Dallas Pets Alive!

Dallas Pets Alive 

Dallas Pets Alive (DPA), founded in 2012, is a primarily volunteer-run, foster-based rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of healthy and treatable pets at greatest risk of euthanasia in North Texas. DPA has worked diligently to build a reputation as a leading animal welfare organization in North Texas. DPA has served more than 31,000 pets and their humans during our first 12 years!

Most pets that come into our care have medical issues so severe that shelters do not have the capacity for support. While fostering and adopting homeless pets is central to our mission, DPA has made it a top priority to proactively work with the community to help keep pets in their homes and out of local shelters. 

Foster & Adoption Program: Fostering is the heart of DPA's rescue mission. The number of dogs & cats we can save depends entirely of the number of fosters who open their homes and hearts to our communities' homeless pets. Fosters provide a lifeline and a second chance for pets who may be underage, injured, lost, or simply in need of TLC before they can be adopted. DPA focuses on the pets that need us most, many coming to us with major medical issues or behavioral needs. We believe that each animal is worthy of a second chance at forever.

Innovative Preventative Programs: DPA proactively reduces shelter intakes by developing innovative preventative programs.  

• Our Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS) program helps families with pets whose circumstances put them in a position to consider surrendering their pet(s) to a shelter. "Unfortunately, when hardships strike, even the furriest members feel it," says Leslie Sans, Executive Director. In 2023 PASS prevented 544 pet surrenders and had more than 5,396 interactions with families needing pet assistance. Since 2016, PASS has assisted 22,299 pet owners and has prevented 3,168 animals from being surrendered to local shelters. 
• Dogs Matter finds temporary foster care and services for animals whose human family members are away seeking substance abuse treatment and transitioning into recovery with a goal of reuniting them.
• Bark Dorm is a fostering partnership with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's Bark Program at Gainesville State School that helps animals, their families, and the young men in the program who learn responsibility, compassion, understanding, and respect.

Why Your Generous Gifts Are So Urgently Needed

Your support during North Texas Giving Day is not just a donation; it's a lifeline. Every gift you make goes directly to programs that are transforming the lives of animals and their humans. Our Foster and Adoption program is a beacon of hope for the most at-risk animals in our partner shelters, while our preventative programs—like PASS, Dogs Matter, and Bark Dorm—work tirelessly to keep pets out of shelters and in loving homes. These initiatives are not just about rescue; they're about building healthier, stronger communities where animals and people thrive together.

The need is urgent. Many of the pets that come into our care have medical conditions so severe that shelters simply can't provide the care they need. Over a third of the animals we help are Major Medical Cases, requiring $1,000 or more in medical expenses. In 2023 alone, we spent more than $400,000 on treatments ranging from basic vaccinations to heartworm treatment and life-saving surgeries.

This year, as we've taken on the incredible work of Dogs Matter and face the overwhelming overcrowding in North Texas shelters, the number of animals in our care has more than doubled. For the first time, we have more than 500 animals relying on our programs. While we've made strides in fundraising, the financial demands have outpaced our resources.

That's Why We Need YOU Now!

Because you're reading this, we know you care deeply about animals. Today, you have the power to make a real difference. We all spend money on things we want but don't truly need—today, choose to invest in something that will change lives. Your gift will directly impact animals in need, support their humans, and strengthen our North Texas communities. Thank you for standing with us and being part of something truly life-changing!