DoodyCalls of Dallas & Fort Worth

West Dallas & Fort Worth, TX Dog Resource Guide

Local Laws and Ordinances that Affect Dog Owners

• Licensing Laws - Texas state law requires that all animals over four months in age must be vaccinated against rabies. Some cities also require that the animal be licensed and registered. Because each municipality is allowed to determine licensing fees, the cost will vary from one area to the next. Click on your city’s link to see its registration fee or call your local Animal Control Department. Plano, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Denton, Carrollton, Dallas, Coppell.
• Leash Laws - Although state laws only require that dogs known to be dangerous must be on a leash, Plano, McKinney, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Carrollton, The Colony, Euless, Dallas, Irving, and Coppell require that all dogs must be on a leash of six feet or less when off of their owner’s property.
• Pooper Scooper Laws - Plano, McKinney, Fort Worth, Denton, Carrollton, Dallas, and Coppell require that owners remove all waste left behind by their dog(s) in a safe and sanitary manner. Failure to do so is considered a class C felony and will be subject to a fine.
• Limit Laws - Irving, Dallas, and McKinney each enforce a four-dog limit to any one owner. In Carrollton the limit is only two dogs within city limits; the limit in all other areas of Carrollton is three dogs.

Dog Parks and Dog Park Support Organizations

• Two acres along the Bluebonnet Trail are dedicated to the Jack Carter Dog Park, which is at this time the only off-leash dog park available in Plano.  Owners are allowed to bring up to three dogs provided they clean up any waste and abide by all park rules.
• Fort Woof Dog Park is the first dog park in Fort Worth, Texas and features five acres of off-leash areas for both large and small dogs. The “Walk A Dog” site offers helpful tips for dealing with dog waste while enjoying the outdoors.
• Lake Forest Dog Park in Denton offers large areas for both large and small dogs. Check out this site for a complete list of park rules to help ensure everyone’s safety and fun.
• White Rock Lake Dog Park in Dallas offers your pet the chance to play, socialize, and even swim! Also check out their website for a list of adoptable pets in the area.
• The Paw Pals of Grand Prairie offers a beautiful dog park in the Grand Prairie area. The site also offers tips on how to make a visit to the dog park enjoyable for everyone and a feedback area where patrons can make suggestions.
• Tipps Canine Hollow at Northfield Park has three acres of fenced off-leash areas. Visit this site for a complete list of park rules and hours.
• Boo Boo’s Buddies is a relatively new off-leash dog park in Southlake, Texas. It was founded by Jan Ekonomy in honor of her sister Nancy, who passed away in 2001. Visit this website to read the whole story and to read about upcoming news and events in the park.
• Responsible Unleashed Fun for Fido (RUFF) is a non profit organization dedicated to the founding of off-leash dog parks in the Arlington, Texas area. The members of  RUFF  believe that having an area for people to come and responsibly spend time with their pets will help to decrease the number of dogs given up for adoption each year.

Humane Societies and Animal Shelters

• Animal Rescue Klub rescues dogs and cats from overcrowded animal shelters to be placed in foster homes until they are adopted. The volunteer-run organization promotes spaying and neutering as the best solution to the rising number of homeless pets.
• The Second Chance SPCA in Plano, Texas is operated primarily by volunteers and stands by a “no-kill” policy on all animals in their shelter. In addition to adoption opportunities, Second Chance offers public education programs on animal care and hosts various fund-raising events throughout the year.
•  A Different Breed Animal Rescue  seeks to resolve the reason for so many overcrowded animal shelters. They believe that the solution to the excess pet population lies in educating the public on the benefits of spaying/neutering pets and other aspects of pet care.
• Dog & Kitty City, founded by the Humane Society in Dallas, enforces a firm no-kill policy. Visit this site to find out more about adopting a pet or being a foster family.
• Lexee’s Legacy is a volunteer-operated, no-kill animal shelter founded in 2000. Since then they have been able to place more than 600 animals in loving homes.
• Operation Kindness was founded in 1976, making it the oldest and largest rescue shelter in the North Texas area committed to never killing one animal to make room for another. In addition to adoption and fostering opportunities, Operation Kindness also operates a spay/neuter and micro-chipping clinic.
• The DFW Humane Society offers dogs and cats a second chance in a loving, safe environment. This shelter also operates under a no-kill policy.
• The Humane Society of North Texas offers a variety of programs designed to increase public awareness of issues such as overcrowded pet shelters and their innovative K911 Emergency Rescue program which offers aid to any injured animal, twenty-four hours a day. On their website, you can also view the animals they have available for adoption.

Other Dog Organizations and Ideas That We Support

• Plano’s Animal Services Department hosts the Paw Prints Newsletter and Officer Buckey’s Paws for Thought which offers tips for pet care and fun during various holidays and seasons.
• The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) sponsors a program called “DOO the Right Thing.” Visit this website to learn about the impact of dog waste in your neighborhood and what you can do to help.
• The Animal Rescue League (ARL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless animals and sick animals in the North Texas area. Their website offers a wealth of information on local adoption agencies, pet care, and the benefits of spaying/neutering pets.  
• Wonderpuppy.net offers alternate solutions for pet owners who feel that they must give up their pet for various reasons. This website seeks to help owners solve these problems so that their pets can remain as valued members of their family.