PAAS Vinita

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Local girl donates proceeds from lemonade sales to Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter

While many kids save up their money to buy a new video game or toy for themselves, 9-year-old Bayley Neal wanted to do something to benefit something she loves - animals.   Bayley is a local resident who attends Adair school. She decided this summer while visiting her grandmother in Pryor that she wanted to sell lemonade and donate the proceeds to the Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter in Vinita.   She braved the heat last Friday and in a two-hour period sold enough lemonade to passersby to raise $80, which she gladly donated to the shelter Wednesday morning.   Her mother, Alyssa Neal, said that Bayley’s love for animals was apparent when last year she told her mom that instead of birthday gifts, she wanted dog and cat treats that she could donate to animal shelters, which she did.   The shy 9-year-old really wasn’t looking to be in the spotlight for her kind acts, but she did admit that although she loves both dogs and cats, she is definitely a dog person. PAAS Director Kay Stout was impressed with Bayley’s efforts and the fact that she raised $80 selling lemonade, and thanked her for her generosity.

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Franny Found a Home

This is the story from Franny’s Mom. Read. Enjoy. And when you can … Adopt.

Hello!!! I recently adopted a pup from Dumb Friends League who was a transfer from your shelter (PAAS) and I’m so in love with her. Her name was Franny (now Olive) and she is wonderful. I’m so grateful for your shelter taking her in and bringing her to Colorado. If you have any idea about her past life it would mean the world to me to know. I adopted her on Valentine’s Day and I believe she was brought from your shelter on the 7 th . Thank you for everything you do and giving me this perfect little love.

I love her regardless of knowing her past but if you have any insight I’d really appreciate it.

Franny was surrendered to the local pound in Vinita along with 4 others that looked just like her. They’re all related. PAAS takes the dogs from the pound and sends them to Denver after their hold time is up.

She’s the most wonderful that has happened to me!!! She is the love of our lives.

It’s a tough time in rescue and stories like this give us hope.

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Compassion and Collaboration

Two C’s that will help all of us in the coming weeks (and months?) are Compassion and Collaboration. If we agree to be compassionate - - then collaboration will happen much quicker.

For the most part, dogs want food, water, shelter, love and, if they’re lucky, a place on your bed at night. Cats want food, water, litter, shelter and they decide where they want to sleep. Some exceptions apply, I know.

Moving forward, there will be hundreds (probably thousands) of homeless dogs and cats who need a new home. That coupled with the litters that will

arrive on doorsteps is sad. If I were granted one big wish, right now, it would be for spay/neuter funding. If it barks or meows there would be a clinic or veterinary practice that would “fix” em - -- all of them.

While we work our way forward, please be compassionate and work collaboratively with others in rescue. We do not all follow the same recipe for rescue – but we are all in rescue and the homeless/dumped/forgotten pets want us to get along and save them.

Collaboration will be crucial to get through this.

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Look at the Numbers

I had the opportunity to attend the Animal Law Conference at Oklahoma City University Law School on Friday.  Each presenter had a specific “area of expertise” – but one overriding theme was the power of numbers.  

For many shelters/rescues, it is Shelter Animals Count - - a website where, if an organization joins, everyone can see your success by the numbers, every month.  It was intimidating at first for us, but we rely on it now for all of our transfer partners as well.    

One presenter showed a residential map of nuisance reports for barking dogs that were made to the local authorities.  The second, overlay, slide showed the homes were spousal/elder/child abuse were reported. The dots, all too frequently, were aligned.  There is a connection and the data backs it up - - its in the numbers.  

Best Friends Animal Society has set a goal for states to be “Humane for dogs and cats” by 2025.  The goal is 90% live release rate of adoptable dogs and cats by 2025. It’s the numbers that will prove the progress.   If you’re in rescue and you find it difficult to “do the math” - - I completely understand. And while stories and pictures are important , at the end of the day - - it’s still all about the numbers.

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Breaking Ground - - Ground Breaking Results

Five years ago PAAS opened as a traditional shelter. We discovered learned there were hundreds of dogs and cats who wanted to come to the shelter – but there were few people walking through the door to adopt. It was a classic case of over supply in a saturated market. We quickly had 50 dogs, 75+ cats and a waiting list of more than 150 dogs and 150 cats. We had to think outside the box and find a new solution. We looked at the situation as a market driven business.

