In a bid to support Dallas's four-legged residents, the City of Dallas, through Dallas Animal Services (DAS), is holding the "Empty the Shelter" event, which runs until May 15. The initiative looks to find homes for as many pets as possible, with an incentive being a monetary contribution towards shelter needs: $20 for each dog and $10 for each cat adopted during the promotion, according to the City of Dallas.
Another highlight in the recent DAS newsletter celebrates the successful "Doggie Daycation" program. Launched a year ago, the initiative has provided over 1,000 dogs from the shelter with temporary excursions, resulting in a 97% rate of positive outcomes. The program, widely lauded by participants and volunteers alike, was praised, as per the City of Dallas, for making "a real difference in the lives of these dogs, one adventure at a time."
As spring heralds the arrival of new life, the DAS's Kitten Nursery is bustling with activity and is also calling for additional hands. Volunteers are needed for shifts from 8 am to 8 pm daily, and no prior feline handling training is required. Instead, volunteers must watch seven prerecorded videos to prep themselves for the task, including an 'Introduction to Kittens.' The nursery's Amazon Wishlist is also circulating for those who wish to donate necessary items, particularly baby food for kittens with eating difficulties, as made known by the City of Dallas.
For dog lovers, DAS offers new playgroup times to improve the canines' well-being, with shifts available for volunteers who have completed their Canine Handling Training. These sessions are not just about letting dogs out for exercise; they also provide valuable insights into their behaviour and play styles, ensuring that volunteers can prioritize dogs with red sliders, indicating they haven't been out yet that day, the DAS newsletter recommends.
With temperatures rising as summer approaches, DAS reminds volunteers of the appropriate attire: closed-toe shoes for safety and, though shorts are permitted, long pants are recommended to prevent accidental injuries. Extra caution is advised when handling heartworm-positive dogs in the warmth. Moreover, DAS's new volunteer dog walking tracker system was highlighted, replacing the "Who Let the Dogs Out” logs to ensure that every pet gets time outside their kennel for enrichment purposes every day.
