In a move to proactively tackle the issue of pet surrenders in Fort Worth, the city's Animal Care & Control has linked up with Spay Neuter Network to roll out a new Community Intake Program starting March 25. Their focus is to keep the animals with their owners wherever possible or to find alternative rehoming solutions.
Under this program, before any resident can surrender their animal to FWACC, they are first required to make an appointment. Spay Neuter Network will then reach out to discuss the reasons behind the surrender and to potentially offer resources to help keep the pet. According to the official program announcement obtained by the City of Fort Worth, "Scheduled intake empowers staff to proactively manage capacity and space."
Chris McAllister, Code Compliance Assistant Director, highlighted the value of this initiative. "This approach should ultimately lead to improved live release rates and better outcomes for the animals under our care," he told the City of Fort Worth. The program is also designed to allow the staff to prepare for incoming animals, such as securing foster families and keeping kennels open as necessary.
Emergency cases where pets need to be surrendered immediately, including injured animals or bite incidents, will still be accommodated. "By implementing Community Intake, we can collaborate with our residents and partners to explore alternative solutions for even more pets in need," McAllister explained, as per the City of Fort Worth.
