NEWS: How to help DAS pets - SAVE LIVES while social distancing!

As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, we will be keeping everyone up to date if there are new operational developments or developments related to COVID-19 and pets. We have altered both field and shelter operations to minimize human contact for residents while remaining committed to both public safety and lifesaving.

DAS Animal Services Officers will continue to respond to urgent, high-priority calls including sick or injured animals and animals that threaten public safety. Calls for services can be placed with 311.

In compliance with the County of Dallas' COVID-19 "shelter at home" order, the only non-staff permitted to enter the building will be individuals who believe DAS has their lost pet.

 You can still help us save lives while social distancing by:

- ADOPTING. We will now be doing tele-adoptions by appointment only! Click here for more information and to view adoptable pets. Pre-scheduled pet pick-ups will only take place at our main shelter (1818 N Westmoreland Rd.) during your tele-adoption call. We currently do not have any pets at our PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center.

- FOSTERING. You can become a foster online! Our application and video orientation can both be completed from the comfort of your own home. Click here for more information on fostering, to watch our video orientation, and to read our foster guidelines.

- MAKING A DONATION. To make a donation of our most needed supplies, please visit our Amazon Shelter Wishlist by clicking here. To make a monetary donation online, please visit friendsofdas.org. 


Other operational changes:

OWNER SURRENDERS: DAS is asking that all owners interested in surrendering their pet first make an intake appointment. More information about surrendering a pet can be found by clicking here. 

AN UPDATE ON COMMUNITY CATS: DAS is NOT taking in healthy community cats at this time; we are ONLY taking in emergency cases, including kittens. DAS considers sick or injured cats and kittens and confirmed orphaned bottle-baby kittens (not weaned or eating solids) to be emergencies. We are not taking in healthy moms and litters, healthy kittens that are weaned and eating solids or "gruel" or bottle baby kittens that are not confirmed as orphaned. Any kittens with a mother should be monitored until 8 weeks of age rather than brought to the shelter. For more information regarding nursing or orphaned kittens, please click here.

NEED HELP AT THIS TIME? For food and medical assistance, please click here to learn more about the SPCA of Texas Pet Resource Center. 

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC), continue to state there is no evidence that a dog, cat, or other domestic animal can transmit COVID-19 to humans. Out of an abundance of caution, all of these sources recommend thoroughly washing your hands after coming into contact with a pet and to minimize your interaction with domestic animals if you are positive for COVID-19. We are closely monitoring updates from these reliable sources and will continue to keep our community informed.

We will be keeping everyone updated as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more updates.

VIRTUAL EVENT: Hero Tele-Adoption Event

This Memorial Day Weekend (5/22-5/25), be a HERO to a dog in need! We have over 100 dogs at our shelter who could use a hero. See who's available and make your tele-adoption appointment by clicking here.

*Please note: DAS is only doing adoptions through our tele-adoption process. Our building is NOT open to the public for adoptions at this time.

NEWS: Don't be a KIT-NAPPER!

For more information, please visit DFWkittennetwork.com.

NEWS: Quarterly Report for FY20-Q2

We are excited to release the quarterly report for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2019/2020! For the full version, please click here.

NEWS: Join Our DAS Alumni Group

Have you adopted a pet from DAS? Then you should join our DAS Alumni Facebook Group! It's a great way to chat with other adopters and animal lovers, plus you can read educational information and check out resources provided by DAS! Join the group today!

NEWS: "The Climb to Dallas90" Video

Catch a glimpse of Dallas Animal Services' climb from a 13% live release rate in 2007 to exceeding 90% for four months in a row earlier this year! This critical transformation has been the result of years of hard work from animal lovers throughout the community and though there is still plenty of work to be done, we want to say THANK YOU to everyone -- adopters, fosters, volunteers, staff, rescue partners, advocates, elected officials, and donors -- who have made an impact on this climb. You are the heart of Dallas90.

NEWS: Dallas One of First Cities Certified as a "Better City for Pets"

DAS is honored to share that Dallas has been chosen as one of the first 25 cities in the country to be certified by Mars' Better Cities for Pets program! This certification recognizes the cities' commitment to improving the lives of pets and the people who love them as well as the progress made in sheltering, parks, business, and housing. 

Did You Know?: "Long Term" Residents Available for Free Adoption

In an effort to get extra attention for our long-term residents, DAS waives the adoption on all pets that have been available for adoption for more than two weeks. At DAS our pets don't have a time limit, but the longer a pet is in our care, the higher their stress level and risk of illness; so our main goal is to get long term residents into a foster or a great forever home! 

Every day, dozens of dogs and cats qualify for this free adoption rate. How can you tell? When you're here, look for "FREE ADOPTION" on their kennel card! 

News: DAS Wins Innovation Showdown and $200,000 Grant 

Dallas Animal Services is honored to have won the 2019 Petco Innovation Showdown on Wednesday, April 17th, at Humane Society of the Unites States' Animal Expo in New Orleans. DAS  received a $200,000 investment in our ground-breaking Dallas90 Shelter Service System app, which will help DAS improve our customer service to increase our adoptions and decrease euthanasia for space.

DAS was one of three finalists to compete in the Showdown and received the largest investment.

Watch our presentation and get an idea of what this generous funding will help DAS achieve! 

The Innovation Showdown is a collaboration between nine of the nation's top animal welfare organizations: Petco Foundation,  The Jackson Galaxy Project,  ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Maddie's Fund, Michelson Found Animal Foundation, Annberg Foundation, WaterShed Animal Fund, and Mary Jo and Hank Greenberg Animal Foundation. 

Dallas90: Thinking Outside the Box to Save Lives

OUR VISION: 
Lead the nation in compassionate care of animals while finding positive outcomes for all placeable pets through innovative shelter operations and community engagement. 

OUR PLAN:
Dallas90 is a community outreach campaign designed to generate support of and participation in Dallas Animal Services' effort to find positive outcomes for all healthy and behaviorally sound pets, which we believe exceeds 90% of our shelter population.

Learn more about Dallas90 and how you can get involved. 

News: City Replaces Pet Licensing with Mandatory Microchip

DAS no longer offers a pet licensing program. Instead, all dogs and cats in the City of Dallas are now required to be microchipped. Not sure if your pet is microchipped? All pets adopted from DAS and most local adoption groups are microchipped. Your veterinarian or any shelter can verify if your pet is microchipped.

A mircochip is small computer chip about the size of a grain of rice that is placed under your pet's skin using a needle (similar to a vaccination) where it remains throughout life. The chip contains a unique identification number that can be located with a special scanner; this number is linked to your contact information through a mircochip database. It is not a GPS tracker and you must update your information whenever it changes in order for the chip to remain effective.

Microchipped dogs have an 238% higher rate of returning home while cats have a 2000% higher rate! 

DAS is currently NOT offering public microchips due to the COVID-19 emergency.