TulsaPets Magazine Online

STORY BY NANCY GALLIMORE WERHANE CPDT-KA
PHOTOS BY SIRIUS PHOTOGRAPHY

“ERNIE! ARE YOU GOING?” An excited volunteer stepped forward to hug a young German shepherd-mix dog. Ernie wagged his tail furiously as he greeted each member of the busy crew standing just outside the City of Tulsa Animal Welfare (TAW) shelter. Soon Ernie was joined by a number of wagging tails, numbering 30 in all. None of the dogs could possibly know what was to come in the next 24 hours, but all seemed to somehow understand that something very good was about to happen.

Something very good, indeed. This lucky group of dogs-unclaimed, not yet adopted locally and running out of time in an often over-crowded shelter-had been selected from the TAW population to make the trip to Dumb Friends League (DFL) in Denver, Colorado. There, the dogs were virtually guaranteed to find new permanent homes within days, if not mere hours, of their arrival. Since its beginning in February of this year, the transport has been the ticket to a happily-ever-after for 305 dogs to date with more trips scheduled through the fall. Though not a simple process, it is a wellorchestrated group effort that quite literally results in lives saved.

New to Tulsa this year, the concept of transporting animals from an overburdened shelter to one with high adoption rates and lower local intake numbers is not unique. According to Dr. Catherine Pienkos, TAW Shelter veterinarian, other shelters across the country support similar outreach programs. Her own experience working with a shelter outreach in Massachusetts inspired her to want to create the same opportunity for Tulsa’s homeless dogs. Pienkos and TAW veterinary technicians Lea Anne Mitten and Amanda Kolke worked together to gain acceptance for the idea and to identify a partner shelter willing to accept dogs from Tulsa.

Kolke, a former employee of Denver’s Dumb Friends League (DFL), helped establish the connection and soon TAW became an approved shelter in the DFL Pet Connection transfer program. With a shelter partner in place, attention shifted to the task of building a transportation plan. If you have ever wondered what distance people are willing to go to help save homeless dogs, the answer in this case is about 690 miles.

Members of the TAW volunteer program, various community animal rescue supporters, and the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA) joined forces to get the transport program on the road, bridging the distance between the two cities. Volunteers, two drivers to a van, made the drive straight through the night, stopping at regular intervals to check on the dogs, do clean-ups and make sure everyone had water. The program’s first three trips were made possible by Kyla Holderness, Pet Adoption League volunteer, who donated the use of her own passenger bus. When OAA joined the effort in April, rental vans were used to make the approximately 12-hour trips possible.
Renting vans for the monthly or bimonthly trips, however, proved to be extremely costly.

The solution? OAA stepped in to hold a fundraiser to purchase a dedicated vehicle for not only Denver transports, but for numerous area animal rescue transport efforts. Spearheaded by veteran transport volunteers Mike and Kathy Nobles and OAA director Jamee Suarez, donations were secured and a sturdy white cargo van emblazoned with a new “Wheels of Hope” logo was ready to go to work helping dogs from the Tulsa shelter cover the miles to DFL.

According to TAW community engagement and volunteer programs planner, Millicent Adu-H’Torah, the support from OAA and other donors has been invaluable. “They not only cover the cost of fuel, but also a per diem for the volunteers and motel expenses for the three day trip. OAA and supporters like Ms. Holderness have been great partners in ensuring the success of our transfer program.”

Of course the heart of the program lies with the bright eyes, soft ears and wagging tails of its beneficiaries. All logistics aside, it’s hard to imagine how a limited number of lucky dogs are selected from a shelter population that averages more than 200 dogs daily.

According to Dr. Pienkos, DFL provides guidelines for dog selection-good health and temperament being of primary concern. In the weeks and days leading up to a scheduled monthly transport, dogs that are good candidates are identified. Dogs that have been in the care of TAW for the longest period of time are given first consideration. Then Pienkos and her staff try to narrow it down to a few large dogs, several medium size dogs and a number of small breeds or puppies-a mix that takes maximum advantage of van space.

Naturally, there is also an emotional component. “I’m always hoping a black dog gets selected since solid black dogs are harder to place,” said Kolke. Mitten added, “I’m a terrier owner, so I root for a terrier to make the trip and Dr. Pienkos is always on the lookout for a nice German shepherd.” According to the vet clinic staff, just about everyone from shelter volunteers to Animal Welfare officers will have a dog they are hoping will make the transports, though everyone is happy for any dog that is selected.

“The program has truly been an instrument of change here at the shelter,” said AduH’Torah. “It’s great to see our employees become so involved, often giving of their own time to help prepare the dogs for the trip after a long day at work.”

When the actual day of the transport arrives, the dogs that meet the criteria set forth by DFL must pass a final health screening administered by Dr. Pienkos.
Any dog exhibiting any sign of illness is not allowed to make the trip.

In the meantime, the OAA Wheels of Hope van and sometimes an additional rental van are fueled and prepped for the road. Volunteers exercise the transport dogs, prepare crates and help shelter staff members do a final check to be sure all paperwork is in order. It is an exciting process to witness. Everyone is working quickly to minimize stress for the dogs while helping the drivers get underway on schedule for arrival in Denver the following morning. Meanwhile, the gathering group of playful dogs adds a lighthearted air to an otherwise structured operation.

