Animals

A prominent Dallas real estate developer has agreed to stop trapping and relocating cats from his Bishop Arts properties, and cat advocates have agreed to stop protesting in front of his businesses.

Frisco City Council took its first look at a proposed animal facility that would be built by the city but operated through a private partnership. The move could lessen the city's reliance on Collin County's shelter, but local animal advocates question whether it will do enough.

The volunteer group, which turns 15 this year, makes and sells blankets, toys and woodwork to raise money for the Arlington animal shelter.

The Farmers Branch City Council on Tuesday discussed expanding the animal shelter to include a dedicated cat area. The expansion is being funded by a $1.5 million donation from a late Farmers Branch resident who loved cats and the shelter.

The Fort Worth Zoo has helped conserve and grow endangered flamingo, amphibian and reptile species so far in 2025.

Under the new laws, which will go into effect on Sept. 1, counties across Texas will have more power to stop the sale of dogs and cats in outdoor spaces.

The animal shelter has been running over capacity since May, officials said. Other rescue organizations are feeling the pinch, too.

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.

Dallas Animal Services is over capacity. So it’s hosting a free “Late Night Doggie Date Night” to give people a chance to adopt or foster pets just in time for Valentine’s Day. Pets can be seen between 1 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Dallas Animal Services, 1818 North Westmoreland Road.

The Colony Police Department and Animals Services responded to dozens of welfare tips from concerned community members who believed the animals were subjected to neglect and cruelty. They uncovered 88 animals and the remains of 22 more.

About 150 animals will be flown to Fort Worth on Sunday to join their foster families here. They're being transferred to make room for pets displaced by wildfires.

The city audit, which looked at operations at the shelter from 2023 and 2024, offered 34 recommendations for improvement, many of which Sassenus and staffers have been addressing for several months.