Tulsa Nonprofit Lends A Hand To Pet Owners As They Turn Their Life Around: ‘There Is Hope’

A Tulsa nonprofit is making sure pets are taken care of while their owners get help for addiction, mental health issues or homelessness.

They want to make sure people can get treatment without having to give up their pets.

"I feel like they saved my dog and they saved me because I could've left rehab to go get her," said 36-year-old Krista Ward.

Harley and Ward have been through a lot together.

"I completely hit rock bottom," said Ward. 

Ward had a drug problem for 15 years. This past year Harley came into the picture and Ward wanted help to stay sober. She started 12&12 but had no one to take care of Harley.

"There are people out there who have no one in their lives," said Pause 4 Paws Executive Director Cindy Webb. 

She left Harley with her then-boyfriend, who was also an addict.

"I was constantly worried about her, and I was calling everyone to go pick her up and no one could. My friend Jay told me about Pause 4 Paws, and they instantly went and got her and took great care of her," said Ward. 

"Our purpose is to keep pets and people together," said Webb. "The woman who started it found out that people were not going in for drug treatment, mental health care or medical care if they were homeless because they had a pet and no one to care for it."

The nonprofit Pause 4 Paws steps in and takes the animal to a foster family until the owner gets the help they need. 

"We always make sure that they are vaccinated, spayed and neutered before they go back to their owners," said Webb. "People have to have referrals from social service agencies in order to get connected with us officially."

Ward has been sober since April 13.

"I completely was able to concentrate on my recovery then because I knew in my heart she was taken care of," said Ward. "There is hope."

Pause 4 Paws is always looking for foster families especially families who are interested in taking care of cats or Pitbull mixes. All foster families are kept anonymous. 

If you are interested, click here for more information about Pause 4 Paws.