THE PROBLEM: Too many unwanted pets in our community.

HOW WE KNOW:

• Nearly 13,000 - 15,000 unwanted pets each year in Tulsa (at the Tulsa Animal Shelter alone). Most of these animals are not spayed/neutered.
• Over 20,000 calls coming into the Tulsa Animal Shelter each year (a large majority are pet nuisance calls).
• Over $1 million budget for Tulsa Animal Control (capturing, housing, euthanizing animals, sterilizing adopted animals, animal control wages).
• Floods of puppies and kittens each spring arrive at the shelter as "strays" or unwanted litters.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE:

• City Ordinance mandates spaying/neutering of pets over 6 mos. of age unless owner obtains a hobbyist exemption or breeder's license.
• City Ordinance mandates that pet's be confined to owner's property.
• All pets adopted from the Tulsa Animal Shelter are spayed/neutered unless a vet release is signed.

WHAT PAWS IS DOING:

• Public education on the importance of spaying/neutering, and the effects of "just one litter".  Most of the people who call the shelter for help are astounded at the numbers of stray animals, and how full the shelter stays at all times..
• Free and low cost spays/neuters offered on a consistent basis for those who are unable to afford the surgery at regular cost. We offer these surgeries by appointment, give us a call at 376-2397 to make an appointment.
• Public education on the responsibilities of choosing and owning a pet and the importance of researching breeds before choosing a particular pet.  A lot of purebred dogs are returned because of their inbred behaviors that the owners had no idea about, and a vast majority of dogs are returned because of behavior problems, however, these dogs have never had any training or behavior modification. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• SPAY/NEUTER - your pet, a friend's pet, a stray or "sponsor a spay"
• SPREAD THE WORD about the importance of spaying/neutering
• TEACH your children the importance of responsible pet ownership and sponsor education materials for a class, organization or group
• BE a responsible pet owner
• By donating to PAWS programs through general donations/bequests, specific sponsorships, aluminum can donations, and shopping at the PAWS online store, you are helping PAWS to launch and grow programs to reach and educate the public on a large scale and to spay/neuter pets on a large scale.

WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED:

• Media support to reach the entire community
• Veterinarian support to help the PAWS spay/neuter programs be successful

City and political support to work toward a permanent spay/neuter clinic/adoption facility - wouldn't this be a better way to spend our tax dollars?  Instead of continually spending increasing funds each year to be "reactive" to the pet overpopulation problem through animal control, let's put some funds toward "proactive" programs that will actually help solve the problem; not just treat the symptoms.  The money spent on these programs will help lower the money needed by animal control, and will help our community actually SOLVE our pet overpopulation problem, not just deal with it!