Thank You Kitten Nursery Volunteers!

Our kitten nursery will be closing for the season on October 31st. Thank you to all of the volunteers who signed up for a Nursery Helper shift or an observation shift. 

During our kitten off-season, we will be in need of kitten fosters who can care for underage kittens after hours when there aren't staff in the building. If you are interested in fostering kittens in the offseason, please email DASFoster@dallas.gov.

Thanksgiving Opportunities

We will be closed to the public on November 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. However, if you’d like to spend part of your holiday with the DAS family, we would love to have you join us!

Volunteer shifts will be available from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with a limited number of essential shifts open. You can sign up for these shifts through MyImpact. If you would like to help us pass out special meals to our pets and staff members, please fill out this form.

BMW Dallas Marathon

Come cheer on the runners with DAS at the BMW marathon! For the third year in a row, DAS volunteers and friends are heading back to the BMW Dallas Marathon, the longest-running marathon in Texas! Last year, many of you asked to be stationed along the half marathon route so we could cheer on even more of our D90 runners, and local friends & family. We heard you! So, this year, we’ll be right where the action is:

When: Sunday, December 14, 2025

Where: Water Station #14. Half Marathon + Full Marathon Route (5403 Ross Ave Dallas, TX 75206)

What’s in store: Provide water, Gatorade, and encouragement to thousands of runners, joggers, and walkers. Make an unforgettable impression on participants and spectators and show them what DAS is made of!

At least 30 volunteers are needed to maintain this water stop location — so grab a friend, bring your DAS spirit, and make this an annual tradition with us!

Please sign up on MyImpact to join the fun and get more information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kristen Sudela at ksudela@gmail.com.

Donations: Treats and Dog Food

We are currently in need of treats and dog food. All donations can be dropped at the front entry way of the adoption lobby. If you are needing help bringing supplies in, email DASvolunteer@dallas.gov and we can assist.

Lime Dip Volunteers Needed!

We are currently experiencing a spike in ringworm at the shelter and our medical team is needing some volunteer support. If you are free Wednesdays or Saturdays during the morning/afternoon, consider signing up for a Medical Volunteer- Ringworm shift!

General Reminders

The shelter can be a stressful environment for our pets, and your care helps make it a safer, calmer place.

As dogs are being cohoused, please avoid passing treats or toys into kennels that have more than one dog, as this can lead to conflict and create stress.

When handing out treats or toys, make sure they are an appropriate size for each dog. For example, small toys and Nylabones can pose a choking hazard for larger dogs, while larger toys and treats are both safer and provide great enrichment. 

Finally, puppies under six months old should not be taken outside, this helps us maintain their safety and reduce exposure to potential illness. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe, happy, and cared for.

Medical Hold Cards

Our medical team has been placing "Medical Hold" cards on dogs who are currently under the weather. Each morning, staff is updating these to ensure all information is accurate. 

Please do not take any dogs with a medical hold out to the play yards. They should only participate in kennel-side interactions until they are cleared by our medical team. 

Volunteer Town Hall

Join us (virtually) for our upcoming volunteer town hall on November 5th at 6:30pm. 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 4th at 10 AM. We are always grateful for your feedback and ideas!

Join the meeting here!

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 Ashley Sewell. Thank you for everything you do as a volunteer!

How long have you been volunteering with DAS?

I’ve been volunteering with DAS since July 2021.

Do you have any pets at home?

My husband and I have two dogs at home, one of which was a DAS foster fail!

What is your favorite volunteer position?

I joined the DAS team of volunteers, initially, to join my love of pups with running, so I would say the D90 Runners is still my favorite activity. I also love fostering and find it so rewarding.

What is your favorite part about volunteering with DAS?

In addition to getting to love on sweet shelter pups, the network of volunteers and the DAS staff are amazing and make volunteering so easy and fun. It’s so fulfilling to see so many amazing people work so hard to make like better for Dallas dogs. There are also so many different opportunities available, so no one volunteer day looks the same!

Do you have a favorite DAS story to share?

There have been so many amazing moments and memories I’ve had through volunteering, and nothing tops getting to see a dog you love find their forever home! One of my more recent favorites was doing the Harry Potter sorting hat series where myself and few volunteers sorted dogs into the HP houses. Taking the dogs out to the yard, getting media, and promoting the dogs on social was so much fun and it turned out great! All of the dogs who were featured ended up finding a forever home, too.