by Carol Mowdy Bond
Bonding with Zane
In May 2023, Rob Lovett adopted one-year-old Zane through Mutt Misfits. A pit-terrier mix, Zane was rescued from an Oklahoma abuse situation that was publicized on television. “Zane fits right in with my family since we were both adopted,” Lovett says. “So we have a connection and bond. He’s amazing and so lovable. He’s my pretty golden-eyed boy! I can’t imagine life without him because he’s my best friend. He brings so much joy and love to our family. This was made possible by Heather Herrera and Zane’s foster mom, Casie.”
“I began Mutt Misfits in 2017,” says Heather Herrera, president and
founder of Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue Society. “At the time, I was working at the municipal animal shelter, and my job was to get animals out of the shelter and into foster homes or rescue groups. Time after time, I found myself frustrated because rescue groups so often wouldn’t take the sick and injured animals. So I started my own!”
With headquarters in the Oklahoma City area, Herrera’s nonprofit rescue group primarily helps animals with major medical illnesses and injuries or those who are advanced in age. Such animals are often overlooked by shelters and the public. But Mutt Misfits treats all animals for all medical issues before offering them for adoption. By that time, the animals have been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, and tested for various issues.
Mutt Misfits works with dogs and cats and once even helped a pig named Mess. Typically, about 125 animals are in the program at any given time. Because the group does not have a shelter facility, all animals are housed in foster homes.
“In my lifetime, I have probably had around 5,000 foster animals come through my house,” Herrera says. “Our goal is to save the unsavable. By focusing on animals with major medical conditions, we strive to help animals that are otherwise
overlooked. We will probably never be completely out of debt due to our veterinarian bills. But we are thankful for every donation that comes our way, and 100 percent goes to our special-needs pets.”
The group helps unwanted animals in situations that could lead to harm or euthanasia. Since its founding, Mutt Misfits has found homes for about 3,000 animals, all of whom had major medical conditions. The organization takes animals from all over Oklahoma. Although most of the volunteers are in Oklahoma City, their goal is to help as many special-needs pets in in the state as possible, no matter where they are located. Mutt Misfits regularly works with Tulsa Animal Welfare and all the smaller municipal shelters surrounding Tulsa.
Mutt Misfits partners with shelters and the public to promote responsible pet ownership, spaying and neutering, and adoption of special-needs pets. Mutt Misfits hosts adoption events almost every weekend and orchestrates fund-raisers year-round. The annual Misfit Masquerade is held every November.
Finding the Best Homes
“We regularly do adoptions from all over the country,” Herrera says. “We have even had two dogs adopted into homes in Canada. We are happy to coordinate transport as far away as needed to find the best home for each animal.”
Mutt Misfits has no paid staff members, with 100 percent volunteer work for everything. Besides running the group, Herrera has two paying jobs.
“From fostering pets to events to transportation, volunteer help is always needed and greatly appreciated,” says Herrera. “When an animal is in need, we post the notice on our private Facebook page, and foster parents comment on the animals they can commit to. From there, we organize getting the animal picked up and taken to our veterinarian for its initial intake exam, when we come up with a medical plan specific to the animal. The foster parent takes care of the animal until it is adoptable, including getting the animal to and from medical appointments. Mutt Misfits covers all of the medical care, food, and supply costs.”
Recognizing a Different Normal
Herrera stresses that potential adopters should recognize that the animals have medical issues or might be older, and they don’t need to be perfect to be perfect pets. “Taking in any pet requires a huge level of commitment and responsibility,” Herrera says. “Special-needs pets are no different. We try to counsel all of our adopters on the importance of giving these pets the homes they deserve. Loving a special-needs pet opens a part of your soul that I can’t fully explain. To see an animal go from giving up to flourishing when no one else thought it could be saved is one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. Our animals really require about the same thing as any other pet does. Sometimes their ‘normal’ just looks a bit different. For example, a dog in a wheelchair might need some specific help that other animals don’t require. But once the owners get acclimated to that need, they see the animal just like any other pet.”
Herrera recalls when she received an emergency call from the Tulsa animal shelter, which had picked up a puppy with shattered hind legs. Because of an amazing foster parent, multiple surgeries, and community donations, Ray the puppy got to keep all four legs and now is living a wonderful life.
“And I’ll never forget Angelica,” Herrera says. “I walked into Oklahoma City’s animal shelter to check on another dog. One of the staff members said, ‘Hey, we have a dog in the back room with a broken jaw.’ I followed the staff member into the euthanasia room, and the dog’s jaw had been ripped from her face and was hanging by a thread. I picked her up and rushed her to our veterinarian. Seven surgeries and $10,000 later, Angelica is thriving in her forever home.”
Mutt Misfits has opportunities for adoption, fostering, and volunteer work. Donations may be made on the group’s
website, https://muttmisfits.org. The website also includes an online store.
“From the very first special-needs dog I took in, I knew this was my life’s mission,” Herrera says. “It is always very taxing emotionally, physically, and financially. But it gives me purpose. I feel very thankful to be able to do what we do as a team.”
