FWACC Wins State Award for Animal Care Coloring Book

Published on July 02, 2025

Fort Worth Animal Care & Control earned top honors at the 2024 Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) awards, winning first place in the “Special Publication” category for its Adventures with Animal Friends coloring book.

The book, the brainchild of Field Supervisor Jeff Jones, was created to teach elementary-aged children about responsible pet ownership in a fun, engaging way. Since its debut, over 5,000 kids have benefitted from its lessons at school visits, community events, and adoption events.

Communications Specialist, Alison Rich, helped write the educational content, while Graphic Artist, Jason MacGregor, brought the book to life with vibrant and appealing illustrations. FWACC printed 20,000 copies, distributing them through schools, libraries, and directly from field officers. Each book is also paired with crayons to make learning more interactive for children.

“Supervisor Jones’ idea has made a real difference,” said Assistant Director Chris McAllister. “It underscores how valuable input from every level of our team drives our success, and these coloring books provide a creative way to engage kids and educate them on animal safety and responsible pet ownership.”

Now, FWACC is using the coloring books as part of their new P.A.W.S. and Think program, an educational initiative designed to visit schools to teach children the values and responsibilities of pet ownership. By reaching students early, this program aims to plant the seeds of compassion, responsibility, and care for animals, nurturing values that will grow with them into adulthood. For more information, visit our Paws-and-Think webpage.