Whether you’re looking to adopt a pet or trying to help a homeless stray, there are many options and resources for doing so in central Oklahoma. People in our community seeking to help lost and abandoned pets and to prevent unwanted pets have a multitude of rescue and welfare options available to them. But despite the thousands of pets that are rescued, sheltered, fostered and adopted in Oklahoma every year, over 60,000 are euthanized annually. Eric McCune, founder of The Bella Foundation, expressed the common thread that runs through all rescues, saying, “The number one goal of every shelter should be to put themselves out of business.”
“Our immediate goal is to end the needless euthanasia of adoptable pets in central Oklahoma. The only way we can reach that goal is by gaining a larger market share of people who choose to adopt instead of buy and advocate for the mission.” – Amy Shrodes, Manager of Development, Central Oklahoma Humane Society
Support for You and Your Pet
Support for You and Your PetThe OK Humane Place Spay and Neuter Clinic was established by the Central Oklahoma Humane Society and is open to anyone needing access to spay/neuter services, as well as all rescue groups. Surgeries include pre-op exams by veterinarians, general anesthesia, monitoring throughout the surgery process and pain medication. Additional services such as vaccines, testing, de-wormer and flea and tick treatment are offered at the time of surgery. 947.SPAY, okhumaneplace.org
The Pet Food Pantry of Oklahoma City provides pet food and pet services to low-income senior citizens, the homeless and veterans. Much like a mobile meals for pet food, the organization’s drivers deliver pet food to these people once a month to prevent them from having to give up their own food or give up their pets. The Pet Food Pantry is passionate about the power and importance of the human/pet bond. 664.2858, petfoodpantry.org
“Local high school students assist us, especially during the weekly adoption outreaches, and they receive community service hours for their good work. In the past we have taken dogs to a correctional facility in Watonga for eight-week training programs with the inmates, and it was an incredible win-win arrangement.” – ARF volunteer Suzy Morgan
Rescues and Shelters
Animal Rescue Friends (ARF)
Animal Rescue Friends (ARF)
Established 1999, Nichols Hills, 843.4222 or 843.3038, animalrescuefriends.com
Animals served: dogs and cats Services: adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: over 850 rescues
Don’t miss ARF’s annual Pooch Parade on Sunday, October 21 in Nichols Hills’ Grand Boulevard Park
The Bella Foundation
Established 2006, Oklahoma City, 866.318.PETS, thebellafoundation.org
Animals served: mostly dogs Services: veterinary care/medications/food support, adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: founded to assist low-income, elderly or terminally ill pet owners who cannot afford veterinary care for their pets; expanded in 2010 to include adoptions with 103 foster volunteers caring for 68-69 dogs a month
Best Friends of Pets
Established 1994, Oklahoma City, 418.8511, bestfriendsokc.org
Animals served: dogs and cats
Services: low cost spay/neuter/vaccinations program, adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: through 2011, spayed or neutered 5,242 dogs and cats
Central Oklahoma Humane Society
Established 2007, Oklahoma City, 607.8991, okhumane.org
Animals served: dogs and cats
Services: low cost spay/neuter/vaccinations program, adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: rescued and found homes for nearly 10,000 cats and dogs and spayed and neutered over 42,000 pets since 2007
Dogs As Family, Inc.
Established 2008, Oklahoma City, 771.4742, dogsasfamily.com
Animals Served: dogs only
Services: adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: founder has personally rescued over 400 dogs
Forever Friends Humane Society
Established 2004, OKC and Sallisaw, 943.9419, ourfurryfriends.petfinder.com
Animals served: mostly dogs and cats
Services: adoptions
Admirable stats: in 2011, found homes for 586 dogs, 653 cats and 1 horse
Free To Live
Established 1982, Edmond, 282.8617, freetoliveok.org
Animals served: dogs and cats
Services: adoptions, animal sanctuary
Admirable stats: maintains a sanctuary as a permanent home for over 100 special-needs dogs and cats
Ms. Kitty’s Cat Rescue, Inc.
Established 2003, Oklahoma City, mskittyrescue@yahoo.com, mskittyscatrescue.org
Animals served: cats only
Services: adoptions
Pet Adoption and Welfare Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (PAWS-OK)
Established 2009, Oklahoma City, 204.3964, pawsok.com
Animals served: cats only
Services: adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: rescued and found homes for over 450 cats and kittens as of July 2012
Pets & People Humane Society
Established 1990, Yukon, 350.7387, petsandpeople.com
Animals served: dogs and cats
Services: low cost spay/neuter/vaccinations program, adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: found homes for over 700 pets in 2012 and has rescued over 40,000 since 1990
Safe Haven Animal Rescue
Established 2004, Bethany, 463.1556, petfinder.com/shelters/safehavenanimal.html
Animals served: dogs, cats, ferrets and more Services: adoptions
Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, Inc.
Established 1990, Norman, 321.1915, secondchancenorman.com
Animals served: dogs and cats Services: adoptions
Admirable stats: finds homes for over 700 pets each year and houses approximately 100 dogs and cats
Volunteers for Animal Welfare, Inc.
Established 1974, Oklahoma City, 606.8476, vawokc.org
Animals served: dogs and cats
Services: low cost spay/neuter/vaccinations program, adoptions, community service/education
Admirable stats: opened SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) in 2006, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for low-income families
There are dozens of rescue organizations and foster groups for a variety of animals, including breed-specific groups, across the state of Oklahoma. Slice Magazine’s staff strongly supports the adoption of rescue animals, as evidenced by our “family” photos in this article. A searchable database of Oklahoma rescue organizations can be found at sliceok.com.
