Fort Worth shelters issue urgent plea for adopters and foster families as overcrowding reaches critical levels
Fort Worth, Texas – Fort Worth Animal Care & Control is asking the community for immediate help as both of its shelter campuses struggle with overcrowding and continue to receive new animals every day.
Shelter officials say they urgently need adopters and foster families willing to open their homes to dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. By adopting or fostering, residents can help relieve pressure on the shelters while giving animals a safer and more comfortable place to stay.
The situation is especially severe at the Silcox Animal Campus, where the number of cats has climbed far beyond the shelter’s intended capacity.
Currently, the campus is housing 165 cats and kittens despite having only about 65 standard cat enclosures. That places the feline population at 253 percent of capacity.
Many of the cats are very young kittens under eight weeks old. Because of the overcrowding, many of them are being cared for in temporary housing that was never designed for extended stays.
The strain extends beyond the Silcox campus. Henry’s Animal Campus is also full and is currently caring for an additional 56 cats and kittens.
Dogs also filling every available kennel
The need for help is just as urgent for dogs.
Silcox Animal Campus currently has 442 dogs in its care, filling all 321 permanent kennels and pushing occupancy to 137 percent of capacity.
With no regular kennel space remaining, many dogs are being housed in temporary outdoor kennels while waiting for adoption, foster placement, or transfer.
Henry’s Animal Campus is also experiencing significant overcrowding. The facility is caring for a total of 382 animals, including approximately 250 large-breed dogs.
Shelter officials say every adoption and foster placement creates valuable space for additional animals that continue arriving daily.
Even short-term fostering can make a significant difference by reducing crowding and allowing shelter staff to better care for incoming pets.
To make fostering easier, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control supplies foster families with many of the items needed to care for an animal. The shelter provides food, treats, collars, and leashes, helping reduce the cost for volunteers opening their homes.
Officials encourage anyone considering adding a pet to their family to visit one of the shelter campuses and meet the animals currently waiting for homes. Those who are unable to make a permanent commitment are also encouraged to consider fostering, which provides temporary care until animals find permanent families.
As both campuses continue operating above capacity, shelter leaders say community support is essential to helping provide safe care for hundreds of animals while creating room for the dogs and cats that continue to arrive at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control every day.
