I went to an Expo Hunting and Fishing show yesterday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I normally like to go to see the different animal controls, etc to see what's in and their facilities.

Well, I printed out the directions and left them at the house.

I had 3 sets of directions for the Expo show. Well, the first one led us to a dirt field in which a few minutes of off roadin in the rain, was fun, and then we left. We decided to take another turn thinking this was it. So we turn down this windy street and low and behold, the animal shelter.

My buddy and I go in and start to look around.

We go in and this was one of the most pathetic places I have ever seen.

So we look around my buddy and I and he was like "damn, this is f@#$%& up"

I was looking and the conditions were HORRIBLE. Dogs were lying in their feces. Some of them were up for adoption were clearly vicious and others extremely unstable.

I saw a BUNCH of pit bulls that had bite wounds ALL OVER THEM. These were up for adoption and NONE had been treated for its injuries from dog fighting.

Puzzled I asked this older lady in hospital scrubs about the conditions and she brought me to the side and my friend was just staring in disbelief.

Me: So what's the story as this is sad. This is a Gov't operated facility. Look at those puppies all huddled up that are soaking wet with feces all over them.

Her: Please help! *whispering and taking off her glasses and wipes her eyes from her tears* . Contact the Governor or the Mayor. Please. I am the only person here that helps out in the dog sector besides inmates. I am telling you they need help and the people here do not care. Please, I am begging you.

Me: Hey, I'll get one right now. Let’s look around. This sucks.
(I look and see this German shepherd.

There was a bunch of pits, Dobies, rotties, etc but that would be almost impossible for me to make my move in a month or so. )

Me: did he get walked today? (German shepherd)

She starts crying again.

Her: NONE of the dogs get walked. They only come out when people are interested in them in which they go to an outside run. But people only want puppies. The rest stay here for weeks on end in the same cage.

Me: wait a minute. This dog is 115lbs. he is in a 3ft x 3ft cage. You mean to tell me he hasn't been out?

Her: please, just act like you want him and the officials will take him out. He has been in the cage for 16days.


We look at the card and says "awaiting owner, not for adoption".

Her: this is a lie. The owners are not coming back. They were arrested for abusing him. But they just leave the card on. The do not care. Please, find something just to take it out and walk around.

I go and find this German shepherd puppy with blood all over the cage. It had severe diarrhea and would spew bloody diarrhea out.

The dog needed help, bad. So I say, "Its mine. I'll go get it right now" But the sign says "awaiting owner, not for adoption”

Its been there since May 7th according to the sign.

I said, "They are not coming.The dog is going to die. Its thin, it’s anemic, and needs veterinary help, like NOW"

Her: please go to the front and explain that you want it.

I go to the front and say I want 227B. Now, the owners aren’t coming, the dog is DYING and has severe bloody stools and needs veterinary help.

The two big fat ladies at the front desk say "sorry, the owners have until 4pm today"

Me: I won't be back until 5pm. when do you close?

They: 4pm.

Me: well the dog doesn't have much time to live. What is going to happen to it if the owners don't come?

Them: The city of Tulsa is in need of money and we can’t afford any of this. If it needs medical help and in a life or death situation, we put it down.
Me: BUT I WILL TAKE IT NOW AND GO TO THE VET.

Them: sir, dogs die here all the time and we just can't turn it over to anyone at this time. Also just can't afford to treat them all and it may be put to sleep before you come back next week.

Me: what about dog walking? Do they ever get out of the cages or get walked everyday?

Them: who told you that? her? *points at older lady* sir, we just have the resources to walk all the dogs everyday. Sometimes they do stay in there and it’s not my job to walk them.

Me: no, she had nothing to do with it. They told me that when I called on the phone

I’m thinking “maybe you should get a dog to take out and do some walking you big lazy b$#%h.”

As I move the lady behind me is bringing in this puppy in a box and says "my son ain't feedin this dog and I don't want it at my house."

I look in the box and this puppy is skin and bones. Literally with no energy and just laying there.

I left a little pissed off.

So I didn’t get it but may call Tuesday to see if its still alive. At the rate it was going and with the holiday, it may be dead by Wed when they open.


