Pack of up to 40 feral dogs roaming Godley, Texas, alarms residents as officials cite limited options

A roaming pack of as many as 40 feral dogs has been prowling the streets of Godley, a small city in northern Texas, prompting residents to warn officials the animals have become bolder and pose a public-safety risk.

Neighbors said what began months ago as nighttime sightings has escalated to repeated daytime appearances, and footage shared with local media shows the dogs moving together through neighborhoods. "At this point, we now have dogs — feral dogs, obviously sick, obviously having issues trying to find food — that are out and about at the same time that my children and our children are on the streets," resident Bruce Moats told NBC DFW. "The dogs are going to look for food, and I don’t want my children to be that dog food."

Residents described scenes in which the animals run from corners toward homes or vehicles, causing people to retreat indoors and keep children away from streets. Moats said a recent encounter left his family frightened: his wife rushed his daughter inside, his son locked himself in a vehicle and he retrieved a firearm. He said he hopes never to use the weapon but felt compelled to be prepared.

Neighbors told reporters many of the dogs appear malnourished and sickly. The animals’ origins remain unclear; some residents and local officials said abandonment has become more common in the area. Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey acknowledged the concern but said the county is limited in what it can do. "It is a great concern," Bailey told NBC DFW. "But I do not have a solution, nor an answer, other than we are in dialogue with other cities in the county to see if there’s something we can do to mitigate this problem."

Bailey said the county lacks clear legal authority to seize or roundup the animals and that local shelters are at capacity, leaving authorities with nowhere to place captured dogs. The shortage of shelter space means immediate removal of the pack is not feasible, he said.

City officials in Godley said the City Council was preparing to review a proposal aimed at imposing tougher penalties on people who abandon animals. The measure, set for consideration this week, is intended to deter abandonment and address one possible cause of the growing stray population, city officials said through local media.

Local reporting indicates that residents have repeatedly contacted city officials about the animals, and some expressed frustration at what they called slow or insufficient responses. Animal-welfare advocates and municipal officials often face logistical and legal constraints when addressing feral and stray dog populations, including the need for shelter space, veterinary care and compliance with state and local statutes governing animal control.

Officials have not announced a timeline for action beyond the pending City Council review. In the interim, residents said they will continue to take precautions around children and pets and urged quicker coordination among municipalities, animal-control organizations and shelters. Local news reports referenced the concerns and interviews with families and officials but did not identify immediate plans to capture or relocate the animals.

The situation in Godley highlights tensions that can arise when stray and feral animal populations increase in residential areas, placing demands on local government resources and prompting calls for both enforcement and expanded animal-welfare capacity. City and county leaders said they are continuing discussions with neighboring jurisdictions and agencies to seek possible solutions, while cautioning that options are limited until shelter space and legal authority issues are resolved.