May 2026 Newsletter
It’s May.
This is where things start to move faster than expected.
Intake increases. Kennels fill. The pace shifts, and with it, the need for placement becomes more immediate. What worked a month ago starts to feel tighter. The margin gets smaller.
This is the point where consistency matters. Where small actions start carrying more weight. And where showing up, even in simple ways, makes a measurable difference.
Inside the shelter, patterns start to repeat.
Dogs that arrived recently are still adjusting while new ones continue to come in. Some settle. Some don’t. The ones who struggle begin to show it first. Restlessness. Withdrawal. Overstimulation. The environment doesn’t change, but their ability to handle it does.
This is where time matters.
Not weeks. Not long-term plans. Immediate, small shifts that interrupt that cycle before it sets in too deeply.
A walk. A day out. A night in a home. A moment of quiet.
These are not extras. They are pressure relief.
There are two types of impact happening right now.
The visible kind.
And the kind that keeps everything from backing up.
The visible looks like events, adoptions, and dogs leaving the building. It is easy to see, easy to measure, and easy to celebrate.
The second kind is quieter.
It is the volunteer who takes the extra dog out when time is tight.
The foster who says yes without needing a perfect setup.
The handler who spends time with the dog no one else has picked yet.
This is the work that keeps animals from becoming stuck.
On May 9th, we’re bringing our dogs to one of the highest-traffic, highest-visibility locations we’ll see all season.
The Herd You Needed a Dog event will take place in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Rodeo Drive during PBR week. This is not just another event. This is exposure at scale.
Hundreds of people walking through. New audiences. New adopters. New opportunities.
But an event like this only works if we have dogs there to be seen.
Right now, we have a significant number of open foster slots for this event. We also have a large number of available dogs who would benefit from getting out of the shelter and into that environment.
This is where the connection happens.
Fosters bring the dogs. Volunteers support the handling. The community shows up. And dogs get chosen.
If you have been thinking about fostering, even short-term, this is the moment to step in.
Events are not just about adoption. They are about interruption.
They interrupt kennel stress.
They interrupt long lengths of stay.
They interrupt the cycle of being overlooked.
A dog in a kennel is one of many. A dog at an event is the one someone stops for.
That shift changes outcomes.
When you bring a foster to an event or take a shelter dog out for the day, you are not just participating. You are actively increasing that animal’s chances of leaving.
More events means more visibility.
More visibility means more connections.
More connections means more placements.
To view upcoming events, please follow the link below:
There is a part of this system that most people never see.
Coordination. Timing. Movement behind the scenes.
Transport is where all of that comes together.
It is not just about getting a dog from one place to another. It is about making sure every step leading up to that moment happens correctly. Medical cleared. Behavior understood. Documentation in place. Timing aligned.
When it works, it feels seamless.
When it stalls, everything feels it.
Fosters who step in for transport dogs are not just providing space. They are maintaining momentum. Holding that dog in position so the next step can happen without delay.
With May already full for transports - way to go team - we are now working on June and need you more than ever!
Interested in Transport Fostering? Follow the link below to learn more on this lifesaving program!
The Heartbeat of Hope - Transport Fostering
The system does not need perfection. It needs participation.
Saying yes to a short-term foster when it is not ideal.
Taking a dog out when others have been passed over.
Signing up for an event even if it is outside your routine.
Spending time where it feels less rewarding in the moment.
These are the decisions that shift outcomes.
Not later. Immediately.
For over six years, Kathy McDonald has been a steady, compassionate presence at the shelter, showing up week after week to make a difference for our dogs. What started as fostering quickly grew into something more, and today, Kathy volunteers twice a week, focusing on enrichment, walking dogs, and supporting adoption events and Doggy Day Out.
Kathy believes that every moment outside of the kennel matters. Whether it is a large event or a simple outing, giving dogs the chance to be seen and understood can change their future. She is a strong advocate for completing report cards after outings, helping share each dog’s personality and increasing their chances of finding the right home.
Her favorite part of volunteering is watching shy or timid dogs begin to trust. She recalls spending 30 minutes patiently working with one dog just to get them from their kennel to the yard. For Kathy, those small steps are everything. Progress does not happen all at once, but with time and consistency, it happens.
Kathy’s journey began with a dog named Max. After noticing him roaming her neighborhood and gaining his trust, she helped get him safely to the shelter. Despite his fear and challenges, she took a chance and brought him home to foster. Over five months, she worked closely with behavior staff to help him adjust. Even after returning him to the shelter, Kathy continued showing up just for Max, visiting several times a week to work with him. That commitment turned into a lasting role as a volunteer.
Kathy often says that Max chose her, and in many ways, he helped shape the impact she continues to make today. Through her patience, consistency, and heart for the dogs who need it most, Kathy embodies what it means to be part of this work.
There is no single action that carries this work.
It is the accumulation.
The extra walk.
The extra yes.
The extra effort when it would be easier to move on to the next.
This is the season where those moments matter more.
And where they add up faster than you think.
Keep showing up.