FORT WORTH, TEXAS–With support from CUDDLY®, a mission-driven company centered around the needs of rescued animals and the community focused programs that sustain them, numerous Texas-based nonprofit organizations are coming together again to offer a free pet food, vaccines, microchips and more to pet families in Fort Worth, Texas. DFW Pets Are Family Day anticipates distributing thousands of pounds of dog and cat food and to providing vaccines and microchips to hundreds of family pets.

DFW Pets Are Family Day will be Saturday, Nov. 16,2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus, Hurst (828 W Harwood Rd, 76054), rain or shine. To ease traffic congestion, attendees should enter the campus through the north entrance off Blvd 26.

“Microchipping, vaccinating and sterilizing pets are crucial steps in managing the pet population and improving animal welfare in Fort Worth,” said  Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Animal Shelter Superintendent Anastasia Ramsey. “Each year, more than 70% of lost pets remain unclaimed, many of whom lack identification through microchips. Vaccinations not only protect individual animals from diseases like rabies and parvo but also reduce transmission risks within the community.

“Sterilization is key to preventing the birth of thousands of unwanted animals, with shelters already receiving around 20,000 animals annually. Together, these measures help reduce shelter intake and keep pets safe, healthy, and at home with their families,” Ramsey added.

Despite the critical need, DFW Pets Are Family events are not funded through any government initiative. They are made possible entirely through the willingness of the participating organizations and the generosity of donors who care about pets and their families. Participating organizations hope to again raise 20,000 lbs. of food from such individuals to ensure everyone who needs support receives it. The window for donations is short, with the most urgent need right now to ensure all supplies arrive in time for distribution.

Vaccines and microchips for the November event are being provided by Fort Worth Animal Care and Control, Petco Love and Banfield Foundation.

“The success of the Pets Are Family collaborative effort to ease the burden on pet owners has grown consistently since its inception two years ago,” said SPCA of Texas President & CEO Chris Luna. “We are a strong group of North Texas animal welfare agencies who believe that together we can help more families and their pets stay together through difficult times. Our November event comes at a particularly challenging time of the year, and we want folks to know that we are here to help keep their fur babies healthy and safe throughout the holiday season.

“By offering free vaccinations, pet food, microchips, and vouchers for no-cost spays and neuters, we keep pets healthy and also help keep neighborhoods healthy and thriving by reducing the number of unvaccinated and hungry animals,” Luna added.

Partner organizations, Dallas Pets Alive!, The Love Pit, Operation Kindness, SPCA of Texas and Spay Neuter Network work closely with CUDDLY—the only wish list platform dedicated exclusively to the needs of animals and a partner in these events since their inception—to ensure items are collected to meet the needs of our communities. Donors can support DFW Pets Are Family via this wish list for the event: Donate to DFW Pets Are Family Event | Support animal welfare with CUDDLY.

Partners: Dallas Animal Services; Don’t Forget to Feed Me; Fort Worth Animal Care and Control; GoodPup; Humane Society of Dallas County; and JP Morgan Chase Volunteers also will be on hand with additional resources, as well as volunteer support from other corporate partners.

About CUDDLY:

CUDDLY is a fundraising and wish list platform dedicated to helping animal organizations worldwide, while supporting over 3,500 non-profit animal shelters across the United States. The for-good startup seeks to help all animals find a healthy life and a loving home. Through CUDDLY, animal lovers can purchase and give in a modern, transparent way, via wish list and monetary donations. CUDDLY also provides fundraising and marketing support, as well as valuable community business tools, to help support the important initiatives of animal welfare organizations. For more information, please visit cuddly.com.

About Dallas Animal Services

Dallas Animal Services (DAS) is a Department of the City of Dallas. DAS focuses on “The Dallas90 Vision,” which is to lead the nation in compassionate care of animals while finding positive outcomes for all placeable pets through innovative shelter operations and community engagement. For more information, visit their website at https://bedallas90.org/

About Dallas Pets Alive!

Dallas Pets Alive is on a mission to promote and provide the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals in North Texas. Our mission is to promote and provide the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals in North Texas. We take an innovative approach to animal rescue and believe in creating a paradigm shift in the way our community views animal rescue. Our organization is run mostly by volunteers, and all our pets are housed by dedicated foster families throughout North Texas. We rescue and help the healthy and treatable pets at greatest risk for euthanasia at our partner shelters. We also provide assistance and resources to pet owners having problems so significant that they need to surrender their pets to a shelter. To learn more about Dallas Pets Alive visit dallaspetsalive.org/.