Today PAAS is a transfer hub and spay/neuter clinic. As I’m writing this, 30+ northeast Oklahoma pets are getting “fixed” at the clinic and on Sunday, 30+ homeless dogs from 13 municipal shelters will make the overnight trip to Dumb Friends League in Colorado.

The transition most assuredly did not happen overnight. It is difficult to change - - and transfer and spay/neuter clinics were not even discussed.

Thanks to donors and, especially the Cresap Family Foundation, Arnall Family Foundation and HSUS Pets for Life – since 2016 Vinita has exceeded 90% live release rate for dogs – a standard recognized by organizations such as PetSmart, Best Friends, Maddies Fund and others as Humane. The Kirkpatrick Foundation has set a goal for Oklahoma to be a Humane State by 2025 for shelter dogs and cats. For rural Oklahoma municipal shelters it can be a reality if and it’s a big IF there’s financial support to implement/expand a transfer program and establish a three year spay/neuter program for animals that bark or meow - - no questions asked. This last one is as important as the transfer.

I recently had the opportunity to share our story with the Dean of the Oklahoma City University Law School. As I told him, every time you have a spay/neuter clinic for 30 pets at least 30 dogs and 30 cats are “getting together” and in short order there will be lots of puppies and kittens. Sooo you have to transfer - - but you also have to have consistent (ideally weekly) spay/neuter clinics to get ahead of the over population (ie flood).

It is possible …. It can be done….. PAAS has a business model that works for rural communities that face over populations of dogs and cats. I could not be more proud of the PAAS team and the supporters and investors who believe in us. It is rewarding, amazing and life-changing for us and the dogs and cats who come through our doors.

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Saving Miss Daisy

Vicki’s Story:

I was working a vaccination clinic when 8 adorable Shih Tzu puppies came for their shots. I learned the owner of the momma dog did not want her so The Richardson Rexwinkle Birthing Center came to the rescue thanks to the help from Attorney Jason who paid the surrender fee.  

Poor little scruffy thing was filthy, matted, and her feet looked like she had dirty fuzzy slipper. Her toenails curled under and were embedded in her footpads. Her eyes were covered with dried, green gobs of gunk. Tom and I took her home, cleaned her eyes and painfully clipped her toenails. She was a trooper, for sure.  

The next day she went to see Julie, who came in on her day off, to help relieve this baby’s suffering. She groomed her and she looked so cute. When we got her home, she was strutting her stuff. I posted her pictures on Facebook and a gentleman from Texas named Don (who we knew) contacted me and the rest is history. He had just lost his beloved Shih Tzu that he’d rescued from Hurricane Katrina 13 years ago. He will drive up from Texas, pick her up and she’ll be in her new home at the end of March.

Please follow us at www.paasvinita.com, Facebook: PAAS Vinita YouTube: Pass Vinita, Twitter: PAASVinita, Instagram: PAASVinita

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Rural Rescue Reality

Based on where PAAS started (2015) and where PAAS is today (2020)…this is what we’ve learned.

Out-of-state transfer is vital – 5,300+ Oklahoma dogs now live in Colorado. Spay/neuter - - consistent - - weekly - - ongoing makes an impact – 3,000+ pets fixed. Funding - - angel investors who believe in a mission and support it financially.

It works!!!!

Facebook is our go-to-for communication with our municipal shelter partners via a closed group.

Transport leaves every Sunday night, unless Mother Nature acts up between Vinita, Oklahoma and Denver, Colorado (destination Dumb Friends League)

Consistent spay/neuter clinics at PAAS with funding, weekly. With more funding – two to three days per week. And, yes they would quickly fill up. With weekly ones – we’re booked at least a month in advance.

PAAS was designed as a “traditional” shelter. Today we’re a transfer hub and spay/neuter clinic. We’re making an impact, a difference and this prototype will work in rural towns.

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Recognition

In the world of rescue, opinions - - confrontation - - - anger - - and a host of other unpleasant attributes too often fill the “feed” on Facebook - - even in closed groups where you would hope the members are supportive.

And then - - something good happens and it helps - - it really, really helps. Thursday, Jan 23 rd was the Vinita Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Four staff members and one spouse attended and PAAS was recognized for Civic Improvement. Why?

