September 3, 2018
Volunteering with animals is always a favorite with my volunteer groups. While it is sometimes difficult to find opportunities for younger children, Dallas Animal Services (DAS) provides a variety of ways for volunteers of all ages to engage with animals.
Dallas Animal Services is dedicated to helping Dallas be a safe, compassionate, and healthy place for people and animals. They work to control the loose animal population as well as increasing the positive outcomes for homeless animals in the city.
There are many ways to get involved with Dallas Animal Services. Adults over the age of 18 may volunteer on an ongoing basis in the main shelter in West Dallas or Everyday Adoption Center in North Dallas. Tasks might include customer relations, walking dogs, or cuddling cats. Volunteers must attend a program orientation and hands-on training and are required to serve a minimum of four hours each month.
Other one-time experiences include events like Easter in the Park, Mayor’s Back to School Fair, and All Out Trinity’s Bark in the Park. There is no monthly service hour minimum for these activities.
Students in grades K-12 can practice their reading skills among an attentive audience of shelter animals and in return improve shelter animal behavioral development through youth socialization and engagement. This is a wonderful opportunity for school groups and families, and I plan to incorporate this in my Community Connections camp next summer.
Educational visits enable students to learn more about animal welfare and the impact DAS has in their communities. These include a tour, visits with shelter animals, and an enrichment activity such as making toys and treats for shelter animals
The foster program enables the community to save hundreds of animals each year that might otherwise take longer at being adopted. Fosters provide a safe place for a dog to decompress before reaching their forever home.
Donations are always needed. An alert recently went out in the community that Dallas Animal Services was in need of new and used blankets and towels. We tend to have a lot of blankets and towels at my house, and this seemed like a great opportunity to cull what we had and donate them to a good cause.
Donations can be dropped off at the main shelter at 1818 N. Westmoreland Road or the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center on 16821 Coit Road. Flat sheets are also appreciated, but fitted sheets should not be donated.
Bedding wears out quickly at a shelter, and these items are much in need for the animals they serve. As they say at Dallas Animal Services, even if you can’t take one home, you can still come to the rescue.
