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Spay & Neuter Networks in OK

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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By Ruth Steinberger

The network of low-income spay/neuter programs across Oklahoma serves nearly half of the state, bringing affordable spay/neuter to homes that would otherwise produce unwanted litters or even become unable to keep the pet at all.

Spay/neuter clinics, private veterinarians, a mobile unit which serves low-income rural areas, a M.A.S.H. program and a state pet overpopulation fund supported by spay/ neuter license plates combine to provide over 25,000 pet sterilization services each year in our state.
In 2005, the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) successfully lobbied for the license plate and tax check off fund to enhance low-income sterilization services through private animal hospitals, a program which places our state among those with programs administered by the public. In 2004 and 2007, the OVMA sponsored spay/ neuter educational events for continuing education for licensed veterinarians.

Spay OK, located in North Tulsa, and SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) in Oklahoma City combine to provide around half of the low-income sterilizations each year. Other clinics and programs include Safe Haven and OK Humane, both in Oklahoma City and Second Chance Spay Neuter Clinic in Norman.

Existing programs are growing each day and new ones are on the horizon. These photos show some of the hard working teams that create a network that halts the births of thousands of animals each year in Oklahoma.

‘The SPOT Clinic in Oklahoma City is a program of Volunteers for Animal Welfare. They have been a leader in low-income sterilization since 2006. VAW Executive Director Shirley Coble said, “Adoptions weren’t working as far as controlling pet overpopulation in the metro area. We took a leap of faith and opened a clinic specializing in low-income spay neuter in order to address this problem which causes untold animal suffering for our companion animals.” Highlighting early age spay/ neuter, SPOT has featured high volume kitten clinics called “kitten kaboodles.”

SPAY OK, a high volume spay/ neuter clinic located in north Tulsa, was the first high volume, low-income clinic in Oklahoma. SPAY OK provides nearly 7,000 surgeries each year for homes that would otherwise be unable to afford to take this first step in becoming a responsible pet owner. In April, 2008, the City of Tulsa increased enforcement of the city pet sterilization ordinance, increasing the numbers of pets seen at the clinic dramatically. Judy Kishner, founding board member and President of SPAY OK said, “Spay neuter is the best way to stop animal suffering. Tulsa cannot shelter, adopt or transfer enough to make a drop in the bucket without cutting the numbers on the prevention end of the equation.”

Posted in Animal Advocacy, General Interest, Spring 2009 | No Comments »

Veterinary Malpractice in Oklahoma

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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Tulsa is fortunate enough to have some of the most caring and gifted Veterinarians in Oklahoma.  However, like any other physician, Veterinarians are capable of providing negligent care to their patients.  Although their patients are not human, a serious injury or the loss of life to your pet by substandard or negligent care can be emotionally devastating to the pet owner.  Laws in Oklahoma concerning veterinary malpractice appear to be few and far between and not as progressive as many other States. In fact, Oklahoma does not even have any appellate cases on point to provide guidance and authority to our Courts.

The reason veterinary malpractice cases do not make it to the appellate courts is because thedamages in these cases typically are too small to economically pursue that far. That is to say, in Oklahoma pets are treated merely as household property, thus the value of your damages for the loss of a pet is usually limited to the cost of its replacement, plus the cost of the veterinary bills arising from the negligent care, or additional bills incurred for corrective veterinary care.  Because these damages are typically not extensive, they usually can be recovered in Small Claims Court.

In addition to damages for replacement of your pet and veterinary bills, it may be possible to also recover damages for emotional distress.  Oklahoma law has long recognized damages arising from the negligent infliction of emotional distress. However, to recover this damage the law requires that some sort of physical manifestation accompanies the emotional distress, such as stomach disorders, headaches, nervous disorders, heart palpitations, etc.  Depending on the individual’s circumstances  resulting from the tragic loss of their pet, the damages awarded for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress could be substantial and worthy of pursuing in a Court level higher than Small Claims. 

