About Us
The Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter/Services is a division of the City of Tulsa’s Working in Neighborhoods Department. Under the scope of the Mayor’s Community Development and Education Initiatives the division is responsible for the welfare of animals in Tulsa. The Division handles over 18,000 animals per year, including stray, surrendered, abused, and neglected animals.
MISSION STATEMENT
Animal Welfare is dedicated to protecting the citizens of the City of Tulsa from rabies and reducing the incidence of animal-inflicted injuries by promoting responsible pet ownership through public education and the enforcement of Animal Welfare laws.
What Does Animal Welfare Do?
Animal Welfare has many responsibilities including:
- Investigation and follow-up of animal-inflicted injuries.
- Observation and examination of impounded animals for rabies.
- Enforcement of leash laws and other Animal Welfare ordinances.
- Capture and impoundment of stray animals.
- Promotion of animal adoption or the humane disposal of unwanted stray animals.
- Provision of dog and cat licenses as required by law.
- Investigation of animal cruelty, vicious animal, and nuisance animal complaints.
Tulsa Animal Welfare utilizes a three-pronged approach in accomplishing its mission:
- Enforcement of Tulsa's animal ordinances.
- Community outreach through education and volunteerism.
- Advocacy for animals.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the shelter is to protect stray animals and the community by providing a safe and secure location with caring staff.
As a government operated shelter Animal Welfare cares for all animals surrendered and provides service to all citizens of the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County in accordance with the state law and county ordinances. These services include: strays, animals requiring quarantine, animals that need to be held until a court hearing has determined their disposition, and animals surrendered to the police upon the owner’s arrest (‘police assist’ calls).
As a community courtesy to citizens in the Tulsa Metro area, Animal Welfare also accepts any animal surrendered by an owner who is no longer willing or able to care for their pet.
Animal Welfare has many responsibilities including:
- Enforcing leash laws and other Animal Welfare ordinances.
- Capturing and impounding stray animals.
- Investigating and following-up of animal-inflicted injuries.
- Promoting the adoption of animals or providing for the humane disposal of unwanted stray animals.
- Selling dog and cat licenses as required by law.
- Observing and examining impounded animals for rabies.
- Investigating animal cruelty, vicious animal, and nuisance animal complaints.
CORE OBJECTIVES
In order to for protect, promote, and enhance a positive quality of life in the City of Tulsa our core objectives are to:
- Humanely house and care for stray and quarantined animals.
- Provide a clean and safe environment for animals, staff, and the public.
- Handle animals with the least amount of restraint necessary.
- Treat all animals with love and respect.
- Return lost, or otherwise missing, animals to their owners.
- Adopt unclaimed stray animals to loving families.
- Protect the public from rabies by quarantining potentially infected animals.
- Educate the public on responsible pet ownership.