Dallas Animal Services is searching for foster families and forever homes after reaching its maximum capacity for cats.
The shelter has been maxed out with dogs for months now, as previously covered by The Dallas Express, but is now facing a crowded cat crisis.
As of May 23, 121 cats are sharing 94 kennels, according to Karla Alvarado Falcon, Dallas Animal Services (DAS) coordinator, told The Dallas Express. The current dog capacity is 139%, with 418 dogs and only 300 kennels.
“We are currently in need of fosters and adopters for adult cats,” Alvarado Falcon said. “We are also in need of fosters willing to take underage kittens home so that we can open up kennels and incubators for incoming kittens.”
Due to the rise in animal adoptions, DAS has waived adoption fees for several months in hopes of giving these animals a better chance of being adopted.
For those who are unable to adopt, foster options are available. The foster program allows a Dallas-based home to provide a temporary living arrangement, which gives animals a relaxing and stress-free environment rather than a maxed-out shelter.
Completion of a foster application, foster agreement, and general release are required.
Available foster pets can be found here. If a pet catches your eye, you can schedule an appointment to talk with a foster team member. For more information on foster pets, review the foster handbook here.
A free pet adoption event will take place on May 25 at the Dallas Farmers Market, 1011 S. Pearl Expy., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so these animals can meet their ‘purrfect’ match. A dog adoption event will take place on May 26 at Four Corners Brewing, 1311 S. Ervay St., from 12 to 4 p.m.
Dallas is not the only city facing capacity issues. Fort Worth Animal Services typically maintains more than 1,200 animals, and in March, more than 1,300 animals were in its care. According to Anastasia Ramsey, superintendent of the Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Shelter, both main shelter locations are operating at or near capacity.
“The adoption of shelter animals is crucial for communities because it saves lives, alleviates overcrowding in shelters, and promotes responsible pet ownership,” Ramsey previously told DX. “By adopting from shelters, individuals provide loving homes to animals in need, reducing euthanasia rates and giving abandoned animals a second chance at happiness. Additionally, adopting from shelters helps curb pet overpopulation and supports the valuable work of animal rescue organizations.”
