The Dallas Animal Services is getting slammed. . . really slammed. Each day this week 100 animals were taken in. The main reason is the birds and bees. It’s springtime and puppies and kittens are joining the number of pets that are being turned in by their owners.
For this reason, DAS Manager Jody Jones has just announced the waiving of “adoption fees this weekend for all dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that have been at the Adoption Center for 14 days or more.”
What does mean? It means you get a best friend, lifelong hero-worshipper for free including spay/neuter surgery, appropriate vaccinations, microchipping — a $200 value.
But if you fall in love with a critter that’s been there less than 14 days, the adoption fee for dogs over 30 pounds and cats over six months of age is $30.
If you have a pet and you’re faced with parting with it, Cate McManus, DAS Operations Manager, urges people to try to find a new home for their pet before surrendering it to Animal Services. “You are most familiar with your pet’s temperament and can give the animal a greater chance of finding the perfect home.”
When “re-homing, consider these tips from Cate:
- Ask your friends, family, coworkers, etc., to see who might be looking for a new pet.
- Post a photo of your pet with a description of its personality on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media and ask your friends to share it. Even if they’re not looking for a new pet, maybe one of their friends, or a friend of a friend, is.
- Print fliers with your pet’s photo and description and post on the bulletin board or in the break room at your school or workplace. Ask local veterinarians and pet-related businesses if you can post fliers.
- Seek the help of a reputable rescue or breed-specific rescue organization. Start with the list of our Transfer Partners at http://www.dallasanimalservices.org/adoption_agencies.html or Google “animal rescue Dallas.”
But if you’re interested in being a big help on a temporary basis, Shelter Manager Teresa Cleek recommends your becoming a foster home for one of the Dallas area animal rescue groups listed at http://www.dallasanimalservices.org/adoption_agencies.html.
Let’s be real. Those 500 animals that have been turned in this week will not all find homes. Regretfully, a great many will be killed. Yes, that’s a nasty word. Euthanize sounds so much cleaner and efficient. But the reality is they will die unless they find a home pronto.
BTW, the pooch in the picture above was adopted five years ago at the DAS. Her name is Sweet Cherry T.