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Photo Challenge Update!

A huge congratulations to DAS dog Zeus (A1228467) for winning our Cozy Cuddler photo challenge! Thank you to everyone who submitted photos this month.

Up next: the Biggest Smile photo challenge! We’re looking for the pictures that warm you up inside. Get ready to capture them with their pearly whites and wagging tails. Can't wait to see what you all submit! Here is the link in case you need it.

Volunteer Holiday Party 2024

Join us Friday December 13th from 6:30PM-8:30PM at White Rock Alehouse for our annual Volunteer Holiday Party! Friends of DAS will provide drink tickets, food, and exciting raffle prizes you don't want to miss. 

Please RSVP by December 6th using the link here.
Note: Additional food and drinks will be available for purchase for your plus ones.

We’re excited to introduce a new position— the Canine Concierge! This role is perfect for volunteers who want to get hands-on with our pups and help them on the first leg of their journey to new homes.

As a Canine Concierge, you’ll help prepare dogs for transport by walking them, prepping their crates, organizing supplies, and assisting with loading them onto the transport vehicle. Once the pups are ready, you’ll follow the transport van to the airport to help with unloading them onto their flight.

Our first Canine Concierge shift is on November 17th from 3-5 AM, assisting dogs headed to Maryland! This ongoing position will be essential in ensuring our animals have a smooth and safe journey to adoption partners around the country.

If you’re ready to be part of this unique experience, sign up here. We’d love for you to join us in sending our dogs off on their way to brighter futures!

Moonlight Muttness November 23rd

On November 23rd, we’re thrilled to host Moonlight Muttness with extended hours from 11 AM to 9 PM! This special event gives more adopters and fosters a chance to connect with our wonderful dogs—and we need your help to make it happen!

Throughout the day, we’re looking for dedicated volunteers to assist with Meet & Greets, engage with potential adopters and fosters, and help keep kennels clean. This is an important opportunity to make a meaningful impact, and we’d love for you to join us.

• Shifts from 11 AM to 6 PM: If you're available earlier in the day, sign up for a regular Canine Adoption Assistant shift here.
• Evening Shifts from 6 PM to 9 PM: For later shifts, sign up here to help make our evening a success!

New to Canine Handling? No problem! Arrive 30 minutes early, and we’ll provide you with a partial training so you’re ready to lead Meet & Greets with confidence.

Your involvement during Moonlight Muttness will truly help our dogs make lasting impressions and find loving homes. Thank you for your continued support!

Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunity

We’re thankful for the compassion and dedication of our volunteers, and we’re excited to celebrate this Thanksgiving with you!

Lunch for Staff & Volunteers
On November 28, from 12:00-1:00 PM, we invite you to join us for a special Thanksgiving lunch. It’s our way of showing gratitude for all you do to support our shelter and our community.

Holiday Meals for Our Shelter Animals
After lunch, from 1:00-3:00 PM, we’ll be giving our animals a taste of the holidays with special meals prepared just for them. This is a chance to bring joy to their day and make them feel loved.

You’re more than welcome to bring guests to join in the volunteering experience. Sign up using the link here! Please note, sign-ups will not be available through My Impact. We will add volunteer hours to everyone’s accounts after the event.

Thank you for sharing your holiday spirit with us, and for making Thanksgiving a day of kindness for our animals.

Christmas Trail Event Cancelled

We regret to inform you that the Christmas Light Trail event has been cancelled this year. We want to thank all of you who signed up and expressed interest in volunteering for this event—your enthusiasm and support mean so much to us! While we won't be able to gather for this event, we truly appreciate your willingness to be involved and look forward to working with you on future opportunities.

Stay tuned for other exciting events coming up, and thank you again for being such an amazing part of our volunteer family!

And if you're ready to take it a step further and lead an event, just email us at DASVolunteer@dallas.gov. We’ll get you trained and set up to be an offsite event lead, playing a key role in our community outreach.

Looking for Volunteer Leads!

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be hosting a Volunteer Open House in January, and we need your help to make it a success! We’re looking for passionate volunteer leads to share their experiences and knowledge about the positions they love the most. If there’s a role you’re particularly enthusiastic about and feel confident speaking about, we’d love for you to be one of our leads.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your favorite role, help inspire new volunteers, and encourage others to get involved. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer lead for the Open House, please reach out—we can’t wait to hear from you!

More information will be coming out in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out!

