March 2016 newsletter - Best Friends of Pets

March 2016
BEST FRIENDS OF PETS
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Robert O’Bannon, Phillips
Murrah P.C.
Tails on the Trail 2016
Saturday, June 11th at Wheeler Park, 1120 S. Western along the Oklahoma River
VICE PRESIDENT
John Schneider, Ascent
Resources
SECRETARY
Dawn Rahme, Phillips Murrah
P.C.
TREASURER
Bill Schlittler, Dolese Bros. Co.
BOARD MEMBERS
Jeff Asher, Heritage Trust
Company
Leslie Billetter, Oklahoma State
Department of Health
Mike Carroll, Heritage Trust
Company
Karee Pyeatt, Oklahoma City
Community Foundation
Melissa Prophet, RSM
Mark your calendars! Our annual Tails on the Trail is back for its
third season, and you can make this year better than ever. Enter our
5K run/walk or 1 mile walk for you and your four legged friend at
Wheeler Park in Oklahoma City on June 11, 2016.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kim Schlittler
We strive to reduce
pet overpopulation and
keep pets in their homes.
www.bestfriendsofpets.org
720 W. Wilshire Blvd.
Suite101-F
PO Box 415
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-0415
(405) 418-8511
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook!
Help raise funds to spay or neuter pets of low-income pet parents in central
Oklahoma. Bring your pup and your walking shoes and join us for the race to curb
pet overpopulation! Spaying and neutering are the best ways to reduce the number
of pets in our shelters and in rescue groups, and you can help.
For more event, vendor and sponsor information,
see our website at bestfriendsofpets.org or give us a
call at 405-418-8511.
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2 0 1 6 of Pets  Pawsitively Pets March 2016  Page 3
and your neighbors’ lives.
Spaying or neutering your
Why Spaying and Neutering Matters by Jan Wright, PhD
pet can lead to one less
homeless dog, one less
On March 1, 2013 five
arrived! Some neighbors severe case of the mange,
abandoned pet, and one
puppies were dumped at
had moved and neglected and I rushed him to the vet, more spot open at the
my farm. There were 2
their dogs, leaving a sick but he, like the other dogs, shelter.
females and 3 males who pit bull and a mama dog had to be euthanized due to
were around six months
with three ill puppies to
poor health.
Nobody wants to see a dog
old. I was able to rescue
wonder onto our
euthanized, and I was given
the puppies on March 2,
property. I was able to
These 11 dogs that were left no choice in the matter. I
and they began their
catch these sick dogs, but homeless and hurting on
had to watch six good dogs
journey to find forever
upon arriving to the vet’s our doorstep changed my
homes.
office they were deemed perception of my pets and be put to sleep, three of
which were puppies
too ill to be saved.
those who try to help
because the owners would
The first stop on their
abandoned animals. Of not spay their dogs and
journey was the vet where
course we were happy
could not take care of the
they were evaluated and
that we were able to save consequence of having ill
deemed healthy enough to
the 5 puppies, but a lot of pets.
be saved. The next step
tears were shed for the 6
was to get them spayed
who could not be saved.
As a former Board Member
and neutered. They were
I know that something
young puppies, and I
worse could have come of Best Friends of Pets, I
cannot sit back and do
knew that I could find
to those dogs (dogs are
families willing to take
often shot in the country nothing especially because I
them in, but I also knew it
because they form packs know assistance and help is
out there. Best Friends
would take time and
that hunt livestock and
money to find them
pose a threat to ranchers Spay/Neuter Assistance
Program helps educate and
permanent loving homes.
and farmers), but it is
never easy losing a loving advocate for responsible
pet ownership. I know my
soul.
Fast forward to August,
work of saving these dogs
and all the puppies had
Bette was one of 5 puppies saved
was not in vain, because I
found homes, with one
by Jan Wright.
I gained a newfound respect can now tell people firstfemale (Bette) joining my
for those who work to
hand what a difference
family, when yet another
change the lives of
spay/neutering can make in
After losing the dogs, I
dog took up residence at
unwanted pets, and I can
the life of pets, you and
my farm. This pup was a was determined to catch truly say that I hold my girl your community.
the large male still
large male who was not
a little closer knowing that
wandering
on
our
neutered and needed
she was once an “unwanted If you want to be removed from our
property.
