April 2026 Newsletter
April is where everything begins to accelerate.
Warmer days, fuller kennels, and an increasing need for support mean one thing—this is the season where your impact matters more than ever.
And thanks to you, we’re stepping into it stronger than ever.
Here’s what our FWACC community accomplished last month:
🐾 Animals Placed in Foster: 168
🐾 Total Volunteer Hours: 977
🐾 Pets Transported: 65
🐾 Offsite Adoption Events: 5
Each number represents time, effort, and compassion put into action—and lives changed because of it.
Fort Worth Animal Care & Control has reached an incredible milestone—a 90% Live Release Rate for the 2026 fiscal year to date.
Let that sink in.
This means that more animals than ever before are leaving our shelters alive—through adoption, foster, rescue, and reunification. It reflects not just progress, but a true shift in outcomes for the animals who rely on us every day.
This level of impact doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because of people.
Because of early morning walks before the heat sets in.
Because of late-night fosters who say “yes” one more time.
Because of transports that start before sunrise.
Because of photos, notes, networking, and the small, consistent actions that add up to something life-changing.
This milestone belongs to every single one of you.
From our staff, to our volunteers, to our fosters, to our rescue and community partners—this is what a united, lifesaving community looks like.
And the most powerful part?
We’re not done yet.
Spring is one of the most important times for adoption events—and your participation directly impacts how many animals we’re able to move into homes.
More events = more visibility
More visibility = more adoptions
More adoptions = more space for the next animal in need
This month, we’re continuing to build momentum with offsite events and community engagement opportunities.
Whether you’re:
🐾 Bringing your foster
🐾 Taking a shelter dog out for the day
🐾 Supporting as a volunteer
You are helping create real opportunities for animals to be seen—and chosen.
CLICK HERE to view our upcoming events
There’s something special that happens during Bark Rangers—it’s more than just walking dogs. It’s connection, community, and a shared mission to make a real impact for the animals in our care.
This month, Bark Rangers will take place at Henry’s Animal Campus on Saturday the 18th at 10 AM, bringing volunteers together with one clear goal: every eligible pet gets a walk. For many of our dogs, this time outside of their kennel is more than just exercise—it’s a reset. It’s a chance to decompress, explore, and simply be a dog again.
Bark Rangers is also one of the best ways to build your place within the volunteer community. Newer volunteers have the opportunity to learn alongside experienced handlers, gaining confidence while picking up tips on everything from leash skills to reading body language. At the same time, seasoned volunteers get the chance to mentor, connect, and strengthen the “pack” that makes this program so impactful.
And that sense of community matters. When volunteers come together like this, it doesn’t just benefit the people involved—it directly impacts the animals. More walks mean reduced stress, better behavior in the kennel, and ultimately, a greater chance for each dog to show their true personality to potential adopters.
Whether you’re looking to meet fellow volunteers, sharpen your handling skills, or simply spend meaningful time with the dogs, Bark Rangers is your opportunity to be part of something bigger.
This month, we’re aiming high: every eligible dog, out for a walk. And with the right pack, we can make it happen.
👉 Be sure to sign up and join us—we’ll see you there: CLICK HERE
Since joining us in June 2025, Kevin Davis has become an incredible force in our foster program—opening his home to countless dogs and kittens in need. But right now, during the height of kitten season, we want to give special recognition to Kevin and his family for their unwavering commitment to our tiniest, most vulnerable residents.
Kitten season brings an overwhelming number of fragile lives through our doors—newborns, bottle babies, and young kittens who require round-the-clock care, patience, and compassion. This is where Kevin steps in, time and time again, without hesitation. Whether it’s late-night feedings, monitoring for illness, or simply providing a safe and loving space to grow, Kevin is always just a phone call away—ready to say yes when it matters most.
What makes Kevin’s impact even more meaningful is that it’s a family effort. Together, they’ve created a home where these little ones can not only survive, but truly thrive. Because of them, so many kittens have had the chance to grow strong, healthy, and ready for their forever homes.