About Fort Worth Animal Care and Control

Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC) has along-standing commitment to animal welfare and public safety. Over the years, FWACC has grown from a small operation into one of the largest municipal shelters in Texas, responding to the needs of a rapidly growing city. With annual intakes now reaching approximately 20,000 animals, FWACC has implemented evidence-based programs focused on reducing shelter populations through proactive measures like microchipping, sterilization and vaccination.

Leveraging historical data, FWACC has refined its programs to better serve both pets and people, aiming to keep more animals in their homes and reduce intake rates. These advancements reflect FWACC’s ongoing dedication to adapting and enhancing services to meet Fort Worth’s evolving needs. For more information, visit their website at https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/code-compliance/animals.

About Don’t Forget To Feed Me

The mission of Don’t Forget to Feed Me (DF2FM) is to supply pet food to local agencies in support of pet owners while educating the public about pet food insecurity. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times and increasing awareness, we offer an alternative to surrendering—or worse, abandoning—a family pet. Don’t Forget to Feed Me helps to ensure that no pet owner must choose between stay…or go.

DF2FM is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit their website at https://dontforgettofeedme.org/.

About Humane Society of Dallas County
As a 501(c)(3)organization, the purpose of the Humane Society of Dallas County is to promote adoption and provide a safe, healthy, and compassionate environment for the cats and dogs of Dallas County for as long as needed. For more information, visit their website at https://dognkittycity.org/.

About The Love Pit
​The Love Pit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on a mission to save bully breeds through rescue, rehabilitation, training, education and advocacy. For more information, visit their website at https://www.thelovepitrescue.org/.

About Operation Kindness

Operation Kindness—a lifesaving animal shelter—is a pioneer in Texas for assisting animals in need of veterinary care, companionship and most of all, a home. In addition to pet adoptions and lifesaving medical care, our programs provide foster care for vulnerable animals, resources for pet parents, affordable veterinary services for community pets, a pet food pantry, and volunteer opportunities. We believe in going above and beyond to give every animal the care and kindness they deserve. To learn more about Operation Kindness visit operationkindness.org/.

About SPCA of Texas

SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare organization in North Texas. Founded in 1938, the non-profit operates two shelters, two spay/neuter clinics, two mobile spay/neuter and wellness vehicles, one mobileadoptions vehicle and an animal rescue center, all located in Dallas and Ellis Counties, and maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties. The organization does not euthanize animals for time or space. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives.

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other national humane organization. SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, visit spca.org.

About Spay Neuter Network

Spay Neuter Network’s mission is to eliminate pet overpopulation through spay/neuter, while empowering communities to care responsibly for dogs and cats. This mission is accomplished by providing free and affordable spay/neuter, wellness and vaccination services for dogs and cats across North Texas. Our goal is to reduce shelter intake and create compassionate communities free of homeless pets.

Spay Neuter Network operates three spay/neuter clinics, a surgery transport service for those with limited transportation, and a Mobile Animal Spay/Neuter Hospital (MASH) in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding 13 counties where we provide affordable pet vaccinations, sterilizations and pet care resources to more than 20 cities. Spay Neuter Network performs more than 25,000 surgeries annually and provides wellness and preventative services for an additional 50,000 pets each year at little to no cost to pet owners in North Texas. To learn more about Spay Neuter Network or donate, visit spayneuternet.org.

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To keep pets with their families, free food, microchips, vaccines and spay/neuter vouchers will be available at the DFW Pets Are Family event Saturday, Nov. 16,2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus, Hurst (828 W Harwood Rd, 76054),rain or shine. Items are available on a first-come first-served basis, rain or shine. courtesy SPCA of Texas

Free vaccines and spay/neuter vouchers will be available for cats and dogs at the DFW Pets Are Family event Saturday, Nov. 16,2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus, Hurst (828 W Harwood Rd, 76054). To keep pets with their families, free food, microchips and spay/neuter vouchers also will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, rain or shine. courtesy SPCA of Texas