by Anna Holton-Dean | Photos courtesy of the Tulsa SPCA
through dog socialization.
Although the past year brought great needs, the Tulsa SPCA saw the challenge as a chance to make a greater impact. Since 1913, the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been serving the local community. Its mission is simple — to improve the lives of dogs and cats and their human companions. However, achieving that mission is a multifaceted, expensive, and labor-intensive endeavor.
“We need to be sure we’re meeting all the animals’ medical and physical needs, but also their mental, emotional, and social needs as well,” says Mindy Tiner, CEO of Tulsa SPCA. “We have struggled with hiring just like everyone else over the last few years. We always need monetary donations and in-kind donations (particularly Purina One dog, cat, puppy, and kitten food and treats) to help with the costs we incur. But in addition, we really need volunteers to help us provide the quality of care we feel is essential as well as to help us continue providing vital services to the community.”
Although donating and volunteering are the most obvious ways to help the organization — very much needed and welcomed ways — another incredibly valuable action is spreading the word about services available through the Tulsa SPCA, “so all pet parents will know they are able to access basic care no matter the size of their paychecks,” Tiner says.
Intake and Adoptions
The past year was a record-breaking one for animals and people in need of assistance, Tiner says.
“This includes owned animals, strays found by Good Samaritans, animals dumped at our shelter, animals surrendered as a result of our cruelty and neglect calls, animals transported in from local municipal cases, and occasionally hoarding and/or puppy-mill situations. Our team has done a great job trying to initially divert owner surrenders by helping resolve the reasons for surrender. When that isn’t possible, we have managed getting the animals in, treated medically, housed safely and humanely, and placed in safe homes as quickly as possible.”
Public Clinic
“In addition to providing spay/neuter, low-cost vaccines, and other basic minor-needs services, in 2022, we began offering low-cost blood work, dental services, and a variety of other surgeries to the public as well,” Tiner says. “Our goal is always to make it possible for all pet parents to afford the care their animals need if it falls within the scope of our services. Although our prices are already very affordable, we can subsidize additionally when we have money available in our Save a Life (SAL) fund.”
Cruelty Investigation
“We do not have the authority to seize animals or charge owners with any criminal violations,” Tiner says. “Our initial assumption when we respond to a report made via our cruelty form is that the person being reported needs education or assistance or maybe both. We try to assume good intentions but maybe bad execution. If we find that to be the case, we provide all the assistance we can and follow up to make sure there is compliance with our recommendations. In the occasional cases when we find there has been intentional mistreatment or neglect or there is noncompliance when we go back to follow up, we turn a report in to the appropriate municipality and request an investigation and charges be initiated.”
Community Engagement
“Our Community Engagement program takes many forms,” Tiner explains. “We provide educational outreach to people of all ages on a variety of topics. In addition, we believe so strongly in the healing power animals can have for humans; many of our efforts reflect that. Through our Pets Are Love (PAL) Program, we take animals to schools during exam periods to help students decompress, visit businesses to provide stress relief, visit assisted-living facilities to provide comfort and love to residents, and so much more. The impact dogs and cats have on lives is sometimes immediately apparent on faces as well as actions and even vital signs like blood pressure and pulse rate.”
New Year, New Needs
Reflecting on 2022, Tiner says it was one of the most difficult years but also the most rewarding.
“We saw such an increase in need in almost every area in our community. Although the need was great, we were able to make a difference in so many lives. It seemed like we had challenges at every turn but turned those into opportunities to make a much larger impact on both animal and human lives. Our mission to improve the lives of dogs and cats and their human companions was front and center all year.”Although the needs might be greater than ever, the Tulsa SPCA is not deterred from accomplishing its task. With your help, the organization is
ready for all that the new year might bring.
“Our focus has always been improving the lives of the animals in our community,” Tiner says. “With the support of those in the community, we plan to be here for many years to come, making a difference. I know that if we all work together, we can accomplish great things.”
