TulsaPets Magazine January 2023

40 TulsaPets • January / February 2023 calls, animals transported in from local municipal cases, and occasionally hoarding and/or puppy-mill situations. Our team has done a great job trying to initially divert owner surrenders by helping resolve the reasons for surrender. When that isn’t possi- ble, we have managed getting the animals in, treated medically, housed safely and humanely, and placed in safe homes as quickly as possible.” Public Clinic “In addition to providing spay/neuter, low-cost vaccines, and other basic minor-needs services, in 2022, we began offering low-cost blood work, dental services, and a variety of other surgeries to the public as well,” Tiner says. “Our goal is always to make it possible for all pet parents to afford the care their animals need if it falls within the scope of our services. Although our prices are already very affordable, we can subsidize addi- tionally when we have money available in our Save a Life (SAL) fund.” Cruelty Investigation “We do not have the authority to seize animals or charge owners with any criminal violations,” Tiner says. “Our initial assump- tion when we respond to a report made via our cruelty form is that the person being reported needs education or assistance or maybe both. We try to assume good intentions but maybe bad execution. If we find that to be the case, we provide all the assistance we can and follow up to make sure there is compliance with our recommendations. In the occasional cases when we find there has been intentional mistreatment or neglect or there is noncompliance when we go back to follow up, we turn a report in to the appropriate municipality and request an investigation and charges be initiated.” Community Engagement “Our Community Engagement program takes many forms,” Tiner explains. “We provide educational outreach to people of all ages on a variety of topics. In addition, we believe so strongly in the healing power animals can have for humans; many of our efforts reflect that. Through our Pets Are Love (PAL) Program, we take animals to schools during exam periods to help students decompress, visit businesses to provide stress relief, visit assist- ed-living facilities to provide comfort and love to residents, and so much more. The impact dogs and cats have on lives is some- Tulsa SPCA’s Mobile Adoption Center is out and about at a community event. Left, the cat room is active at the Tulsa SPCA.