Editor's Note: 12/4/2024, 12:40 p.m.: This article has been updated to include a statement from Dallas Animal Services.
At almost 140% of capacity, Dallas Animal Services continues to have trouble finding homes for its pets. DAS will continue to waive adoption fees through Dec. 17. The program is inspired by the gift-giving season, but experts urge caution when giving pets as presents.
The free adoption campaign is assisted by the Bissell Pet Foundation, which has stepped in to supplement the lost revenue. The initiative is part of Bissell’s Empty the Shelters program, which pays a stipend per pet adopted, $50 for dogs and $20 for cats. The program is the largest funded adoption event in the country.
"Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope is more than an adoption event; it's a lifeline for shelter pets,” said Cathy Bissell founder of Bissell Pet Foundation in a press release. The program is driven by the holidays, but various animal organizations have spoken out against offering pets as presents.
“When shelters offer animals up for a pittance (or for free), they devalue them and encourage impulse adoptions by eager people who haven’t considered whether they or their gift recipients are ready to invest the substantial amount of money, commitment, and care that the animals will need,” said PETA on its website.
Local nonprofit and foster-based adoption organization, Dallas Cat Lady, also advises against gifting pets for Christmas.
“Gifting a cat or kitten as a surprise may seem like a heartwarming gesture, but it’s important to consider the long-term commitment and responsibility that comes with pet ownership,” the organization wrote on Instagram.
In a statement provided to the Observer, a spokesperson for DAS stressed that the decision to adopt a pet should not be taken lightly, regardless of when it might happen.
"Dallas Animal Services is proud to have offered free adoptions since 2020, with no significant impact on our return rate," the statement read. "This holiday season, we encourage families to make a collective and prepared decision to bring a pet home to love and cherish. Adoptions, which include spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchips, will continue to be free for the duration of the holidays!"
But free adoptions may be one of the few remaining solutions to the overcrowding of shelters that burdens North Texas. Waiving adoption fees is a regular, and ethical, practice for shelters, according to Ed Jamison, the CEO of Operation Kindness, a no-kill shelter in Carrollton.
“Free adoptions can be an effective and compassionate solution to shelter overcrowding, especially during times of year when shelters are at or over capacity,” Jamison said in an email. “By removing cost barriers, more people are encouraged to adopt, helping animals find loving homes more quickly. Placing animals into homes faster opens up space in shelters to help more animals.”
But free adoptions are likely to incentivize those considering a surprise pet for unprepared recipients. This in turn can initiate a revolving door of returned pets, regardless of which time of the year the gift is given.
“Some shelters may see a slight uptick [of returned animals] as families return to normal routines after the holidays and realize they are unprepared for the responsibilities of pet ownership,” said Maura Davies, a spokesperson for the SPCA of Texas in an email. "However, research shows that pets given as gifts during the holidays are no more likely to be surrendered than those acquired at other times, especially when adopters or gift recipients are well-prepared."
According to a mid-year report from Shelter Animals Count, 481,000 dogs were surrendered in the United States in the first half of 2024. Surrendering is a major issue for shelters across DFW. At the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center in Denton, the waitlist for animal surrender is often over 100 pets long.
A less ethical, but frequent, solution to overcrowding is euthanization. Last year, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported that Fort Worth was euthanizing hundreds of animals each month across several shelters. Fort Worth shelters are less crowded but still near capacity.
DAS currently has 388 kennels but is housing 508 dogs. The population is down 3% from the summer, but significant change will still be necessary to reduce the overwhelming homeless pet problem.
Seven shelters in North Texas partner with the Bissell Pet Foundation to reduce shelter overcrowding. DAS has not clarified whether adoption fees will return in the week before Christmas, once the Empty the Shelters program has ended.
In a press release, Paul Ramon, director of DAS, highlighted the importance of fostering in combatting overcrowding while also offering quick Christmas companion-fixes without the long-term commitment of adoption.
"These animals are eager to become cherished members of a family,” said Ramon. “Additionally, if you can open your heart and home as a foster through the holiday season, your support would mean the world to us and them. Together, we can make a lasting difference."