Volunteers provide plenty of last minute hugs and well-wishes as favorite dogs are carefully lifted into crates and secured for a safe trip. Once the vans are loaded the four drivers wave quick goodbyes and the trip is underway.

The Nobles have been drivers on several trips to Denver. When asked if the dogs ever settle down, Mike just laughs and says, “They usually quiet down somewhere around Wichita.” The Nobles share several stories from the road, many of which involve none-too-delicate clean-up operations. There are also endless stories of kindness along the way.

Mike tells of a woman from Georgia they met at a rest stop who inquired about the dogs and upon hearing their mission, immediately offered to help however she could. Another young couple at a different rest stop offered to help walk one of the dogs so Mike could clean its crate. And there’s Patricia, the night clerk at the Comfort Inn in Goodland, Kansas who makes sure there is always fresh coffee and muffins for the weary drivers.

What’s possibly most inspiring about this initiative is the obvious gratitude shared between all who have participated in the effort. The moment you start talking to any one of the volunteers or TAW employees, you receive a rapid fire list of names of people who have participated and deserve a well-earned pat on the back.

In addition to the shelter staff, the Nobles and Holderness, there are TAW volunteers Chong Noel, Jason Martinez and Jessica Parker who have helped with the dogs at the shelter and have also logged several trips in the program.

There is private pilot Kent Wyatt and his wife Erika, TAW volunteers who have twice given the transport program wings by using their private plane to fly groups of dogs to the Mile High City.

There are Cindy Bucher and Dr. Ann Stiles, TAW volunteer crew leaders, who work tirelessly during the day of the transport to help prep the dogs and then further assist with the evening send-off. Dr. Stiles, the relief veterinarian for the shelter, is also instrumental in helping with the health assessments of the dogs.

These are but a few of the numerous people who support the program. To try to acknowledge everyone would undoubtedly result in someone missed, so a comprehensive list will not be attempted here. It is safe to bet, however, that those who deserve recognition find their true gratification in the knowledge that their efforts result in lives saved.

“New volunteers are always welcome,” Adu-H’Torah is quick to point out. “We always need drivers and extra hands to help with prepping and loading the dogs so we can keep the transport rolling.” Anyone interested in participating in the program should contact Adu-H’Torah at the TAW shelter at (918) 669-6289.

This heartwarming program showcases the best of volunteerism and a determination to truly go the extra mile to save deserving dogs. But it also brings an obvious question to mind: How is it that Denver can take so many dogs from other communities and seemingly effortlessly find them all homes?

Those involved in the partner program agree that the difference between our two cities can be attributed to Denver’s strictly enforced spay/neuter laws. Further speculation is that the Denver culture is more accepting of mixed breed dogs and dedicated to the concept of adoption. Whatever the actual difference, it translates into a winning situation for the wonderful dogs that make the journey.

So how does this story end? Well, for the foreseeable future, it doesn’t. As long as there are dogs in need in Tulsa, there will be dedicated volunteers willing to help them make the trip to a more promising future. We wish our departing dogs well and applaud the people lining up in Denver to give them great homes. Perhaps the best outcome of this story might be that more Tulsans head to the TAW shelter to meet the great dogs that so desperately need loving homes-before they slip through our fingers one way or another.

STORY BY JODI KOCH

COVERED IN FILTH AND RUNNING IN THE ROAD, it was a large Lab, weaving in and out of a busy road during my morning commute; a sad, yet common sight. A fearful look in his eyes told a story that brought my car to a stop. This was the day that I didn’t keep driving.

Extending my hand with some food I had in my car; I made a friend on the side of the road that day. More importantly, the sigh he made while resting his head on my lap was all it took for that day to change me. An unmistakable sparkle was in his eyes; there was a lot of life left in him. Little did I know my help that day would serve me more than him in the end, more than I could ever imagine. It has become my calling, merging a passion for animals with the power of one human’s help, in whatever form that may take.

His name? Simply put…”Big Boy.”
Unable to locate his owner, he stayed in my home where he became a part of our family over the next nine months, a time frame that is now ironic having ‘conceived’ the idea of fostering a needy pet that April morning along that busy road. Big Boy found his forever home nine months later in a new family, a perfect fit.

Now, nearly a year since being adopted, “his name is still Big Boy,” says his new owner Vance Simmons; “he responds to it and the name says it all, so why change it?!”

“This dog has brought joy to our house and coming home to him, well, there’s a sense of joy,” says Simmons, “everybody loves him, even the kids in the neighborhood!”

It had been nearly 20 years since Vance had a dog. After marrying and having two young sons, his hopes to add a dog to his family never faded. It wasn’t until his two boys were more recently and relentlessly asking for a dog when he realized that the idea of a family pet may soon be a reality.

After hearing about Lab Rescue Oklahoma from some co-workers who adopted through the rescue organization, he decided to check out their website. It was then he found my foster dog, Big Boy.

Simmons laughs as he recalls his first glimpse online of a dog named Big Boy:

“AHHH, that’s the dog that I want! I didn’t know if my wife wanted a dog that big, but I didn’t care (he laughs) I WANTED that dog!”

