UPDATE (2:00 p.m.Thursday): Mattingly has been adopted. itzy and 649 other potential homebodies are still waiting for you.
You’ve heard it before, but this time it’s really crunch time. The area animal shelters are overloaded. In addition to the litters of puppies and kittens being turned in, people are turning in their adult pets because of lack of funds, time or irresponsibility. Okay, so it’s good that they’re turning the animals in instead of dumping them in neighborhoods or country roads. But the facilities are scrambling.
To make it worse, the rescue groups are struggling to help. Their foster programs are at capacity.
The results? Animal service budgets are being blown to smithereens. Family-friendly pets and puppies and kittens are being killed. (Sorry. We could have said euthanized, but that’s a nice way of saying what’s actually happening.) Unfortunately, according to the current policy, “strays could be put to sleep after just 72 hours, and surrendered animals could be euthanized within the day of their surrender.”
What can you do?
- Adopt a pet like “itzy” or “Mattingly” from a shelter or rescue group.
- Foster a pet for a rescue group.
- Make a donation of money to an animal group.
- Check out the Dallas Animal Service’s “Wish List”. Yes, there are other groups in need of “things,” but the DAS is handling 650 animals and being threatened with cutbacks. The staff is being worn to the nub with more than 100 animals being turned every day. Now, the air conditioning system is starting have problems. Imagine working in warm conditions with hundreds of animals howling and meowing and seeing the line out the door with more critters coming in.
*Photo credit: Sylvia Elzafon and courtesy of the Dallas Animal Services
Michelle says
This post seriously makes me want to run right out and adopt a little dog or even two, but I moved back in with my mother and she would have a fit! Maybe tomorrow I will commit to making a donation to the shelters and this is just terrible! Will definitely share this on my social media.