The most comprehensive rewrite of the city's Animal Care Ordinance will appear before City Council this week, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The new laws will cover everything from how you can tie up your dog in your back yard to how many chickens you can own in the city, according to Lisa Norwood of Animal Care Services.
She says probably the portion of the law that will affect the most people will be restrictions on 'dog tethering.'
"Right now what we are proposing is that tethering be as humane as possible," Norwood said. "That's why we are asking our city leaders to do away with chain tethering in San Antonio."
That means a dog could not be restrained by a chain around its neck. The tether would have to be connected to a collar which is big enough that the dog doesn't suffer abrasions or have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Norwood says dog owners would also be instructed that any tether give the dog access to fresh water and shade.
She says animal sales would also be limited under the new law. She says in multiple public hearings that were held around the city over the past six months, that was an issue that came up again and again.
"Roadside sales, online marketing of pets, buying pets from flea markets, we are actually asking our city leaders to consider outlawing those types of sales."
And she says a big issue in the city remains cock fighting, so the number of roosters that any household can own will be restricted to one. But at the same time, the number of chickens that can be owned will be increased from three to eight, to accommodate the new 'urban farming' trend, where people raise chickens to get fresh eggs.
"People can have chickens for sustainability, for meat, for eggs," she said.
Norwood said that as San Antonio evolves into a multi cultural city, receiving immigrants from places like Asia and Africa, Animal Control Services understands that in different cultures, people's attitudes about what animals are pets, how pets should be treated, and even the use of animals in religious rituals vary.
She says the new animal code will focus on what is in the best interests of the pet as well as what promotes humane treatment and care, and benefits the well being and the health of the entire community.