In addition to legal action, or in the alternative, pet owners may wish to file a complaint with the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.  Information concerning complaints can be obtained by visiting their web site at www.okvetboard.com or by calling (405) 524-9006.  

According to their website, the most frequent types of allegations received by the agency are: substandard care, poor bedside manner, unprofessional conduct, substandard facilities, inadequate record keeping, and negligence in the practice of veterinary medicine.  It is also important to know that unless there is clear and convincing evidence of fraud, the Board does not handle disputes over veterinary fees. 

 After a complaint is received, the Board will then investigate the matter and ask the accused Veterinarian to respond to the allegations. If the Board then determines that the Veterinarian acted negligent or unprofessional according to their standards of practice and the law, then they have the authority to impose sanctions and penalties.  These include fines, suspension or even revocation of the Veterinarian’s license to practice.

The Board can also be a useful tool to obtain much needed information about a Veterinarian that you may be considering.  This service may assist you in being able to avoid a Veterinarian that has a history of substandard care or unprofessionalism.     

In any event, before a person brings legal action or files a complaint, they should first speak with the Veterinarian and see if the matter can be resolved or settled fairly.  It is also important to understand that there are many risks associated with medical care for pets that are beyond any Veterinarian’s control and that there are no guarantees of a successful outcome.  

Overall, most pet owners would probably agree that as a whole, Oklahoma Veterinarians do their best to provide excellent and quality care for their pets.

Lloyd Benedict is a principal in the Benedict Law Office, Tulsa, and is a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association Animal Committee.

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Pet Legal, Spring 2009 | No Comments »

Stress No More

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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Story by Camille Hulen

The family had other cats, but this kitten would be all his!  Mom said OK when he brought it home: a beautiful little ball of fluff.  The kitten looked just like a little bear, so he named him Cubby.  The boy was twelve when he found Cubby, and they grew up together.  In good times and bad, Cubby was always there to listen and love.
 

Then when the boy was a senior in high school, the unthinkable happened.  He had only one semester left to graduate, and his parents were moving some 40 miles away.  If he wanted to graduate with his classmates, he would have to stay with friends because the commute would be impossible for him. He had a tight schedule of school, a part-time job, and sports.  The parents said that they would not keep the cat, although they had two others.  It was his cat, and it would just need to be “put down” if the son could not find a place for it!

This was how I met the young man.  He called, almost in tears.  He was desperate.  He needed a foster home for his cat Cubby.  Speaking with Jerry, it became clear that this was a very responsible young man.  He was getting good grades in school and even taking college courses.  After graduation, he planned to move to California to attend college and play hockey where his dad lived, and take Cubby with him.  Thus I agreed to foster Cubby at Camille’s Cathouse for the spring semester.

When Jerry brought Cubby to me, I was impressed.  Jerry was well-spoken, without the typical slang jargon of teenagers.  Cubby appeared healthy, although a little thin, with sparse hair on his hind quarters, perhaps reflecting his stressful home situation.  The love between boy and his cat was obvious.  He held him close to his face, hugged him, and promised to visit him. Cubby purred goodbye.

Throughout the semester, Jerry called to check on his cat, and visited when he could.  Cubby was always happy to see him and both enjoyed their playtime together.  Cubby enjoyed the company of other cats and started to put on some weight and his coat thickened.  He used the litter boxfaithfully.  He appeared to dislike only one kind of cat, the fluffy Persians.  Were they too much competition for his beauty, or was it just fun to chase them because they ran and squealed?   

At last, graduation day came, but there was a complication.  As Jerry was making plans to move to California, his dad informed him that his apartment complex did not allow pets!  We discussed putting Cubby up for adoption, but Jerry loved his cat so much he wanted to try to keep him so that they could be reunited someday.  At that point, a friend of his agreed to foster him.  The friend had a cat of his own, so that should be no problem.

Not so.  After about a month, Cubby started urinating outside the litter box.  He was taken to the vet, and Jerry’s Mom reluctantly paid the bill.  The diagnosis was chronic cystitis.  Cubby would need medication and special prescription food.  Mom thought long term care was totally unreasonable, and again was ready to put Cubby down!

