Tulsa Animal Welfare (TAW), Humane Society of Tulsa (HST) and the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tulsa SPCA) announced the creation of the Coalition for Tulsa Pets, an effort to develop a plan to increase the live release rate at Tulsa Animal Welfare.

TAW, HST and the Tulsa SPCA provide sheltering, adoption, protection and enforcement, spay/neuter and other veterinarian services, transport, keeping pets in homes, community outreach and education.

City officials want to give a boost to Tulsa’s Animal Welfare by increasing staffing, extending shelter hours, improving conditions and operational efficiency at the shelter, and updating the city’s animal ordinances and licensing program.

The first private partner to support the new coalition is the WaterShed Animal Fund.

“Caring for animals is labor intensive and requires significant funding.” Tulsa Animal Welfare Manager Jean Letcher said. “The Coalition is thrilled to announce support in this area from the WaterShed Animal Fund.”

Gina Gardner, President of the Humane Society of Tulsa, said she approached the other groups about creating a coalition, which has been meeting since August to document needs and goals for the partnership.

“We immediately started to build a strategic plan that utilized our combined experience, resources and strengths with a common goal to help Tulsa pets,” Gardner said.

“This is the first time we have all come together in a cohesive way, acting as one organization to lead to more meaningful results,” said Tulsa SPCA Executive Director Mindy Tiner.

Currently the live release rate for dogs and cats at TAW is 65 percent. The 2017 intake number for TAW was 8,819 dogs and cats. The Community Plan strives to reduce intake numbers and bring the rate above 90 percent. The Coalition set a goal of a 5-10 percent increase in the annual live release rate.

The Coalition’s first event will be a Free Vaccination Clinic on December 8 at the Hicks Community Center, 3443 South Mingo Road, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Veterinarians and staff will be onsite to provide free rabies, DA2PPV, and FVRCP vaccines, $5 microchips, $2 identification tags, and free collars to Tulsan’s dogs or cats.  The goal is to vaccinate 500 dogs/cats.  The event is first come, first serve and will continue as long as supplies last.