(Summer Dashe/The Daily Campus)

Her little body trembled as she waddled around the sidewalk, her crooked tail swatting people’s legs as she hopped about. She was underweight and scared. Kelly leaned down and scooped up the fragile Chihuahua, setting her on her hip like a toddler.

This pup was given the name Paris. She had been found tied to a tree outside a Dallas animal shelter with a note tucked under her collar. Her family couldn’t afford to feed her anymore amidst economic turmoil, so they left her in hands they thought were safe at the shelter. But safety would not come for Paris until later.

It is estimated that each year nearly 30,000 shelter animals are euthanized throughout the greater Dallas area.

“With the economy the way it is and more people surrendering their animals, the city just can’t keep up, and thus the reason for the high euthanasia rate,” Kelly Carden, the volunteer coordinator for Paws in the City, said.

Paws in the City is a strictly foster-based non-profit organization located in Dallas. The group, which started in 2005, rescues dogs from shelters and places the animals in foster care. Some shelters in the Dallas area only give a pup 45 days in their care, and if the dog is not adopted by then, it is euthanized.

“It will take a lot of dedication from our local politicians and support from Dallas citizens, and people need to know how important it is. If Austin can do it, we surely can,” Carden said.

Austin, like many other cities across the U.S., is in the process of becoming an entirely no-kill zone.

“We are implementing innovative and progressive programs in Austin and Central Texas after studying the best practices of other cities who are no-kill or are in the process of becoming no-kill,” according to the AustinPetsAlive.org mission statement.

More and more no-kill shelters are appearing throughout large cities; however, in a recession, they are suffering. Paws, however, has gained a superior amount of notoriety, and fundraising has only increased. The organization earned recognition when it was discussed on the Bravo television show, “Most Eligible Dallas.”

Paws also hosts a variety of creative adoption events. Unlike your typical pet store adoption stand, Paws in the City sets up events at places like the Katy Trail Ice House and Top Golf. It has turned volunteering into a trendy event. Drinks, games, fun and sweet, sweet adoptable pets equals much success.

“We have the greatest group of volunteers anywhere!” Cindy Morris, the Paws in the City event coordinator, said.

The group consists of many young, hip and excited volunteers. Tara Harper, a star of “Most Eligible Dallas,” and her father are members of the board. Carden is a trendy, young blonde who makes fostering an animal seem like the “it” thing to do. The group has made adopting animals seem utterly glamorous.

“Fostering is becoming more and more popular,” Morris said.

For many commitment-phobic folks, fostering a dog is the perfect solution. Carden even says that college is the perfect time to foster.

“You can still experience and help out an animal but not make a 10-year commitment like adopting an animal is,” Carden said.

A foster parent must fill out an application, which can be found at PawsInTheCity.org, and go through a series of brief evaluations to assure the pet will be safe and well taken care of.

This safety came for Paris on day 44 of her stay in a local shelter. Paws found the brown, shorthaired Chihuahua shivering in her cage only one day before her euthanasia deadline.

“The majority are just on their last hour because their time is up. Nothing is wrong with them, but it is a number game,” Carden said of the pets Paws rescues from shelters.

Just days after rescue, Paris was sent to an event at Top Golf where her snaggletooth, broken tale — bent at the tip to a perfect 90 degree angle — and rabbit-like walk would be showcased for potential parents. She is a pup that, if you kneel down to her level, will jump into your purse if it’s big enough or simply crawl up onto your knees, burrowing between your stomach and thighs.

Later that afternoon, Paris was picked up by a loving foster mom and her roommate — two college students who couldn’t wait to nurse this underweight dog back to adoptable material.

Paris stayed with the students for two months. During her foster stay, her foster moms took her to numerous adoption events where she later found a forever home with a family with lots of children to play with.