Arlington Animal Services is championing Responsible Pet Ownership with community partnerships
A grant in the amount of $44,250 was awarded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. As a result, over 1,300 veterinarian services have been provided to pets in neighborhoods shown to have the highest numbers of loose and aggressive animals.
During fiscal year (FY) 2012, Arlington experienced an 11% increase in the number of animals impounded at the Animal Services Center (ASC). A cross sampling of data with map analysis showed a steady growth in the number of loose and aggressive animal investigations in Arlington, with the highest numbers predominately in two zip codes, 76010 and 76014.
The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP), Spay Neuter Network, Respect A Bull, Inc., ASC Volunteers and city staff worked in partnership and held spay/neuter, vaccination and microchip clinics for the residents and pets residing in the at-risk zip codes.
Since the project began, there has been a 25% increase in the number of pet licenses issued in our community compared to the same period in 2010. To participate in the program, qualifying residents in the two zip codes were required to purchase a $7 city pet license to allow their pet to receive the free vet services.
The clinics provided over 600 rabies vaccinations and almost 400 microchips for our furry friends. Vaccinated pets help make the community healthier and safer, and microchips will help lost pets be more efficiently reunited with their owners. The sterilization of over 300 pets made possible through these clinics will, overtime, help reduce the pet population thus lowering the number of loose and unwanted animals in Arlington.
Animal intake at the ASC decreased 26% from the fourth quarter of FY2013 to the first quarter of FY2014, and the live animal release rate increased 23% during the same period.
The implementation of the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program approved by Mayor and Council by Resolution in August 2013 is also working to contribute to this improvement. One clinic was dedicated to the sterilization, rabies vaccination and ear tipping of feral cats selected for the program.
At the last grant funded clinic on Saturday, March 8, one citizen stated he "has been a resident of Arlington since 1974, without children, paying taxes all these years", and "felt he was finally getting something for his money". Other participants in the program stated that they would not have been able to afford to spay or neuter their pet(s) without these clinics serving the community.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to Arlington Tomorrow Foundation; TCAP; Spay Neuter Network; Respect A Bull, Inc.; Arlington Parks and Recreation Department; and our Animal Services Center Volunteers and staff for their dedication to improving the lives of pets and people. Thank you to everyone that participated in these clinic events and to all responsible pet owners.
Does your Arlington pet need low-cost veterinarian services? TCAP provides low-cost spay/neuter and other vet services on the second Monday and second Friday of each month, and Community Pet Outreach offers low-cost pet vaccinations on the last Friday of every month.
See photos from clinic events
View map of animal investigations
Learn the ASPCA's Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Learn more about licensing your Arlington pet
Learn about volunteering
Make a donation
Animal Services, News