TulsaPets Magazine March 2023

26 TulsaPets • March /April 2023 OAA Dog Walkers Club Helps Canines in Waiting by Julie Wenger Watson Photos courtesy of the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals A lthough it’s difficult to estimate the number of stray dogs in our state, thousands of them are euthanized in Oklahoma shelters every year. It’s easy to find a home for a cute puppy or a well-be- haved adult dog, but the majority of home- less canines falls somewhere in between. The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA) Dog Walkers Club is a group of volunteers dedicated to spending time with some of those pups, meeting regularly to exercise, socialize, and love on the animals while they wait for new homes. OAA is a nonprofit organization that brings together people and resources to overcome pet homelessness, abuse, and ne- glect. Erin Shackelford, executive director of OAA, describes it as an animal-welfare and advocacy organization rather than a rescue organization. However, it does have dogs in its care, many of which have extensive medical needs. Some of them come to the organization through its Unchain Okla- homa program, and others arrive through animal-cruelty and neglect cases. “I always call them the underdogs. They’re not the little fluffy ones or the highly desirable breeds that we can usually move to our partner rescues because they’re easy for them to adopt out and they’ll be willingly accepted,” says Shackelford. “These are the ones that are maybe a little shy or timid or don’t know how to walk on a leash. They might be a little fearful of new TREKKING TOWARD THE FUTURE Volunteer Sally Conrath and Stacy are good pals through the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals DogWalkers Club. Stacy found a placement — she was transported out of state to a rescue organization.