By Paris Rain, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — More than 400 dogs are in need of homes at Tulsa Animal Services as the shelter faces overcrowding following the recent winter storm.
“Every dog has a story here. We just don’t know what they all are,” said Sherri Carrier, the Director of Tulsa Animal Services. “The more we know about the animals, the easier it is to get them out of this facility.”
The constant sound of barking and crying fills the shelter—the noise of hundreds of dogs hoping for a place to call home.
Carrier said the recent winter weather led to a surge in calls and intakes, pushing the shelter beyond capacity.
“We had a very busy few days with the winter weather and trying to get people in to adopt dogs or foster dogs.”
Following the storms, the shelter reached a capacity of about 430 dogs.
Carrier said animal control officers were stretched thin as calls continually poured in.
“I got so many calls starting Friday. We had animal control officers who were on standby, on call. They worked until two in the morning. It continued that way through the weekend, so we probably had a little over 125 dogs more than normal just from the winter storms.”
Carrier said overcrowding and illness can create dangerous conditions for animals, making it critical to move dogs into foster homes or permanent placements as quickly as possible.
She said dogs considered “at risk” are often those who have been at the shelter the longest.
“They’ve been here for a significant period of time and had a longer length of stay. We need to move them out the door as fast as possible because the minute we move 10 animals out of here, 10 more are coming in right behind them.”
When the shelter reaches its limits, Carrier said the staff turns to the community for help.
“We make a plea to the community. That’s why we do these posts every week. Without our volunteers, fosters and the people that adopt, it would have been a lot worse and would continue to be a lot worse.”
Volunteers like Susan Braselton help ease the burden.
Braselton has fostered dogs with Tulsa Animal Services for six years and said each one has a unique personality.
“They’re stressed. They’re in a stressful situation, but they all have different personalities. Some are completely shut down and very afraid, and once they start feeling trust and loving companionship, they just blossom. They are all worthy of adopters or fosters.”
Braselton said fostering has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
“It is the best thing I’ve ever done. They’re all really good dogs and they all deserve a chance to shine.”
Tulsa Animal Services encourages anyone who can to foster, adopt or volunteer.
They also recommend sharing adoption posts on social media to help dogs find safe places to land.
To view the adoptable pets currently at Tulsa Animal Services, click here.
