OkcPets Magazine September 2023

September / October 2023 • OKC Pets 9 PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE Friends for Life Jon Gary Reflects on the Benefits of Pet Ownership by Kaycee Chance | Photos by Linda Earley I t is no secret in Oklahoma that many dogs and cats are in need of adoption, and many passionate Oklahomans work every day to help save them. The Oklahoma City Animal Shelter is pushing hard in its Alive in the 405 campaign, which focuses on reaching a 90 percent live-release rate for animals that enter the shelter system through reunification, adoption, or transfer to a rescue partner. In past decades, that number has been as low as 50 percent, but in recent years, because of many advocates, dedicated employees, and partnerships, it has risen to more than 85 percent. One of the people who works extremely hard every day toward those efforts is Jon Gary, superintendent of animal welfare in Oklahoma City. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of the city’s Animal Welfare Division, which includes all animal shelter operations, veterinarian teams, and field service teams. That is no small task, to say the least, be- cause Oklahoma animal-welfare advocates have faced unparalleled challenges this year with the spread of dog flu. In early 2023, canine influenza swept the region, forcing many shelters and rescues across the state to temporarily close to attempt to slow the spread of the disease that had al- ready caused many dogs to lose their lives. Managing these unexpected occurrences on top of the fast-paced daily activities of the Animal Welfare Division proves just how dedicated the division is and how hard the employees work. A normal day for Gary consists of eval- uating the department’s programs, budget management, and team leadership, but overall, his focus is on finding solutions. He refers to himself as “a problem solver by nature,” explaining that a lot of his time is spent on “problem areas and working toward solutions.” All in the Family When not concentrating on saving the dogs and cats of Oklahoma City, Gary en- joys spending time at home with his family, including his fur babies Duke and Chloe. “I have been married to my beautiful wife, Jamie, for 25 years,” Gary says. “We were childhood sweethearts.” Married since they were 20 years old, the couple Duke takes a break with his human, Jon Gary, superintendent of animal welfare in Oklahoma City.