From his online description Simmons knew he sounded like a good dog, one smart enough to know his boundaries-sense when things are wrong, but one that’s just lovable overall.

Convinced this was THE dog that he had waited for all of those years; Vance brought his wife along for their first meeting with Big Boy.

“When I saw him, I just knew,” says Simmons. They took him for a walk in my neighborhood and when they came back the decision was obvious. The Simmons boys were surprised that night when they came home to a furry friend they had wanted for the last two years.

“I don’t think we all went to bed until 2am that night,” recalls Simmons.

Big Boy had become part of a new family, one that can’t imagine life without him and looking back Simmons wouldn’t change a thing:

“It’s a win-win, there’s no negative to it, it’s all positive. You’re rescuing a needy animal; these dogs know when they go through something, they know it and it creates a better dog. There just wasn’t one negative to this. If we leave the house longer than two hours my sons say, ‘dad we need to go home, we miss Big Boy.’” Affection the dog seems to equally share through the cry he mutters whenever he’s inside the house watching through the screen door to the Simmons boys playing outside.

Even grandpa who is bit suspect of dogs has become a fan.

“He’ll call multiple times a day just to ask about the dog; all it took was a big lick when they first met,” recalls Simmons.

Happy ending I ask?
“Ohhhhh man, unequivocally YES,” says Simmons. “Big Boy was the PERFECT fit for our family; he was heaven sent. He fits us; he’s so good. I don’t know if you can get any better, he fits our personality, most of the time he’s relaxed and by our feet and doesn’t bark too much. Our family is complete now!”

Big Boy’s story finishes with a happy ending, but for so many other animals help never comes in time. 14,773 animals were brought in last year to Tulsa Animal Welfare of which over 79% were euthanized. An unimaginable statistic, but one that is reality for a city service over-tasked with stray, abandoned and unwanted animals. A statistic that within such lies more than just a number, but thousands of stories about second chances waiting to be written.

“Petey” was a black and white dog that couldn’t have been older than three months. He was a resident at Tulsa Animal Welfare but on this day, he was in a crate in the back of my station-wagon on his way to breaking some hearts on the radio with Greg & Chuck from the EDGE morning show. It was an interview about my day job for which a component on this visit involved animal rescue, my other job.

This adorable black and white puppy was an ambassador for all rescues that day, they didn’t come much cuter than this nameless (at that time), spotted dog. Reminding me of the dog from the old TV show, the Little Rascals, I called him “Petey” on the air that morning.

I knew I had to use my time wisely, and went to work promoting rescue that morning, relentlessly showing everyone the young dog at the radio station. Later that day, my neighbor caught a glimpse of Petey and shouted from across her backyard, “what is that adorable thing you’re holding?” she asked. Having two rescue dogs of her own, she was convinced she knew the perfect family for the dog. One week later, Petey would be named Spots.

“He was the cutest thing when we saw him, so mild-mannered and a puppy; it was a perfect combination for us,” says Brett Perona (Petey, now Spots’ new owner).

Four months of serious searching for the perfect Perona family pet came to an end that day, the day of my radio interview. A few pictures taken and sent over my phone of the adorable pup were the catalyst that led to a visit with the dog.

With two growing boys in the Perona family who were now of the age to really contribute and care for a pet, Perona knew the time had come for that family dog.

“We were looking for the low-key, easy maintenance puppy; there is such a thing, right?” laughs Perona. Willing to wait, Perona says his family was looking for just the right kind of puppy to add to their family, which is “why it took a while,” he says.

He began the process by chatting amongst co-workers for ideas, which led to a co-worker (my neighbor) convincing Perona about the need to adopt and subsequently connecting him to me and the puppy from Tulsa Animal Welfare I had shared on the radio that morning.

After talking it over with his wife, coupled with her subsequent visit with the dog and finally a visit from the Perona family, Petey was adopted through Tulsa Animal Welfare.

The next challenge? The dog’s name, a task only suited for the Perona boys. Each boy had a lot of recommendations, but neither agreed on the other’s name choice nor any suggestions from their parents. So, three days after the adoption Brett says he brought the naming ‘dilemma’ up in the car. One boy said, “Spots!” and Brett says the other surprisingly agreed.

“I laughed and said that’s it?! Spots? That took you guys three days to come up with?!” he said now laughing at its simplicity.

The adoption experience is one “we’d definitely do again,” says Perona.

“The boys know we saved a dog…it was a choice, a great cause, a service that helps our community and most importantly needy animals. Why not adopt? The need is so great,” says Perona. “Spots is OUR dog; he completed the family.”

As an east-coast transplant to Oklahoma four years ago, I still struggle with the scope of the stray and abandoned animal crisis in this part of the country. I’m not a dog trainer, an animal expert or a veterinarian, but rather a regular person that has dedicated myself to do whatever is in my power to bring change, even if small and seemingly insignificant to animals that deserve better. We are one of the most developed, educated and advanced countries in the world, yet The Humane Society of the United States estimates that between 3-4 million animals are euthanized in nearly upwards of 6,000 US shelters every year. 11,673 of those animals were euthanized in Tulsa last year alone. Every animal deserves a happy ending like Big Boy and Spots.

The Humane Society further estimates that 25-40% of all animals in shelters are pure-bred animals. Translation? There is NO excuse NOT to adopt.

