The growing city doesn’t have an animal services department. Neighbors say the pack of stray dogs is growing, and so is resident frustration.
GODLEY, Texas — Neighbors in a Godley subdivision say a pack of stray dogs, sometimes as many as 40, roams their streets daily, creating what they describe as a dangerous situation for families and pets.
“They look sick. They have a trail. Every single day. It’s a schedule, and they just go,” said Heather Figueroa, a resident near the Stars Ranch neighborhood.
Neighbors told WFAA the animals move through yards from morning until night, often appearing around school dismissal. Figueroa said she worries constantly about her children’s safety.
“It’s scary. I shouldn’t have to be in fear to open my front door,” she said. “They’re feral and they’re aggressive, and I don’t want them near any children whatsoever.”
Figueroa said her small dog was already mauled by the pack.
Bruce Moats, another resident, said the dogs recently charged at his family in their driveways.
“It’s constant,” he said. “These dogs have a herd mentality. They’re walking down the street just as a long parade. This is ludicrous.”
Neighbors say they’ve raised concerns with city officials but little has changed. Their biggest fear, they say, is that a child could be attacked.
Godley, a rural but growing city southwest of Fort Worth, does not have an animal services department. Instead, the city relies on its police department.
Police Chief Dusty Vinson said the city is limited in what it can do on its own.
“The City of Godley is acutely aware of the issue related to a pack of dogs that have been roaming the streets,” Vinson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the City of Godley, as a small municipality with limited resources, is unable to effectively and efficiently resolve this issue on its own. I, along with other City officials, have been working with Johnson County representatives and neighboring municipal officials on a collaborative approach to address the situation and find an effective solution.”
Vinson added that the city is committed to protecting public safety, animal welfare, and maintaining residents’ quality of life. He said officials are also discussing options to address the illegal dumping and abandonment of animals within city limits. The matter is on the agenda for the next City Council meeting scheduled for Sept. 16, where residents are encouraged to give feedback.
Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey, who represents Precinct 1, said the problem extends beyond Godley and is worsened by a lack of shelter space.
“Cities within our county do not all have animal shelters, nor does the county host an animal shelter for the unincorporated area,” Bailey said. “Thus, the county does not have the authority to enforce leash law, nor gathering of domestic animals for care or relocation to out-of-county shelters. Those shelters within our cities are at capacity. The city of Godley, particularly, does not have an animal shelter. The cities that do only allow city residents within that city to access services. There is not a solution at this time.”
Bailey added that the issue will likely continue to grow, not only in Johnson County but across Texas.
For now, residents say every bark from the roaming pack is a reminder that help is needed before it’s too late.