[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6500934,"mediaKeyId","5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2","parentId",5665434,"title","Dallas Animal Services Q3 report: higher live outcomes, growing community programs and a projected $2.2 million FY25 shortfall","audioSeconds",2240,"startMs",3720000,"endMs",5960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2&start=3720&end=5960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2/thumbnail_3720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500934/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-Animal-Services-Q3-report-higher-live-outcomes-growing-community-programs-and-a-projected-22-million-FY25-shortfall","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500934-35b337dafd31324d6d3e93f7e0276e17/orig.mp4?Expires=1775693560&Signature=C64ZtjoF0JmiQWkU3iyRZj1WnF2FqGV6rj8mapHspxGxwExXrq1G6Q49VhkF1Kv2oBEMj21Mm1nIfzX6-rIP~mBUsCtH6xx-WbscCGtm1XkYE6YQzePfLiNqoJ-VOf0ujERh-vm4q7SZRIRmkKZrjAMdYG060ZswZudV6--c5qzQngz345wgTDvpbtLdHWWXbZa6ROwn28XE14rGV~N3ud0wjdEjwzsIaJ1HAuAGXsQ5KhPyG5FMxX-kXPtkXXYUKS3FBLAN-JwFjEo8gDKRAelfCYfJBYu1BqldqOHmi8i4sy2mI8dOOuQ1G5CYXdkbZySjbuv7fDTUhQGLRXvD8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas","date","2025-08-21T00:00:00Z","article","Paul Ramon, director of Dallas Animal Services, presented the department's fiscal year 2025 quarter 3 performance report covering April through June and highlighted program growth alongside an emerging budget shortfall.

Ramon said the department exceeded several operational goals: it held eight free vaccine clinics in southern Dallas (the target was two), exceeded a 2,000-target for subsidized spay/neuter surgeries, and increased transfers to rescue partners. He reported a live-release rate near 87 percent for dogs (up 5 percent from the prior year) and improvements in cat outcomes; kitten-season intake increased cat intake by 35 percent in the quarter.

The report listed other program results: 273 dogs participated in a \"daycation\" program that produced 95 percent positive outcomes; subsidized community-cat surgeries year-to-date exceeded 3,000 through a mixture of in-house and partner services; volunteer hours rose by 7 percent, saving the city an estimated quarter-million dollars in labor value; and the pet food pantry served 234 families across six events.

Ramon also described operational pressures. Intake of dogs was down about 12 percent for the quarter, partly because of an unrelated contagious disease surge the department worked through earlier in the fiscal year. He noted that suspected animal-cruelty work, taken on in recent years, was not originally budgeted for DAS and that the department now anticipates a FY25 shortfall of approximately $2.2 million tied to overcapacity, cruelty-case work and overtime.

Victoria Cheatham Bennett, assistant director over administration and finance, summarized the fiscal position: the FY25 budget was $19.6 million; as of June 30 the department had expended $15.7 million with another $142,000 encumbered, leaving fiscal-year projections that place the department roughly $2.2 million over budget for the year.

Ramon said staff turnover has been driven in part by promotions: several DAS managers were hired into other leadership posts outside the city, and the department is recruiting replacements. He also announced plans to restore spay/neuter society partnerships and to maintain outreach such as vaccine clinics, neighborhood walk-and-talks and expanded field services that integrate community-cat trapping and outreach teams.

Administrative business at the meeting included approval of the July 17, 2025, meeting minutes. A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded; commissioners approved by a show of hands. The record does not include a line-by-line roll-call tally in the transcript.

