After temporarily closing the city’s two animal shelters in response to a viral outbreak of a deadly canine disease at the end of March, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control is cautiously taking the first step toward resuming normal operations.
The city announced the shelter closures March 27, citing its need to contain and mitigate the spread of the highly contagious, incurable and airborne canine distemper virus. Since then, the shelters have been on lockdown, not allowing the intake or release of any dogs.
Starting April 7, shelter staff resumed releasing dogs to the city’s animal rescue partners, which coordinate with the city to place animals from the shelters into rescue organizations for adoption and foster opportunities…