How to help shelter pets: adopt, foster, volunteer, donate

Published on September 07, 2022

CITY NEWS code-acc shelter capacity.jpg

Fort Worth’s animal shelters need your help. Dogs and cats continue to fill shelters to capacity.

Animal Care & Control’s goal remains to have all eligible animals adopted into caring, forever homes. Unfortunately, the animals arriving at the shelters outnumber those being adopted.

Shelters reaching full capacity has become a nationwide crisis. Intake numbers are up and live release rates are down, leaving shelter staff to make difficult decisions regarding the future of all adoptable pets.

“Our current live release rate for this fiscal year is 87%, down from 97% in fiscal year 2021,” said Chris McAllister, acting assistant director of Code Compliance. “This is a direct result of increased intakes and decreased adoptions in the community, which has impacted our shelters.”

Many of the intakes that are received are pets whose owners say they can no longer care for them. These are known as owner surrenders. The City has resources available for residents in need of assistance before surrendering a pet.

“Staff are actively working to increase our outbound program, which includes our foster and rescue programs. Additionally, we are scheduling more community pop-up events to increase adoptions,” McAllister said.

Check out these shelter locations:

  • Chuck and Brenda Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center, 4900 Martin St.
  • North Animal Campus, 351 Hillshire Drive.
  • Hulen PetSmart, 4800 S.W. Loop 820.
  • Alliance PetSmart, 2901 Texas Sage Trail.

Locations are open noon to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Holiday hours may vary.

“We ask the community to adopt, foster, volunteer, donate and educate family and friends about the issue,” McAllister said. “We always encourage those who are looking for a pet to consider free adoptions from shelters first. Shelter pets deserve loving homes, and there are hundreds of animals to visit.”

If long-term adoption is not an option, consider short-term fostering. Fostering is a wonderful way to provide animals time away from the shelter environment. It allows people to about a pet’s personality and helps find pets the perfect long-term home.

A short-term commitment could help save a life. Spreading the word can help reach potential adopters and fosters. Whether it be through social media or word of mouth, anyone can educate others on the pressing needs of shelter pets.

“We need your help to improve the outflow numbers with rescue, foster and adoptions. Every day we strive to create new ways to help save lives, but we need you,” said Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett.

Volunteers are needed. The shelters can always use extra help to keep operations running smoothly. To learn about volunteering, go online or email.

With more than 1,000 animals in the City’s care, donations help give animals the best possible care.

Learn more online or call 817-392-1234.

 

 

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.

 

 

Tagged as:
Back to top