Tulsa Animal Welfare to Extend Shelter Hours, Open Seven Days A Week

(TULSA, Okla.) As a part of Mayor G.T. Bynum’s Comprehensive Animal Welfare Reform Plan, Tulsa Animal Welfare (TAW) announced Wednesday the extension of its shelter hours starting Sunday, July 21. Animal Welfare will extend its Saturday hours and open on Sundays.  The new hours are: Monday Noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday Noon – 6 p.m. Wednesday Noon – 6 p.m. Thursday Noon – 6 p.m. Friday Noon – 6 p.m. Saturday Noon – 6 p.m. (previously Noon – 4 p.m.) Sunday Noon – 4 p.m. (previously closed) Tulsa Animal Welfare Manager Jean Letcher says the extension of hours will help enhance services such as adoption, animal visits, return to owner services and volunteering. The dispatch hours will remain the same. “Being open seven days a week is something we have been working toward for a long time,” Letcher said. “We are excited about being able to adopt out more dogs and cats.” The new hours follow Mayor Bynum’s plan to help address staffing increases, extend shelter hours, improve conditions, increase operating efficiency and update the City’s animal ordinances and licensing program. “This expansion of service hours at our animal shelter is an important step toward delivering the quality of service we aim for when it comes to animal welfare in Tulsa,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “I am grateful for the support of my colleagues on the Tulsa City Council in expanding service to seven days a week and extending hours on Saturday. Our intention with this change is to increase the opportunity for adoptions, and by doing so bring us closer to our goal of being a no-kill shelter.” Since the reform plan was introduced, Animal Welfare has been diligently working to implement specific strategies and hire more staff while making improvements. Animal Welfare has conducted two rounds of consulting with its clinic and staff and is already seeing improvements in operational processes. Two new staffing positions, a Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator and a Pet Diversion Help Line Coordinator are being hired through the Watershed Animal Fund. Animal Welfare is also one step closer to introducing an online licensing program, which is expected to be operational this fall. Following the plan, the Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission has been formed and recently introduced draft revisions to the Title II Animal Ordinance. August 31 is the deadline for a feedback survey on the revisions. Residents are encouraged to take the survey. You can learn more about open positions with TAW at www.cityoftulsa.org/tawjobs.