{"id":187679,"date":"2025-08-30T17:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T17:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/187679\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T17:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T17:52:11","slug":"kurt-sacks-helps-save-shelter-dogs-nearing-their-last-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/187679\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Kurt Sacks helps save shelter dogs nearing their last days"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monty and Chevy might not know it, but Kurt Sacks is determined to be the dogs\u2019 best friend and help find them homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Well, scratch that \u2014 at least behind their ears. They do know his affection for them, says Sacks, a volunteer at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control\u2019s North Animal Campus<\/a> near Haslet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love dogs. I just love dogs,\u201d he said during a recent visit to the campus, where Monty and Chevy have resided since July. \u201cThey just want to be your friend, and they love you so much, especially the shelter dogs. Many of these dogs never really had a true friend. And I can tell they feel that. If you care about them, they feel that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHis compassion, selflessness, and big heart continue to make an immeasurable difference for both our dogs and our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lana Newberry, volunteer coordinator, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Welcome to 52 Faces<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"52<\/p>\n

52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n

Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n

Monty<\/a> and Chevy, 2-year-old mixed breeds who\u2019d been waiting since July for furrever homes, were more than grateful for the attention \u2014 and treats \u2014 from Sacks and other volunteers and staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Volunteers put in an estimated 9,453 hours for Fort Worth Animal Care & Control last year, shelter officials estimate. They play a critical role in finding homes for the shelters\u2019 animals, officials said.<\/p>\n

Sacks is this week\u2019s Fort Worth Report \u201c52 Faces of Community\u201d featured volunteer<\/a>. 52 Faces of Community honors our neighbors who quietly make our lives better every day.<\/p>\n

Sacks\u2019 reputation as a volunteer precedes him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the short time Kurt Sacks has been volunteering with us, he has become a true lifesaver for FWACC dogs, walking priority pups, helping at events like the Mega Adoption Event<\/a>, and fostering six dogs, four already this year,\u201d Lana Newberry, animal care\u2019s volunteer coordinator, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first met Kurt, his love for pit bull type dogs was immediate and undeniable. His compassion, selflessness, and big heart continue to make an immeasurable difference for both our dogs and our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sacks works mostly with large dogs, taking them on walks to help relieve the stress of being in kennels. He also uses his social media to try and find homes for dogs that are running out of time before euthanasia. After his sessions, he gives shelter staff feedback on each dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cKurt is a phenomenal volunteer,\u201d Melanie Pe\u00f1a, the shelter\u2019s outbound supervisor, said.<\/p>\n

Sacks, 70, retired eight years ago from a long career as a financial adviser. He had a part-time gig for awhile, but a bad back meant he couldn\u2019t work anymore, so he started volunteering at the shelter six months ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was natural for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sacks has three dogs \u2014 Maya, Lavender and Kevin \u2014 he\u2019s adopted from the shelter, all pit bulls or mixes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were what\u2019s termed urgent placement<\/a>, meaning they were out of time,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, I got all three of them on what appeared to be their last day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Monty, a 2-year-old terrier mix, sniffs the camera while Kurt Sacks tries to wrangle him back Aug. 25, 2025, at the Fort Worth North Animal Care & Control Campus in Haslet. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

Sacks, when he\u2019s not nursing his back as he has been in recent weeks, estimates he volunteers with dogs several days a week at the shelter for two hours at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I like to do is not just walk them but give them some love, scratch their ears and pat them on the head, talk to them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

More than a week ago, Sacks used his Nextdoor account to put up a post, looking for a home for Monty.<\/p>\n

A good number of shelter dogs are at least pit mixes, a breed that gets a bad rap, he said.<\/p>\n

Monty, a stray pickup on July 30, is a terrier-pit mix. Chevy, surrendered by his owner July 21, is a terrier-American Staffordshire mix. Both are listed as \u201curgent placement pets\u201d by Animal Care & Control. While in the pen with Monty and Chevy, Sacks started reading their attributes from each dog\u2019s shelter papers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuper friendly, good around other dogs, loveable, well-mannered, easy to walk, calm and easy going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kurt Sacks poses with Chevy, a 2-year-old terrier mix, Aug. 25, 2025, at the Fort Worth North Animal Care & Control Campus in Haslet. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n

Every adopted dog is a victory. After Sacks\u2019 most recent visit, Chevy was taken to a potential new home under \u201cdeferred adoption,\u201d or trial basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sad that not all of them get out of here,\u201d Sacks said. \u201cIt hurts. It hurts me to lose my friends. I\u2019ve made a lot of dog friends here, and the ones that don\u2019t make it, it hurts. But I\u2019ve been able to help get a few dogs into good homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scott Nishimura is a senior editor for the Documenters program at the Fort Worth Report. Reach him at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org.\u00a0At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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