FORT WORTH, Texas — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous segment.
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control said it would have to consider euthanizing 15 dogs, Monday since the shelter currently has nearly 900 dogs and cats in its facilities, placing the shelter at capacity.
Diane Covey, the spokesperson for Fort Worth's Code Compliance Department, said in an emailed statement to WFAA that euthanization happens "from time to time" for animals that "are sick, suffering or are dangerous."
Covey said information on the 15 dogs had been sent to the shelter's specialized recuse organizations hoping that they have the resources to take those dogs in.
The shelter's organizations also include two shelter campuses and two adoption centers in PetSmart stores.
"We are very, very full and have been so throughout the summer," Covey said. "Nothing has changed as we move into fall. We would be extremely appreciative for any assistance in helping get the news out that we are desperate for adoptions and fosters."
Covey said that since the shelter is a municipal entity, it is required to take in every animal that comes through the door, which means that there is often little to no knowledge about an animal's history when the shelter takes them in.
"And if there’s a decision to euthanize, it’s not an easy one to make."
Click here to learn more about how to adopt an animal from Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. Right now, the shelter has a Big Dog Adoption Event through October. It typically costs $49 to adopt a dog and $25 to adopt a cat. All adoptable dogs have been vaccinated against Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Bordetella. All adoptable cats have been vaccinated against Panleukopenia, Calicivirus, and Rhinotracheitis.
Over the summer, Fort Worth-area animal shelters were strained due to a distemper outbreak. The Humane Society of North Texas said that the outbreak was under control in late July.
On Thursday, Dallas Animal Services tweeted that it was at total capacity and put out pleas for help on social media.
The agency had a successful adoption and foster weekend and told WFAA that the kennels were at 63% capacity now.
Spokesperson Leah Backo, however, told WFAA that those numbers could change at any moment.
She said that capacity had swelled because adoptions and fosters had slowed.
"Yesterday, we had 31 adoptions for dogs, but then 33 dogs come into our doors," Backo said. "It just depends. Sometimes our kennels fill really, really quickly, and things can change overnight."
Backo said no dogs were euthanized for space.