Mid City Times

Fort Worth Shelter has been chosen as the sole animal rescue partner in Texas by a group in the Pacific Northwest. The decision was based on the exceptional work of Brittany Parker, the Senior Code Compliance Officer with the Outbound Team, and her team of volunteers at the shelter.

The City of Fort Worth Animal Shelters, like many other shelters across the country, faces a constant challenge of limited space due to the high number of intakes. To address this issue, the shelter collaborates with rescue groups in other regions that have less pet overpopulation and can accommodate animals for adoption. The Pacific Northwest and New England are among the regions where these transport partners are located.

However, even these regions are experiencing overpopulation problems, leading organizations to reduce the number of non-local dogs they can accept. One group recently scaled back and dissolved most of their nationwide partnerships, but they chose Fort Worth Shelter as their Texas partner. The decision was influenced by Brittany Parker's exceptional work.

A representative from the organization stated, "I chose Fort Worth simply because working with Brittany is far and above better than any shelter transport coordinator we have ever worked with in Texas. I absolutely trust her evaluation of [the shelter’s] dogs, know the medical will be fully transparent and, most of all, she is not knowingly sending me unadoptable dogs."

Brittany Parker has always had a deep love for animals. Joining the Fort Worth Animal Shelter four years ago allowed her to fully realize her passion. She is committed to making a difference in the lives of animals and finds it incredibly rewarding to see the shelter dogs leave on buses or planes, knowing that they have a chance at a better life.

Parker emphasizes that the success of the animal transport partnership is a result of a collective effort. She acknowledges the crucial role played by the shelter's all-volunteer foster network, describing them as a tight-knit community. The fosters play a vital role in saving lives by opening up kennels for incoming dogs. Parker expresses her gratitude to the foster network, stating, "We are so grateful and couldn’t do it without our fosters."

Building relationships with fosters and other volunteers, as well as establishing trust and transparency with transport organizations, is Parker's favorite part of her job. She finds solace in being surrounded by a group of like-minded individuals who share the same level of love and commitment to saving lives.

While Parker doesn't have specific numbers, she estimates that approximately 2,000-3,000 dogs have been transported from the Fort Worth Shelter in the past two years. The work is relentless, with calls, texts, and messages pouring in after hours. Parker acknowledges the dedication required for the position, stating, "If you can’t give it your all, it’s really hard to be in this position."

Brittany Parker, her staff, and the foster network are truly giving their all to save the lives of animals in need. For those interested in becoming short- or long-term fosters with the Fort Worth Animal Shelter, they can email the foster team for more information.

In a touching tribute, Parker is pictured with her rescue pups, Cornelius and Tamotsu. Sadly, she lost Tamotsu, an Akita, to cancer in June.