Take a moment to imagine a different life. Imagine you are a homeless dog living on the streets of a Texas city.
You wake up in the morning, perhaps behind a dumpster or in an empty lot. The weather is warmer than in other parts of the country, but you still face exposure to storms and scorching heat.
Parasites like fleas and ticks plague you constantly, thriving in the warm temperatures. Finding food may be your only goal as meals are inconsistent.
Danger surrounds in the form of vehicles, other dogs, and the elements.
As a female, you may have puppies over and over again. You may have to watch them struggle to survive. If you are caught and taken to a shelter, your chance at a better life creeps up.
If you’re lucky, you get critical vaccinations. If you pass the behavioral and health evaluation, you may be deemed adoptable.
But with so many dogs coming in, your time to find a forever home may be short. If no person or rescue organization claims you, your life ends at the shelter.

Photo credit / Pixabay
Why Are There So Many Rescue Dogs in Texas?
Though it is impossible to know how many homeless animals are on the streets, the ASPCA estimates around 3.3 million dogs enter shelters in the U.S. every year and that 670,000 are euthanized.
Texas especially is known for high rates of homeless pets as well as high euthanasia statistics.
In the warmer climate of the southern United States, animals’ breeding season can last year-long, increasing the amount of new puppies being born.
There may also be cultural reasons behind the number of homeless dogs in Texas. Many strays might actually belong to someone, but be left to wander. In addition, sterilizing your pet may not be thought of as important. In cities like Dallas and Houston, spaying and neutering your pet is mandatory. However, there is little enforcement or public education.
Lady Freethinker spoke with Meg Sherman, President of Funding 4 Fido, a rescue and advocacy organization located in Dallas, Texas.
Sherman described the situation in her area and gives us the good news and bad news about the dogs of Texas. Sherman states that around 20,000 stray dogs are caught just in Dallas each year and that the majority go unclaimed.
“I do believe that advocacy is stronger now than it ever has been,” she said. “We have grassroots efforts working to hold people accountable. I believe advocacy is vital to the welfare of these animals.”
The Work of Volunteers
Sherman notes that volunteers take on the majority of the burden of dealing with homeless dogs. This includes rescuing, evaluating, transporting, fostering, and networking, as well as daily work in shelters. She adds,
“Without volunteers the animals do not stand a chance,” she added. “Many shelters have taken on overpopulation by offering free spay/neuter events. Educating communities is another high priority as shelters and rescue operations cannot handle the problem alone.”
Euthanasia
Texas is known for its high euthanasia rates.
The good news is, as more and more people advocate for no-kill shelters, the rates of euthanasia nationwide have gone from 20 million a year to 3 million a year. However, that still accounts for daily killings.
The drop in euthanasia also means many more animals waiting to find homes. And too many shelters in Texas lack resources to deal with the number of dogs that enter.
What Can Be Done?
Funding 4 Fido is just one organization working to help the situation in Texas.
Sherman recommends advocating to local representatives as well as adopting or fostering animals if you can. If you don’t live in Texas, you can still help by donating and networking.
“Networking includes sharing posts, reaching out to rescues, tagging people on posts and coordinating rescue details,” Sherman explains. “Northern states are often pulling dogs from Texas, please contact your local rescues to educate them on the overpopulation of Texas animals!”

PLEASE PLEASE — BRING IN these SWEET Animals and let’s prepare them for Adoption — collaborate with NO-KILL Shelters and Rescue Groups to save these precious lives — ALSO — EDUCATE everyone on DOING THE RIGHT THING for Animals — these Dogs desperately need Human intervention to make it in life — Let’s SAVE them.
I do not like the posting of Free Dogs and Cats in NextDoor Neighbor Meadows site. I Find it offensive and cruel and mean please report this.
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whether or not this publish is written via him as no one else realize such detaiiled approximately my problem.
You are wonderful! Thanks!
CRIMINAL ACTS OF ABANDONMENT/NEGLECT/ABUSE DESERVE CRIMINAL SENTENCING!!! END THIS NOW!!
It breaks my heart hearing about homeless dogs. I tried contacting one outfit in the States asking if they would adopt to NZ but don’t recall getting a reply. I would love to rescue a dog and give that dog the tender loving he or she so deserves!
I would like to know if anything is being done about the cruelty taking place in Alaska towards the sled dogs? Those poor dogs deserve way better treatment!!
Thank you to all the volunteers.
Firmado!!!!!!!!
PLEASE NOTE — KILLING HEALTHY / TREATABLE ANIMALS MUST NEVER BE AN OPTION — what kind of City would allow such unconscionable cruel crimes against animals WHEN options are available — reach out to the Communities— you will find Fosters, Volunteers, Adopters — if no choice is available at present, you wait, hold on, get the message out — in this day and age, we have no excuse for such immoral depraved indifference and neglect — hold onto the animals until caring People come along.
KEEP UP YOUR GREAT WORK — you’ve improved over the years — this is GOOD — the more animal-loving people you take on board, the better for our cause — PLEASE keep in mind that NO-KILL is an innovative, cost-effective model of animal sheltering that allows open admission animal control shelters to END killing. Unlike the “adopt some and kill the rest” form of animal sheltering that has dominated in the United States for the past 100 years and is responsible for the NEEDLESS deaths of millions of healthy & treatable animals every year, NO-KILL shelters are saving as high as 99% of all animals entrusted to their care — A shelter achieves NO-KILL when it ends the killing of all animals, EXCEPT those who are physically suffering irremediably — Irremediable physical suffering means an animal who has a poor or grave prognosis for being able to live without severe, unremitting pain even with prompt, necessary, & comprehensive veterinary care, such as an animal in fulminant organ system failure — Shelters are in the business of caring about, caring for, protecting, sheltering animals who are waiting for their forever homes. IT IS CRUEL, UNCONSCIONABLE, IMMORAL, SHAMEFUL, & CRIMINAL TO KILL HEALTHY & TREATABLE ANIMALS — Pay a visit to : https://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/ — headed by Nathan Winograd for more detailed info.
