The City of Dallas Animal Shelter is Overflowing and Invites Everyone to Participate

If you’ve said you really want to help animals but don’t know how, here’s your chance: Dallas Animal Services (DAS) is currently overflowing with dogs and needs adopters and foster families to step in and help.

The shelter specifically has too many medium and large dogs, and they are running out of kennels. If adopters and/or foster families were to bring some dogs home, either temporarily or permanently, it would create space for hundreds more pets expected to arrive this week.

DAS director MeLissa Webber calls it a “crisis”.

“We have over 375 dogs in our building and we’re running out of space to accommodate medium and large dogs,” Webber says. “As an open-entry shelter, we can’t stop taking in pets. Despite our best efforts and the most creative solutions, we’re out of options. We need the immediate help of the community to avoid heartbreaking decisions tomorrow.”

Their goal is to prevent the death of healthy adoptable dogs who would be euthanized because there is no space, and they have created an expedited process for new dog adopters with virtual and personal options.

Fostering is a practice where you take the dog into your home for a short period of time. Most foster cases last from a few days to a few weeks and DAS can provide necessary pet care supplies such as crates, food and bowls.

“Whether you can foster a pet for three days or three months, fostering will literally save a life,” says Webber.

Sponsorship involves:

• Complete a foster family application at www.BeDallas90.org with a virtual orientation that prepares you to care for the dog in your home and shows how to select a dog in need.
• Have a quick phone call with the Foster team who can answer your questions, connect you with the right pet and finalize your paperwork.
• Pick up the dog at the curb – you don’t even have to enter the shelter building.

If you prefer to see a dog in person, visit the shelter during normal business hours. A staff member will guide you through the process so you can bring the dog home immediately. If you need help finding a good match, our on-site team is also available to make recommendations.

For those considering adopting, Webber suggests visiting in person. “The online process usually takes a few days and right now every minute counts,” she says.

Currently, all DAS animals are free to adopt and come neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and with a voucher for a free vet visit. DAS offers daily adoptions at its main shelter on Westmoreland Road and at its PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center on North Coit Road as well as on its website at www.BeDallas90.org.

DAS is open for adoptions and foster care inquiries at 1818 North Westmoreland Rd. Monday through Friday 1-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.