Ending: Ramon urged commissioners and members of the public to continue supporting foster and rescue partnerships, volunteered and donated supplies, and said budget and staffing needs will be discussed in the city's fiscal review process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dallas - Animal Advisory Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Director Paul Ramon told the commission that FY25 quarter 3 (April'June) metrics show increases in community spay/neuter and rescue transfers and improved live-release rates for cats and dogs, but the department projects a roughly $2.2 million overrun due to overcapacity and added cruelty investigations.","taxTitle","Dallas, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2781,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500939,"Dallas Animal Services limits intake and expands testing, foster and treatment protocols after distemper cases",1197,2581000,3778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2&start=2581&end=3778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2/thumbnail_2581000.jpg","/articles/6500939/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-Animal-Services-limits-intake-and-expands-testing-foster-and-treatment-protocols-after-distemper-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500939-f723df711142143a245060cbf365a37f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775693560&Signature=ZzvAjUE-fMKoFBYGoPHQ3mB0emwUKRHl7tTsHOqLoBWovTWAOWe67aJiCR7YrFouFkq2Tru7fJz-YfDrfroVupnDHvwrawB9p~imp9V~DV6ewZluEkXMvK7095bGflu59Aw9-ikk9UXAZFd8L462ytKWG~3HEMcwwkTelM5-r9IA4D~TzzIPrf8NYp0e7WxRfTIrdXNiaZXciU-csS8MQRiXpJd2WhZGob1g2Za2ot2Mb4BuPI-iwKm~liviqs2B2HqnkP9TmjJsTpXDedBGzpnC5SZZy~CRgtzRbTcyZ6w46m4U36pRqMdovz07kiPX1Nzh52QKDMlN7bp9FbkITg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erica Bennett, assistant general manager for shelter operations at Dallas Animal Services, told the commission that the shelter received three positive PCR results for canine distemper on the evening of July 31 and immediately activated an outbreak response plan.

\"Once we received those results, we started an action plan to mitigate the disease spread in the shelter and to ensure life saving of the dogs that we have currently in the shelter,\" Bennett said, describing coordination with veterinary experts from Best Friends Animal Society and practitioners who have researched outbreaks at university programs.

The shelter said it has moved to limited intake while it assesses test results and room status, is providing PCR and titer testing supported by Friends of Dallas Animal Services, and has written treatment protocols to allow distemper-positive dogs to be treated in foster homes when clinically appropriate. Bennett said veterinary experts were on-site for case review and that town halls for fosters and volunteers run weekly on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Rescue partners were also offered a separate town hall to address transfer and treatment questions.

Bennett said distemper spreads by wet surfaces and close contact; it is often more prevalent in colder months but can spread quickly in crowded shelter conditions. She said puppies under 16 weeks are especially vulnerable because an immature immune response means vaccination does not guarantee protection; the shelter traced the outbreak to a litter of seven puppies it believes were infected on intake.

The shelter has reinstated a two-shot booster protocol for adult dogs and a vaccine schedule for puppies under 16 weeks: vaccines every two weeks until 16 weeks, then two post-16-week doses to complete the series. Bennett said the shelter is working to move exposed dogs out of the building and accelerate re-opening of normal intake once the exposure pool is reduced. A meeting next week will review test and room status and set an estimated restart date.

Bennett asked the public for support items and said PPE is a current operational need; she also noted volunteers have been providing donated food for staff. She reported one euthanasia of an affected puppy during the outbreak response and cautioned that distemper can be fatal unless treated early.

Commissioners asked about prevention and community vaccination. Bennett described current vaccine clinics, partnerships with Spay/Neuter Network and TCAP, and a strong community turnout at Saturday vaccine clinics; she urged continued outreach to get vulnerable and under-vaccinated dogs vaccinated and said the shelter is expanding field vaccination and microchipping options.

Ending: Bennett said the shelter will publish updated intake guidance after next week's review, will continue foster and rescue briefings, and asked residents to use the shelter's web resources or call 311 to learn about low-cost vaccine clinics and foster options.","Dallas Animal Services reported three positive canine distemper tests July 31 and said it has limited intake, is working with national veterinary experts and partners including Best Friends and Operation Kindness, and is holding weekly foster/rescue town halls while seeking PPE and donor support.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500941,"Dallas County prosecutor outlines criminal standards, jury challenges and limits of city authority in animal cruelty cases",951,515000,1466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2&start=515&end=1466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5665434-d5261d51cfb7d8b01ff4158342b021f2/thumbnail_515000.jpg","/articles/6500941/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-County-prosecutor-outlines-criminal-standards-jury-challenges-and-limits-of-city-authority-in-animal-cruelty-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500941-69066e3991d1ad5ced1818571eee4c3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775693560&Signature=DiA6yydW0USoXwNxgZdkM9cPWolTd~ONGnVYCw5wy-GIZkRCv~bm9Y5EtROLH6hZtNLN6heNp-h5RnoYCa~q2wJ~-ORqGCi3zYiIWQFnYyJl8447e6sCs3IPWW40GFmz2zWRlU0aa9ifw4nmkT0JCCZmq1yVCxqtLoXZ6dMG3Hm5pjJdO7SsKBRnDljVM64QpjxeR9dI2QgeVParFCL0g3xplsbLQY1Ct6-Oqubj12RT5IssOOUI05b9eeLXq290uCmWZZDmvRGmClpa6~iqM9PYTEs28qNJWxSkF5-QaCVQWpVkLVvt2s4kDmxda3qT0KRiu1YeZewoz5cEfyXW6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Trevizo, chief of the Animal Cruelty Unit in the Dallas County Attorney's Office, told the Dallas Animal Services Commission that her unit prosecutes felony and misdemeanor animal-cruelty cases under the Texas Penal Code, the Texas Health and Safety Code and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code.