The stories behind the faces of adoption are heartwarming and these are just two I have had the joy in telling. We all can make a difference and save a life. There is no better gift than the love of an animal in need. Looking to add fur to your family? Please visit your local shelter or rescue organization. They need your support, their animals need your love and in return your family gains a faithful, loyal companion. Adoption isn’t the answer, but it’s a start akin to a humanitarian deed for the furry kind and the beginning of a chapter to a new story, your own story about second chances.

STORY BY HYLA HOPE HARDER, Ph.D.,
Author of 101 Puzzles, Riddles and Rhymes for Cat Lovers

THE YEAR WAS 1972. The place was Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Tulsa. I was kneeling in the sanctuary praying. Suddenly I became aware of a familiar odor-the odor of my beloved poodle Muffy who had died several weeks before of renal failure. I had grieved terribly for the constant companion of my teenage years. Now I felt her presence sitting next to me in the holy surroundings of a church. What a comfort that feeling was to me.
From that moment on, I became interested in stories of other pet owners who “experienced” their dearly beloved, departed animals.

This article is a compilation of such stories. The incidents recorded here involve Tulsa residents who have lost pets and then “seen” or “encountered” them several days, months or years after the animal died. The stories are haunting but they are true. You be the judge.

Buster Brown was a beloved chocolate lab who was owned by a local businesswoman and her husband. When Buster was eleven, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. On Friday, September 9, 2005, at 4:10 p.m. the grief-stricken couple had to put Buster down. The weekend was a nightmare for them. The next Tuesday, September 13, the wife received a call that her husband was in the E.R. of St.
John’s Medical Center. He was experiencing chest pains. She rushed to the hospital and was comforted to see a family friend named Joyce volunteering in the hospital’s emergency waiting room. Later the husband was transferred to the third floor of St. John’s to have a stint put in his heart. Joyce accompanied the wife to give her moral support.

While the two ladies waited for the surgical procedure to be over, a chocolate lab ran into the waiting room. “Why that’s Buster Brown,” Joyce called out in surprise. The dog ran straight through the double doors that separated the waiting area from the operating area. No one could stop the dog. Once he was behind the double doors, the dog disappeared.
Everyone in the waiting area, including Joyce and the wife, saw the chocolate lab and wondered how he got to the third floor of the hospital. How did he get into the hospital? How did he get on the elevator and make it to the third floor? Why couldn’t someone stop him? As intriguing as these questions were,they faded in comparison with the seriousness of heart surgery.

The surgical procedure went well and the next day the husband was alert and feeling better. The wife, of course, did not mention the dog in the waiting room. She was shocked to hear her husband say, “Buster Brown came to be with me yesterday. I didn’t see him but I heard him make his familiar little sound he always makes when he lies down and I heard his dog collar jingle. I felt his presence. He lay down on the floor next to my bed when I needed him most.”

As amazing as this true story is, it is not too different from a story that made national news in the 1930′s and was carried by the major news services. An elderly woman was hospitalized for an undiagnosed illness. Her condition deteriorated and the doctors believed she was going to die. Three of her physicians were walking to her room to examine her. As they approached her room, they were amazed to see a cocker spaniel run out of the lady’s door. They chased the dog down the hall until he got to the end of the corridor. The dog turned the corner and disappeared. The doctors notified the security department but, although security officers were looking for him all through the hospital, no one ever saw him again.

The lady started making dramatic improvement and two weeks later she was considered well enough to go home. When her primary physician was dismissing her from the hospital, he remarked to her how amazing her recovery had been. “What do you think made you improve so rapidly?” the puzzled physician asked.

“Oh, it was seeing my dog. I started wanting to live again,” she replied.

” I saw your dog come out of your room. We tried to catch him but we never could,” the doctor said.

“Well, naturally you couldn’t catch him. He’s been dead several years!” she retorted with a twinkle in her eye.

In America torn by the Depression, this amazing story of an elderly woman and her dead dog touched America deeply and gave our country a remarkable incident to ponder.

One of Tulsa’s most respected and beloved veterinarians has also seen some of his own pets after they have died. They appear as shadowing figures which are moving and appear at the edge of his field of vision. He stated categorically that the phenomenon of owners seeing or experiencing their animals after the pets have died is far more common than the general public believes. Many animal rescuers interviewed for this article believe that a substantial percent of pet owners have some kind of “after-death” experience with their deceased pets.

Some pet owners do not see, hear or smell their pets but they “sense” their presence. Such a phenomenon occurred to Mary Ann Jarrett, one of Tulsa’s most respected and admired animal rescuers. Mary Ann has helped countless dogs but one Shih Tzu has a special place in her heart and her memory.

The Shih Tzu came to Mary Ann with a long and highly unusual name. The dog was called “Haley Bop the Pun’kin Seed.” (The name was almost bigger than the little dog!) Mary Ann had the dog for a few years until it developed a terminal condition and had to be put to sleep. The dog was buried in her backyard. A few days after the dog died, Mary Ann noticed she could sense the dog was in the yard waiting for Mary Ann to talk to her. For six weeks Mary Ann sensed the dog’s presence in her yard every evening when Mary Ann went outside. Mary Ann would talk to her and call her by name. One evening when Mary Ann went outside, she could tell the dog was gone. Haley Bop never came back but the six weeks of her presence comforted Mary Ann a great deal.

