Most college seniors spend their final semesters studying, writing papers, and cherishing the last months of university social life. Bella Hubbard was not most college seniors. She wanted to act on her lifelong love of animals and give back to her community. She searched online for foster opportunities and with her first foster kittens, she was hooked. Bella has now been a Dallas Animal Services foster for several years and this past year, she went above and beyond. Bella fostered an unbelievable 113 animals over the course of 2023 through Dallas Animal Services and our transfer partners, Hear ..read more

Sometimes life happens! Your needs change, your pet’s needs change, or life’s just thrown you a huge curveball. You know a new home is the best thing for your pet, but you can’t bear the thought of bringing them to the shelter. Rehoming your own pet isn’t easy emotionally, and so many of us would sleep better knowing they ended up with a family that loves them just as much as you do. Thankfully, Home-to-Home offers a solution! Use their service to connect with people seeking pets in your area to find your pet a new home that you approve of. P.S. If you’re in the market for a pet and haven’t fo ..read more

The winter holidays are fast approaching, and it’s a busy time of the year for almost everyone. That includes animal shelters! Dallas Animal Services is always in need of volunteers to help out around the holidays, as many staff and volunteers head off to visit their loved ones. If you want to make a difference this holiday season, here are some of the biggest ways you can help animals. Holiday Volunteering The halls of Dallas Animal Services can feel a little lonely on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s when the shelter is closed to the public. Thankfully, we always get a h ..read more

November is Pet Diabetes Prevention Month. Yes, your pet can get diabetes! Just like humans, dogs and cats can develop Type II diabetes if their exercise and nutrition are insufficient. Our pets can’t make healthy choices on their own, so we have to help them. Here are some important steps you can take to reduce your pet’s chances of developing diabetes. A great way to get your pet to eat healthier is to experiment with different treats. These items are likely part of your grocery list already, so no there’s need to spend money on expensive products. Eggs, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and f ..read more

Is your furry friend looking a little extra, ahem, shall we say “fluffy”? Our pets can’t take themselves to the gym or count calories if they put on a few extra pounds – it’ up to us to make sure they are staying fit and healthy! We’re not body-shaming here – pet obesity is a serious concern. Excess weight can put extra pressure on your pet’s joints and organs, and lead to heart disease and cancer. Keep your pet at a healthy weight by following these tips: Measure out that food! Don’t just fill up the bowl to the top – there is a chart on your pet’s food bag that will have the amount of food ..read more

We are big proponents of BYOB – that’s short for Bring Your Own Bag! When walking your dog, it’s important to bring a waste bag (and plenty of extras) with you wherever you go. We need all dog owners to be courteous to their neighbors by picking up their dog’s mess immediately. Dog poop is stinky and can make a neighborhood look sloppy, but more importantly, it can spread disease, drive pests, and pollute our water systems. According to the USDA, when rain washes poop into our storm drains and waterways, it can elevate levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which depletes oxygen that aquatic life ..read more

There’s not a definitive yes or no answer to this question, but there are definitely some essential oils that are unsafe for your pet. Essential oils can be wonderful for adding some fragrance to your home, though not all essential oils are great for use in homes with pets. Cinnamon, mint, lavender, tea tree and citrus oils, among others, are poisonous to cats and dogs if ingested – here is a full list of dangerous essential oils. A few drops in a diffuser that is secured out of reach of pets is fine, but if you have curious animals who like to get into things it may be best to skip ..read more

When you’re in public with your dog, you must always keep them on a leash and under your control. It’s not just a good idea – it’s the law here in Dallas! Dallas Animal Services recommends standard 6-foot leashes; a 6-foot leash attached to a properly fitted collar or harness helps you control your dog and is better at reducing pulling. Retractable leashes are not secure; they allow your pet to go too far from you, which puts them at risk of being hurt by a car, wild animals, or loose dogs. Retractable Leashes: Minimal control of your dog’s movements May break with sudden jerking motions Not ..read more

Some people like to call cats mysterious, but they’re pretty consistent in how they communicate if you pay close attention! Cats use their eyes, tails, ears, whiskers, fur, and body posture to display exactly how they are feeling. These detailed illustrations by Lili Chin are fantastic depictions of the many moods of our feline friends and are great for using to teach kiddos about how to tell if a kitty wants to be pet – or prefers to be left alone. The best choice for kids interacting with cats they have just met is to encourage them to sit quietly and wait for the cat to come to them! If the ..read more

Kitten season is in full swing! Each kitten season (usually April – October), Dallas Animal Services takes in more than 1,300 underaged kittens. Unfortunately, most of these kittens are mistakenly taken from their mothers while they are off searching for food by well-meaning animal lovers. Don’t be a kit-napper! If you see kittens outside, stop and observe before you pick them up. If the mom has been gone for 8+ hours, or if the kittens appear sick, thin, or covered in fleas, you can take action to help those kittens by bringing them inside. To see if mom will come back, sprinkle a ring of flo ..read more