DallasPETS is changing the face of responsible pet ownership in Dallas

Citations are up, we have fewer loose dogs and more people are talking about responsible pet ownership. Furthermore, we are saving more animals than ever before.

“I could not be more proud of our community, volunteers, staff and everyone who worked so hard to make this happen,” said Dallas Animal Services Manager Jody Jones. “The programs and initiatives we’ve put in place are succeeding and people are working together.”

The DallasPETS campaign focuses on three key issues: loose dogs, illegal dumping and adoption rates. The campaign also calls for increased community involvement, action events such as targeted loose dog initiatives and mobile vaccinations, public/private partnerships to emphasize spaying/neutering pets and reaching out to pet owners in need.

The DallasPETS website has received tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of media kit downloads and email sign-ups, and earned hundreds of thousands of social media impressions. In addition, the City’s DallasPETS team has put an increased emphasis on field intakes and enforcement which has resulted in the prosecution of multiple dumping and animal cruelty cases. These metrics support recent statistics that show Live Releases (adoptions, transfers and returns to owners) are at an all-time high of 72.8 percent in January, while humane euthanasia rates are at an all-time low.

There is more to do, Jones said, but she encouraged the community to “keep this thing going” because that involvement is what is making a difference.

Besides saving lives, reducing euthanasia rates also gets the community involved in the welfare of our animals, makes Dallas a more pet-friendly place, saves tax dollars and improves the quality of life for animals and humans.

For more information and resources visit: DallasPETS.org