Some pet owners feel that their beloved departed pets send other animals to comfort them. Acclaimed Tulsa writer Pat Atkinson is in this category. In the ’90s, the day after Halloween, a black kitty appeared in her backyard. The kitten had singed fur and was terrified. It took a lot of tender loving care but Pat eventually convinced the cat to trust her. She named him “Henry.” Seven years ago Henry died and was buried in Pat’s back pasture. Three years later, a young terrified black kitten appeared at Henry’s gravesite during Halloween season. He, too, had obviously been mistreated. Pat coaxed him with food and love and named him Kacey (short for kitty cat). Kacey looks like Henry, acts like Henry and even has Henry’s likes and dislikes. Pat is convinced Henry sent Kacey to her.

Every devoted pet owner dreads the day he will have to say good-bye to his beloved animal. If you have recently lost your cat or dog, perhaps this article will help you realize your pet may be curled up by your feet this very moment or sitting on your window sill. Perhaps you just don’t see him.

Whether you sense your departed pet or not, the best way to honor him is to help another animal, so please consider going to the animal shelter and saving a life in memory of the one who gave you so much during his life. Remember: THE LIFE YOU SAVE WILL BLESS YOUR LIFE IN RETURN!

By Nancy Gallimore Werhane

I’VE DECIDED TO CALL THEM Max, Scarlet, Louise and Sapphire. They are the four Dalmatians sold at a breeding stock reduction auction I attended in northeastern Oklahoma on a damp March day. Meeting these dogs and the other 173 dogs representing 37 breeds proved to be one of the most emotionally wrenching experiences I’ve had in more than 20 years of animal related rescue work.

While I love all dogs, Dalmatians are my particular passion. I live with them, train and show them and help operate a breed-specific rescue for them. I will admit I did not believe any Dalmatians would be at the sale. Two were listed on the pre-sale flyer but, thankfully, area Dalmatian fanciers were able to purchase them prior to the auction. So I convinced myself I would at least be spared the sight of my own beloved breed in this situation. I thought I could go to the auction simply as an observer, a reporter with some sense of impartiality. I was very wrong.

The moment I pulled into the parking lot a wave of dread washed over me at the mere sight of the cages and dog runs lined up behind the sale barn. As I walked from pen to pen I quickly realized that no dog lover, or reasonably compassionate person for that matter, could possibly be unaffected by this spectacle.

The dogs had been trucked in from four different puppy mills. Many of the smaller dogs were in wire “rabbit cages,” raised off the ground and floored with wire mesh to allow waste to fall through. There were often three and four dogs to a small cage and most of the dogs had horribly splayed feet and overgrown toenails.

The other dogs were either in temporary exercise pens or small dog runs. All of the dog pens and runs were set up in muddy gravel and most did not have water available for the dogs. As I walked toward the area where the larger dogs were kenneled, my heart sank immediately. There, in a small run, were four Dalmatians that had not been advertised in any pre-sale literature. So much for my theory that I wouldn’t see Dalmatians sold that day.

The first five minutes of the sale were completely overwhelming for me. I’m generally fairly good at controlling my emotions, but I literally had to return to my van to compose myself. Remaining unobtrusive is important at these events because animal welfare and breed rescue people are generally not welcome and are often asked to leave. Standing in the middle of all of the dogs with tears streaming down my face was, needless to say, out of the question.

I watched as dog after dog was paraded into the auction ring. There was not any discussion about bloodlines, health clearances or temperament. The only information provided came from a quick once-over by a veterinarian standing at the door of the barn. As each dog went up for bidding, the auctioneer would state whether the dog was missing any teeth, whether it had any apparent problems such as cataracts or umbilical hernias and whether the bitches appeared to be pregnant or not. Pregnant bitches were held up so their swollen bellies could be viewed.

Prospective buyers examined dogs in the same manner in which you might look at produce or perhaps an old appliance at a yard sale as you wondered how much longer it might work. There was no petting or reassurance for nervous dogs. There were no kind words whispered into furry ears.

As I sat and watched this sad procession, my head was literally spinning. There was the Akita whose ears had been lost to frostbite. A Giant Schnauzer bitch that was skin and bones and completely terrified. The miniature dachshund that was missing the toes of his right foot and had a retained testicle, but was a proven, “aggressive” breeder. The sullen 11 and 12 year old Shih Tzu bitches that had spent their entire lives having litter after litter. The chow puppy bitch with one bad eye that was listed as having been bred two days before her six-month birthday.

Most of the dogs were in desperate need of grooming. Some of the coated breeds were matted and filthy. Many had eye and ear problems, missing teeth and poor bites. Some were thin, some were terrified and obviously unaccustomed to being handled, and many stared blankly, seemingly numbed by their surroundings and plight. This article could literally go on for pages and still not paint the full picture of the existence these dogs had obviously endured.

Of all the dogs at the sale, the Dalmatians appeared to be the most friendly and outgoing. Despite being crammed together in a pen and covered with mud, their tails were wagging and they welcomed every visitor that stopped to see them. As we stood by them, the male continually tried to breed one of two bitches that were in season. Time and time again we heard people comment “Too bad there’s no market for Dalmatians…that one looks like a good worker.”