The solution:

This place pissed me off. If they are sooooo broke and have no funding then why not put the dogs that have no chance in hell of being adopted (like the ones attacking the fence as you walk by, the one scared to come out of the corner of its concrete 3ftx3ft concrete cell, and ones that have serious health issues) down. Simply put them down, and at least give the others a slight, just a slight better life in the cages and perhaps being adopted before they are killed.

That sounds awful...aren't there regulations or something that would prevent the conditions from getting to that point? Inspections? Aren't these people the very people who are supposed to be preventing that kind of life for dogs?

What a terrible thing to have discovered. Have you thought about writing the Governor or Mayor as the woman suggested?

I have already started as other websites ( not dog/animal related) gave me some info.

This is what I put in the latest.

Update Post 1

Ok, it got worse.

I called the Cruely Investigator at the Tulsa ASPCA and guess what? She said "The Investigator got married and left the state. We have no investigator now and haven't filled a spot. YOu're going to have to call the Tulsa Animal Shelter" which is where all this shit went down.

Update Post 2

OK even worse.

I contacted PETA and talked to a lady and she said from her end and due to the volume of calls they don't have the resources. So I was told to hold on and I had to leave a message.

I explained on the message in a super condensed format and left my number and waiting for the call back.

Also, this is an OKLAHOMA WILFLIFE SHELTER

I found this on their site. Man, OKlahoma is sort of fukked up....

Wtach the video in the middle. A lion got its arm ripped off by tigers and they just put the lion in a cage with no medical treament.

just watch.

http://www.peta.org/feat-gw_main.asp

So I guess PETA is next.

I was really hoping there was a punch line at the end of the story and it was just a bad joke. Instead it's a horrible true nightmare. Your solution is horrible but not half as bad as letting those animals suffer in such deplorable, despicable conditions.

Try this: Go back. Take photos. Send them to the governor, mayor, anyone else you can think of who may be in a position to raise a stink. Be sure to copy the newspaper(s) and TV stations so they get the photos AND know the governor, mayor, etc have received this info.

Good luck, although it sounds like the dogs need it more.

OMG!

How about some TV caneras in that building?! The media has a great effect!

From personal experience in getting a shelter shut down (for the second time) I have learned:

Animal cruelty investigator is usually an unpaid, volunteer position.

Check state animal laws. Call the sheriff.

Contact the state agricultural investigator and possibly the state veterinary board.

Contact USDA. The shelter is NOT governed by the AWA, but sometimes a USDA inspector will go with another inspector just to put pressure on the person or group holding the animals.

RE: Anita and Anne: YES, I would consider taking my cell phone (with camera) there and getting as many photos as possible, including photos of the signs IDing the place, and something with today's date incuded in a photo of a cage (like a newspaper with a clear headline) and then get those photos to a newspaper/TV reporter/governor's office/etc.

Oklahoma Animal Welfare Association
6214 S Madison pl
Tulsa, OK 74136
(918) 749-6827

Animal Aid of Tulsa
918-744-8280
3307 E 15th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74112

Promoting Animal Welfare Society
918-686-7297
4321 E Hayes Street
Muskogee, Oklahoma 74403

Volunteers for Animal Welfare
405-842-6772
9228 N May Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

SPCA
918-428-7722
2910 Mohawk Blvd
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74110

I would also recommend contacting the media. As sad as it is to get them involved and as much trouble as they cause all the dog owners (a lot of times), I think in this case they may be of some use.

 Quote: susan tuck

I was really hoping there was a punch line at the end of the story and it was just a bad joke. Instead it's a horrible true nightmare. Your solution is horrible but not half as bad as letting those animals suffer in such deplorable, despicable conditions.

since my solution was horrible, why not just tell me a "perfect" solution since you already know it?

 Quote: AnitaGard

Try this: Go back. Take photos. Send them to the governor, mayor, anyone else you can think of who may be in a position to raise a stink. Be sure to copy the newspaper(s) and TV stations so they get the photos AND know the governor, mayor, etc have received this info.

Good luck, although it sounds like the dogs need it more.

yea, they need it.

But you have to understand that it costs me $70-85 in gas each time I go up there. Its not like this place is down the street. Its many many miles away....