OkcPets Magazine March 2023

March / April 2023 • OKC Pets 35 and profiles of available animals on their website — a mix of animals residing at their site (9733 Northwest Fourth Street), those living temporarily with foster families, and those deemed as Urgent because they are at city shelters and quickly need a safe space. In addition, the pictures are indexed by Petfinder and Adopt a Pet, two national organizations with robust search engines that can filter animals by locale, size, age, and other characteristics. The Pets & People Urgent tagging gets results. Out of 550 adoptions through Pets & People last year, 168 dogs and cats (31 percent) had previously been designated as Urgent. “These pets made it out of the city shelters because people found them on the list and chose to make them safe,” said Bollinger, who has four pets of her own and still occa- sionally fosters others. On various occasions, Pets & People has received e-mails and inquiries from rescues and potential adopters from all over the United States and Canada. And when an an- imal needs to be transported, Pets & People figures out a way to make it work. Preparing for Adoption When a prospective parent selects an Urgent animal from the website, Pets & People will facilitate a meet-and-greet occasion at the city shelter and, if it’s a match, will help to complete the adoption process. The staff makes sure all animals are vet-checked, given appropriate vaccinations and preventive medications, microchipped, tested for vari- ous diseases, and spayed or neutered. “This program can motivate people to adopt or to foster. Some first-time foster parents were simply responding to an Urgent need,” Bollinger said. “It also motivates the public and encourages collaboration among the different rescue organizations.” For example, Pets & People had rescued a female Heeler named Rosie from a city shelter. Safe Haven Animal Rescue in nearby Spencer, Oklahoma, also had a female Heeler. When Safe Haven received multiple applications for one dog, they notified the applicants who had not been selected about Rosie’s availability at Pets & People — and one of the families ended up adopting her. By people working together, both Heelers got new homes. Finding Ways for People To Help As a nonprofit organization, Pets & People welcomes donations of money and supplies to offset the cost of food, spay and neuter surgeries, medicines, rabies vaccinations, and other immunizations. A wish list on their website (https:/ /www.petsandpeople.com) details cleaning products, specialty needs for dogs and cats, and general supplies such as bedding (towels and blankets), box fans, and kiddie pools. The rescue group also invites individuals and groups to volunteer time, whether it’s to play with or bathe animals or assist with duties around the facility or at special events. The Pets & People Thrift Store, at 322 Elm Avenue in Yukon, accepts gently used items for resale, and all proceeds go directly to care for the animals. As Bollinger noted, people might not be able to take in a foster animal, but they can donate to — or purchase from — a cause that is near and dear to their hearts. For more information, contact Pets & People at (405) 367-7156 or info@petsand- people.com. Wistful Atlas is one of many worthy animals looking for homes through Pets & People. Photo courtesy of Pets & People Humane Society. Boone was an Urgent rescue who is now living in a foster home. Boone and other animals are available through Pets & People. Photo courtesy of Pets & People Humane Society.