While I was looking at the four dogs, the man who owned them approached and asked if I was interested in them. I told him I was just looking, but took the opportunity to ask a few questions. I learned that these four dogs had been in his possession just since August and that one bitch had whelped five puppies in December. The dogs had been living together in an outdoor run, approximately six feet wide by 15 feet long, that was cleaned every other day by hired help unless it rained. During rainy periods, the kennel help came after “things dried out” because of the mud. It doesn’t take much to imagine that the dogs were kept in less than sanitary conditions.

The owner went on to tell me (foolishly for a man hoping to sell the dogs) that dog brokers were no longer accepting Dalmatians-the only encouraging news of the day for me-and he was not expecting to receive much for them. He stated that he just wanted to find someone to take care of the dogs, but then literally in the same breath said “Oh heck, I don’t even care if they take care of them, I just want to be rid of them.”

Though every part of me wanted to rescue those Dalmatians, I had been caught completely off guard and had no place I could put them on such short notice. I resigned myself to the fact that I could not buy the dogs, but I was determined to stay to see them sell. While many of the dogs cringed and cowered as they were led or carried into the barn, the four mud smeared Dalmatians trotted in with heads held high and tails fanning the air.

To my amazement, the crowd actually laughed when the auctioneer tried to start the bidding. While most dogs were bringing fairly active bidding, the Dalmatians were met with silence. The auctioneer literally had to beg someone to offer any amount.

Finally the bidding started when the owner of the dogs assured everyone that a two-year-old bitch was bred. She sold for $70 to a man sitting just behind us. The auctioneer encouraged him to buy the dog to go with his new bitch so he could produce more litters. The man simply replied “I won’t have her that long.” Quick eavesdropping told me he planned to keep her long enough to have the pups and then would sell her immediately again.

The two other older bitches, one six years old, the other five, sold for $40 each. Poor, sweet Max, the eight-year-old dog, sold for only $10. All four dogs sold to people who did not particularly want them, but just wanted the sale to keep moving. At that point, I left quickly, stopping by the Dalmatians’ pen to say goodbye and to wish them the best…whatever that could possibly be.

On the hour drive home, I road in silence trying to sort the emotions and thoughts racing through my head. I was completely devastated by the auction, but I couldn’t figure out why it was hitting me so much harder than any other animal-related injustice I have witnessed over the years.

Quickly the truth hit me. The first big difference was in the attitude of the people. As a volunteer with animal rescue groups and our city animal welfare shelter, I have been witness to terrible cases of abuse and neglect. The huge difference, however, lies in the emotions that surround the dogs. At the shelter everyone shares a sense of outrage and sorrow when a neglected dog comes in for care. We are all sympathetic and can’t understand how someone could treat such a loyal creature with little or no respect.

At the puppy mill auction, on the other hand, I was completely alone in my shock and disgust. No one else in attendance appeared to see anything wrong with the treatment of the dogs. In fact, it was a rather festive family event with concessions available and notes in the catalog encouraging everyone to “enjoy the sale.”

The impression I gained from the sale was that the people involved in the commercial breeding trade do not view dogs as companion animals. To them, dogs are a commodity. They are to “work” as long and productively as they physically can with minimal care and then they are cast aside-period.

The second big difference between these dogs and dogs in an animal shelter, is that at least the dogs at the shelter have a fairly known future. They will either be reclaimed by their owner, adopted into a new home or they will be humanely euthanized. While no one likes the latter option, at least it is an end to suffering and neglect.

For the dogs sold at the puppy mill auction, the word tomorrow is defined by nothing more than a series of question marks. Take the Dalmatians, for example. Did those four dogs end up in better circumstances than they’ve known before? Or is their new kennel even worse? Will the bitches be forced to have litter after litter until they become ill or can no longer reproduce? Or will the poor market for Dalmatians mean that they will be dumped or perhaps sold to research facilities? What about Max? He only brought $10 at auction. Will his new owner really care for him or will he be cast aside as quickly as possible?

It’s the question marks that trouble me almost more than witnessing the physical auction itself. Now that I’ve had time to think it through I have arrived at the realization I should have tried to purchase the four Dalmatians, no matter what. Whatever future I could have provided them would have undoubtedly been better than the fate they likely faced following the sale. Of course getting the Dalmatians out would have been just a drop salvaged from the bucket, but it would have been something.

March 4 was a life altering day for me. The images I saw and the comments I heard were an important learning experience, but will also haunt me forever. My heart remains especially heavy and filled with guilt as I think about Max, Scarlet, Louise, Sapphire and the other dogs I met. I can only hope that someday I might be lucky enough to find these four Dalmatians again. Next time, I promise I won’t let them down.

Nancy Gallimore Werhane is an animal welfare volunteer, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and co-owner of Pooches Dog Daycare, Training and Grooming facility.

STORY BY SHERRI GOODAL

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY to get the attention of a few hundred kindergartners, first, second, and third graders… sound a smoke alarm and bring in Sparkles, the Fire Safety Dog. If her shiny red helmet and red vest don’t get your attention, her shiny red toenails will.

