Large number of stray animals straining El Paso shelters, say animal activists

UPDATE - An El Paso woman said she was attacked by a stray while walking her dog.

Tina Marie Corral happens to work at the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.

Corral told ABC-7 the attack happened the evening of Jan. 14.

Corral said the attack reinforces her desire for the city to change its approach to stray animals.

"I'm still not scared of dogs; I'm still around dogs," Corral told ABC-7. "I don't blame the dog that bit me. It's not the dog's fault.

"I blame owners," said Corral.

City Council Dist. 6 representative Art Fierro called the high number of stray cats and dogs a 'public safety issue.'

"(We) as City Council have to really step up to the plate for the safety of the community when it comes to animals," said Fierro.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - Animal activists appeared in front of El Paso's City Council on Tuesday to discuss the stress on shelters across the city.

Loretta Hyde, from the Animal Rescue League of El Paso, spoke to council members about how her organization is working on expanding to try and offer shelter for animals.

Hyde also discussed the thousands of transports her organization had been forced to do because of the number of strays.

A large number of stray dogs has also led to numerous attacks on El Pasoans and their pets over the past few years.