OkcPets Magazine July 2022

July / August 2022 • OKC Pets 27 Collaboration Can Help After gaining some insight, we were left with the question, “How do we advertise our progress toward no-kill and try to garner community support without attracting the surrender of more animals than we can handle?” By partnering with organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society and Common Bonds, both of which lead the way in the “No Kill by 2025” initiative, we have identified best practices and programs that enable commu- nities such as ours to create a network of resources to combat pet homelessness and shelter overcrowding. Thanks to the help of our amazing volunteers, we have begun to structure a coalition to help the most vulnerable pets and their families. We now have pro- grams at Northern Oklahoma Humane Society such as fosters, low-cost spay/neuter clinics, Pet Pantry, TNR for Community Cats, adoption events, and transports to partner organizations. With public relations and marketing tools that focus on the dy- namics of communication across cultures, we intend to broaden our reach to as many pet owners as we can. We also understand the different ways that different age groups in our community receive information, and we use multiple channels of commu- nication to raise awareness of our efforts. From social media to newspapers and fliers, we provide value to animal lovers and keep everyone up to date on our programs and progress. The missing element to sustainability of our lifesaving pro- grams is participants from the community. By having support and resources to protect and serve the most vulnerable pets and their families, we can work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively to make true no-kill possible. And the next time we see the whirlwind of surrenders headed for our shelters, we will know a fortified group of allies is protecting the animals. The Northern Oklahoma Humane Society shares this monthly review through social media to show the lifesaving impact being made by collaboration of Northern Oklahoma Humane Society and Ponca City Animal Control (Northern Oklahoma Regional Animal Care). The recaps also show the gaps in lifesaving that need improvement. Photo courtesy of Justin Matthews, member, board of directors, Northern Oklahoma Humane Society. PremiumDog& Cat Foods Unique Toys • Nutritious Treats & Supplements • Accessories Self-Serve Dog Wash at Pawtopia locations www.Pawtopia.net Like us on OKLAHOMA CITY BRITTON FEED & SEED 708 W. Britton Road 405-842-5590 www.BrittonFeedAndSeed.net NORMAN PAWTOPIA 360 24th Ave NW 405-310-2549 YUKON PAWTOPIA 335 S. Mustang Road #E 405-265-2950 Order onlinewww.BrittonFeedAndSeed.net FREE Home Delivery and Curbside Store Pickup with purchase of $49 or more. A 15 mile radius for all stores. Nowavailable for NWOklahoma City