Sparkles, a Dalmatian, travels with her owner Dayna Hilton, taking their fire safety message to kids all over the United States. Sparkles has been on national TV and has visited the United States Senate in Washington, D.C. Dayna, known as Firefighter Dayna, has been a firefighter for over eight years.

Last year, home fires resulted in almost 4,000 civilian deaths and 18,000 injuries. These tragedies occur because children and their caregivers are not trained in fire safety. This is where Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles enter the picture.
In November, Sparkles visited Celia Clinton Elementary school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sparkles has roots in Tulsa, where she was rescued from a home with 62 dogs and ended up at the Tulsa Animal Welfare shelter. The Tulsa Dalmatian Assistance League stepped in and rescued Sparkles and Dayna adopted her in 2003.
Sparkles immediately showed quick learning potential and she interacted well with children.

Within months at her new home in Arkansas, Sparkles quickly became her fire department’s mascot and earned the honor of becoming a fire safety dog.

During the Clinton school presentation, Sparkles’ tail never stopped wagging. She does love her job! Not only was Sparkles fun to watch, but her fire safety demonstration was easy for the kids to remember.

When Firefighter Dayna asked the crowd to welcome Sparkles, they responded with a thunderous shout, “SPARKLES!” Out she trotted in her red vest and helmet, and the show began.

Firefighter Dayna, with help from Sparkles, presented the four most important safety tips in case of a fire:

1. Every home should have working SMOKE ALARMS. Make sure your home has them and MAKE SuRE THEY WORK. The batteries should be tested once a month and changed twice a year.
2. Have an ESCAPE PLAN: GET OUT AND STAY OUT (never go back inside a burning house). Your family escape plan should include a map of your house and yard. Find two ways out of every room. Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone can meet (i.e. a neighbor’s house, light post, mailbox or stop sign). Mark it on your escape plan. Practice your home fire drill at least TWICE A YEAR.
3. When Sparkles hears the smoke alarm, she hops out of her bed and crawls to the nearest door (the air closest to the floor is cooler). She tests the door with her paw (kids do it with the BACK of your hand, so you don’t burn your palm). If the door is cool, OPEN IT AND GET OUT! Stay close to the ground and go to your meeting place. If the door is hot, crawl to the second way out. If it’s a window, signal with a flashlight or a colored cloth. Do not break the window. If smoke enters the room from outside, you would be in danger.
4. Sparkles pushes the door open and runs to a mailbox. Go to the planned meeting place outside and stay there until everyone is accounted for.

Sparkles’ best friends, other than Dayna, are firefighters. She has her own miniature fire truck. Sparkles wags her tail and barks while Dayna sings the Firefighter Song. (sung to Frères Jacques) Firefighter, Firefighter You are brave, you are brave Putting out the fires, putting out the fires Lives you save, lives you save.

When the program ends Sparkles raises her paw, as Firefighter Dayna asks the kids to raise their hands and repeat the Jr. Firefighter Oath: I promise to practice fire safety every day!

“Congratulations, you are Junior Fire Fighters!” Sparkles is the star of her very own children’s book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. The book, written by Firefighter Dayna, features Sparkles teaching fire safety as demonstrated during their school visits. To date, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog has been credited with helping save the lives of two adults and seven children.” To learn more about Sparkles and her book, visit her website at www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com.

Dalmatians are often fire fighter mascots.

Many people think it’s because Dalmatians have a high incidence of deafness, which would make them unable to hear the screeching sirens. Not true. Dalmatians are “coach dogs” which means they naturally like to run with horses and they were used to precede or follow horse-drawn coaches, carriages, or wagons. Before fire trucks came along, horses pulled fire wagons and Dalmatians always ran alongside.*
*Sources: National Fire Protection Association and the Home Safety Council

STORY BY ALICE BENAVIDES

HOUSE CALLS. A THING OF THE PAST? Not for Tulsa.
Serving the Tulsa area are a few dedicated professionals who make it their priority to bring their specialty to pet owners with mobility as an option.

SHARI WILDER is one such Tulsan.
She owns Posh Paws Mobile Dog Grooming. She travels to peoples’ homes and grooms their dogs in her van right outside the home.

Shari got her idea one day while searching the web. Soon after, she and her husband purchased a van and morphed it into a salon. That was in 2004, and ever since, she has operated her business-one dog at a time-from her mobile salon.

Every day is a new experience for Shari as she drives from home to home grooming her furry friends. She tries to schedule no more than seven dogs a day, taking about one hour to bathe, blow dry, and groom each animal.

Shari finds that her mobility reduces stress for pet owners, who do not like leaving their beloved pets at the groomers all day-and locked up in a cage for most of that time-not to mention all the driving to and fro. And she says there is less stress for the pets also. She can work one-on-one, without the chaotic barking of other dogs in the background.

And best of all, when Shari is done, she walks the dog back into the house freshly groomed and happy. “That is the best feeling I could ever ask for,” she says. Shari can be reached at 918-671-3899 or shariwilder@sbcglobal.net. Her web site is www.tulsapaws.com.

Another professional dedicated to mobility is SCOTT HARTFELDER. Scott owns PetSquad, a home delivery system of allnatural dog and cat foods, treats, and supplies.