Cubby went home with the friend but continued to urinate outside the litter box, so back he came to Camille’s Cathouse.  Once there, he was a happy boy, purring and playing and using the litter box.  Had his condition been stress-induced?  In the friend’s home he had not been the dominant cat.  He had been there because of a sense of obligation, not of love, and was clearly unhappy.

It so happened that another young man had observed Cubby for all of these months.  This second young man, Josh, had had a cat die recently, after a long battle with diabetes.  The remarkable thing was that whenever he saw Cubby, he held him to his face and hugged him in the same way that Jerry had.  The match was obvious: love at first sight.  It took a while for Josh to overcome his mourning for his old cat, but then the happy day came: he was ready to adopt Cubby!  Josh was aware of Cubby’s past behavioral problems, but was willing to give him a chance. 

Cubby now lives a wonderful life, very much loved, a life without stress.  There have been no recurrences of his “stress-induced” urinary problem. He even has a new playmate, a kitten named Tamagochi.  Cubby has become the dominant cat and has been renamed appropriately.  He is now called Mr. Miyagi, after the teacher in the movie “Karate Kid.”  He is teaching the kitten to enjoy the good life.

Posted in All Past Articles, Cat Tales, General Interest, Spring 2009 | No Comments »

Scobie…Superdog

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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Story by Sherri Goodall

Scobie, the Super Hero, Super Dog, is a six-year-old West Highland Terrier. His mom, Theresa (affectionately known as Mother Theresa—for good reason) is Vice President of Oklahoma Westie Rescue.
Scobie has Addison’s disease, a condition in which stress causes major upheavals in his system. Addison doggies are usually very attached to their mommies or daddies, and separation can really stress them. For this reason, Theresa takes Scobie with her on all of her missions involving Westie rescues. He sits right up front with her in her SUV.

On a recent mission to deliver meds to a foster mom with two sick Westie pups, Theresa was on the highway on her way home, when Scobie threw up. (Addison doggies also have very fragile tummies.) Theresa pulled into a rest stop, first checking to see if there was anyone there…there wasn’t. She retrieved some paper towels out of the back seat of her SUV and promptly cleaned up Scobie and her seat. 

“BAM!”  The passenger window blew out. Theresa was staring into the barrel of a gun! There weren’t any cars at the rest stop, so where did the gun and the man attached to it come from?

Before Theresa could catch her breath, the man demanded her jewelry, wallet and phone. She handed him the items and thought that was that.

It wasn’t. The man told her to “GET OUT OF THE CAR, NOW!”  He yanked Theresa out and got in the car. Two more men appeared from nowhere. The gun guy unlocked the car and the two other guys proceeded to try to get the back seats up so they could get in. Only problem was, the SUV was packed solid with dog crates; HELLO…this is what dog rescuers do. And, the crates do not come out of the side doors…they come out the way they go in, through the back door. 

By now, Scobie is a raging, ferocious, mad dog. He’s snarling, growling and generally being hateful to the gun guy who’s rummaging through his mommy’s purse and glove compartment.

Theresa, meanwhile, is frantically banging on the driver’s side window, begging the gun guy to let Scobie out. She was sure that all three would soon drive off with Scobie in the SUV, and who knew what they would do with him?

While the two guys were stupidly trying to get the crates out, a “tire buddy” that Theresa kept in her car rolled to the ground.

Theresa grabbed the buddy/bat and started beating the window, trying to break it. At this point, gun guy had had it with the lunatic dog and his lunatic mom. He opened the door and aimed his gun at Theresa’s head. In the nano-second it took to pull the trigger, Scobie lunged at him, knocking the gun off track… enough that the bullet glanced off Theresa’s glasses, nicking her eyebrow instead of blowing her head off. 

At that moment, gun guy decided to open the door and hurl Scobie out like a sack of garbage.

That did it.  Mess with me and I’ll fight back; hurt my dog, and all bets are off—you’re done.

