Texas’ screwworm could be fatal for the unadopted dogs and cats in rescue shelters statewide

Thousands of dogs and cats in shelters across Texas are facing the possibility of being euthanized due to efforts to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, an insect that has entered the United States from Mexico. This flesh-eating parasite also poses a threat to the nation's $113 billion beef industry, prompting federal officials to restrict cattle movements across the border.

Because the screwworm can infect pets, most states have limited the movement of animals from infested regions of Texas, creating overcrowded conditions in shelters that rely on adoptions for their survival. Mia Bendixsen, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, explained that the screwworm's eggs can hatch and lay dormant in wounds or mucous of any mammal, infecting dogs and causing a significant number of infections in the southern Texas and southeastern New Mexico areas.

The restriction of pet movements from infested regions has caused significant hardship for shelters, such as the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Corpus Christi, which had to keep its animal population at 325 dogs for weeks, increasing from 325 to nearly 450. This shortage of space forced the shelter to create more outdoor exercise areas until New York again allowed dogs from Texas to enter, provided a veterinarian certified they were not infected with the screwworm.

The Texas shelter has a surplus of adoptable dogs, transferring nearly 89,000 out of its shelters in 2025, more than any other state. However, the high number of unadopted dogs and cats, along with the lack of spaying and neutering, presents a challenge for rescue efforts in Texas.