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Concerns about the New World screwworm have put Texas pet adoptions on hold
Thousands of Texas shelter animals remain in limbo as states tighten import rules and veterinarians add inspections to block the parasite’s spread.
Thousands of dogs and cats in Texas cannot be adopted right now due to efforts to stop the New World screwworm, an insect that entered the U.S. from Mexico for the first time in 60 years, risking euthanasia for some animals.
Mia Bendixsen, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, said the screwworm outbreak has caused problems for both small rescues and larger shelters.
Forty-Four states have placed restrictions on pet movements from Texas, limiting shelters from sending animals to other states and increasing local shelter populations.
The Gulf Coast Humane Society in Corpus Christi saw its animal count rise from about 325 to nearly 450 due to transport bans, increasing euthanasia risks as shelters fill up.