There are fewer dogs running loose, fewer unwanted “oopsy” litters and for the cats - - while there are a lot - - it isn’t as bad as it was a few years ago. Just before Christmas a farmer stopped me say “thanks” It took me by surprise – usually “thanks” does not describe a conversation with someone when they know I’m with PAAS. The “thanks” was because for the first time in years, he had no dogs or puppies dumped on his land!!! Yes - - I know there were others who weren’t so fortunate - - but there aren’t as many as there was 5 years ago - - we’re making progress.

Sooooo…PAAS is making a difference - - the Vinita leadership recognized it - - and the PAAS Crew couldn’t be more proud.

PAAS is a transfer hub for 13 municipal Oklahoma shelters and a spay/neuter clinic for people who want to get their pets fixed. It wasn’t the road we’d planned - - but it is rewarding - - life-saving - - and the Vinita Chamber of Commerce recognized our hard work!!!

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Common Bonds

Tuesday, Jan 21 st, was the Big Reveal for the Common Bonds initiative. There are 24 participating partners. The initiative is based on the Collective Impact approach that focuses on relationships between organizations and the progress towards shared objectives. Another way to think of it is the holiday gathering of a large family with the common goal of sharing a communal meal with dishes from diverse cooks. PAAS is one of the partners.

I understand the Collective Impact process and it will be fun (sometimes challenging) to see it in action as we move forward. Here’s what it can mean for each of you reading this post. “How can I become involved?” Community leaders, caring citizens, animal rescue organizations, elected officials, religious leaders, your next door neighbor, the famous cat lady in your town, the rescue or municipal shelter with which you are associated. Frankly, anyone/everyone who is willing to work toward the common goal - - - a Humane State for Oklahoma dogs and cats by 2025.

Important components of the initiative include shared data. For those shelters who have hesitated to report their intake/outcome numbers - - we really need them. There is no judgment, but figures help us understand the scope of the challenge. It took me a while to buy into the importance of numbers (the good, the bad and the ones I didn’t want to know about), but it is necessary. PAAS is now sharing data on the website Shelter Animals Count and our PAAS Ride-to-Rescue partners are members of our Coalition.

Interested in learning more??? Have questions??? Contact me at [email protected]

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Getting Ready for the Big Reveal

Tuesday, January 21 st, a press conference will be held in OKC and Tulsa to announce an initiative that can change the future for all of us in rescue. Stay tuned - - you won’t want to miss it – and I’ll be posting information and updates as we move forward.

The goal is for Oklahoma to be a humane state for dogs and cats by 2025. Ambitious - - without question. Doable - - for all of us who are eternal optimists - - absolutely. For Oklahomans - - we know it can be done. Look at how we face the aftermath of tornadoes, storms, floods, and acts of violence. We work together to build it even better - - and we do.

In Oklahoma City, the evidence is seen with the passage of all the MAPS projects. In the early ’90s, downtown OKC was asleep after 6:00 pm - - today - -it is just beginning to wake up for the evening. And Olympic athletes train on the Oklahoma River and the White Water rafting site - - wow!!!

In Tulsa, The Gathering Place – the #1 attraction for people to see in the United States in 2019. And thousands of visitors prove it is truly a gathering place for everyone. If you haven’t checked it out - - you should.

So, can we “set the standard” for homeless dogs and cats to find new homes. And provide services so pet owners can get their pets fixed – to prevent unwanted or “oops” litters. Absolutely – we can.

Follow the announcements on TV, Radio, Print - - and, of course, social media. It is going to be a big deal and we can do it!!!!

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When you’re reading this post, 60+ homeless Oklahoma and Texas dogs will have spent one night at PAAS on their way to a new home in Colorado and Minnesota. That’s 60 dogs who will soon have new homes.

Read More

http://bit.ly/2RhuttY

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Making a change for the better

“Whether the economy is good or bad,” says Randy Housley, the general manager of Polly’s Pet Shop in Universal City, Texas, “people seem to want puppies.” And San Antonio Animal Care Services draws from such a wide area that his store is rarely without them. Since August 2013, the shelter has been the store’s sole source for puppies. In fact, the store now adopts out about 150 puppies a year, more than it used to sell.

“Whether the economy is good or bad,” says Randy Housley, the general manager of Polly’s Pet Shop in Universal City, Texas, “people seem to want puppies.” And San Antonio Animal Care Services draws from such a wide area that his store is rarely without them. Since August 2013, the shelter has been the store’s sole source for puppies. In fact, the store now adopts out about 150 puppies a year, more than it used to sell.