The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter will no longer use breed labels to identify its adoptable dogs, according to a Tuesday announcement from the shelter.
“How a dog is labeled or their physical appearance is not an indication of their personality, their past or future behavior, or their suitability for a particular adoption placement,” the statement reads.
The shelter points to a study cited by the Animal Farm Foundation, a nonprofit that works to promote pit bull dogs, that reports breed labels assigned to shelter dogs by staff members are incorrect at least 75 percent of the time.
The WCRAS release says that giving misinformation by misidentifying dog breeds does not fall in line with the shelter’s standards.
“When you remove breed labels, you open the door to possibility. You have a chance to fall in love without being inhibited by breed,” said Cheryl Schneider, animal services director for the county, in a statement. “Instead, fall in love by listening to your heart.”
The Williamson County shelter serves the animals in Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto, Leander. The shelter is offering free adoptions on all adult dogs and cats Feb. 10-12, and adoptions for adult dogs and cats are $14 through Feb. 14. Kittens and puppies will be $75 to adopt, according to the release.