Partnering to Save Lives: How to Select Animals for Rescue with Fort Worth Animal Care and Control

At Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC), we take in approximately 20,000 animals each year, ranging from playful puppies to senior cats and everything in between. Our Rescue Partners are essential in helping us find positive placements—whether through adoption, fostering, or transfer—for these pets. To support your efforts, we’ve created accessible tools and clear processes for selecting animals in need of rescue. Here’s how you can identify and tag pets to save lives.

We offer two primary ways for Rescue Partners to view animals eligible for placement: our website and our dedicated Facebook page. Each platform provides critical information to help you act quickly and effectively.

Our website features two distinct sections, click bullet name for direct link:

• Urgent Placement Pets: These animals require immediate rescue due to medical, behavioral, or shelter capacity concerns. Identified as Urgent, they are at risk of euthanasia starting on their review date (typically four days after identification) and must be picked up by 5:30 PM the same day they are tagged, unless management approves a next-day pickup.

• Animals at FWACC: This section lists animals not yet identified as Urgent but still in need of placement. These pets may be healthy and ready for adoption or fostering, offering flexibility for partners to expand their rescue efforts.

Both sections include a search bar allowing you to filter by location, name, ID number, or breed. Each pet’s profile provides detailed information, including downloadable medical summaries and, when applicable, memos and behavior test results, giving you a comprehensive view of the animal’s needs.

For real-time updates on animals requiring urgent placement, follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FWACCTransfer. Our team posts immediate needs here, highlighting pets who need swift action to secure a positive outcome. This is especially useful for Urgent Placement Pets or those with pressing needs.

Once you’ve identified an animal for rescue, the tagging process ensures a smooth transition from our shelter to your care. Here’s how it works:

1. Identify a Pet: Browse the Urgent Placement Pets or Animals at FWACC sections on our website or check our Facebook page for immediate needs.

2. Tag the Pet: Email our team at fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov to tag the animal. Due to high email volume, we respond in the order emails are received.

3. Complete the Rescue Process: We’ll send you a link to complete the rescue contract and schedule a pickup at the shelter where the pet is located.

4. Pickup Timelines:

   • Urgent Placement Pets: Must be picked up by 5:30 PM on the same day the pet is tagged, unless management approves a next-day pickup due to specific circumstances.

   • Non-Urgent Pets (Animals at FWACC): Must be picked up within 24 hours of tagging, unless management grants an extension.

5. Confirmation: Once the contract is signed and pickup is scheduled, we’ll confirm your tag to finalize the rescue.

With 20,000 animals entering our care annually, your partnership is critical to ensuring positive outcomes. By leveraging our website’s searchable lists, detailed pet profiles, and real-time Facebook updates, you can quickly identify animals that align with your rescue’s capabilities. Understanding the tagging process and pickup timelines—especially the tight deadlines for Urgent Placement Pets—helps prevent delays and ensures no pet is overlooked.

We’re here to assist you every step of the way. If you have questions about a specific animal, the tagging process, or available resources, contact us at fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov. Our team is committed to providing the information you need to make informed rescue decisions.

Your partnership with FWACC transforms lives, one pet at a time. Visit www.fortworthtexas.gov/animals to explore available animals, follow our Facebook page for urgent updates, and tag a pet today to give them a second chance. Together, we can make a difference for Fort Worth’s animals.