Urgent Pet Placement Protocol Guide for Rescue Partners

At Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC), our partnership with you is vital to saving the lives of animals in need. The Urgent Pet Placement (UPP) protocol identifies pets requiring immediate rescue due to medical, behavioral, or shelter capacity concerns. This guide outlines the UPP process, categories, and your role in helping us prioritize placement and prevent euthanasia.

The UPP protocol ensures animals at risk are quickly connected with Rescue Partners for adoption, fostering, or transfer. We provide real-time information through live, searchable lists on our website: Urgent Placement Pets. Partners can search by location, name, ID number, or breed, with animals organized by urgency category: Immediate Rescue, Medical, Behavior, or Capacity.

Each urgent pet is assigned a review date, set four days after identification as urgent. This date marks when the animal becomes at risk of euthanasia. Starting on the review date, our team conducts daily evaluations, considering the pet’s health and behavior alongside shelter capacity. We incorporate input from shelter staff, volunteers, fosters, and previous owners to make informed decisions.

Euthanasia, if necessary, typically occurs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at our Silcox Animal Shelter and Tuesday and Thursday at our North Animal Campus. Exceptions may occur on other days due to urgent space, behavioral, or medical needs. To avoid euthanasia, tagging animals before their review date is critical.

Understanding the urgency categories helps you prioritize which animals to rescue:

These pets require placement the same day or the next day due to extreme vulnerability.

• Examples: Moms with nursing litters, very young animals, or those with severe injuries.

• Key Notes: Additional time may be granted based on the pet’s condition, but euthanasia decisions are based on health status, veterinary recommendations, or rapid decline.

These animals have medical conditions unsuitable for the shelter environment.

• Examples: Upper respiratory infections, ringworm, or minor treatable conditions.

• Key Notes: Euthanasia may occur if a condition worsens significantly or is deemed terminal by a veterinarian. Prompt rescue or fostering is essential.

These pets exhibit behaviors that may worsen in the shelter or pose safety risks.

• Examples: Fear-based behaviors, kennel neurosis, dog reactivity, aggression, or handling sensitivities.

• Key Notes: Animals are listed with a minimum of four days’ notice for networking, unless immediate safety risks arise.

These pets are at risk due to limited shelter space, especially during high intake periods.

• Examples: Healthy animals with no known medical or behavioral issues at identification.

• Key Notes: If space remains constrained and no placement is secured, euthanasia may be necessary to maintain humane housing standards.

Your quick action is key to saving these animals. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the UPP List: Check www.fortworthtexas.gov/animals for real-time updates on urgent pets, searchable by category or specific details.

2. Tag a Pet: Email fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov to express interest. Due to high email volume, responses are handled in the order received.

3. Complete the Process: Our team will provide a rescue contract link and a pickup scheduling link. Tagged pets must be picked up by 5:30 PM the same day, unless management approves a next-day pickup.

4. Confirm and Pick Up: Once the contract is signed and pickup is scheduled, we’ll confirm your tag to finalize the rescue.

Clear communication prevents misinformation and ensures no pet is overlooked. By knowing the UPP process, timelines, and urgency categories, you can act swiftly to secure placements, especially before the review date when euthanasia risks begin. Your collaboration helps us prioritize life-saving outcomes.

Our team is here to assist. Contact fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov with questions about the UPP process or specific animals. We’re committed to working with you to save as many lives as possible.

Your role as a Rescue Partner makes a tangible difference. By leveraging the UPP protocol and acting quickly, you help us give Fort Worth’s most vulnerable pets a second chance. Visit www.fortworthtexas.gov/animals today to explore the urgent list and tag a pet in need.