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Dallas Animal Services has put forward a proposal for a new state-of-the-art animal shelter and adoption center that will help us create a lasting impact on our community. With a new shelter DAS will be one step closer to accomplishing our goals in public safety, animal lifesaving, and community benefits. To read more about this opportunity visit our resources page.
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Contact Your Council Member: Send an email or give them a call to express your support for our new shelter. Please be respectful and concise in your communication and explain why this initiative matters to you – whether it’s ensuring public safety, saving animal lives, or fostering a stronger community.
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Spread the Word: Encourage your Dallas friends, family, and fellow animal enthusiasts to do the same.
Your passion and dedication for animal welfare can make a significant impact in garnering support for the new shelter through the bond program proposal. Let’s join forces and show our city council that you stand behind DAS and our vision for a better future for animals and our community. Together, we can create positive change and make our city an even better place for everyone.
Meet Juana: Interim Pet Support Manager! Many of you have already had the pleasure of meeting her friendly face here at the shelter. Juana has been with DAS since June 2021 as Playgroup Lead. Her journey in animal welfare started in 2010, with experiences as a kennel assistant, veterinary assistant, rescue coordinator, and dog trainer.
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Greg Wilkins is our new Animal Shelter Manager over Animal Care and Behavior. He has spent the last seven years in leadership at various shelters in Florida, and Best Friends in Arkansas. He has one mutt named Breeze who he has had for nearly 12 years. Welcome to the team, Greg!
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Summer Dolder joined us as the new Assistant General Manager in May. Prior to DAS, Summer was the Director of Pet Pantry at Cuddly, and directed operations for a variety of animal welfare organizations in Philadelphia, Hawaii, and New York. Welcome to the team, Summer! |
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September Virtual Townhall Meeting
When: September 27 at 6:00-7:00 pm
Meeting ID: 276 968 561 37
Passcode: ohE3XZ
We’ll send out an agenda on 9/25 for the next meeting so you’ll know what topics we’re covering in advance.
Want to make sure we cover a topic of importance to your group? Send in your feedback or questions here.
 Do you want to be a rockstar? And live in hilltop houses loving fifteen dogs? For your next tag look no further then our playgroup rockstar line up. This group of cuties have proven themselves to be model residents and friends to all dogs.
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Maxx A1171442
- 1 years old
- Neutered
- Heartworm (-)
- PG-1 Social
- Dainty & Gentle Playstyle
- Very patient & happy helper
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Dior A1185190
- 3 years old
- Neutered
- Heartworm (+)
- PG-1 Social
- Dainty & Gentle Playstyle
- Takes corrections like a champ
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Honeydew A1186701
- 4 years old
- Female
- Heartworm (-)
- PG-1 Social
- Dainty & Gentle Playstyle
- Loves water & amazing helper
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Dunston A1182584
- 1 years old
- Neutered
- Heartworm (-)
- PG-1 Social
- Rough & Rowdy Playstyle
- Friendly with dogs and kids
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 Join us for a deeper look at Dallas Pets Alive! and their contribution to animal welfare.
Can you tell us a little bit about Dallas Pets Alive and Pets Alive organization as a whole?
Dallas Pets Alive is a foster based organization that focuses on both proactive and reactive rescue. Our Positive Alternative to Shelter Surrender (PASS) program focuses on keeping pets with their families and out of the shelters. Our foster program partners with several shelters in the DFW area to find placement for pets in need.
Our mission is to promote and provide the resources, education, and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals in North Texas. We take an innovative approach to animal rescue and believe in creating a paradigm shift in the way our community views animal rescue. Adoption is not only the right thing to do but THE thing to do.
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What made DPA want to work with DAS? Do you currently have a specific population you are focused on?
DAS was our very first shelter partner when we were founded 11 years ago. DAS continues to be one of our biggest areas of focus due to the space crisis. Over the last 11 years, we have been able to build some great relationships with the staff and volunteers at DAS. We appreciate the accessibility that DAS provides our volunteers to spend time at the shelter and host events, such as Spot Tagging.
We try to focus on the pets most in need. At the moment, our fosters seem to be interested in some of the more medically needy pets.
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What was your current big focus for this year? And going into the 2024 fiscal year what is next for DPA?
This year is the Year of Community for us. We opened our Adoption Container at Community Beer Co., and it has been an amazing last few months. We reshaped a 40 ft shipping container like we reshape the lives of the pets we rescue. After several years of not getting together because of Covid, it’s been great to have a place for our staff and volunteers to meet. We have been able to build stronger relationships with our fosters and volunteers, as it is an easy place to go and either just hangout or bring your foster dog or cat to network. You can often find volunteers gathering for a drink or snack on the weekends.
The Container has also been a great way for us to educate the community on the need for adopters, fosters, volunteers, and donors. We have met some amazing new supporters who have walked through our doors.
Going into the 2024 fiscal year, fostering will continue to be a focus for us. We just recently launched our Foster + program. This program is funded by grants and aims to make fostering more accessible and convenient. This program provides training through GoodPup, supplies, transportation through our new Snyft program, foster referrals, and a bonus for fostering 5 dogs in a 12 month period.
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What makes DPA such a successful organization?
We strive to break down barriers to make owning a pet or fostering more accessible to the community. We are open to collaboration and innovation and know that not one organization can do it all. We also focus on engagement and support for our volunteers and fosters. We know that we cannot do any of the hard work without our fosters, volunteers, donors, or supporters.
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DPA has an amazing program called P.A.S.S. Can you give us a little bit on how this program benefits everyone?
PASS focuses on the proactive side of rescue. We provide resources to help pets stay with their families and out of the shelters. The requests for help that we receive include: rehoming help, medical assistance, training, pet deposits and more. The volume of requests we receive has drastically increased, over 50% more since last year.
Our volunteers take a non-judgmental approach when handling the requests for help. Our PASS program has been able to pay for lifesaving procedures for pets that would have otherwise been euthanized in the local shelter due to medical or space. We have some amazing partnerships that allow us to say yes to so many of these requests. PASS provides support to both ends of the leash.
Do you have any positive words you would like to pass on to other rescues fighting the good fight?
Collaborate! I find myself reminding myself and our volunteers that we don’t have to do it alone. We can work with other organizations to make a positive impact on the space crisis in North Texas. Not one organization can do it alone, and building relationships and collaborations is crucial.
Take breaks when you can. Compassion fatigue and burnout are real. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Take time to learn the signs of compassion fatigue so that you can step away and take a break when needed.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s ok to fail and try again!
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