Animal Welfare

The Fort Worth Animal Care & Control (FWACC) facilities are requesting residents who must surrender their pets to consider alternative options:

•  Rehome their pet through friends and family networks.
•  Ensure that the animal is current on all vaccinations and has received the vaccinations at least 14 days prior to the date of surrender.
•  Vaccinate and hold the animal during its initial 14-day vaccination period to allow the animal to develop immunity prior to surrender. If needed, vaccinations, health screening and other assistance will be provided to the owner by FWACC staff. 

The FWACC facilities follow best-practice isolation and care protocols, which include frequent health assessments by the veterinarian and clinical staff.

It is important that all residents work with their private veterinarians to stay up-to-date on their pets’ vaccinations. Vaccination is the first line of defense to prevent outbreaks of contagious diseases. FWACC partners provide low-cost vaccination services. For more information, please review the “Low-cost assistance for pet owners” in the tab above.

Animal Care & Control offers educational programs and shelter tours to keep residents informed on how they can reduce the pet overpopulation in Fort Worth.

Call 817-392-7013 to sign up for an educational presentation or shelter tour.

Responsible Pet Ownership Class

This program emphasizes the owner’s responsibilities toward the pet and the community. The class will cover these subjects: City of Fort Worth Ordinances, Benefits of Spay/Neuter, Bite Prevention/Rabies and Pet Ownership Responsibilities. This class also can be attended to have certain citations dismissed after arrangements have been made with the Municipal Court.

Use a registration form in English(PDF, 45KB) or Spanish(PDF, 45KB) to register in person no later than the day before a class at the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center. There is no same-day class registration. Registrants must provide photo identification and applicable documentation for all animals on the property.

A community cat is an umbrella definition that includes any un-owned cat. These cats may be “feral” (un-socialized) or friendly, may have been born into the wild, or may be lost or abandoned pet cats. Some of these cats are fed by multiple residents in the area, while others survive without any human intervention. Many people refer to these cats as “strays,” “neighborhood cats” or “ferals” but regardless of the label, these are cats that call “home” the outdoor community rather than an individual household.

Community cats by definition have no owner to claim them. In the United States, only about 1 in 50 cats are reclaimed at most shelters on average. Feral or very fearful community cats have historically been euthanized at most shelters. Because most of these cats are outdoor, free roaming felines, they can easily become sick or overly stressed in the shelter environment. Because of this, the City of Fort Worth views Trap Neuter Release/Return (TNR) as the appropriate way to handle stray cats.

Resources

Humane Society of North Texas
clinic@hsnt.org
817-332-4768

Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP)
940-566-5551
817-837-4500

Spay & Neuter Network
972-472-3500

Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance
info@feralfriends.org

Panther City Feral Cat Coalition
info@fortworthferals.org

Finding orphaned kittens

The best place for kittens is with their mother, so it is important to determine if they’re truly orphans or if mom is hiding or hunting nearby before removing them from the area they were found in.

If mom is nearby, let her be the one to care for them until they are 8 weeks old. Once they are old enough, kittens can be spayed/neutered through TNR (trap neuter return) programs so that they cannot reproduce in the community.

Unfortunately, there are times when kittens become permanently separated from their mothers. In this case, it is important to get them appropriate care.

If you’re willing to care for the kittens until they’re 8 weeks old (or weigh at least two pounds) and can be fixed for adoption, email FWACCfoster@fortworthtexas.gov to get more information about our foster program.

Download Don't Kit-nap Guide(PDF, 396KB)

If you are a pet owner and you need help providing care for your cat or dog, the following organizations offer low-cost animal services.

Low-cost vaccinations

The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) offers low-cost vaccinations and microchipping from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center, 4900 Martin St.

Cash or credit is accepted at the time services are provided. Dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier; cats must be in a carrier. No appointment is necessary, and vaccinations are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more, call 940-566-5551.

More than 70,000 puppies and kittens are born each day in the United States, and though some find loving homes, many contribute to the more than 7.5 million unwanted animals in the country.

Unwanted animals lead lives of misery, privation, disease and neglect. Others are spared this torture only by being euthanized in animal shelters throughout the country.

The easiest and most effective way to correct the tragic situation is for pet owners to do their part to control the animal population by spaying or neutering all pets.

In addition to reducing the number of unwanted animals in shelters and dangerous strays in the streets, spayed and neutered animals are happier, healthier pets. Males fight less and do not roam as much, greatly reducing the risks of being hit by cars. Females do not go into heat, they don’t have to be closed in and they are less likely to develop uterine infections and mammary cancer.

Owners who do not wish to complete the procedure for their pets must contact us to begin the process to obtain an Intact Pet Permit. Call the City Call Center at 817-392-1234.

About the procedure

Spaying is the operation performed to remove the reproductive organs from a female, while neutering means to remove the reproductive organs from a male.

Most veterinary offices will spay or neuter your pet, and many veterinarians also offer a new neutering option for male dogs that uses chemical sterilization drugs and avoids surgery.

You can also find out about low-cost spay or neuter programs in the Metroplex by contacting one of the following agencies:

• Humane Society of North Texas, 817-332-4768
• Spay & Neuter Network, 972-472-3500
• SPCA of Texas
• Texas Coalition for Animal Protection, 817-837-4500

Volunteer time and talents are a huge asset to the Fort Worth Animal Shelter.

There are many ways you can make a difference for the welfare of animals at the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center, the North Animal Campus and both PetSmart Charities Adoption Centers. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to:

Businesses, organizations and youth groups also are welcome for a day of service. To schedule a Day of Service in advance, contact (817) 392-1234.

Apply to volunteer    Apply to foster pets