If you follow DFW Rescue Me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you’ve probably noticed we have a close partnership with Dallas Animal Services, which is the city’s shelter. There is no end to the difficult work our community’s DAS employees perform in order to serve animals in need. Where would we be without them? These are the folks who are hard at work in the trenches, rescuing trapped kittens from storm drains, assisting stranded and often injured dogs from busy freeways, offering a variety of necessary health and welfare clinics, and a slew of other benefits the city simply cannot realistically do without.
These are also the very people who introduced us to Justice, and they stood with us all in solidarity as concerned citizens to recognize an immediate need to address abuse.
Unfortunately, the mayor and council members are facing votes for proposed budget cuts to DAS. Amongst those many cuts, remarkably, are rabies prevention for staff, vaccinations upon intake, and…get ready for it…food for the animals. The city is referring to those items unbelievably as “enhancements.” DAS disagrees, and so do we. Those items are critical needs.
One of the greatest recent success stories of our community is DAS. Because of the never-ending work of those employees and rescue partners, live release rates are at an all-time high. DAS has reunited so many citizens with beloved, lost pets; it’s helped many more families discover happiness with new friends — friends who would have otherwise been euthanized for lack of funding and space in a less committed shelter.
Look at your dog, your cat, your animal companion and consider this: Your best friend is safer (and so are you) because the workers of DAS put themselves on the line every day to control outbreak of diseases. One trip through the enormous myriad of lost and abandoned, homeless, and hopeful animals located within the confines of DAS should be all it takes to prove Dallas is in serious need of more funding, not less, in order to achieve its goals safely and humanely. We can’t ignore this.
What can you do?
- Add yourself to the FUND Dallas Animal Services Map. This is an easy way to demonstrate no matter where you live (a) how DAS has helped you, and (b) that the services performed affect the community far and wide;
- Sign the petition;
- Write your council member and Mayor Rawlings;
- Follow We Care About Dallas Animal Services on Facebook for updates and further requests for involvement.
The time is now to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves. Thanks greatly for your support.
