Pet of the Week

After some much-needed TLC at SPCA, sweet Mia is ready for adoption

Great news! Former SPCA Pet of the Week Sam was adopted because his new mom read about him on CultureMap. However, Penny is still waiting for her forever family.

This week meet Mia. She came to the SPCA of Texas on July 30 when she was rescued from inhumane conditions. When she first arrived, she was very emaciated. For the past few weeks, though, she has received plenty of food and TLC, and now she is happy and healthy and looking good.

Could this sweet pup be your new four-legged companion? Let’s find out:

Breed: Pit bull mix

Age: 3 years

Weight: 37 pounds

Personality: Mia is such a delight to be around. She has a great personality and plenty of love for everyone. She’s just happy to be surrounded by friends wherever she goes. She has cute little spots on her black-and-white coat, and the healthier she gets, the more they shine. She likes her toys, of course, and she really likes to snuggle. She also has great manners.

Vital Stats: She has been spayed and microchipped, and she has received all age-appropriate vaccinations. Unfortunately, Mia is heartworm positive, but the SPCA of Texas has received donations to pay for her treatment.

Come meet Mia today (#134571) at the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas at 2400 Lone Star Dr., near I-30 and Hampton Road. The center is open seven days a week, noon-6 pm.

Regular adoption fees are $95-$125 for puppies 0-6 months, $75-$95 for adult dogs 6 months or older, $50 for senior dogs 7 years or older, $50 for VIP dogs, $95 for kittens, $75 for adult cats, $50 for senior cats 7 years and older, and $50 for VIP cats.

The adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, heartworm test for dogs 6 months and older, initial heartworm preventative for dogs, feline leukemia test for cats 4 months and older, microchip, rabies tag, and free leash or cat carrier. Call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit the SPCA website for more information.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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