TulsaPets Magazine March 2023

28 TulsaPets • March /April 2023 the dogs’ welfare is the volunteers’ efforts on behalf of the animals — combined with the care provided by the OAA boarding facility and veterinary staff. “These dogs totally blossom, not only under the care of our boarding facility and the veterinary staff there but also the Dog Walkers Club and the volunteers who take them out and get them used to walking on a leash,” she says. “They work with the dogs to make sure they don’t pull, and they socialize them with some of our other dogs. They’ve been really critical in giving us feedback on the dogs and in teaching them and exposing them to things that they’ve never been exposed to.” Mimi Tran has volunteered with the program for several years. In addition to her own two dogs, Max and Brookie, Tran fosters an OAA senior dog named Luna. The Dog Walkers Club meets every Saturday morning (weather permitting), walking each of the dogs at the shelter for 30 minutes to an hour. “The dogs get socialization, which includes lots of TLC, exercise, and mental stimulation,” Tran says. “Another import- ant factor is that when we take these dogs out, we learn their personalities, for exam- ple, whether they’re social, friendly, timid, calm, or high energy or if they’re good with other dogs or how well they walk on a leash. All of this information will help us at adoption events or when we submit them for transport to another state where they have don’t have an overpopulation issue like we do here in Oklahoma.” The volunteer experience is gratifying, Tran says. “The most rewarding thing about this program is witnessing shy, scared dogs blossom into loving and confident dogs,” she says. “Sure, some may take several weeks to come out of their shell, but it’s so worth it to see.” Willing To Work with Wonderful Dogs Although Shackelford loves all the OAA dogs, she’s quick to tell you about a few special ones, such as a German Shepherd, Layla. “Layla came to us through our Unchain program, and unfortunately, she has been in boarding for almost a year,” Shackelford says. “She gets outings and she gets extra walks and extra attention, but she’s a beau- tiful German Shepherd who lived most of her life on a very short chain. She likes to be Queen Bee, so she just needs an owner who is experienced with or willing to learn about the German Shepherd breed.” Then there’s Duke. “He’s a Golden Lab mix, kind of slender. He’s just an interesting little dog, but he’s a little shy. We couldn’t put him in the car for the longest time to go to adoption events because he was too freaked out by the car. Mimi Tran actually worked with him, getting in and out of the car, and he’s been better now. People can actually take him out and take him places,” Shackelford says. “Duke and Layla are both sweet dogs, and they would both be wonderful pets for someone. They just need owners who are willing to work with them.” For more information or to volunteer with OAA, visit https://animalallianceok.org. German Shepherd Layla enjoys regular outings with the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals DogWalkers Club but hopes for a permanent home.