Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna McFadin.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deanna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Urgent Animals of Fort Worth has partnered with Fort Worth Animal Care and Control for several years. Our Facebook page is the go-to spot for people to find information on the animals at the shelter that are at risk of euthanasia.
While we’ve had tremendous success helping to find adoptive homes or rescue organizations to save hundreds of these pets every year, we wanted to do more; to save more animals. That is why we recently became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization so we can do just that!
In a nutshell, we are animal advocates. Our mission is to be the voice of the lost, abandoned, and broken animals of the shelter. Since Fort Worth Animal Care and Control is a municipal shelter, their resources are limited so we help provide care and supplies that would otherwise be unavailable for the animals. We support the shelter’s foster program by providing food, collars/leashes, crates, and toys for the fostered animals.
Our primary focus; however, is heartworm treatment. Unfortunately, hundreds of heartworm positive dogs enter the shelter every year.
Treatment for this disease is costly and it deters most people from adopting an otherwise perfect family pet. Our sponsorship gives these dogs a higher chance of adoption and reduces the euthanasia rate. In addition, our team has already begun community outreach to help educate people about the importance of spay and neuter as well as heartworm prevention. This is an important step to help reduce the pet overpopulation and increase awareness of how pet owners can ensure the well-being of their animals.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For the most part, our transition into becoming a nonprofit organization has been relatively smooth. Our greatest obstacle is finding dedicated foster homes for animals and volunteers to help with our day to day duties. Finding financial support is never easy either, but we are still able to do a lot of good things with the donations we receive.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Urgent Animals of Fort Worth – what should we know?
Animal rescue is a daily challenge. Due to pet overpopulation and irresponsible owners, Fort Worth Animal Care & Adoption Center stays at maximum capacity. We work hand in hand with the shelter to bring awareness of the plight of animals that are at risk of euthanasia.
Dozens of stray and owner surrendered dogs and cats come in 7 days per week. Our sole objective is to help save these animals before any have to be euthanized to make space for new incoming pets.
Not only do we have a Facebook page with a huge following where we feature the urgent animals at the shelter, but we also work closely with other rescue organizations who step in to save dozens of animals each month. Most of these groups are local, but we recently began forging relationships with nonprofit groups in other states. Many northern areas do not have overpopulation issues like we do here in Texas. We help select animals to send on transport as well as assist in the transportation arrangements. In many cases, the dogs are already pre-adopted before they even leave the shelter on their northward journeys!
Rescue work is never-ending, but it is our calling. We work tirelessly 365 days per year – you’ll even find us behind our laptops on holidays sharing photos or answering email, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning. Because of our dedication, our organization is responsible for helping to save the lives of hundreds of animals every year. We’ve played a major role in the increased live release rate at the Fort Worth shelter that now can go weeks without any euthanasia lists! We’ll continue to fight this fight for our furry friends. We are their voice, and they depend on us!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Our spouses and families deserve a huge round of applause. They are always so supportive of our endeavors by celebrating our victories and encouraging us to carry on when we’re feeling defeated. We couldn’t do this without their shoulders to lean on and their unwavering understanding that rescue work is our passion.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4900 Martin St Fort Worth, TX 76119
- Website: www.urgentanimalsfw.org
- Email: tag@urgentanimalsfw.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_paw_brigade_fw/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/fwaccurgents/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/fwaccurgents/
Image Credit:
Deanna McFadin
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