A Year of Glorious Possibilities

The
C O N N E C T I O N
Winter • 2016
A newsletter from the Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. of Tulsa, OK
A Year of Glorious Possibilities
L
www.arftulsa.org
For more than 25
years ARF has been
finding responsible
owners for homeless
pets. Our primary
mission is to rescue
pets from kill shelters
and place them in
forever homes.
ast year marked the opening of the ARF House, located in LaFortune Park. The 5201 S. Yale
location is convenient – you can turn into off of Yale and there is plenty of parking – and a
perfect place to see some of our dogs and cats for meet-and-greets and adoptions.
So, what’s on tap for this year? ARF hopes to grow bigger and better. To do that, we will concentrate on our volunteers because they are what keep ARF rolling along. We want to have more
opportunities for our volunteers to be trained, socialize with each other, and tell us what we can do
to make ARF more efficient and successful.
Here are a few tasks that our volunteers do. If you see something that you’d like to be part of,
please let us know by calling (918-622-5962) or e-mailing ([email protected]).
• Transporting dogs and cats from shelters to
veterinary clinics or from veterinary clinics to
PetSmart, the ARF House, and special events
so they can be shown to the public.
• Working at adoption events by greeting the
public, walking dogs, discussing the adoption
process, etc.
• Participating in one of our committees –
public relations, fundraising, outreach, data
processing, etc.
• Helping set up and take down when we have
our volunteer meetings and at our special
events.
• Answering the ARF help telephone line.
• Grooming and bathing dogs.
• BECOMING A FOSTER HOME.
If you believe in this
mission, please join us
by becoming an ARF
member, a financial
partner, a volunteer, or
by opening your home
and heart to foster a
homeless pet.
Check out
Animal
Rescue
Foundation
of Tulsa on
Facebook
and join
the fun!
Rescues Helping Rescues
T
he animal rescue community is like a tree. Springing from
roots of rescue, we each form a branch, but we’re all connected. ARF depends on other rescue groups and shelters to help
us find animals that are at their “time limit” in shelters or could
use our special brand of caring.
It’s a joy for our rescuers to take a trip to one of our neighbor
shelters and bring home a van full of new arrivals. Like every
shelter, we run out of room. We can only take animals when we
have space available in one of the veterinary clinics we associate with or in a
foster home. When other shelters reach capacity and more animals are coming in their doors, they
reach out to other groups for assistance. It’s always a good day in rescue when ARF can relieve
overcrowding in other shelters.
Continues inside
PA G E
The Companion Connection
2
Continued from front
Some of the shelters we partner with are:
• Tulsa Animal Welfare
• Pittsburg County Animal
Shelter
Shelter
• Washington County
• Pawhuska Animal Shelter
SPCA Shelter
• Rockin’ G Animal Shelter
• Jenks Animal Shelter
• Sand Springs Animal
• Broken Arrow Animal
Shelter
Shelter
• Pittsburg County Animal
• Sebastian County
Shelter
Humane Society
• Pontotoc Animal Shelter
• Sapulpa Animal Shelter
• Stigler Animal Control
• Ponca City Animal
• Weatherford Animal
Shelter
Control
• Owasso Animal Shelter
• Coalgate Animal Shelter
• Shawnee Animal Control • Clinton Animal Shelter
We also work with breed rescue groups, such as Small
Paws and Bonhaven Scottish Terrier Rescue to find homes
for homeless pets. We have a close relationship with the
GI Wishes rescue and often go in together on fundraising
activities.
ARF Board of Directors feels it’s important to coordinate
and with work other area pet rescues because we all have the
same mission – to save furry lives and find new homes for
them.
Volunteer Spotlight
Many ARF members and adopters will know
this lady. Cheryl Baker is the vice-president of ARF,
a foster home, and a tireless volunteer. She’s been
associated with ARF for many years – one of our
most ardent members and officers – and countless
dogs have spent time in her family home before
being adopted to their forever homes.