It
took
two
mailing list, please call us at 405-418coaxing with food to get
dog.” I am writing this in
8511 or email us at
grown
men
to
lift
him
near him. Before I could
hopes that you will
[email protected].
into the pickup, but we
catch him more dogs
understand how spaying
Join our Email newsletter at
caught him. He had a
bestfriendsofpets.org.
and neutering affect you
Hugging My Girl A Little Closer
Best Friends of Pets  Pawsitively Pets March 2016  Page 3
Thank You!
You make it possible to help pets in our community
Best Friends of Pets cannot help families and pets in need or help reduce pet overpopulation without your
support. Thanks to our donors, last year we were able to help 1,380 cats and dogs get spayed or neutered in our
community (a new record!). This possibly prevented the unplanned births of more than 3,100 puppies and
kittens. In addition, more than 300 pets now have ID tags so they can be quickly reunited with their families if
they become lost.
We are proud to have helped so many, but the problem is far from over. With your help we will continue to
spay, neuter and tag pets and educate our community on responsible pet ownership while decreasing the
number of pets entering our local animal shelters.
From one pet friend to another we would like to say Thank You for making 2015 a successful year, and we
appreciate your continued support in 2016.
To our Donors, Volunteers,
Veterinary & Nonprofit
clinics for your
contributions, time &
support!
Federal Employees—for
your contributions through
the Combined Federal
Campaign
Thank you for your grants to our spay/neuter program!
Best Friends Animal
Society in Utah—no
affiliation with Best Friends
of Pets
Thank you to our Tails on the Trail Sponsors!
Eskridge Honda
Kendall’s Restaurant
Lockhart Foundation,
Tommie Lee Hulme
Foundation
& City of Norman /
Norman Animal
Welfare
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Tag Your Pet—Before it’s too late!
Volunteer & Help Pets!
Tornado season is around the corner. Don’t
think your pet will get out and become lost if a
tornado hits your house or neighborhood? After the
May 2013 tornado, the Animal Resource Center (the
largest of three centers that sheltered pets from the
Moore tornado) took in 388 dogs and 224 cats.
Fortunately, 236 dogs and 49 cats were reunited with
their pet parents. That left 152 dogs and 175 cats
that were later adopted into new homes.
Would you like to help pets and
their owners (and reduce pet
overpopulation) from the comfort of
your home? Our Spay/Neuter
Assistance Program volunteers check
our voicemail for requests for
spay/neuter applications and mail our
SNAP packets. Volunteers are needed
for 5-10 hours during their week, and
their weeks rotate based on the
number of volunteers we have (i.e., if
we have 4 volunteers you work every
5th week).
What if a gate or door is accidently left open or
if spring winds knock down your fence? If your pet
is not tagged, it will likely end up in a shelter.
One of the fortunate
cats to be reunited
with her pet parents
at the Animal
Resource Center.
Did you know that local animal shelters hold
untagged pets as few as three day? Tagged pets are
usually held a few days longer.
Volunteers are needed for Tails on
the Trail. We need help seeking
donations, stuffing bags before the
event, and we need volunteers on June
11 to help set up, hand out water at
turn arounds, break down and much
more.
Some people who find a pet without a tag do not
try to find its owner. They think the owner must
not want the pet back since he did not care enough
to put a tag on its collar. Don’t be that kind of
owner.
Increase your chances of being reunited with
your furry best friend. We can help you. Check out
bestfriendsofpets.org or call us at 405-418-8511 to
find out how you can get an engraved tag for your
pet.
Did you know?
To volunteer, call us at 418-8511 or
email [email protected].
Wrigley was excited his
dad found him at
ARC.
There are several ways to support Best Friends of Pets.
Have you included Best Friends of
Pets in your will?
Eat at any Johnnie’s on
the 4th Wednesday of
each month. Mention
Best Friends of Pets
when you order.
Shop at
Smile.Amazon.com and
choose Best Friends of
Pets as your charity.
Walk for a Dog by WoofTrax is
another mobile app that lets you
support Best Friends of Pets when
you walk.
ResQwalk is a free mobile
app that lets you raise funds
for Best Friends of Pets while
you walk. Download the app
and start walking.
For more information about
planned giving, please contact
Executive Director Kim Schlittler at
[email protected] or
405-418-8511.
Find out more about us and
our endowment fund at
givesmartokc.guidestar.org.