Find homes for every one of these beautiful dogs even if you have to transport them KINDLY to other places to get homes.
Find homes for all these beautiful dogs, even if you have to transport them to other places to find homes.
There need to be animals law and rights to protect these animals from this suffering and treatment.
There need to be animal laws and rights to protect animals from this suffering and treatment.
Can’t believe that a rich country like the U.S.A. allows this to happen. I thought that homeless dogs roaming the streets happened in third world countries.
Can we ship these homeless puppys to other states for adoption.
My dog is from hurricane Harvey in texas you can tell she’s afraid of a lot and not use to common things like toys
Texas is a wealthy state and can treat its animals with human kindness. Step up and create policies and programs
to help homeless animals.
Firmado!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is very bad to hear that Texas is known for its high euthanasia rates. Haven’t the Texan inhabitants heard of spay and neuter or are most just backwood hicks who don’t know what that means? It’s so sad to know that these so-called “humans” living there lack compassion and are so heartless that they can ignore the plight of these homeless dogs. I see that most of Texas is very much like a third world country but, in reality, it is a state of wealth.
It is absolutely unacceptable that with all the wealth in Texas, that there is such a pet overpopulation problem and also an epidemic proportion of euthanasia. I always thought the people of Texas were more compassionate and progressive. I am shocked to find this is not the case. There is no excuse for so many animals being put to sleep. It is time Texas starts joining the 21st century and figure out a solution, because killing animals is not it. Shame on them.
Did someone help the dogs photographed here
In a rich state there is no place for poor animals?
where is the humanity?
Why they aren’t neutralized?
why killing is the favorite option for such people?
what a shame!
Please save these dogs! It’s not they’re fault they were born. “They deserve life and love’!!!!! We have to do more to help all of them!
Everything is bigger in Texas is No Good in this situation 😭.
Fix you dog problem!!
Killing dogs is not nicer than leaving them on the street. Just imagine someone would euthanize humans rather than let them live homeless! The best that can be done is to take them to the shelter for sterilization, shots, put in a microchip and if nobody claims them or adopts them in a month or two, let them free and alive on the street, where they were found, maybe they will find their home, maybe the owner didn’t know how to find the pet, some people are very old or indigent, uneducated, or at the hospital, sick, or with many problems, or couldn’t afford the gas to pick up the dog, or the owner may not have the fee from the shelter to recover their dog, too many reasons that they don’t get the dog. Don’t kill the dogs, give them a chance, help with the shots and sterilization and vet care only,
2019 in North America, this should not be happening.
With corrupt governments supporting corporations Texas animal welfare is less than that of a third world country.
Organisation is the key; the climate, the effect on strays, the care of them and the consequence of living rough with nowhere to keep safe and no one to love them, plans should be in place to protect dogs all across the state. It is possible to avoid euthanasia if you think about it. A wise use of time and resources are necessary in order to give dogs a better chance in life.
All things are possible, just think of the animals’ welfare.
What part of Animal Neglect don’t they understand in Texas? Cats are Dogs are loving, compassionate sentient beings. They can feel fear, pain, emotions and feelings like we do. They’re sensitive and kind. The only thing is, they can’t talk very much. We have to be their voice. PLEASE allocate resources to make sure that they have food, shelter, safety and protection. Don’t abandon them. Don’t kill them. LOVE them. Make them ready to enjoy a Forever Home where they are cared for, and loved. Thank you. God Bless You.
Why won’t the politicians in Texas allocate money to help these poor dogs and cats? Where’s their humanity. Dogs and cats are loving, compassionate ,sentient beings, with the same emotions and feelings like we have. We have a long way to go, before society recognizes that. Please take loving care of these precious animals, give them food, safety, protection and LOVE. Find Forever Homes. Don’t abandon them.
Texas has some work left to do, but in reality, all states need an attitude adjustment with regards to animals in kill shelters, and also animals in no kill shelters that have no where else to go. How do we know these facilities don’t euthanize behind closed doors? How is this verified?
Dear! Lady, I’m crying my heart while reading your letter and thinking away.I wish I die soon and be done with this world.I can’t take this any more ,and there is no solution to this problem …I love you people as long as I live.
Appalled to read this. Thought this kind of thing only happened in India and other third world countries. Texas should be utterly ashamed for allowing this.
Adopt don’t shop. Thanku to Meg and all those who work at the Texas animal shelters. 🐶🐕🐾❤❤💚💚
Celui qui aime vraiment les animaux, il fait comme moi,il adopte. Celui qui achète est un égoïste qui bien souvent considère l’animal comme un objet dont il se débarrassera quand il en aura marre! Le commerce des animaux est une honte!
Adopt, don’t buy. There are thousands of animals out there waiting for you. If you are a true animal lover give it a go.
I am so deeply ashamed of Texas – I do not want to remember I was born there. SHAME!
I feel very sorry for these dogs!! I hope they all find their forever homes!!
A big thank you to all the volunteers and Meg who do such wonderful work and help these poor dogs.
I cant help it but my blood boils and get angry when i read sad stories about animal abuses…how about just shot to death on site these S.O.B good for nothing abusers? DAMN DEVIL INCARNATES👹👺👹👺👹👺