Three acclaimed North Texas animal organizations have received generous grants for the work they do to help animals in Dallas.

The donations come from Dallas Companion Animal Project (DCAP), a longtime Dallas-based advocacy group.

The three recipient organizations include:

• Operation Kindness, the original and largest no-kill animal shelter in North Texas. Since their founding in 1976, Operation Kindness has saved the lives of nearly 100,000 homeless animals. All of their income comes from donations from individuals and businesses, adoptions, and fundraising events.
• Spay Neuter Network, which works to end euthanasia by providing low-cost spaying, neutering, vaccines, and microchipping. SNN focuses on underserved neighborhoods, where people don't have the funds or access to veterinarian offices.
• Mazie's Mission, a nonprofit veterinary hospital serving rescue groups and municipal shelters. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Erin Schults, it's the only veterinary clinic of its kind in the country, serving only pets in the rescue system. They do not see privately owned pets.

Operation Kindness and SNN will each receive $75,000 to help provide medical services to dogs and cats that have landed at Dallas Animal Services (DAS), the city of Dallas shelter, that are not covered by available services or other existing grants.

Mazie's Mission will receive $50,000 for medical costs.

This is the first grant award made by DCAP. The money was left in a bequest to DCAP by a Dallas animal lover who passed away and requested anonymity. The monies have been held in DCAP's authority until programs were identified, and the organizations chosen to insure that the deceased's wishes were followed as authorized in the will.

In a release, DCAP president Maeleska Fletes says that her group is thrilled at the opportunity to save more lives.

"Animals ending up at DAS can be in varying stages of need and many times the resources aren't available," she says.

The grant to Operation Kindness is designed to help the organization transfer more animals out of Dallas Animal Services by providing funds for medical treatments to animals that otherwise may have euthanized.

The grant to SNN helps fund more spay and neuter surgeries, heartworm treatments, and other procedures.

The grant to Mazie's Mission will help the group continue their mission to treat sick and injured animals taken on by local rescue groups from Dallas Animal Services.

"Mazie's Mission is honored to receive this generous grant from DCAP," says Schults in a statement. "We are firm believers that when rescue organizations work together, more animals' lives are saved. We are excited to be able to bring more animals from Dallas Animal Services into the Mazie's rescue program."