News
Mark the Date…Cornell University, Director of Shelter Medicine Outreach, to Visit Oklahoma
Dr. G and Teddy
August 16th and 17th, OAA will host Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM, Director of Clinical Programs Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, in a two-day event to help increase awareness of developing effective policies for animal welfare programs in our state.
Dr. Griffin will speak on creating good policies, working with veterinarians, feral cat programs and more. Location to be announced. For information please call OAA at 918-742-3700.
Mondays at the Tulsa Animal Shelter
The Tulsa Animal Shelter has been in the news several times recently. There have been stories written about the HSUS report, the pit bulls that were euthanized, and now 'Mondays at the Tulsa Animal Shelter.'
Many who commented on the Tulsa World article are appalled that animals are being killed on a regular basis, but very few offer a reasonable solution to the problem or offer their time or money to help.
There are many factors that contribute to the pet overpopulation. The greatest factor is many pets are not spayed or neutered. In the City of Tulsa, the city ordinance requires all dogs and cats over the age of six months must be spayed or neutered (unless an exemption has been filed). Failure to comply will result in a fine. To review the city ordinances, click on this link: City of Tulsa Ordinances If all pet owners would adhere to this ordinance, there would be a great reduction in the pet overpopulation.
Those of us who have dedicated our time and life to helping those pets who need us the most, know the hard truth of animal welfare...you can't save all pets. Opening more rescues, building larger shelters is not the answer. Those of us who own pets or say we care about the welfare of the animals must step up and take action to resolve the problem. Volunteer your time at the shelter. See the number of animals that are dropped off daily. Look into their eyes and try to justify why your pet doesn't need to be spayed or neutered.
If volunteering at the shelter is too stressful, make donations to animal welfare organizations that are making a difference. Research the organizations. Ask questions...then donate. Your donation will help sponsor programs designed to reduce the pet overpopulation.
Every intact pet that runs loose in the streets adds to the pet overpopulation. There is a very easy and humane solution, it's called...spay or neuter.
Click on this link to watch the video 'Mondays at the Tulsa Animal Shelter'.....then step up and take action. Tulsa World Video
A few notes on some OAA state outreach happenings
In 2008, OAA was awarded the first law enforcement certification for an Oklahoma based class on halting animal cruelty for police officers and those who are first responders to animal cruelty cases. Our March 29 cruelty enforcement class for police officers in Pawnee County was an overwhelming success; the room was packed with officers including deputies from four counties, plus officers from as far as Midwest City.
OAA has been invited to be a part of the ongoing host forum of the OK City AM talk-radio show called, "SPEAK!" This show features lively discussion of animal issues each Sunday at 3 pm on AM 1000. The station is an OK City station but you can pick it up online as well. Join us each Sunday!!
In January 2008, OAA was chosen as the Oklahoma representative to receive a $5000 grant from the Doris Day Animal Foundation. The goal of the grant was to provide surgeries to low-income families that are otherwise unable to access spay/ neuter for their pets during the month of February. Because of Oklahoma's excellent network of spay/ neuter programs, and with caring vets in over 20 remote counties, OAA tallied more than the double the number of the other grant recipients, providing 262 surgeries for the grant. OAA is featured on the DDAF and HSUS websites.
Through our yearly spay/ neuter event called, "It's Hip To Snip, a high volume spay/ neuter program timed in conjunction with Spay Day, over 1,100 surgeries were provided to at-risk animals in low-income homes.
Through OAA's efforts combined with other organizations, Oklahoma was in the top ten in the entire US for spay month 2008.
On April 3 and 4, OAA partnered with the Oklahoma Humane Federation to provide information on the link between violence toward animals and violence toward people at the statewide CASA conference. CASA provides volunteer guardian ad litum services to child abuse victims. We have two separate goals in this effort; the first is to increase awareness by social services workers that when children are removed from a home in response to violence, the pets are in immediate danger. Secondly, that when animal abuse is reported in a home, the violence will likely escalate to include children. In fact, 57% of children of mothers in domestic violence shelters have witnessed violence toward animals and 29% have placed themselves in front of a pet to protect the pet from the perpetrator, making this a large issue in child abuse/ domestic violence cases. We hope to create a network of safe houses for fostering animals in response to these cases.
On April 5th, OAA sponsored, "Tag Day," a yearly event at which tags are provided to pets free of charge and designed to increase awareness of having identification on pets. Over 95% of pets lost without ID will not get home. 2008 Tag Day provided services to 340 dogs at four locations.
On January 1, 2008, OAA responded to a request from Creek County Sheriff's Office to house six dogs that were seized due to neglect. In the sub-freezing temperatures the dogs were chained outdoors with no shelter, food or water. The former owner admitted that she had not fed the dogs in at least two days. On March 26, 2008, the dogs were released by the courts for adoption and four have already gone to new homes.
