OKC Animal Welfare Hosts “Clear the Shelter” Event
Oklahoma City Animal Welfare is facing a critical overpopulation crisis, with hundreds of animals needing loving homes. To address this urgent situation, they are hosting a special “Clear the Shelter” event this week, offering fee-waived adoptions and essential pet services to help clear their overflowing kennels and find pets their forever families.
Urgent Need: OKC Shelter Reaches Critical Capacity
Our local animal shelter, located at 2811 SE 29th St., is currently housing more animals than it can safely and humanely care for. As of recent reports, the facility is caring for a staggering 769 animals across 630 kennels, far exceeding its operational capacity of 450 dogs and 200 cats. This severe overcrowding puts immense strain on resources and staff, making it more challenging to provide optimal care for every animal.
Specifically, the shelter is dealing with a significant surplus of dogs, with 593 dogs currently in care. This “Clear the Shelter” event is a vital call to action for the Oklahoma City community to step forward and make a tangible difference in the lives of these vulnerable animals.
Event Details: Your Opportunity to Adopt and Support
This special adoption event is designed to remove barriers to adoption and encourage more residents to open their homes to a pet in need. Mark your calendars for these crucial dates and times:
Dates and Times:
- Thursday, August 17: 12:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Friday, August 18: 12:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday, August 19: 12:00 PM – 4:45 PM
The event takes place directly at the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare shelter, providing a welcoming environment to meet your potential new family member.
What’s Offered:
The “Clear the Shelter” event offers fantastic incentives to make adoption easier and more accessible:
- Fee-Waived Adoptions: Adoption fees will be waived for all available dogs, cats, and small animals. This includes animals that are already spayed/neutered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped.
- Free Microchipping: All adopted pets will receive free microchipping. Additionally, OKC residents can bring their owned pets for free microchipping by presenting proof of residency.
- Free Rabies Vaccines: All adopted animals will also receive a free rabies vaccination, ensuring they start their new life healthy and protected.
Beyond Adoption: Additional Services for OKC Residents
Even if you’re not ready to adopt, you can still benefit from and support the event. The offer of free microchipping for owned pets is a crucial service for our community. Microchipping significantly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families, providing peace of mind for pet owners.
| Service Offered | For Adopted Pets | For OKC Resident’s Owned Pets |
|---|---|---|
| Fee-Waived Adoption | Yes (for all available pets) | N/A |
| Free Microchipping | Yes | Yes (with proof of OKC residency) |
| Free Rabies Vaccine | Yes | No |
Making a Difference: Why Your Participation Matters
Adopting a pet during this critical time does more than just give one animal a home. It directly impacts the entire shelter system by freeing up much-needed kennel space, reducing stress for the animals still awaiting adoption, and allowing the shelter to continue its vital work of rescuing and caring for other animals in distress. By participating, you become an active part of the solution to animal homelessness in our city.
Every adoption creates a ripple effect, ensuring that OKC Animal Welfare can maintain a safe and humane environment for all animals under its care. Your choice to adopt supports the dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of these animals every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible to adopt during the event?
Adopters must be 18 years or older and present a valid photo ID. - Are all animals at the shelter included in the fee-waived adoptions?
Yes, all available dogs, cats, and small animals are eligible for fee-waived adoption during the event dates. You can view available animals online at okc.gov/animalwelfare. - What kind of proof of residency is needed for free microchipping of my own pet?
Acceptable forms of proof of OKC residency typically include a utility bill, driver’s license, or state ID with an OKC address. - Will there be staff available to help me choose a pet?
Yes, the dedicated staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist you in finding a suitable pet that matches your lifestyle and family needs.
This “Clear the Shelter” event is a fantastic opportunity for Oklahoma City residents to make a profound impact on animal welfare in our community. Whether you’re ready to adopt a new family member or simply need to microchip your current pet, your involvement helps reduce overcrowding and ensures a brighter future for countless animals.
OKC Shelter Critically Full Clear The Shelter Event