\"I work off the Health and Safety Code, the Penal Code and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code,\" Trevizo said, outlining the narrow criminal authorities her office uses and noting that municipal Class C or city-code violations remain with city attorneys.

Trevi'zo described how criminal prosecutions typically follow civil seizure hearings in Dallas. \"Once we get the civil procedure hearing, I go out there, I prove up that there was evidence of animal cruelty,\" she said, adding that civil seizure hearings must be held within 10 days after a warrant and are often heard by a judge she named as experienced in animal-cruelty law.

Trevi'zo listed the range of criminal charges her unit pursues, from misdemeanors up to second-degree felonies when case facts and prior convictions allow. She said the unit prosecutes cases involving torture, emaciation and animal abandonment and that 'unjustifiable pain and suffering' can meet statutory definitions of torture even when the conduct is not prolonged. She offered an example in which a bystander's pepper spray directed at a dog led to a felony conviction.

She described the legal standard for dangerous-dog prosecutions: an unprovoked attack outside the home plus proof the owner failed to keep the dog confined. Owners of dogs legally declared dangerous must register the animal, keep it restrained and obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000; failure to comply can lead to seizure. Trevizo said Dallas County prosecutes cruelty tied to dogfighting and other livestock-related cruelty and that the Dallas Police Department has been increasing enforcement against organized fighting.

On legislative changes and prosecution limits, Trevizo said the unit has pursued tougher penalties for cockfighting and dogfighting but that proposed changes have stalled on legislative calendars. She also noted a recent change she described to the commission: people convicted of animal cruelty can be prohibited from owning animals in the future.

Trevi'zo emphasized evidentiary needs and investigative partnerships. She said veterinary reports are essential: \"I really cannot make a case on animal cruelty when it comes to torture or emaciation without a vet report,\" and she credited Operation Kindness and other veterinarians for forensic reports used in prosecutions.

She warned that public posting of photos or footage and citizen trespass can harm criminal prosecutions by undermining the element of surprise and exposing evidence-handling weaknesses. \"When people take pictures, put them online, it... hurts our case tremendously,\" Trevizo said.

Commissioners asked about the unit's biggest challenges. Trevizo said jury selection and juror willingness to follow the law are persistent problems: she recounted a felony trial in which she says jurors were excused because they would not follow legal instructions, requiring a retrial.

Public comment at the meeting included an allegation from a speaker who identified herself as Stephanie Casey about a conflict of interest involving a local media vendor and Dallas Animal Services contracts. That comment was recorded as a citizen comment and not as a finding by the commission or prosecutors.

The presentation concluded with Trevizo offering prosecutors' training to police and shelter staff and saying the unit will continue outreach to legislators about tougher penalties for organized animal fighting.

Ending: Trevizo asked commissioners and the public to report suspected cruelty to police or prosecutors rather than publicize investigations on social media, and she offered to provide training materials and case information to the commission on request.","Jessica Trevizo, chief of the Animal Cruelty Unit in the Dallas County Attorney's Office, told the Dallas Animal Services Commission how felony and misdemeanor animal-cruelty prosecutions proceed, said juries can be hard to persuade in these cases and urged people not to post evidence online in active investigations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dallas Animal Services Q3 report: higher live outcomes, growing community programs and a projected $2.2 million FY25 shortfall

Dallas Animal Services limits intake and expands testing, foster and treatment protocols after distemper cases

Dallas County prosecutor outlines criminal standards, jury challenges and limits of city authority in animal cruelty cases