Animal News
Fort Worth's animal shelter holds event to get dogs out of the cold
Fort Worth is seeking help to solve a crisis at its animal shelters, which are brimming with pets.
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC) is facing a record-high population, and is inviting the public to come in and adopt or foster an animal.
According to Fort Worth Code Compliance Superintendent Nia Odgers, FWACC currently has more than 500 animals at their Chuck & Brenda Silcox location -- a facility that is only designed to house 334 animals long term.
The need is especially acute since some animals at the shelter are being kept outdoors, in areas that are designed to be recreational or temporary holds -- unsustainable with a cold front forecast for the next week.
Their goal is to get 150 medium and large animals adopted or fostered on December 16-17.
This program is being hosted at their Chuck & Brenda Silcox location located at 4900 Martin St. Fort Worth.
Beyond this weekend initiative, Odgers says there's an ongoing need for fosters and adopters in Fort Worth, where the current euthanasia rate is at an all-time high.
According to the City of Fort Worth’s Code Compliance Department in November 2022, the live release rate for dogs -- the number of animals getting out of the shelter alive -- is the lowest it’s been in five years.
Fort Worth's initiative echoes one that Dallas Animal Services, the city of Dallas' animal shelter, held from December 9-11, which saw more than 150 dogs get adopted or fostered.