Concerns about the New World screwworm have put Texas pet adoptions on hold

The emergence of the New World screwworm in Texas has halted adoptions of thousands of dogs and cats, potentially putting them at risk of euthanasia. This invasive insect, which has crossed the border from Mexico for the first time in 60 years, poses a threat to the $113 billion beef industry by possibly infecting cattle. As a result, federal officials have closed the border to cattle movements.

Since the screwworm can also infect pets, many states have restricted the movement of animals from affected regions, leading to overcrowded conditions in shelters that depend on adoptions to other parts of the country. Mia Bendixsen, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, noted that the situation has been challenging for both small rescues and larger shelters.

The screwworm can lay eggs in the wounds or mucous of any mammal, and several infections have been reported in dogs in southern Texas and southeastern New Mexico. In response, 44 states have restricted the movement of pets from infested areas, creating difficulties for shelters like the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Corpus Christi, which saw its animal population increase from around 325 to nearly 450 due to a lack of space in Corpus Christi.

The shelter, which typically transports about 500 dogs a year out of Texas, was forced to create more outdoor exercise space until New York resumed accepting Texas dogs, provided they were certified by a veterinarian as free from screwworm infection. If Gulf Coast Humane Society lacks space for animals from municipal shelters, it may be compelled to euthanize more animals.