Cheryl has performed nearly every task in
ARF, including answering the ARF telephone line,
transporting dogs all over Tulsa and beyond, running dogs to the veterinary,
training volunteers and foster homes, giving presentations to schools and civic
groups, and assisting potential adopters with finding the perfect pet for their
situation. She also takes one of our dogs or cats to KOTV every Friday for their
television appearance during the noon news and has transported pets to radio
stations for their moment in the spotlight, as well.
She and her husband, Jeff, take on ARF’s “problem” dogs – pets that are
having difficulty settling down and settling in. Once they spend some time with
the Bakers, they learn what love is and are ready to be adopted.
Cheryl has been athletic her whole life and enjoys taking her own dogs and
her ARF foster dogs for walks every day. She always has a smile on her face
and a cheery greeting for everyone. Dogs and cats, being smart creatures,
gravitate toward her, knowing a kind soul when they see (or sniff!) one. She is
an expert dog handler, soothing doggy nerves while giving them the guidance
they desperately need.
ARF is truly blessed to have volunteers like Cheryl.
Be Kind to Your Pet – Spay or Neuter!
M
ost reputable breeders and rescue organizations sell puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats with the agreement that the
animal will be spayed or neutered. For puppies and kittens, they should be sterilized at six months old, although some
groups allow male dogs to be neutered by the time they are a year old as some veterinarians believe that it’s best to
wait until a male dog is eight or nine months old to neuter. ARF spays and neuters at six months old.
Unless you have a breeder’s license, you are required by the City of Tulsa to spay or neuter your pet. If your dog is picked up
by the city, you will have to pay a fine if your dog has not been sterilized and you will be required to have the animal spayed or
neutered before you can retrieve your pet again.
The basic disposition and temperament of your pet will not be changed by removing his or her reproductive capability. Neutering and spaying won’t turn your pet into an obese, lazy animal. That is the result of excess food and insufficient exercise.
The benefits of spaying include:
ψψ Not worrying about accidental breedings.
ψψ The stress and inconvenience of confining the female dog in season (which is a City of Tulsa law, by the way).
ψψ Problem, expensive pregnancies.
ψψ Unwanted puppies.
ψψ The spayed dog won’t develop uterine infection or tumors of the reproductive system as do so many unspayed bitches. An
added benefit, it has been proven that if spayed before the first heat, the incidence of breast tumors is almost eliminated.
If spayed before the second heat the incidence is still reduced, but not by as much.
The benefits of neutering a male:
ψψ Can make him more tolerant of other males.
ψψ Won’t be stressed and upset by the scent of female dogs in season.
ψψ Less tempted to escape or wander or be distracted from their family or work.
ψψ Will not develop testicular cancer.
ψψ Lessens the desire to mark territory, making him easier to housetrain.
ψψ The risk of prostate cancer is lowered.
Do your dog or cat a favor and have him/her sterilized. It’s the humane and responsible thing
to do.
Winter 2016
PA GE
3
Honors &
Memorials
Angus Settles In
We wanted to thank you for all your help. And, we
wanted to let you know how happy both of our dogs are.
It only took a few minutes of sniffing, and everyone was
happy. We are very pleased of how well
our old Oliver has accepted Angus.
I cannot tell you how thrilled we are
with Angus. He was playful and ran
around the yard in circles playing.
Then after we came inside, he settled
right down and laid on the couch to
cuddle. Here are a few pics for you to
see the great success.
He is such a happy dog, and we are
thrilled!
— Jan
Rubi the Jewel
This is Rubi, formerly known as
Cabbage when she was an Arfie.
Rubi has grown! We love her! She
has such personality, loves to ride
in the car and just be engaged. The
vet says she’d be great at agility
training. She can catch a frisbee
now, too. Can you tell we love her?
— The Rick Krafft Family
Jake Enjoys California
We adopted Jake (a.k.a.
“Drake”) from ARF out of his
cage at PetSmart in January. He
joined our first cat, California,
whom we adopted 3.5 years
ago from ARF.
He is one of the sweetest,
friendliest cats we’ve ever met, and we feel blessed to
have him. Our 4-year-old cat has also been playing like a
kitten, getting more exercise, and just seems happier now
that she has a kitty friend.