Fostering kittens isn’t easy—but it is lifesaving. And thanks to dedicated fosters like Kevin, we’re able to give these fragile lives the second chance they deserve.
Kevin, thank you—for your time, your heart, and your continued commitment to this work.
Thomas “Ted” Delfares is the kind of volunteer every shelter hopes for—the one who quietly steps in wherever help is needed and never hesitates to lend a hand.
From walking dogs and spending time with them in the play yards, to keeping our operations running smoothly behind the scenes, Ted does it all. Every Sunday, you’ll find him filling food bins, taking out trash, helping with laundry, and making sure the day-to-day needs of the shelter are met.
Ted also played a huge role in bringing our sensory garden to life. And he didn’t stop there—he continues to care for it on his own time, even bringing his personal equipment like a weed eater and trimmers to keep the space looking its best for our dogs.
His dedication, initiative, and willingness to go above and beyond make a lasting impact—not just on our team, but on every animal who benefits from his care.
Ted, thank you for everything you do. We are truly grateful to have you as part of the FWACC family.
What's New in the Foster World:
You may notice a small but impactful update to our Fosters Needed Trello Board.
We’ve added a new Weekly Spotlights column to showcase priority pets across our programs. Each week, this column will feature staff-selected foster candidates, dogs chosen for upcoming events, and special transport pups—giving you a focused look at where help is needed most.
These highlights will be updated weekly and will include one dog per program per shelter, making it easy to quickly identify high-impact opportunities.
No more digging—just a clear, curated view of where your support can make the biggest difference right now.
👉 CLICK HERE to check out this weeks picks!
What's New in the Volunteer World:
LifeSkills Enrichment: Be Their First Responder
Walks and cuddles matter—but for many shelter animals, they’re just the starting point.
Lifeskills Enrichment Volunteers step into a critical role as first responders—helping animals stabilize, build confidence, and prepare for life beyond the shelter.
This is where we move from care to purposeful intervention.
Through structured enrichment and training, volunteers help dogs and cats develop the skills they need to succeed in a home. This includes reinforcing basic manners, introducing simple cues, and helping animals learn how to stay calm and navigate new environments with confidence.
For many pets, the shelter environment can be overwhelming. Noise, constant movement, and unfamiliar routines can lead to stress, shutdown, or overstimulation. This program acts as triage—identifying animals who need extra support and giving them the tools to cope, adjust, and improve.
Volunteers will work with animals using:
✔️ Confidence-building exercises
✔️ Enrichment tools and problem-solving activities
✔️ Structured, positive reinforcement training
✔️ Gradual exposure to real-world stimuli
These sessions don’t just improve behavior—they change outcomes.
Soon, you’ll begin to see laminated “VIP” tennis balls hanging on select kennels.
These markers are directly tied to our Lifeskills Enrichment Program and identify animals who would benefit most from structured training, enrichment, and confidence-building support.
These pets have been prioritized for Lifeskills because they may be:
🐾 Struggling with kennel stress or overstimulation
🐾 Lacking confidence in new environments
🐾 Needing support with basic manners or coping skills
🐾 At risk due to longer length of stay
When you see a VIP marker, think of it as a Lifeskills priority call.
This is your opportunity to step in with intention—providing not just interaction, but purposeful engagement that helps prepare them for life outside the shelter.
Every session with a VIP animal is a chance to build confidence, reduce stress, and move them one step closer to a successful outcome.
👉 Want to learn more about our LifeSkills Enrichment Volunteer Opportunity?
Lifeskills Enrichment Volunteer – Helping Shelter Pets Prepare for Real Life
As we move further into one of our busiest seasons, the need will continue to grow—but so will the opportunity to make a difference.
Every walk, every note, every foster stay, every moment you spend with an animal adds up to something bigger. It creates space. It builds confidence. It changes outcomes.
Because of you, more animals are leaving our shelters alive, better prepared, and ready for their next chapter.
Thank you for showing up—for the animals, for each other, and for this mission.
Let’s keep going.