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Cappo is available to foster now and is just one of 250 dogs who need a foster home at Dallas Animal Services. (Photo credit: Dallas Animal Services)
DALLAS - Dallas Animal Services is urgently asking the public to temporarily foster dogs to separate and protect healthy pets from a recent distemper outbreak at the city shelter. With intake now limited to only the most critical cases, the shelter is relying on the community to step up and create space—and prevent further spread of the disease.
“Although we vaccinate dogs for distemper upon intake, it takes a few days before the vaccine becomes effective,” said Victoria Bennett, Assistant Director of Dallas Animal Services. “Even just three weeks of fostering can make a huge difference for a dog. This is a critical moment for Dallas to come together. People who can safely foster right now are literally helping stop the spread of disease and save lives in the process.”
Distemper is a highly severe and contagious virus that usually spreads from one dog to another through direct contact, such as coughing and sneezing. Unvaccinated puppies and dogs are vulnerable to exposure in the community.
“Dallas Animal Services is doing exactly what responsible shelters should do in a distemper outbreak — asking the community to help save lives,” said Sophia Proler, South Central Regional Director, Best Friends Animal Society. “By calling on fosters now, DAS is preventing unnecessary death and protecting healthy dogs. Fostering is the lifeline these dogs need.”
Distemper is a preventable disease. Dogs can be protected by receiving a distemper vaccine from a veterinarian. It is recommended that puppies receive a distemper vaccine between six-eight weeks of age, followed by an annual booster vaccine to maximize protection from the disease.
This is a critical moment for dogs at DAS, and fostering is one of the most immediate ways residents can help contain the outbreak, reduce shelter crowding, and save lives. No prior foster approval is needed. Visit DAS Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 – 7 p.m., and weekends from 11 a.m.–6 p.m., and take home a foster dog the same day. All supplies and any medical care will be provided. For additional information, email DASFoster@dallas.gov.
About Dallas Animal Services:
Dallas Animal Services (DAS) is one of the largest animal shelters in the country, with a mission to help the City of Dallas be a safe, compassionate, and healthy place for people and animals. DAS cares for more than 35,000 animals each year and is focused on public safety, lifesaving, and maintaining a high quality of life for pets and the people who love them. To learn more about how you can support DAS through fostering, adoption, volunteering, or donations, visit BeDallas90.org or visit our Shelter at 1818 N. Westmoreland Road.
About Best Friends Animal Society:
Founded in 1984, Best Friends Animal Society is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to 415,000 last year. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. In collaboration with a network of more than 5,500 animal welfare and shelter partners and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to take the country no-kill and Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.
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