Animal-services partnership at risk; staff warn live‑release rate could fall

Code compliance staff told the council that discontinuing the city's long-standing partnership with the PetSmart Alliance would have ripple effects across shelter operations and grant-supported services. Brian Doerty, the co-compliance director, said the alliance supplies grants for microchipping and vaccinations and supports other shelter services; removing it would reduce the city's live‑release rate and create capacity challenges.

"The live release rate would drop anywhere from 6 to 8% is what we estimate," Brian Doerty said, and staff warned the system would face an additional roughly 1,000–2,200 animals at capacity. Council members said the funding gap to maintain the partnership is small in tax-rate terms and urged staff to seek ways to restore the item in the FY27 budget.

Why it matters: Fort Worth recently reached a live‑release rate over 90% — a milestone staff framed as significant for municipal animal services — and council members cautioned ending the partnership would reverse progress and could increase operational costs and shelter stress later.