Operation Kindness is a no-kill animal shelter for dogs and cats that was established in 1976. For forty-five years, the non-profit organization has been “providing a safe haven for pets during their most vulnerable moments,” stated a press release.
According to their website, when Operation Kindness officially became an organization, volunteers used their own homes to provide quality care. Their mission is to give dogs and cats who have no home of their own a chance to find everlasting love and be part of a family.
They also believe in caring for “homeless cats and dogs in a no-kill environment until each is adopted into responsible homes and advocate humane values and behavior.”
The Director of Marketing and Communications, Natalie Buxton, told The Dallas Express, “For the overwhelming majority of cases, we find an adoptive home for each pet. In rare situations where the pet is experiencing a unique medical condition that would make adoption difficult, they may be placed with what we call a ‘permanent foster.’ That foster parent will care for them as their own pet, in their home, but Operation Kindness continues to provide all medical care and support needed. Our goal is to get animals from the shelter into a loving home environment as quickly as possible.”
As of 1999, the shelter is now located at 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton. In April of 2018, they began to build an addition to the organization. In March of 2020, the Rees-Jones Foundation Medical Wing officially opened, and it holds the animal hospital and adoption center.
Staff at Operation Kindness will take on an average of 140 animals daily, providing care in the Rees-Jones Foundation Medical Wing. This wing is where they perform x-rays, ultrasounds, laser therapy, surgeries, give medications if needed, and treatments with oxygen. Their website shares that “homeless pets need to be shown kindness.”
There are currently eight veterinary technicians and twenty-one staff members on the whole medical team. The team includes veterinarians, vet techs, and assistants.
CEO of Operation Kindness, Ed Jamison, said, “We have some of the best staff in the world who help us daily, go above and beyond, to help homeless animals. Our animal shelter features an onsite state-of-the-art animal hospital where we can provide lifesaving care to pets in need. In the shelter environment, lifesaving starts with the medical team.”
Jamison continued, “Each day, our medical team provides care for a wide range of illnesses, including parvovirus, ringworm, distemper FeLV, and more. We improve thousands of dogs and cats’ lives and support our community each year thanks to our amazing vet techs and medical team. We couldn’t be more thankful for the work they do and their contribution to Operation Kindness.”
National Veterinary Technician Week celebrated their “Lifesaving Team” from October 17th through October 23rd.
The press release states, “Operation Kindness recognizes its team’s hard work and understands that their support drives the organization to continued success. By helping address the homeless pet population, more animals without a home have an opportunity to experience a brighter future.”
Before animals are adopted, the medical team is the first to care for them before finding them a forever home.
“The medical team is integral to the shelter to deliver quality services that give animals a chance to find a loving family.”
Client Relations Manager, Sabrina Jones, has worked for Operation Kindness for ten years and has adopted three animals from the organization.
“It’s hard to tell myself no,” she told The Dallas Express. Jones has always wanted to work with animals, even as a child. “Honestly, I can’t picture doing anything else,” she shared.
When asked about her favorite part of the job, she said, “Of course, seeing animals go home to their new families. I also love that Operation Kindness isn’t afraid to take on the harder cases, whether it be medical or behavioral.”
The Director of Development, Nikki Walker, has been working for Operation Kindness for the last thirteen years. She loves watching the animals at Operation Kindness become a new addition to a family when adopted.
Walker told The Dallas Express, “They are always so happy to meet their new families and go to their new homes. When I began working at Operation Kindness, I knew that I would be making a difference in the lives of homeless dogs and cats. What I did not anticipate was the impact we would be making on the people that adopt them. It is so heartwarming to hear from the adopters and how their new family member has added so much joy and happiness to their lives.”
By working for a non-profit organization like Operation Kindness, Walker knew she could make a difference in the community, which is what she has always wanted to do.
“I am so happy to be able to combine my passion of making a difference in my community and saving the lives of dogs and cats together,” she shared with The Dallas Express.