A casualty of layoff in 2003, Scott found his inspiration while researching businesses and franchises for purchase. And being a pet lover himself, he believed that this unique business would make a go in the Tulsa area.

A typical day for Scott is spent taking orders on the phone and internet, and then filling theorders and delivering them. Each day of the week is spent covering a certain zip code area. That way, his customers have the convenience of knowing when he will be in their neighborhood.

Scott says his business is truly familyowned. His wife fills in for him when necessary, and his father does most of the deliveries-and the customers just love him! “We are a family of pet lovers and truly enjoy and believe in what we do!” Scott says.

Many people hear about Scott’s business and think they are unable to afford it. He encourages these prospective customers to compare the price and ingredients in his product with something similar at the store, and they will see that PetSquad is not only affordable but convenient. And delivery is free! Scott can be reached at 918-369-9399 or scott@petsquadok.com. His web site is www.petsquadok.com.

HEATHER OWEN, DVM, owns Animal Acupuncture and is a mobile veterinary acupuncturist. She received her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 2001. After seeing many good animals being put down only because they were suffering with painful diseases, such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, Heather looked for an alternative. She attended Colorado State University and received her acupuncture certification in 2006. Now she enjoys helping these animals. Nothing she does hurts them. “Best of all,” she says, “no thermometers!” Acupuncture helps to alleviate pain in older animals that can no longer walk and animals for which surgery is not an option.

Some animals are up and wagging their tails after just one treatment while others may need several treatments. Acupuncture can also help the mother dog who is in labor, unable to continue. Heather inserts a few needles and puppies are born.

The treatments take twenty to thirty minutes, but Heather allows one hour per visit so she can include lots of TLC. She usually cares for about six animals a day, even though she sometimes finds herself still going at 2 a.m.

“Pain management in animals became a passion for me and I am so excited to get to live out my dream!” Heather says. She can be reached at 918-504-7502 or oheather@gmail.com.

ANITA VREELAND owns Tulsa PAWSpice and Pet Care, a specialized skilled veterinary nursing and hospice service. Anita provides basic pet-sitting for healthy pets as well as pets with special needs. She nurses post-operative and post-illness pets, especially for owners who work out of the house or who are out of town.

And she will also step in and help families deal with their pets in the twilight of life.

The need for this very special kind of pet care became evident to Anita when Emmett, her loyal doggie companion and best buddy for thirteen years, became ill with arthritis and digestive problems. At the time she was working at a local hospital and she struggled with the stress of knowing her beloved furry friend was home alone with no one to check on him. His death became an incredible hurdle for her, and now, Emmett is her inspiration as she cares for other pets in need. His photo is on the logo of her business card.

Anita works forty hours a week at a local twenty-four-hour veterinary emergency room, and also tends to her own clients.

And sometimes she is called out in the wee hours of the morning.

Anita’s office is her cell phone and the back seat of her SUV, where she carries around all the necessary supplies she needs. It is a benefit, she says, to have everything at arm’s reach, but she also finds it a drawback as she has no front door on which to hang a “SORRY, WE’RE CLOSED” sign or an office staff to “take her calls.” But the sloppy dog kisses and the kitty head-butts are all she needs to keep her going. “The confidence and trust that people place in me by allowing me to come into their homes and care for their pets is immeasurable,” Anita says. She can be reached at 918-230-8695 or ajvreeland@cox.net.

The Mobile Pet Vet is CAROLYNNE CASH. She and her assistant, April, run a full-service veterinary clinic that comes to your home. The clinic on wheels is a 2006 LaBoit customized truck that can offer many services from vaccinations to surgery.

After graduating from Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996, Carolynne decided to open a clinic of her own, but soon realized the area she lived in could not support another small animal veterinarian. Instead, she and her husband made an investment in a mobile clinic, and now Carolynne finds that the flexibility in her schedule works well for her and her family.

A typical day finds Carolynne educating clients and giving preventative care-vaccinations and parasite control-examining, diagnosing, and treatment, as well as common surgical procedures like spaying, neutering, mass removals, and suturing lacerations, and hopefully, taking a lunch break.

Like our other professionals, Carolynne finds many benefits as well.

“Having a patient respond to treatment or receiving a thank you from a client-even when a case does not respond well-is always rewarding,” she says.

And sometimes, Carolynne finds humor along the way. She tells a story about Sally, a thirty-pound mixed breed, who was suffering with severe tick anemia and needed a blood transfusion. It was after hours and Carolynne had no one to assist her. She asked Sally’s owners to help her “collect the blood.” The two looked at each other and nodded hesitantly.

Finally the husband said, “Okay, I guess we can do that for her.” After Carolynne explained the procedure to the couple and gave them each a job to do, they each exhaled a sigh of relief. Puzzled, Carolynne asked, “Did you think it would be more complicated than that?” “No,” the wife responded with a giggle, “we thought you would need to collect the blood from us!” Sally made a full recovery and her owners were relieved in more ways than one. Carolynne can be reached at 918-346-0823 or themobilepetvet@gmail.com.

These professionals have taken the extra mile to bring their services to the streets of Tulsa and the surrounding area. The hours may be long and the work hard, but it sounds like the rewards are countless. Whatever need your pet may have, there is someone who can come to your doorstep with the care and compassion you desire.