Theresa went after the gun guy with her “tire buddy” and beat the living @#$%& out of him. Scobie by now was on the ground and tearing after the back seat dummies. Westies have some of canine kingdom’s strongest jaws. Once attached, they do NOT let go. Scobie was going to get his due, no matter what.

Just then, another carjacker appeared in a car. Theresa thought the play was over; she and Scobie were soon to be history.

Instead, the back seat dummies grabbed the gun guy, who was now unconscious, dragged him to the getaway car, and all four hit the road.

Theresa stood there with Scobie,  dumbstruck. Someone must have seen the fracas, because the highway patrol arrived within minutes, followed by an ambulance. (That someone might have been the same angel sitting on Theresa and Scobie’s shoulders.)

Mother Theresa refused to go to the hospital, because she would have to leave her savior, Scobie. They drove home together in the SUV (wind in their faces, thanks to the absent passenger seat window) deliriously happy to be alive.

Other than a ringing in her ears, and a Tylenol Extra-Strength headache, plus bruises and scrapes from her time on the pavement, Theresa is recovering nicely. 

To Scobie, it was just another’s day work, protecting his mommy.

WESTIES RULE!

The carjackers have not been found, nor has Theresa’s wedding band, which belonged to her grandmother. Her wallet and phone were found on the pavement next to the getaway car.  Her watched was crushed.

To learn more about Westie rescue, visit www.okwestierescue.com 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Spring 2009 | 1 Comment »

A Safari—in Broken Arrow?

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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Story by Alice Benavides

Most people associate exotic animals with the wilds of Africa, yet residents of eastern Oklahoma need not travel around the world to enjoy the beauty of rare wildlife. Lions, tigers, and bears can be found closer than you think.
Known as Broken Arrow’s “best kept secret,” Safari’s Interactive Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that currently houses about two hundred rescued exotic animals—everything from big cats and primates to birds and reptiles.

Owner Lori Ensign founded Safari’s in 1995 and has worked tirelessly since then to accommodate the special needs of literally hundreds of homeless animals. 

Lori began with a bobcat of her own. She saw an ad in the newspaper and thought it would be “cool” to own a wild cat. It wasn’t until the animal grew that she realized the responsibility. The animal easily litter-box trained and he was good with Lori and a few others, but no one else. He would bite and Lori says she has scars to prove it. 

“I was the dummy,” Lori says. But instead of dumping her responsibility on someone else, she owned it. She learned how to care for and feed her unusual pet. Soon, she met others who shared her interest, but not all of these friends shared the responsibility. They, like many others who purchase exotic pets, realized their mistake and asked if she wanted their pets. She took those animals in, and before she knew it, she owned her own zoo, and what started as a hobby eventually became Safari’s.

Lori says that all of the animals at Safari’s are rescued—some from zoos that closed or over bred, but most from people who once thought it would be “neat” to own an exotic animal but quickly found out they were ill-equipped.  

Breeders of exotics make thousands of dollars annually. But unfortunately, many of those breeders do not bother to teach the new pet owners how to care for the animals or warn them of the possible dangers of owning pets with wild instincts. 

People get these animals home and find out they need special diets or that they don’t train well to a litter box. Many exotics require plenty of socialization to remain tame and some have lots of natural curiosity. Lori explains that some exotics are like having a two-year-old around the house for years. 

“People try to have them (exotics) in their homes. They don’t feed them properly. They pull their teeth and pull all their claws. It’s cruel,” says Lori. And by the time these animals reach Safari’s, some are malnourished or even injured.

Lori explains that these animals cannot be turned back to the wild. They have no mother to train them how to hunt and survive, and regular zoos will not take them since there is no paper work tracing the animal back to the wild. 

Lori’s joy is to care for these abandoned exotic beauties and her love for them is evident, but it is her goal to educate the public about them. “I hope to work myself out of business,” she says, and she starts with her own volunteers. 

Safari’s has no employees—only volunteers. As young as twelve years old, they are taught how to care for the barnyard animals. They learn to feed them, change their water, and scoop the poop. 

