As a part of Comprehensive Animal Welfare Reform Plan, Tulsa Animal Welfare (TAW) announced the extension of its shelter hours. Animal Welfare will extend its Saturday hours and open on Sundays.
The new hours are:
- Monday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Thursday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Friday: Noon – 6 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon – 6 p.m. (previously Noon – 4 p.m.)
- Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m. (previously closed)
Tulsa Animal Welfare Manager Jean Letcher says the extension of hours will help enhance services such as adoption, animal visits, return to owner services and volunteering. The dispatch hours will remain the same.
“Being open seven days a week is something we have been working toward for a long time,” Letcher said. “We are excited about being able to adopt out more dogs and cats.”
The new hours follow a plan to help address staffing increases, extend shelter hours, improve conditions, increase operating efficiency and update the City’s animal ordinances and licensing program.
Since the reform plan was introduced, Animal Welfare has been working on strategies and hiring more staff while making improvements. Animal Welfare has conducted two rounds of consulting with its clinic and staff and is already seeing improvements in operations.
Two new staffing positions, a Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator and a Pet Diversion Help Line Coordinator, are being hired through the Watershed Animal Fund.
And Animal Welfare is also one step closer to introducing an online licensing program, which is expected to be operational this fall.
The Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission recently introduced draft revisions to the Title II Animal Ordinance. August 31 is the deadline for a feedback survey on the revisions.