These cute dogs (and cat) desperately need homes in Fort Worth. How to adopt or foster.
More than 800 cats and dogs at the Fort Worth Animal Shelter are in need of homes.
The shelter is over capacity and needs help from the community to properly care for the animals, particularly as a growing Fort Worth means a growing number of homeless pets.
“And the bigger that we get, the more animals we’re going to have,” Chris Lirette, the city’s animal control supervisor, said.
With more people returning to the office, pets that can’t be cared for anymore are getting surrendered to the shelter. Other owners have had to give up their pets due to financial issues. That’s put a strain on the shelter, Lirette said.
You can help by making a dog or cat a part of your family, lending a hand at the shelter or taking in a dog or cat until they find a permanent home.
How to find the perfect fit for you
Finding the right pet to adopt can be a big decision.
“First thing is that, if they’re looking to adopt any animal, you definitely want to know what you can handle,” Lirette said.
Try to calculate expenses like food to make sure you can afford a pet. Do some research to figure out what size, breed and temperament would work best in your family.
Afterwards, visit the Fort Worth Animal Center nearest you and meet the dogs or cats.
“You got to shop for the right animal, and not every animal is going to be right for that particular person,” Lirette says.
When you find a pet you like, the shelter personnel will facilitate a meet-and-greet so you can decide if you’re ready to adopt.
“You want to take them out and you want to get to know him and see how he is,” Lirette said.
How to prepare for a furry family member
Make sure to put away anything that can be broken or chewed, Lirette suggests, at least while your new pet gets familiar with the environment. It can take days to weeks for them to get comfortable in the house, he said.
Purchase big essentials like a bed ahead of time.
Ensure there’s a way for them to get out to the yard securely. Also, make an appointment for a health check at the vet.
Adopt a furry friend
“We have some of the greatest dogs, we do. We have some really good dogs that just need a home,” Lirette said. “A lot of these guys are just happy, they’re playful, they’re fun to be around. They just want to be in a home that they can be there forever.”
There are plenty of adorable pets at the Fort Worth Animal Shelter you can make a part of your family. Here are a few that need to find good homes:
Ribbit is a sweet girl who can come off shy at first. Ribbit is a medium-size 5-year-old white dog with brown spots. She’s been at the North Animal Campus since August 2021. Click here to adopt her.
This close brother pair, Smokey and Bandit, get a lot of attention at the Hulen PetSmart Charities Adoption Center. They’re friendly, polite and lovable. The boxer/terrier, pit bulls are 5 and 6 years old. Click here to adopt them.
Bruno is lovable, sweet and playful. The 5-year-old retriever, labrador/boxer is at the PetSmart Hulen Adoption Center. To adopt Bruno, click here.
Precious is a 53-pound pit bull mix. She is a happy girl and loves to do zoomies in the play yard. She’s easy to handle, friendly with other dogs and potty trained. Visit her at the Chuck & Brenda Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center or apply here.
Like her name, Cookie is the sweetest. She loves to be around people and is dog-friendly. The 50-pound 6-year-old is ready to be adopted at Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center. If you’re interested in adopting Cookie, click here.
Oreo has been in and out of the shelter since August. The 3-year-old is super friendly, likes other dogs and loves to cuddle. Oreo knows how to sit on command and is a quick learner of new tasks. Meet Oreo at the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center. To adopt him, click here.
Renee is a 2-year-old energetic pit bull mix at the North Animal Campus. She would make a great adventuring buddy and loves toys and treats. Renee knows several commands and is motivated to learn new tasks. Click here to adopt Renee.
Diesel is a calm and collected 3-year-old pit bull mix. He longs for a friend to cuddle and lounge around with (his favorite pastime). You can meet him at the North Animal Campus. Click here to adopt Diesel.
Picassa is crate-trained, house-trained, quiet and well-behaved. The affectionate pup likes hanging out in the sun during the day and curling up in bed for cuddles at night. You can find her at the North Animal Campus. Click here to adopt Picassa.
Pebbles the cat has been described as “perfect.” The chubby kitty loves belly rubs, playing with her toys – and maybe needs a little diet. You can meet Pebbles at the North Animal Campus, or click here to adopt her.
You can adopt a dog for $49 and a cat for $25. You can adopt a dog for free if they’re over 40 pounds or a senior, or if you’re a veteran. All have had a health and temperament assessment by a veterinarian and have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
You can find a full list of adoptable animals here.
To adopt, you’ll just need your ID. It takes a few minutes to fill out the adoption form.
What to expect after adoption
“Once you get them home, every dog is kind of scared, whenever you first get them to the new place. They don’t know exactly what to expect,” Lirette says. “You want to familiarize yourself with him and you want him to get to know you. You want to take things slow, because you want him to get used to you.”
Allow them to approach and smell your family members, walk them around the house and start crate training.
Volunteer at an adoption center
Having volunteer help makes a big difference with capacity issues at the shelter, Lirette said.
“It gives them a sense of appreciation for animals, it gives them a sense of appreciation for the people that they’re helping,” he said.
As a volunteer, you’ll:
- Play with pets to help them socialize;
- Take them on walks outside;
- Bathe and groom pets;
- Prepare meals and snacks and feed them;
- Take shareable pics of the dogs and cats;
- Assist with adoptions, shelter tours and data entry/office work;
- Wash and sanitize kennels, play yards or facility common areas.
Click here to start volunteering. For more information, contact melanie.pena@fortworthtexas.gov.
Foster a shelter pet
Take a shelter pup out for a field trip for a few hours, or give them a place to sleep overnight. Short-term fostering allows pets to be out of their cage for a bit to socialize and exercise.
Or, you can keep a dog or cat for longer, and allow them to thrive in a more comfortable space so that they’re ready when a permanent home comes along. Fostering for any length of time helps prospective owners find out what they’re like outside of the shelter and helps staff match them with their future adopter. The shelter will provide supplies for fostering.
To be a foster, fill out the foster form here. You’ll receive a welcome email within 72 hours of submitting your application. Read through the email to find your foster manual for more information on setting up an appointment. For more information on fostering a shelter pet, email FWACCfoster@fortworthtexas.gov. Find a list of shelter pets that need fosters here.
If you’d like to donate to the shelter, fill out this form.
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