Safari’s also has a Zoo Mobile that brings the zoo to the classroom or party. An education specialist will teach the children about the different animals and that owning a pet—any pet—is not to be taken lightly.

Safari’s runs on volunteers and donations. “Every penny goes back to the animals, foods, and rescues. It’s all for the animals,” says Lori. Fortunately, some locals businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants, donate outdated food to the animals, but it’s not always enough and more food must be purchased.  

For those considering owning an exotic animal, Lori suggests finding out what it takes to care for them, and a visit to Safari’s is a good place to start. Let Lori or a volunteer give you a personal tour. 

Visit with Mufasa, a twelve-year-old African lion that came from a zoo that closed in North Carolina. Mufasa loves to play “high five” with Lori…through the fence, of course! And listen to his “chuffing,” a purr-like sound that large cats make when content. “Big cats don’t purr,” says Lori. “They chuff.”

See Rocky, a twelve-year-old “liger.” He is a one-thousand-pound cross between a lion and a tiger. Imagine a cat that big! Rocky came with Mufasa from the same zoo.

Then there’s Outlaw, a two-year-old class A miniature horse (under thirty inches tall). Outlaw was a house pet whose owner realized that he would not “house train.”

One of my favorites when I visited was Jacki Leggs, a five-year-old kangaroo. At first, he appeared small and the next minute had his front hoofs on my shoulder trying to steal a snack out of my hands. Jacki Leggs was neutered too early, causing his growth to be stunted, but made him very sweet. He loves to give kisses…and steal snacks!

And listen to the strange hiss of Brutus, a thirteen-year-old alligator who got “too big” for his owner. 

There are plenty of barnyard animals in the petting zoo, and treats are available for purchase. There’s a turkey and the some of the prettiest peacocks I’ve seen. Small children love the many baby bunnies hopping around. 

But I knew my experience was unusual when I had the chance to hold Pepe, a one-year-old black and white skunk! Don’t worry—he’s been de-scented! Lori explains that skunks need a diet of dog food mixed with fresh vegetables, which made Pepe a hassle for his owner. 

And our escort throughout the park was a gorgeous black Great Dane named Izi, who towers over Outlaw, the horse.  

Park location: Safari’s is nestled on twelve rolling acres east of Broken Arrow. From the corner of Kenosha (71st Street) and 273rd East Avenue, travel north 1.3 miles to 58th Street and turn left into the park. 

Entrance fees and hours: Safari’s is open Saturdays 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Adults are $6, and Children and Seniors are $5. Treats are $1 a bag. Tours and group discounts are available. 

Donations can be made via PayPal on website: safariszoo.com or mailed to 26881 E. 58th Street, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74014. Those interested in volunteering time at Safari’s are encouraged to call for an appointment.

Contact information: Call 918-357-LOVE or visit safariszoo.com. 

Alice Benavides is a freelance writer and editor from Jenks, Oklahoma.

Posted in All Past Articles, Business Closeups, General Interest, Spring 2009 | No Comments »

Physical Rehab: Up and Moving

posted April 15th, 2009 by
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A much-loved Pit Bull named Chyna was painfully limping following an injury, not placing one paw on the ground except for balance.  Ligament surgery brought limited recovery.
Senior-aged Malamute Kiska has severe arthritis along her spine.  Along with hip dysplasia, she struggles to stand after a nap and often has to rely on her owners for help getting up.  Even just a touch to her back hurt her.

A painful ruptured disk caused Labrador Max to have trouble using his back legs.  Pain medications weren’t helping and his owners were close to euthanasia.

These dogs are among the growing numbers benefiting from physical rehabilitation.  It’s an exploding field and some Tulsa vet hospitals are establishing rehab centers, offering an array of services for furry patients.

Visit a doggie rehab facility and you’ll see underwater treadmills, electrical stimulation, range-of-motion exercises, massage, acupuncture,  laser therapy to help injured tissue heal, and exercise equipment similar to what’s in fitness centers for humans such as aerobic steps, balance balls, hills, and poles for over and under maneuvers.

