Tulsa Animal Shelters Hitting Capacity Post-Pandemic

Some Tulsa animal shelters are pleading with the community to adopt pets as they are being overrun by people giving their pets away now that the COVID-19 pandemic is dwindling and people are busy again.

Last year, we told you stories about pet adoptions spiking during the pandemic, since people wanted a friend during quarantine, but now the Tulsa Humane Society says many of those same animals are being given to shelters.

The Tulsa Humane Society said its spaces are quickly filling up as people realize they are now too busy for a pet or are moving somewhere new for another job post-pandemic.

The Humane Society’s Morgan Littlebear said they are seeing more surrenders than adoptions, causing them to have to turn away some pets because they are a private facility. She said they are fortunate that they are also able to ship animals to other places where adoptions are in high demand, which keeps the main burden of full capacity off of them most days.

She said on the other hand, there are several Tulsa shelters that are not private and are overwhelmed by the surge of pets brought in and desperately need people to bring the hundreds of dogs and cats into a loving home.

“I think it’s important to remember that everybody is going through something, all of us have been through a lot this past year, but those pets are part of your family and they need to stay with your family if at all possible,” Littlebear said.

If you are interested in adopting a new furry family member, you can check out various options such at the Humane Society of Tulsa, the Tulsa SPCA, or at Tulsa Animal Welfare.

Littlebear said there are fees to adopt, but they often participate in adoption events that waive or lower those fees. She said to follow the Tulsa Humane Society on Facebook to stay up to date on future events.