OkcPets Magazine November 2022

November / December 2022 • OKC Pets 15 process often weeds out adopters who are acting on a whim rather than looking for the long-term commitment that a pet requires. The meet-and-greet gives 405 the opportunity to inspect the potential adopt- er’s home and look for any red flags. For example, a large, hyperactive dog might jump a fence any shorter than six feet. If the potential adopter’s yard has a shorter fence, 405 Rescue volunteers might suggest that the problem be resolved before leaving the dog there or might refer the adopter to other dogs at the rescue better suited for that home. Thus 405 Animal Rescue cred- its those steps with its low 5 percent rate of animals that are returned to the rescue. A Complete Transformation One rescue story that 405 is particularly proud of is that of the dog Aria. She was abandoned in the countryside after her owners moved to a new house. By the time 405 Animal Rescue got the call, Aria had been roaming an isolated dirt road for months. Her jaw had been broken, she was so thin her ribs stuck out through her skin, and she was covered with ticks. Kitsmill- er tried for three hours to coax Aria into going with her. When that didn’t work, she called a professional animal trapper who quickly captured Aria. After that, she got the medical attention she so desperately needed. “She was so sweet the entire time,” said Kitsmiller. “She had no behavioral issues.” Once Aria was treated for her wounds, she was adopted by a family and is thriving under their care today. Although Aria’s story has a happy ending, many dogs and cats at 405 Animal Rescue are patiently waiting for their own forever homes. How You Can Help Several options are available to people who want to assist 405 Animal Rescue. Volunteer opportunities include attending adoption events, transporting dogs to and from the vet, and assisting in maintenance of the rescue’s storage unit. Anyone inter- ested in fostering or adopting an animal should go to the website at www.405animalrescue.org an d click on the “Adopt” or “Foster” tab at the top. Each of those links has a list of available animals with descriptions. The foster or adoption applications can be accessed at the bottom of the page. Many other questions about the application process or adoption fees can also be seen on 405 Animal Rescue’s FAQ page. The rescue operates 100 percent on do- nations and constantly comes into contact with animals who need medical care. A “Donate” tab is on the website for anyone interested in donating, and donation links are on the rescue’s Facebook page. Volunteering, fostering, and donating all go toward a collaborative effort to save dogs and cats in an overcrowded city metro. The 405 team’s sacrifice of time and effort for no personal profit just goes to show that truly anyone can make a differ- ence — in 405 Animal Rescue’s case, one four-legged life at a time. e and Safety After months of wandering the country- side, Aria shyly pauses for 405 Animal Rescue’s cofounder Sydney Lee. Aria poses proudly with her new family. After her rescue, Aria enjoys life in her brand-new backyard.