Are you ready to bring the joy of pet-ownership into your life? Imagine coming home every day to the excited wag of a tail and eager smile, the kind only a well-loved animal makes. Whether you have a child who’s been begging for a pet to play with or you’re looking for companionship, there are many options for adopting a pet in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Animal Welfare is a great place to start. Their mission is to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of pets and people in OKC. They serve more than 24,000 animals each year through adoption services, lost and found, responses to reports of animal cruelty, and more.
You can find the OKC Animal Welfare at 2811 SE 29th Street. It’s open for pet adoptions from noon to 5:30 p.m. every day.
Right now, the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare is running a special campaign called “Alive in the 405.” The goal of the campaign is to reach a 90% live release rate for animals cared for by the organization—either through reunification with their owner, adoption, or transfer to one of many partner groups. Not too long ago, the live release rate in Oklahoma City was below 50%. Numbers are far better now, but it takes the entire community to ensure the care of our animals continues to exceed expectations.
Here are the Animal Welfare’s Recommendations on How to Help:
1. Adopt. Don't shop. If you want to welcome a pet into your home, consider adopting one of the homeless animals at OKC Animal Welfare. Every adoptable pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, microchipped, treated for worms and spayed or neutered. We're open for adoptions noon to 5:30 p.m. every day but holidays at 2811 SE 29th Street.
2. Spay or neuter your pet. The best way to reduce overpopulation is to be a responsible owner by spaying or neutering your pet. We have a free spay-neuter program at OKC Animal Welfare for all Oklahoma City residents. Call (405) 313-1469 to make an appointment.
3. Volunteer. From kennel-cleaning and dog-walking to tasks that need specialized training, we're always in need of volunteers. See our volunteers page for details on how to get involved.
4. Donate. Our needs for supplies, medical funding and other important functions are only met through the generosity of donations. Visit our donation page for details on how you can help.
5. Foster. We need temporary homes for pets who need time to recover from surgery or illness, to grow big enough for adoption, to work on behavior issues or take a break from stressful shelter life. Check out our foster page for how to start fostering.
What you need to know as a pet owner in Oklahoma City:
If you’ve been inspired to adopt-a-pet, there are a few things you should know in order to be a responsible pet owner. In Oklahoma City, every dog must be confined on your property or on a leash. This is required under City ordinance. One of the only exceptions to this rule is at dog parks.
Though your pet will be neutered or spayed if you decide to adopt from the Animal Welfare, many animals aren’t fixed. You may qualify for Oklahoma City’s free spay/neuter program, which is a great way to ensure your animal has a lower desire to stray from your home in search of a mate. Call (405) 316-3663 or email [email protected] for details.
Before you commit to pet ownership, you’ll want to consider the costs of vet bills, nutritious food, clean water, sufficient space, and suitable shelter for your animal. Oklahoma City households are limited to no more than four dogs and four cats over 6 months old. Any dog or cat older than 4 months must also be vaccinated against rabies.
Still interested in more tips on preparing for pet-ownership in OKC? Check out the comprehensive list of resources from the OKC Animal Welfare here.
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