For information on donating to any of these programs, or to volunteer for OAA please contact info@animalallianceok.org or call 918-742-3700.
Ruth Steinberger, Director of Outreach
OAA Initiates First Oklahoma Anti Cruelty Class for First Responders
On February 8th the OAA offered its’ first anti-cruelty class for police officers, holding the one-day class in Marshall County, located along the Oklahoma/ Texas border. Marshall County, OK, was chosen because it is a rural area with a large number of animal cruelty complaints and a local sheriff’s office that is willing to respond to these complaints thoroughly.
Responding to an overwhelming number of cruelty complaints from citizens throughout Oklahoma, OAA decided the best approach for tackling this issue would be to help those who are charged with investigating and enforcing animal welfare laws to have a comprehensive understanding of these laws and how to use them. The class is open to police officers, deputies, registered veterinary technicians and registered euthanasia technicians. The first day was filled to capacity.
The OAA class provides information on Oklahoma statutes pertaining to animal cruelty and neglect, and methods for investigating these complaints.
It is our hope that these classes will help those who are the first responders to animals that are in distress so that those who victimize animals will understand that they cannot commit crimes against animals in Oklahoma.
OAA Provides Rural Partnership to Halt Pet Overpopulation
Clinic in Claremore
During the 2008 It’s-Hip-To-Snip, funding awarded to OAA by the Doris Day Animal Foundation was used to provide 262 spays or neuters for animals living in low-income, rural areas of Oklahoma.
Partnering with Homeward Bound Humane Society of Durant, PAWS of Bristow and Zoi’s Rescue of Claremore, and veterinarians in outlying areas, OAA used mobile services and other models to help families earning under $25,000 per year prevent springtime litters.
84% of the families helped through the OAA rural project had incomes under $15,000 per year. Without assistance, responsible pet ownership would have remained out of reach, and the tragic consequence of an unwanted litter would have been a likely result.
Clinic in Durant
For many low-income homes, pet sterilization means the difference between the animal remaining in the home or becoming an unwanted burden. Only five out of 77 Oklahoma counties have county wide shelters available to accept unwanted animals. Without a safety net for unwanted animals, spaying or neutering is literally a life or death matter for rural, at-risk animals.
Through increasing outreach to provide spay/ neuter and education, OAA is helping many animals in rural homes remain safe and wanted.
Adopt a Little Okie has returned to the Tulsa Animal Shelter
OAA volunteer Amy and friend
"Adopt a Little Okie" is a program designed to encourage the adoption of shelter pets. Oklahoma Alliance for Animals partners with Tulsa Animal Welfare to showcase Tulsa’s magnificent mutts and fabulous felines. This special event takes place at the shelter the last Saturday of every month from 12:00 to 4:00 P.M. It’s a great time for you to see some of Tulsa’s most beautiful pets who are waiting for a loving home. So come on out and Adopt a Little Okie!
OAA wants to thank this month’s volunteers for making this event a success.
Puppy Mills In Oklahoma, A Growing Concern
This photo shows a substandard kennel which does not meet the requirements of USDA nor any state standards. A lack of state regulations permits facilities like this operate throughout Oklahoma.
On Feb , 2008, the Pet Quality Assurance Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Lee Denney, (R-Cushing), designed to regulate the growing high volume dog breeding industry in Oklahoma, died in the OK House Ag Committee.
Committee Chair, Don Arms, refused a vote on the matter, ending chances for passage in 2008. Puppy mill is a term describing facilities that often have hundreds of dogs producing puppies in substandard conditions, without proper diet, care or socialization, and with no regard for the consumers who purchase these puppies.
This is a licensed USDA facility. The standards of care mandated by USDA were the minimum standards called for by the bill which was opposed by some breeders as too restrictive.
Facilities which sell puppies wholesale (through brokers or at auctions), are required to have a USDA (federal) license. Because there is no Oklahoma license for breeding kennels, breeders that sell puppies online or otherwise directly to the consumer, are not required to meet any standards for housing, care or record keeping. The lack of regulations has caused an upsurge in their numbers in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has the second to the highest number of USDA facilities in the nation, with 12.3% of the total nationwide. As the only state with a large number of breeders to lack regulations, Oklahoma has become a haven for this clandestine industry, with over a 70% increase in the number of high volume puppy producers since 2000.
The Pet Quality Assurance Act would have created basic minimum standards, based on USDA regulations, for all facilities selling, trading or otherwise releasing over 25 dogs or puppies per year. Despite objections from some breeders that the law was overly restrictive, USDA standards calls for a dog to have at least its’ length plus six inches, times the same dimension, for housing, meaning that a typical beagle can be kept in a cage that is 32 by 32 inches for life.
The OAA encourages animal welfare advocates to continue to educate themselves about this growing industry, and voice your concerns to your representatives throughout the coming year.