After only a few days of getting to know each other,
playing chase, and setting boundaries, Jake and Cali have
achieved hang-out-in-the-window kitty pal status. They
haven’t yet had a proper sleep-snuggle session, but they
walk up and kiss noses in greeting.
Jake also likes to lie next to our 10-year-old son and
cuddle in bed. Our house is full of adorable. We can
barely stand the cuteness. Thank you so much for our
wonderful new family member.
— David and Tawni Crider
Much gratitude goes to our wonderful supporters. Your
generosity allows us to provide food, bedding, medical
treatments, and other amenities to homeless pets looking for
permanent homes. All of our animals are spayed/neutered,
micro-chipped for identification, vaccinated, treated for
parasites, and provided a thorough medical exam. The adoption
fee doesn’t cover these expenses, so your donations are
desperately needed.
Please join these generous and caring people by sending in
a donation to ARF today:
o In Memory of…
Marie Roberts in memory of Wanda Grace
Susan Arrington, Vincent and Rosemarie Belmonte, Terri and Bill
Aberg, Clare T. Pobanz, Karen Lee, and Covenant Place of Tulsa
in memory of Mary Sue Arrington
John and Sue Kinsey in memory of Levi
Nina Lynn in memory of Sunni Gent
Betty Seay in memory of Shamrock
Robert and Carla Pruden in memory of our sweet Ginger
Natalie Torkelson in memory of Sandy Reedy
Lynn Wiggins and Diana Pruitt in memory of Annette Jarrell, who
loved animals
An anonymous donor in memory of Erin P. Duffy
o In Honor of…
Robert Poteet, DVM, from James Brown and Ann Franklin
Lisa Wooten and Carmen Ritchey (our ARFie) from Jim and Pam
Ritchey
Bob and Donna Burns from Carol Glasgow
Debby Camp from Janet Drye and Susan Atherton
Carmelita Murphy, Happy Birthday from Nancy Roper
Suki, Catarina, and Allie from Sherry Price
Maggie from Jane Campbell
Dr. Leslie Sauber, a wonderful veterinarian, from Debbie Murie
Lucy, a former ARFie from Matt and Angela Jones
Carol and Dale Glasgow from Robert and Donna Burns
Marcia and Ralph Reynolds from Robert and Donna Burns
We’re on the radio!
Be sure to listen to “Wet Nose Wednesday”
on KVOO radio 98.5 every week when we
spotlight one of our adorable dogs!
Animal Rescue Foundation
NonProfit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit NO. 2146
Tulsa, OK
P.O. Box 471483
Tulsa, OK 74147
Adopt.
Donate.
Volunteer.
Heal Some Broken Hearts
Adoption fees cover less than half of the
expenses needed to prepare an animal for a
loving home. When we rescue “Broken Heart”
pets that require additional medical care or
special needs the costs can skyrocket. For
example, a parvo positive animal can
cost an additional $300 and a heartworm
positive animal can cost an additional
$500. Broken limbs can cost an additional
$300 to more than $2,000!
Please consider donating to the ARF Broken
Hearts Fund by making a donation through our
website. Thanks!
Shop at AmazonSmile
and Amazon will make a donation to:
How You Can
Save Lives!
Our primary mission is to rescue adoptable pets from area kill shelters. To do this,
we need you!
Every dollar donated is used for this important mission. Because of you, we’ve
managed to open our first adoption center, the ARF House at LaFortune Park, so that
we can adopt out even more pets. We also are able to provide needed surgeries for
pets that would, otherwise, be put to death.
Please look at the list below and donate what you can to help homeless pets:
o $10 — Parasite Exam
o $15 — Vaccinations
o $25 — Heartworm test
o $50 — Spay or neuter
Send to: ARF;
o $100 — Dental examination and teeth cleaning
PO
Box 471483
o $250 — Heartworm treatment
Tulsa, OK 74147
o $500 — Treatment for puppy with parvo
o $1,000 — One week of ARF vet bills
All donations
YES! I want to help save lives! Please accept this tax
deductible donation.
o Check enclosed o Cashier’s check enclosed
o I will donate through the ARF website (www.arftulsa.org)
are tax deductible
Visit our website at
www.arftulsa.org