Dog & Kitty City is operated by the Humane Society of Dallas County. Our purpose is to provide a safe and healthy environment for the indigent, abused and neglected animals of Dallas. Our shelter provides a service in educating the Dallas community on responsible pet ownership. Dog & Kitty City has operated for over 30 years as a no kill animal shelter. We are a 501.c3 non profit organization and do not receive any tax support. We rely solely on private donations. Our service to the animals depends completely on the generosity of the community and on committed, dedicated volunteers.
We subscribe to a true no-kill philosophy-- none are "too ugly to adopt." We do not screen requests, except to provide better information about rehoming-- e.g., old animals do not do well in shelters and owners should do everything in their power to find alternate accommodations. We only refuse on the basis of no room. We accept the responsibility of spay/neuter, shots, behavioral adjustment. It is one of the reasons we ask for a surrender fee -- to help absorb the cost.
Our Mission
Rescuing and ministering to the indigent animal population
Providing shelter, love and medical care for all of our animals until they find a loving home
Promoting responsible pet ownership
Providing on-going adoption support services to ensure a lifetime commitment from pet owners
Eliminating animal cruelty through education
Helping to reduce animal over-population by providing services such as low-cost spay-neuter
At Dog & Kitty City, we spay or neuter all of our animals before adoption, as we believe this policy will help decrease animal over-population. We test cats for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and our dogs for heartworm. Both are tested for parasites. All necessary vaccinations, medications and heartworm preventative are given as required. We also have "special needs" cats, Feline Leukemia and FIV cats, available. They are extremely lovable cats who can live long and happy lives.
Intake Policy
Dog & Kitty City is a small shelter, with limited space for both dogs and cats. As a no-kill shelter, we do not euthanize harder to adopt animals to make room for new arrivals, but rather any animal coming into our care has a home for life. As such, many of our current pets are sanctuary animals.
Shelter overcrowding is an invitation for illness and disease due to stress and contagion that cannot be contained in tight quarters, so we must limit intake as best we can.
Intake is by appointment only at the advance approval of the Shelter Director. Of course, some intake is involuntary, when people simply dump the animals at the shelter. We never refuse sanctuary to these throwaways.
Intake is on a first come, first served basis. Because small dogs (under 15# fully grown) are easier to house, a small dog might take priority over a large pup but our decision is not based on preconceived notions of “adoptability.” We always request a surrender fee to help defray basic animal care.
Whenever possible, we will support volunteer rescues, but it is not always feasible to take in these animals. If your request to surrender an animal is denied, please do not pressure the Shelter Director to change her mind. It hurts us all to turn a needy animal away but we cannot save them all. Space constraints are a real problem, especially true in winter, when we must, by law, provide indoor space for every dog in inclement weather.
We have two alternate programs to supplement rescue efforts with our space restrictions: HSDC FOSTER PROGRAM and GUEST FOSTER PROGRAM.
In the HSDC FOSTER PROGRAM, the animals belong to the shelter. Volunteers offer their homes as a temporary spot for the neediest shelter animals. These may be kittens or puppies, a momma with babies, an animal recovering from illness or surgery, a timid animal that needs special socialization or the like.
To participate as a foster parent you need to file an Adoption Application with the shelter. We qualify participants as though we were adopting a pet to a new home, including a home visit for dog fosters. The animal remains the property of the shelter, and the shelter accepts all responsibility for food, supplies and care. Shelter will provide and pay for any necessary medical attention.
Once qualified, a foster parent simply signs the foster contract and picks up their little charge(s) at the shelter. Shelter support is just a phone call away.
The GUEST FOSTER PROGRAM involves the shelter in promoting adoption for animals that are not shelter animals, but belong to the person housing the pets. Participants must sign a contract confirming their compliance with the medical requirements (by law) as well as the conditions for their participation in the program.
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