DALLAS, TX June 2025 – Dallas Pets Alive is proud to announce it has been awarded a $50,000
grant from The Dallas Foundation as part of the Foundation’s 2025 Spring Grants Cycle. This
generous support will directly benefit Dogs Matter and their Aftercare Program: Sustaining
Sobriety Through Pet Ownership, an initiative dedicated to supporting individuals in recovery
by helping them retain and care for their beloved pets.
The grant is made possible through The Dallas Foundation’s donor advised endowed funds,
including the Betty Pope Endowment Fund, C. Albert Tatum III Fund, Erin Wylie Fund, and
Louis B. & Mary Ratliff Animal Welfare Fund. Dogs Matter is honored to be among 14 local
nonprofit organizations awarded a combined total of more than $628,000 in funding this
spring.
“Our Dogs Matter Aftercare Program is a lifeline for individuals working to rebuild their lives
through sobriety,” said Stephen Knight, Founder and Executive Director at Dogs Matter.
“This funding from The Dallas Foundation will enable us to provide critical resources that empower
pet owners to stay connected with their animals, a bond that often serves as a powerful source
of motivation, stability, and love during recovery.”
The Dogs Matter Aftercare Program provides temporary pet foster care, reunification
assistance, and ongoing support services to individuals completing substance abuse treatment
programs. The initiative aims to reduce pet surrenders due to housing or treatment-related
barriers and promote long-term wellness for both people and their pets.
The Dallas Foundation is the first community foundation in Texas and has awarded more than
$1 billion in grants to nonprofits since its founding in 1929. Their Spring 2025 grants reflect a
strong commitment to improving quality of life in Dallas through initiatives that address animal
welfare, arts and culture, and domestic violence prevention.
“We are honored to support these local nonprofits through the 2025 Spring Grants Cycle,
” said Vickie Allen, Chief Impact Officer of The Dallas Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our donor-advised
endowed funds, each grant carries forward a legacy of giving that helps meet today’s challenges while building
a stronger, more equitable Dallas for tomorrow.”
About Dogs Matter
Founded in 2015 by Stephen Knight, a substance abuse counselor in recovery, Dogs Matter recognizes
that for many struggling with addiction, their pet is their last source of unconditional love and support.
By providing temporary foster care, the organization helps individuals focus on their recovery journey
with the peace of mind that their beloved companion is safe and well cared for.
Learn more at https://www.dogsmatter2.org/
About Dallas Pets Alive
Dallas Pets Alive is a volunteer-run, foster-based rescue that promotes and provides the resources,
education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals in North Texas. We focus
on rescuing healthy and treatable pets at the greatest risk of being euthanized, reducing owner
surrender through our Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS) program and opening shelter
kennel space by transporting our animals to partners in cities in need of adoptable animals.
Learn more at dallaspetsalive.org.
