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Every day, animals arrive at the Farmers Branch Animal Adoption Center needing something a little different.
A lost dog may need a safe place to wait while staff work to reunite it with its family. A surrendered pet may need time to adjust to unfamiliar surroundings before it is ready for adoption. Others need medical care, extra attention or help becoming comfortable around people before they can take their next step.
Then there are the kittens, especially during kitten season. Some need foster homes, extra socialization, supplemental feeding or simply a warm place to sleep.
Meeting those different needs is all part of the work of Farmers Branch Animal Services, which cares for animals while also helping residents reunite with lost pets, adopt new companions and access resources that can help them keep the pets they already love.
The Animal Adoption Center and Animal Control operate together, serving animals found within Farmers Branch as well as pets surrendered by Farmers Branch residents. Stray animals are held for at least 72 hours to give their owners an opportunity to find and reclaim them. Animals that are not reclaimed may eventually become available for adoption or be transferred to a rescue partner.
And the animals coming through the doors are not always cats and dogs.
The center has cared for reptiles, including a red tegu, a large lizard that was once someone's pet, as well as snakes. Animals that cannot legally be kept in Farmers Branch are transferred to an appropriate rescue.
No matter the species, care begins as soon as an animal arrives.
Animals are weighed and vaccinated when they can safely be handled. Staff provide flea treatments and other routine care and conduct testing for illnesses, including heartworms in dogs and FIV in cats. Animals showing signs of contagious illnesses can be separated from the shelter's general population while they receive care.
Animal Services also helps residents understand how to safely live alongside the wildlife that calls Farmers Branch home.
Coyotes, bobcats and other wildlife may occasionally make their way through neighborhoods, particularly as development changes their habitat. Seeing a wild animal, even during the daytime, does not necessarily mean it is sick or dangerous. Residents should give wildlife plenty of space, keep pets leashed and avoid leaving out food, unsecured trash or other easy food sources that can attract wildlife.
Residents can also haze coyotes to teach them to avoid people and residential areas. Hazing can include making yourself appear large and making loud noises until the animal leaves. Farmers Branch Animal Services now provides free air horns to residents to help with coyote hazing.
Animal Services should be contacted when wildlife is injured, acting abnormally or aggressively, or has entered a home or business and cannot safely get back outside.
Back at the Animal Adoption Center, space has become increasingly important.
As Farmers Branch has grown, the center has adapted the space it has available. Rooms originally intended as meet-and-greet areas are sometimes used to give dogs a quieter place to decompress, house compatible dogs together or provide additional space when the shelter is full.
For adoptable dogs, staff work to make the shelter environment as positive as possible. Dogs have biographies to help potential adopters get to know them. For dogs that need extra stimulation or become reactive when people approach their windows, treat systems can help them associate visitors with something positive.
Cats have their own needs.
Farmers Branch Animal Services operates a trap-neuter-return program to help manage community cat populations. Cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped so they can be identified later before being returned to the area where they were found. The goal is to reduce future litters while allowing established community cats to return to their neighborhoods.
More space for cats is also in the works.
Thanks to a donor, plans are underway for a new cat habitat at the Animal Adoption Center. The project is expected to go before the Farmers Branch City Council in the coming months. The additional space would help the center better accommodate cats as Farmers Branch continues to grow and the shelter adapts to changing needs.
Kitten season brings another challenge.
Many kittens are currently being cared for in foster homes, helping them move out of the shelter environment more quickly. The center also has a particular need for kitten milk replacement and microwavable heating discs, sometimes called Snuggle Safes. The reusable discs provide warmth for young kittens that need help regulating their body temperature.
Behind all of that animal care is a long list of everyday jobs, and that is where residents can lend a hand.
Volunteers can help with laundry, dishes, cleaning and organizing supplies. They can also prepare enrichment activities, such as frozen treats that give dogs and cats something interesting to do while they are inside. During the hottest months, indoor enrichment becomes especially useful because dogs cannot safely spend extended periods outside.
New volunteers generally begin with those basic tasks before gradually moving into animal handling. Volunteers may also help socialize kittens that are still learning to be comfortable around people. Gentle, consistent handling can help a frightened kitten become more comfortable with people and ultimately more adoptable. Volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent.
Residents can also help by fostering, adopting or donating items the center currently needs. Because the community already generously supplies some items, including towels, residents interested in donating are encouraged to check with the center about its current needs. The center also maintains an Amazon wish list through its social media accounts.
Whether an animal needs medical care, a foster family, a forever home or just a little extra attention while it waits, the goal is the same: give each animal the care it needs while helping it move toward whatever comes next.
Learn more about adoptable animals, fostering, volunteering and other services through the City of Farmers Branch Animal Adoption Center.
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