Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center says its shelter is full and officials are encouraging North Texans to adopt.
The facility is taking in more than 100 animals a day -- some days it's 120 animals -- and field calls are up, too. The facility has a capacity of 650 animals.
On Saturday, a pet owner came in with many cats. The SPCA of Texas arrived to take 26 cats into its center. There were so many cats that some were placed in cages and moved around in a shopping cart.
Summertime is a busy time for animal shelters in North Texas and across the country.
“Our intake staff is exhausted,” the facility wrote on its Facebook page last week. “Our staff is trying their best to counsel people over the roar of all the fans we've got going. People are having to wait in line to surrender pets and everyone is losing patience. The staff is discouraged and exhausted, so please, please be patient with them.”
Over the weekend, folks dropped off food for the animals – and treats for the staff. Volunteers cleaned kennels and gave animals baths.
The center says adoption fees are waived on pets that have been sheltered for more than 14 days. There are discounts for seniors, as well as pets who are older than 6 years old.
Check out Animal Services’ Facebook page for more.
Why is summer such a bad time for shelters?
Shelters across the country get inundated with animals partly because summer is part of "kitten season," when female cats have their babies. Also, people are outdoors more often, and animals can get loose. Regardless of the season, some folks turn in their pets because they can no longer afford them.
How to adopt
Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center, 1818 N. Westmoreland Rd., Dallas
The facility is open 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Dallas Animal Services PetSmart Everday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Rd., Dallas
The facility is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
