'Herd You Needed a Dog' returns to Fort Worth Stockyards this weekend

The Fort Worth Stockyards are calling, and this time, they're bringing plenty of wagging tails with them.

On Saturday, May 9, Fort Worth Animal Care & Control invites the community to Rodeo Plaza for the fourth annual "Herd You Needed a Dog" adoption event. From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., visitors can meet adoptable shelter and foster dogs of all breeds and ages, each one ready to find a place to call home.

Held during one of the busiest weekends in the Stockyards, the event offers a unique opportunity to take a break from the excitement and connect with pets who are looking for a fresh start.

Behind this event is a story that started with a single act of compassion. In October 2022, Kristin Jaworski and her coworkers spotted a dog roaming the streets and called Fort Worth Animal Care & Control to ensure he was safe. Not long after, she felt pulled to check on him. During her lunch break, she visited the shelter, met the dog, now named Punk, and decided she could not leave without him. Jaworski adopted him on the spot.

That experience opened the door to something more. After seeing firsthand the care and dedication of the shelter team, Jaworski later came across another dog, Pistol, who was in foster care. She brought Pistol home to see how she would get along with the rest of the family. And although the transition wasn't easy at first, the connection was immediate. Within days, Jaworski and her husband knew they couldn't let her go and chose to give her a second chance through adoption.

Inspired by both dogs, Jaworski partnered with Cowtown Friends to help launch "Herd You Needed a Dog" in the Stockyards, creating opportunities for more animals like Punk and Pistol to find homes. That first event resulted in 20 adoptions, and the impact continues to grow each year.

With the support of partners like the Fort Worth Herd, this event continues to turn meaningful moments into lifelong bonds.

Whether you're ready to adopt or simply want to stop by and learn more, staff will be on site to guide adoptions, answer questions and share ways to get involved through fostering or volunteering. Stop by, say howdy and you just might meet the dog that changes everything.