue. I brought dogs up from the Valley,” Loos says. “I help wherever I’m needed.”
San Antonio resident Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet issues in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
Her willingness to help and compassion goes beyond just caring for pets. When it comes to pet owners, Loos, a vet tech in San Antonio, will do what she can to help with veterinary bills, dog food, vaccinations, and other costs when they feel helpless.
“I’m more than happy to help with that stuff and keep that dog in its home rather than them feel like they can’t take care of their dog and surrender it to the shelter,” she says, recognizing that pet ownership is a major financial responsibility.
San Antonio resident Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet issues in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
Though Loos does everything in her power to be an advocate, part of her mission is to help educate people. She mentioned one woman, a lifelong San Antonio resident, who commented on a video saying that roaming and wander off dogs aren’t a big deal. Loos pointed out that this may be the norm in San Antonio, but shouldn’t be.
“People need to know what’s happening here,” she says. “This is a big issue in Texas.”
San Antonio resident Jenna Loos uses TikTok to rescue dogs and bring awareness to pet issues in the Alamo City.
Courtesy of Jenna Loos
Loos recently learned that Dallas and El Paso have a mandatory spay and neuter law for pet owners, and hopes San Antonio will do the same. While she knows a city law like this won’t be an end all, be all solution, she believes it’s a start. The city already has laws in place to help animals, which is why disposing animals is illegal, but the young and tireless advocate would like to see these laws being enforced and resources provided to family pet owners.
Loos often says “shame on San Antonio” in her TikToks, however knows big changes require to take place in order for there to be obvious enhancements.
“A lot of people want to blame our city shelter for dogs being euthanized and not being able to take in dogs right away,” she says. “It’s not an [Animal Care Services] problem. It’s a city problem. We need to fix our city in order to fix our city shelter.”
