For the Love of Dogs

Dallas Animal Services and PetSmart join forces to open new adoption center

In a promising development for animals in Dallas, the city's main animal shelter celebrated the grand opening of a satellite adoption center in Far North Dallas, inside the PetSmart store at 16821 Coit Rd.

Animal lovers turned out on Saturday to hear congratulations from city officials, including Dallas Animal Services manager Jody Jones, code compliance director Jimmy Martin and City Council member Sandy Greyson. The new facility is located in Greyson's district.

"Each of these adoption centers allows us to save, on average, more than 1,000 pets every year," said Jan Wilkins, executive director of PetSmart Charities.

The everyday adoption center is part of a nationwide initiative from PetSmart Charities, with the goal of saving more homeless pets. Since May 2010, PetSmart Charities has helped save more than 45,000 pets by opening similar adoption centers in 11 states.

Located at the back of the PetSmart store, the center in North Dallas is geographically desirable to adopters who live north of 635, providing them with a location that's more accessible and convenient. The 2,000-square-foot center has space for 46 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

From the time the DAS PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center soft-opened on September 10 through the end of October, 151 pets were placed in new homes; in the past week, the new center has adopted out 65.

"Our partnership with Dallas Animal Services allows us to promote pet adoptions and reduce pet homelessness in the local community," said Jan Wilkins, executive director of PetSmart Charities. "We are thrilled to bring this everyday adoption center model to Dallas; each of these adoption centers allows us to save, on average, more than 1,000 pets every year."

"The everyday adoption center will provide us the opportunity to bring pets to a whole new audience in our community," said DAS manager Jones.

The adoption center is open daily during the store's operating hours. Amenities include kennels for adult dogs, puppies and small dogs; a cat adoption center; play areas for dogs awaiting adoption; and meet-and-greet areas for prospective adopters and their families to get acquainted with the pet.

Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson snips the ribbon at the new adoption center inside PetSmart on Coit Road.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins

Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson snips the ribbon at the new adoption center inside PetSmart on Coit Road.

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Sobering statistic

Texas ranks No. 9 among deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

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At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

Several organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth are offering ways to get home safely around New Year’s if you’re too drunk to drive:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has teamed up with Coors Light to provide free rides on New Year’s Eve. To get a free ride, enter the promo code COORSNYE25 in the GoPass app. The offer is available to the first 10,500 riders who enter the code in the GoPass app.
Trinity Metro will offer free Trinity Railway Express rides in Tarrant County from 6 pm-midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Various bars and entertainment venues in Dallas County are supplying QR codes for one free Lyft ride worth up to $35. The EpicCentral entertainment district in Grand Prairie is among the participants.
In collaboration with TxDOT and the Frisco Police Department, Uber is offering $30-per-ride vouchers for people in Frisco who aren’t sober enough to drive. Frisco ranks first on Allstate’s 2025 list of the Texas cities with the best drivers.
Fort Worth Limousines provides designated-driver services in Dallas-Fort Worth via limo, luxury sedan, SUV, and bus.
Pro-Tow Wrecker Service is offering free tows to tipsy motorists in Denton County who need a ride on New Year’s Eve.

traffic fatalities crime holidays new year's day new years eve traffic