February 2026 Newsletter

🐾 Love Is in the Air at FWACC! 🐾

February is a month centered on love—and at FWACC, that love shows up every day through the compassion, dedication, and heart of our volunteers and fosters. Whether you’re opening your home, giving your time, or advocating for animals who need a voice, your impact continues to shape brighter futures for pets across our community.

This month’s newsletter includes a very special announcement, along with updates and opportunities that reflect the heart of the work we do together.

Here’s a snapshot of the incredible impact our FWACC community made last month:

• Animals Placed in Foster in December: 158

• Silcox Shelter Total Volunteer Hours Logged: 267.35

• Henry's Animal Campus Total Volunteer Hours Logged: 282.58

• Total Pets Transported: 70 (8 were Urgent)

• Offsite Event Adoptions: 3

• FWACC Live Release Rate: 89.3% - Lets Go!

Your time, energy, and dedication continue to make these numbers possible—thank you for being the heartbeat of FWACC.

We are honored to share that North Animal Campus will officially be renamed Henry’s Animal Campus—a tribute to a dog who forever changed animal welfare in Fort Worth.

Henry came to the Silcox shelter in 2011 as a stray, critically ill and fighting to survive. With dedicated care, he recovered and went on to serve the City of Fort Worth for 13 incredible years as our beloved canine ambassador. Intentionally chosen as a large, dark-colored dog, Henry challenged adoption stereotypes and became a powerful symbol of compassion, advocacy, and hope.

Through school visits, community events, and public outreach, Henry helped raise $4.8 million to support homeless pets—more than $1 million of which funded the Silcox medical treatment ward. Though Henry passed away in 2025 at the age of 16, his legacy continues to open doors and save lives.

City Council approved the campus renaming this week, and a formal ceremony will be held later this year as we celebrate the extraordinary impact of a very good boy who changed everything.

This month, we’re excited to highlight Lukas and Mackenzie Denner, two new volunteers who joined us in early December and have already made an incredible impact! In just a few weeks, they’ve contributed over 30 hours walking dogs, taking photos, and submitting 50+ animal observation forms—helping us better understand our pets, build stronger placement profiles, and reduce stress for the animals in our care.

But their dedication doesn’t stop at volunteering—they also foster! Pictured here, Lukas and Mackenzie are taking home Benny, a longtime resident of Henry’s Animal Campus, to foster before his much-deserved transport to a new state, where he’ll begin an incredible life with his forever family. Their commitment to both fostering and volunteering exemplifies the heart and impact of our FWACC heroes.

Meet Elsie, Bella, and Cerce—three incredible dogs who are more than ready for a break from the shelter environment and a chance to decompress in a foster home.

Each of these dogs has their own unique personality, strengths, and needs, but they all share one important thing in common: they would thrive in a home setting. The comfort of a couch, a consistent routine, and one-on-one attention can make all the difference.

Even a short-term foster stay helps dogs like Elsie, Bella, and Rocky relax, show their true personalities, and dramatically improve their chances of adoption, rescue placement, upcoming events, or transport opportunities.

📌 Want to learn more?
You can find detailed information, notes, and photos for Elsie, Bella, & Cerce on our FWACC Foster Trello Board:

👉 Click here to view the Foster Trello Board:
https://trello.com/b/y5o4hKeV/fwacc-foster-needed

Meet Bowser — a name that now carries a story of courage, compassion, and second chances.

When Bowser first arrived back in October, he was completely shut down. He’d curl up in the corner of his kennel, trembling at every sound, unsure of what was coming next. Just a few days after arriving, he found himself on the Urgent list, his future uncertain. But one look into those soft, soulful eyes, and we knew we couldn’t give up on him.

Then came a glimmer of hope — one of our amazing transport partners expressed interest in giving Bowser a chance. Despite his fear, he never showed an ounce of aggression — only quiet sweetness and a desperate hope for kindness. That was all it took for his story to begin turning around.

His incredible foster stepped up to the challenge and became the light in his dark little world. Through patience, gentle encouragement, and so much love, they showed Bowser that people can be kind and that the world isn’t such a scary place after all. Slowly, he began to come out of his shell — taking treats, wagging his tail, and even showing a spark of playfulness.

When Bowser came back to us for transport drop-off, we could hardly believe our eyes. Gone was the dog frozen in fear. In his place stood a dog who could walk proudly on leash, play with toys, and lean into the people who had once scared him so much.

Now, Bowser is on his way up North to his forever home, ready to start the next beautiful chapter of his life. From trembling in a kennel to trotting toward a new beginning — Bowser is proof that love, patience, and teamwork can truly change everything.

Love is in the air… and so are our pups! This Valentine-themed Doggy Day Out is a unique, two-part experience where our eligible bachelor and bachelorette dogs get a day out with volunteers—and you could be their perfect match.

WHEN: Sunday, February 8, 2026

Part 1 – Date Card Pick-Up / Doggy Day Out

• Pick-Up Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (dates may last until 1:30–1:40 PM)

• Dogs must be returned to Winslow’s no later than 2:00 PM

Part 2 – Match-Maker Meet-Up

• Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM

• Location: Winslow’s Wine Cafe (dog-friendly patio)

• Volunteers will enjoy a fun Valentine-themed gathering with their “date” dog, help advocate for them, and meet potential adopters.

We’ll need 6 volunteers to participate as “dates” for 6 special dogs. Each volunteer will receive a Date Card with simple activities—walks, coffee, photos—and help make this matchmaking event unforgettable!

To sign up for this event, please CLICK HERE

💌 This is one blind date you won’t want to miss!

Offsite adoption events are one of the best ways to help our animals shine! These events give foster pets increased visibility in the community and offer volunteers the opportunity to take a dog out of the shelter for the day—providing enrichment, socialization, and a chance to connect with potential adopters. Whether you’re showcasing your foster or helping a shelter dog get a break and some extra love, your participation plays a huge role in helping pets find homes.

• Foster Event Sign-Ups: Click Here

• Volunteer Event Sign-Ups: Click Here

Be sure to check the calendar regularly as new opportunities are added throughout the month.

Each month, we highlight key areas where volunteers can make the greatest impact:

• North Animal Campus | Pet Photographer: Click Here

• Silcox Animal Shelter | Doggy Day Out: Click Here

👉 Click Here: Dog-Friendly Spots in Fort Worth for Your Doggy Day Out Adventures

As we move through this season of love, we’re reminded that compassion—shown consistently and intentionally—creates lasting change. Thank you for being part of FWACC’s mission and for carrying forward the spirit Henry embodied every single day. Together, we honor the past, support the present, and build a future where every animal has a chance to thrive🐾

Warm wishes,
The FWACC Team