TulsaPets Magazine September 2023

34 TulsaPets • September / October 2023 and studying 40 hours per week for four months. By all measures, the program is a success, and the statistics reflect that. Since the program started in 2010, it has trained 338 women, and only 35 of those have failed to graduate. Ninety-five percent of graduates have been placed in jobs in the pet industry in more than 83 grooming shops in 41 cities across the state. Thirty-three graduates own their shops. Perhaps most notably, PHP has a 1 percent recidivism rate, which is well below the 14.4 percent state average for female offenders. “We’re the only training facility in the state of Oklahoma that offers hands-on training,” says Davis. “There’s one in Okla- homa City, I believe, that is an organization that trains online, but we actually work directly with dogs here.” Although the program is free to the trainees, the estimated cost per student is $10,700, which includes instruction, training materials, equipment, transporta- tion, and uniforms. Those costs are funded through revenue from Muddy Paws’ pet- care services, private donations, grants, and an annual event, Paws for a Cause. Thousands of Four-Footed Clients According to Davis, Muddy Paws grooms 1,000 to 1,200 animals per month in its 7,000-square-foot facility. It includes many amenities such as hydraulic bathtubs that make it easier to bathe dogs of larger breeds. Prized pets are among the clients but are not the only ones. Since 2011, train- ees have groomed and readied more than 13,900 dogs for adoption after they had been rescued by Tulsa-area rescue organiza- tions. That arrangement is beneficial to all involved. “The term ‘pets helping people’ is so true because the animals love us uncondition- ally,” Davis says. “They don’t know what we’ve done or where we’ve been, and we don’t know where they’ve been either. It’s just an unconditional love relationship that really works and helps build confidence in our students and our employees.” A Rewarding Career Davis’ time with Muddy Paws and PHP has been professionally rewarding. She began her career with Muddy Paws as a front-desk clerk and was eventually promoted to office manager. Prior to becoming PHP’s execu- tive director, she was director of operations and outreach. “I had had a business and accounting background, and that’s one of the things that PHP and Muddy Paws founder Christy VanCleave noticed about me — that I was organized,” Davis says. “That’s why she wanted to hire me.” Davis also finds the work personally gratifying. “I’ve always had an ability to encourage people, even in high school,” she says. “It’s just been a gift or a blessing, really, to do that. I always like to see people get on their feet and have a good productive life and be self-sustaining, so it’s really a good fit for me.” Pets Helping People will have a combined 2022–2023 graduation at 6 p.m. September 18 at the Southern Hills Baptist Church gymnasium, 5590 South Lewis Avenue. More information on grooming and other pet services can be found at https://www. muddy-paws.org . Muddy Paws’ 7,000-square-foot facility includes amenities such as hydraulic bathtubs, making it easier to bathe dogs of larger breeds. Since 2010, Pets Helping People has trained more than 300 women for jobs in the pet industry. The Muddy Paws staff grooms 1,000 to 1,200 animals per month.