And in conjunction with the in-center rehabilitation services, pet owners are counseled with homework programs that complement what happens at the hospital.

What’s behind the growth of doggie rehab?

“Pets would come in to be euthanized because they could not get up, generally due to arthritis.  Still mentally able and with an otherwise good quality of life, they were in pain, could not move around easily, maybe not urinating,” says veterinarian Lori Freije, South Memorial Animal Hospital, 7924 E. 55th Street.

“I knew this needed to stop, that more can be done and I’m particularly interested in pain management and physical rehabilitation,” she says.

In November, following additional education and training, she opened an extensive canine physical rehabilitation center at the hospital.

Freije notes that more people are willing to help their pets with pain management, follow home-based  treatment plans and commit to a rehab program, which can continue for several weeks.

“Just because a dog is down doesn’t mean that life is over,” Freije notes.  “There are things that can be done to get him up and moving again.”

Contributing to the expanding world of veterinary medicine is the fact that pets are living longer, developing some “senior citizen” diseases and disorders, and more pet owners are seeking alternative care for ailing pets to treat pain, restore health and quality of life instead of moving directly to euthanasia.  

Rehab helps regain strength and movement and reduces the need for long-term pain medications for pets who have various muscle injuries (most common in limbs), hip dysplasia, arthritis, bone fractures, and more.  Weight control is important in recovery and work-outs in rehab can take off pounds.

For example, an underwater treadmill is popular with the dogs at VCA Woodland South Animal Hospital, 9340 S. Memorial Drive.

“The most popular uses for the aquatic treadmill are following certain orthopedic surgeries, general conditioning for weight loss, and geriatric chronic conditions like arthritis – to minimize the need for pain medicine” says Elizabeth Rhodes, registered veterinary technician and certified canine rehabilitation assistant.

Brother and sister Labradors Buck and Peaches are regulars in the water.  Following knee surgery, Buck  exercises to build muscle and for weight-loss.  Peaches is diabetic and she has lost 10 pounds through treadmill conditioning.  

“It’s rewarding to see the dogs get back on their feet again, and they are happier, more energetic and get around better,” Rhodes says, adding that the dogs recover more quickly, and that rehab helps reduce pain and swelling and the need for long-term medication use. 

Veterinarian Freije says she integrates traditional Western medicine with therapies that approach “the whole patient, the environment, where they live and who they live with…there are many alternative therapies available and hopefully we will keep adding more and more.”

Rehab can help pets recover more quickly from surgery or injuries and reduce chronic pain so that the need for pain medication is minimized.  It is also used for increasing mobility, endurance and agility.  Often, helping pets lose weight improves their health and pain status.

And while Freije says her hands are her most important assessment and treatment asset, she notes that physical rehab centers for dogs and cats have several approaches to bring into play.

Lasers help reduce inflammation and encourage tissue growth.  Electrical stimulation strengthens weak limbs and encourages a return to full function.  Pulsing magnetic field therapy helps heal bones, burns, wounds and more. Massage and range-of-motion exercises improve the way the dogs feel.

Chyna, for example, now uses her injured leg almost normally.  Her weakened leg has regained muscle and function after weight loss, laser therapy, therapeutic exercises, electrical stimulation and stem cell injections.

Malamute Kiska’s hip dysplasia and severe arthritis were so painful that the “first time I touched her back, she dropped to the ground,” Freije recalls.

Following laser treatment, a weight loss program, range of motion exercises , pain medications which were gradually decreased as she improved, and at-home walking and strength training exercises, Kiska now runs, jumps and her balance is better.  Now she can “stand like a surfer” during car rides.

Do the dogs like rehab? 

“They love it! Some almost knock down the door to get here because it improves the way they feel,” Freije says.  “And with some, we see improvement within days or a few weeks.

“Our pets deserve the best care we can give so that they can return to everything they were able to do before (disease or injury).  I hope this becomes a standard of care and routine in the animal world, not just limited to a few.”

Story by Pat Atkinson

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Pet Health, Spring 2009 | No Comments »

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