It seems our city is cracking down on strays. In many ways, this is good for our community. This means less stray animals in danger of being hit by cars. Less stray animals causing problems with the safety of our children, our own personal welfare, our personal pets and yards. Less stray animals going hungry, eating garbage, drinking contaminated water or even going without hydration. Less stray animals contracting fleas, ticks and other diseases. Less strays not spayed and neutered to breed on the streets producing neglected puppies and kittens.
Four Steps to Alleviate the Crisis
It seems our city is cracking down on strays. In many ways, this is good for our community. This means less stray animals in danger of being hit by cars. Less stray animals causing problems with the safety of our children, our own personal welfare, our personal pets and yards. Less stray animals going hungry, eating garbage, drinking contaminated water or even going without hydration. Less stray animals contracting fleas, ticks and other diseases. Less strays not spayed and neutered to breed on the streets producing neglected puppies and kittens.
The problems that are arising from the round up of strays includes the ten kennel Okmulgee Animal Shelter of being full. It is the sole responsibility of OCHS to place animals who land in the city shelter, with rescues, fosters, or adopters. The city only allows an animal to stay in the shelter for a maximum of 17 days - maybe even less as another kennel might be needed for the next stray. OCHS is having difficulty keeping up with this fast pace as rescues are often full and overflowing, and our fosters are maxed to the limit. We simply can’t do this alone. The situation doesn’t have to be bleak. There are four ways you - each one of us - can help: spay and neuter your pets, keep your animals secure and humanely contained, sign up to be a foster, apply to adopt.
--- Spay & Neuter
The benefits of spay and neutering your pets are numerous. S/N reduces the risks of cancer, reduces behavioral issues, improves animal health, and increases lifespan. In addition to an animal’s urge to roam seeking to scratch the reproduction itch, and the most obvious of not producing neglected and unwanted puppies and kittens. We know S/N can be a financial hardship. We urge you to check out Scratchpay and/or CareCredit online to see if you qualify for a payment plan to spay and neuter. Be sure to also follow Fix OK and visit animalallianceok. org/resources/ assistance/ for low cost spay/neuter clinics and other assistance. OCHS has funds for S/N albeit limited. We can only help on a first come first serve basis limited to one per person until we secure a low cost spay and neuter clinic coming soon this spring. If your pets are spayed and neutered, we applaud you. Still, it is more important than ever to keep your animals humanely contained.
--- Keep Animals Humanely Secured Please fix any broken, damaged, or improper fencing. Ensure that your animals can’t squeeze through slats, dig under to escape, jump over or climb the fence. There are creative ways to fix a fence. Consider large field stones at the base of chain link. Look for intact discarded materials to fill gaps in wood slats. If you have a fence jumper or climber, create a coyote roller at the top. Check out this option online as there are many materials and designs available. Never chain or tether. According to Unchain OK, “Your pet is 2.8 times more likely to bite when chained or penned especially is an un-neutered male or a mother with pups.” Unchain OK further states, “They don’t want to live chained, penned, shut away in a basement or garage. They want to be a part of your family.” Include your pet in more family activities by going for walks. Walks are great exercise for you and your pet. Make sure your pet is on a leash or harness as unleashed pets can also be picked up as a stray. Are you looking for a pet to join your walks, family and home? Let OCHS point the way towards options.
--- Sign Up for Fostering Apply to be a foster on our website at www. okmulgeehumane.org/ foster.html. Fostering is free. OCHS supplies all the food and accessories you need to house a temporary pet while you provide nurturing and love. Fostering is meant as a temporary placement while we all work together to find that perfect match with a forever home. Animals available for fostering not only includes unclaimed animals in shelter, but also those in boarding, and a few fosters who experience life changing events and need new fosters to open their doors. New Fosters are needed to re-home Cher, Cooper, Casper, and Roxy. Fosters are needed to spring Rudolph, Zeppelin, Theseus, Ellie Mae, and Regina from boarding. As stated above, “fostering is meant as temporary.” Unfortunately, all too often our fosters get saddled with long-term situations. This is where more adopters are needed.
--- Adopt Today
When you adopt a foster pet, you make room for a foster to accept another stray from city shelter which in turn frees a kennel to take in another stray. The motto is, “Adopt, Don’t Shop!” If you are ready for a new pet to permanently join your home, now is the time. We are getting on the ball of March Madness by waiving adoption fees for qualifying applicants. The process is easy. Visit our website to view adoptables (www.okmulgeehumane. org/adoptables. html), submit a free, no obligation application (www.okmulgeehumane. org/adopt.html) and our staff will review and contact you ASAP.
--- Okmulgee Humane Society • 918-759-2000
