By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
Pets & People Humane Society, which has found loving homes for about 58,000 animals since the early ‘90s, has found a new home for itself.
The non-profit animal welfare group will move its operation Nov. 1 to the new Pets & People Adoption Center, 9753 N.W. 4th in west Oklahoma City. The Yukon-area property, in Morgan Industrial District, is on the east side of Morgan Road between Reno and N.W. 10th.
Pets & People is preparing to leave the old City of Yukon animal shelter, 701 Inla, where it has been for more than 20 years.
“As we celebrate our 30th year, we are thrilled to start this exciting new chapter,” Pets & People executive director Amy Young said. “Our staff, volunteers and board members can’t wait until November 1 when we open our fantastic new Pets & People Adoption Center. This will be such a great place for us!
“We have a lot of work to do over the next two months as we prepare for this transition, but we know the end result will be many more happy animals and owners.”
The Pets & People Adoption Center on N.W. 4th will feature a 7,782 square foot building, including a 1,682 square foot office area downstairs and a 6,100 square foot warehouse.
“We are now in the process of determining what our new space will look like and what services we’ll offer,” Young said. “We will hire a full-time center manager, adoption coordinator and veterinary technician, along with other key staff. We’ll soon begin accepting applications and setting up interviews.”
Employees will start working in the new building Oct. 1 then have a month to prepare for the public grand opening Nov. 1. A pet “trunk-or-treat” event is planned Oct. 31 in the parking lot of the new adoption center.
WILL BE OUT EARLY
The City of Yukon – which opened a new animal control facility in January – recently informed Pets & People it must vacate the old shelter by Dec. 31.
“We will be out of the City of Yukon building Nov. 1 when we open our wonderful new adoption center,” Young said.
“We have enjoyed our partnership with the City of Yukon … we have weathered challenges together and worked together to help animals and humans thrive together in our community.”
Pets & People has shared space with the City of Yukon since the late ‘90s. The old animal shelter will be demolished.
The announcement of Pets & People’s new adoption center is somewhat bittersweet.
The local humane society had planned to build a 4,200 square foot adoption/rescue center this year on a three-acre property it owns west of the Yukon animal shelter.
A $500,000 capital campaign was due to launch this spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting reduction in philanthropic giving hampered fund-raising efforts, Young noted.
Donations and volunteer support dropped dramatically during the shutdown, increasing supply and personnel costs.
Pets & People’s thrift store – which typically generates $6,000 per month of income – also was forced to close for nine weeks this spring.
This situation caused Pets & People to halt its capital campaign and start searching for an existing building in the Yukon area to lease.
As a non-profit, the humane society survives solely on donations and fund-raisers.
SEARCH CONTINUES
Pets & People continues to seek “forever” homes for the animals in its care. Staff and volunteers are in the process of placing these dogs and cats in animal sanctuaries, permanent homes and with foster families.
The organization offers “curbside adoptions” as prospective owners are pre-screened to ensure their homes will be a “good fit” for the animals.
The return rate has been reduced significantly since the pets that are adopted have already been “thoroughly screened and vetted”, according to Young.
Pets & People’s adoption fees are $135 for dogs and $85 for cats.
All animals are micro-chipped and spayed/neutered to prevent further pet homelessness.
Dogs and cats also are heart worm tested and vaccinated before being adopted.
Pets & People started in February 1990 as a pet therapy program, organized by Yukon veterinarian James Posey, to visit residents of local long-term care centers.
The group incorporated in 1993, then began rescuing and adopting animals as a “no-kill” humane society.
View pets for adoption at www.petsandpeople.com or Pets & People’s Facebook page.