Thirteen years ago, Walker adopted a dog from the organization. She talks about her dog Bailey and how he arrived at Operation Kindness when his mother was rescued from a puppy mill.
“One of our partners rescued her from the puppy mill and she was pregnant when she arrived at Operation Kindness. She immediately went into foster care where she gave birth to eight fluffy white puppies that all looked like cotton balls with legs. I adopted Bailey the same day he came into the shelter, and he has been an absolute joy and a gift to our family. I am thankful to Operation Kindness for bringing Bailey into our lives,” she shared with The Dallas Express.
Operation Kindness has become “transfer partners” with forty-one municipal shelter and rescue groups. The organization provides foster programs, pet food pantry, surrender prevention programs, education for owners, and volunteer opportunities, besides the medical and emotional care they give to the dogs and cats.
Sabrina Jones told The Dallas Express, “If we weren’t needed anymore, then we did our job right! I love that Operation Kindness does whatever possible to help our community and the communities around us. Our Pet Food Pantry saves many people from having to surrender pets if they’ve fallen on hard times and aren’t able to afford pet food until they get back on their feet.” Jones also expressed, “Taking in medical cases from partnering shelters because we have the resources and support to do that has always been something that I’m really proud of Operation Kindness for!”
Marketing and Communications Manager Kelsey Keys shares the same views as Jones. “The best outcome is that we’re all out of a job or have to rethink the way animal shelter works because all of the homeless pets have found homes and people are educated in spay/neuter, animal wellness, etc.,” said Keys.
Keys has been working for Operation Kindness for four years. She has always wanted to work with animals and has even adopted her pets through the organization.
Growing up, she thought she would end up becoming a veterinarian, “but now I’ve been able to find a way to work with animals that aligns with my skills and talents,” she mentioned. Keys enjoys finding creative ways for the animals to find homes and connecting with the adopters.
The Dallas Express spoke to the staff of Operation Kindness about the struggles they sometimes face and the inspiring stories they hold within. Jones mentioned that “not being able to fix them all has always been hard. You do take comfort knowing that you were able to give an animal love and the best possible care up until the end, even if the outcome is not what you were hoping for.”
Keys said, “I think any time one of my favorite pets sits at the shelter for a long time, it makes the job hard. Seeing them go to a home is the most rewarding, but I wish they could spend as little time as possible waiting.”
Although it’s a rare occasion at Operation Kindness, it is still a difficult time to witness an animal waiting for its forever home.
Keys hold on to missions to save the lives of animals even beyond her working hours. “I once brought two very sick kittens back from Puerto Rico. We treated them and found them amazing homes. That type of dedication to caring for every animal we can always inspire me.”
“The overwhelming support that we received from donors, volunteers, fosters, and the community during the pandemic was incredible! It was such a unified effort to be able to continue doing what we do here, and I’m so grateful for it,” expressed Jones.
The website for Operation Kindness states, “As a 501(c)(3) organization, Operation Kindness relies on the generous donations of the community to fund our mission. We receive no government funding.”
In 2018, the “save rate” of the dogs and cats who came to the shelter was 96.3%. In 2019, the “save rate” raised to 97.3%. In 2020, it reached 98.6%.
Also, in the year 2020, Operation Kindness received 117,030 pounds of food from donors for the Pet Pantry. The medical team provided 2,289 spay and neuter surgeries. They placed 1,674 dogs and cats into foster care, and 2,506 animals were adopted into loving families.
With the expansion to the building of Operation Kindness and adding more members to the medical team, the shelter would be able to save even more lives for cats and dogs. They are actively looking for new employees to add to their already fantastic staff.
The press release states, “With the rapid growth of the shelter and its ability to increase resources and services, the non-profit is looking to hire at least one additional veterinary technician, among other positions outside of its medical team, including coordinators and engineers,” and, “With more members onboard and a significant investment to medical, the organization is pushing to increase its ability to save more lives.”
Operation Kindness is open every day from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and their phone number is 972-418-7297. For information on the job opportunities, click here.
For more information on volunteering, donating, fostering, or adoption, click here.