Shelter Needs: Blankets and Towels

With one of our dryers temporarily out of service, we’re running low on clean blankets and towels to keep our pets warm and comfortable. We’re reaching out for help from our amazing volunteer community to donate any gently used blankets and towels you may have to spare. Every donation helps ensure that each of our pets has a cozy, clean space during their stay with us.

If you’re able to contribute, you can drop off items at the shelter anytime during operating hours. Thank you for helping us keep our animals comfortable while we work to get our equipment back up and running!

Urgent Call for Laundry Helpers!

Our laundry room is facing a mountain of work, and we need your help! With one of our dryers down, the clean bedding and towels are piling up faster than we can manage. We’re urgently looking for volunteers who can help take loads of laundry offsite to wash—either at a laundromat or in the comfort of your own home. Every bit of help will ensure our pets have fresh, clean blankets and towels while we work on repairs.

If you’re able to pitch in, please sign up here and stop by the volunteer desk to grab a load or reach out to us directly. We’re so grateful for any help you can provide!

Daycation Celebration!

A huge thank you to Katie for taking Walter (A1232227) on his first daycation and showing us the true power of exposure! Walter came to us as a timid and shy dog, struggling to adjust to the noise and chaos of the shelter. We knew he needed some time away to let his true personality shine, and thanks to Katie, that's exactly what happened!

Katie took Walter to several quiet spots, including the Oak Cliff Nature Preserve and White Rock Lake, before heading to local hotspots like Hollywood Feed and the shops around Lakewood. The results were amazing! When they returned, six people came in to meet him, and 53 people scanned his QR code on Adopet. Walter, who had once been nervous around the shelter's hustle and bustle, thrived in these more relaxed environments and got the exposure he needed to show off just how wonderful he is.

This is what daycations are all about—giving our animals a chance to step outside the shelter, let their personalities shine, and get noticed by potential adopters. Thank you, Katie, for giving Walter the chance to be seen for who he truly is.

If you’d like to help other dogs like Walter get out of their shell, you can sign up for a daycation or volunteer shift today here. Let’s continue making an impact, one daycation at a time!

Reminder: If you’ve completed your canine training, no appointment is needed for a Daycation! We just ask that you send us an email or text before you come by so we can have supplies ready.

Volunteer Town Hall - November 26 at 5 pm

Join us (virtually) for our monthly volunteer town hall. During this meeting, we will go over important updates, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities. Afterwards, we will host a Q&A for you to bring your questions and concerns to our attention. If you have any questions you would like to submit in advance, please email us at DASVolunteer@dallas.gov by November 26th at 10 AM. We are always grateful for your feedback and ideas! Click here to join. 

Meeting ID: 222 557 302 548
Passcode: orN8Pc

Volunteer Shout Out! 

Every newsletter we try to randomly select an active volunteer to recognize for all of their hard work! This month, we would like to shout out Katie Heney. Thank you for everything you do as a volunteer.

Do you have any pets at home?

No pets at home, currently! Our foster boy Komet just got adopted to a beautiful couple!

What is your favorite volunteer position?

My favorite volunteer position is D90 running! I think it’s such a wonderful opportunity to give the pups a break from the noisy shelter, help them stretch their little leggies and give them a lot love. I also enjoy helping with playgroup as a very close second. 

What is your favorite part about volunteering with DAS?

My favorite part of volunteering at DAS are the incredible pups. Their resilience and ability to love unconditionally despite their difficult circumstances never ceases to amaze/inspire me.

Do you have a favorite DAS story to share?

My favorite DAS story was the experience of fostering Komet. He was my first foster through DAS. It was such an honor to help him heal, grow and eventually find his perfect family. I am grateful for the support of the foster team!

Welcome New Volunteers!

Welcome all of the new volunteers who have joined us since the last newsletter!

Emma A. | Jacques B. | Fabiola B. | Maddy B. | Vandit B. | Hailey B. | Rutilo C. | Summer C. | Aakanksha D. | Victoria F. | Anthony G. | McKennah G. | Mariela G.| Priya H. | Ashley I. | Kaley I. | Anlan J. | Mia J. | Bri J. | Shannon M. | Erin M. | Clarke M. | Orlando M. | Elisa M. | Bex M. | Alexis N. | Ally P. | Leyena R. | Bruce R. | David S. | Helen S. | Kelly S. | Laila T. | Chandler T. | Erin T. | John W. | Jeff W. | Isabella W. |

Dallas Animal Services, 1818 N Westmoreland, Dallas, TX 75212  |   Website
Contact: DASpio@dallascityhall.com