Over 1,000 pets will be up for adoption at the annual Mega Adoption Event as organizers hope to ease capacity levels at shelters.
The free event running Aug. 16-17 will feature pets of all ages, sizes and breeds up for adoption with discounted fees of $25 or less. Free spaying or neutering, microchipping and age-appropriate vaccinations will also be offered.
Twenty-five North Texas animal shelters, in collaboration with the Humane Society of North Texas, are hosting the event at Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall.
On Monday, Humane Society officials announced one of its dogs tested positive for distemper, a highly contagious and often fatal disease affecting dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The infected dog is “active and alert” and expected to make a full recovery, humane society officials said in a release. No other animals have tested positive.
Dogs from the organization’s two shelters will no longer participate in the event in an effort to be “vigilant and proactive” in preventing further spread, according to a news release.
If you go:
What: The Mega Adoption Event of over 1,000 dogs, cats and other pets will offer adoptions for fees of $25 or less and provide free spaying or neutering, microchipping and age-appropriate vaccinations for adopted pets.
Where: Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16
10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Price: Admission is free, but event parking fees may vary. Pets are first-come, first-served.
The Humane Society is “pulling dogs from other shelters in our metroplex that are stretched beyond capacity — helping them find loving homes while easing the burden on our sheltering community,” the news release reads.
Fort Worth Animal Care & Control runs two shelters that will have animals at the event. The city has participated in the Mega event since 2017 and seen thousands of pets adopted, code compliance assistant director Christopher McAllister said in an emailed statement.
“We hope people will come out, adopt, foster or simply help spread the word,” McAllister said. “Every adoption makes a difference and events like Mega give us the chance to change hundreds of lives in just one weekend.”
Fort Worth dealt with its own distemper outbreak in the spring, closing shelters and seeing its live release rate dip to 80.09%.
The outbreak came as animal care and control was on track to bump its fluctuating live-release rate above its target of 90%. That means over 90% of animals would be in the shelters until adoption, transfer to rescue organizations or return to their owners.
Since the outbreak, its live release rate began rebounding over the summer, with the city reporting an 85.38% rate for July.
Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601.
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