Written By: Lauren Cavagnolo
ANDOLINI’S PIZZERIA
Andolini’s Pizzeria has long been a staple in the area since its first location opened
in 2005 in Owasso. Now, it has expanded to include locations in Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Jenks, along with a food truck. The Jenks Riverwalk location is where my family found itself for our first dog-friendly patio review.
We had just completed our quarantine after a bout of COVID-19 ran through our household only to find ourselves snowed in and home from school for an additional week. After 10 days spent below freezing with almost no sight of the sun, lunch on a patio in February with a high of 40 degrees and sunshine felt like a tropical getaway despite the piles of snow surrounding us.
Since our family pooch is older and a bit of a curmudgeon, we decided to treat a rescue dog, in need of a home, to lunch. Angela Hanson, president and adoption coordinator for Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts (CARE), was kind enough to meet us along with Eleanor, a 2-year-old Rottweiler Doberman Pinscher mix.
When we arrived at the restaurant there were two patio areas available, either on the riverfront side of the restaurant or seating next to the main entrance. We opted for the sunnier of the two choices. Manager Willie Fitzgerald was attentive, setting us up with a table and a server. Eleanor was quickly presented with her own bowl of water and an order of garlic knots sans the butter and garlic. We ordered our own buttery, garlic version with a side of marinara for the humans to indulge in.
Andolini’s menu features hand-tossed pizzas, which can also be ordered with gluten-free crust. They were also accommodating to some of our family member’s dairy sensitivity. Salads and pasta round out the menu, and it’s impossible to leave without trying the gelato. The drink menu features a mix of local and national craft beers, both draught and bottled.
Over our custom pizzas and chicken fettuccini Alfredo, Hanson and I discussed the impact of the pandemic and recent severe weather on CARE, as well as Eleanor’s hopes for a forever home.
CARE was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2016 and has focused its mission on giving a voice to overlooked homeless dogs.
“The biggest need was the dogs that weren’t being picked up by the breed-specific rescues,” Hanson explained. “There are some rescues that focus more on puppies, so we wanted to help those dogs that were getting left out.”
Like many other rescues, when the first stayat-home orders were issued, CARE experienced an influx of adoptions and fosters.
“When it first started, so many people were home. People were fostering and adopting. …
that lasted for a few months. We haven’t really had a return issue. We had quite a few adoptions; we did get some new fosters, but now that’s waned.
“Because of COVID, it shut down everything including spay and neuter, and now we have puppies and kittens.”
A year later, CARE is really feeling the impact of these additional animals in the community. February’s winter weather has only compounded the difficulties of a rescue that was already at capacity.
“When [the winter weather] hit, this has been awful because of the dogs being left out in the weather. We are overloaded right now just because of the dogs we have taken in; we didn’t really have room,” Hanson added. “We just took in a litter of six puppies. The mother had died when they were 4-weeks-old. Two of [the puppies] died; [there were originally] eight, but everybody is so overloaded.”
Hanson said monetary donations are the biggest help because then they are able to apply those funds where they are most needed whether it is medical supplies, pet food, etc. However, fosters, volunteers and donations of supplies are also welcome. Donations can be made at carerescueok.org.
“Because we are foster-based, that’s literally the only way we can do what we do,” Hanson said. “Without fosters, we can’t save dogs.”
Eleanor has been with CARE for about a year and is still looking for her forever family as of press time. Found starving on the streets just over a year ago, her puppies have all since found homes.
During our meal she was a perfect lady, snoozing in the sun near Hanson’s feet. She adored the attention from the kids and made all 65 pounds of herself comfy in my 50-pound son’s lap. She is clearly food-motivated and was responsive to Hanson’s commands and hand signals. An active family with kids, and possibly another active dog, would be ideal for Eleanor.
“We find that we have the best dogs in the world, and we are like, ‘What is the deal? Why hasn’t this dog been adopted?’ And you know what? It’s because the right family hasn’t come along,” Hanson said. “So we are willing to keep them until we find that right family.”
