Oklahoma City Animal Shelter — Attraction in Oklahoma City

Today I lost Skylar. I adopted him Monday December 9th. He was very shy, timid, and scared when I first met him. So much so he didn't want to come out of the kennel to  meet me and hangout in the acquainting room. Despite this I could tell he was sweet and just needed love to help come out of his shell. He also seemed perfectly healthy at the shelter, just scared. Even his paperwork from the shelter seemed to suggest he was healthy. Well on the way home from adopting him we notice he had a cough. So Wednesday December 11th we took him to Companion Animal Clinic to check on his steady cough and to get him meds because we thought it was kennel cough. The doctor agreed with us after examining him and gave us meds for him and told us to take his temperature daily because he had a high fever. We also booked a follow up appointment for today (Friday December 13th). We follow the doctors orders and Thursday despite him throwing up once before I woke up Thursday December 12th, he looked better and his temperature dropped by 2 degrees. We thought he was on the track to recovery. Today we wake up to him having a bleeding nose. We call and get our appointment moved up to 9 am still thinking it's getting better just a bad day here and there. Today the doctor informed us that best case sinerio it's a horrible case of pneumonia but was most likely distemper, which is fatal. To attempt to do something for him and treatments as if it was pneumonia would of cost to much. On top of that the doctor informed us that even doing that the odds don't look good especially if it is distemper. So with heavy hearts we decided that the best option from the doctors suggestions was to put him down so he wouldn't be in pain and suffer much longer. After crying our eyes out for a bit we take Skylar for one last lunch with his favorite treat (Popeyes chicken tenders). After enjoying lunch together and seeing him smile one final time we took him in to be put down. I stayed in the room as he slipped away. I cried and held him wishing things were different. I stayed in the room by myself for 5 minutes after he was gone just holding him, crying, and wishing I could have done more. Today Friday December 13th at 11:45 Skylar left us. What i haven't mentioned is how much Skylar and I made a connection. And how much progress he made in less than a week. He was an absolute angel. The sweetest, softest, gentlest dog ever. From day one he was so well trained and behaved. And over the span of a few days I got to see Skylar come out of his shell. I saw him go from a dog scared of meeting new people to smiling, waging his tail, even giving kiss by the end of it all. On the first day or so I had to carry him up stairs both ways from our apartment to take him to go use the bathroom. By the end he built up the confidence to walk up and down the stairs comfortably on his own. Skylar made so much progress from when I first met him in the shelter. It's unbelievable and all it took was a bit of love on my part. I feel like Skylar and I made such a strong bond in less than a week. Regardless he's gone and I can't change that. I'm immensely thankful to the wonderful people at Companion Animal Clinic for helping us through this journey, especially Dr. Caitlin Ledbetter. And I'm immensely mad and disgusted with the people at OKC Animal Welfare for selling and passing off a dog as healthy when in all reality poor Skylar was doomed before we even adopted him. I post my story as a cautionary tale. Researching shows tons of similar stories. Yes even shelter dogs need love too, however it's up to the shelter to keep a closer eye on the animals and dont send them home with someone if the best thing is to put them down. At least let people know before adopting so they may take that into consideration. I'm never getting my sweet Skylar back, I know this. I miss him terribly. You were such a good, and pretty boy Skylar. I miss you so much already bud. Hope your in a better, pain free place now. I love you Skylar....

Just a heads up to the people or anyone else who mentioned to go to the animal shelter for puppy food. Or if anyone needs it. I stood in line for over 30 minutes waiting to ask about their food assistance and also get info on their spay and vaxx clinic. Talked to some young guy and he asked me how old my puppy was and I told him. She's barely 6 weeks, yes that's early to be away from her momma, but she stopped nursing her litter. A bunch of people mentioned I should go to the Animal welfare/Shelter for their food assistance for animals. Any who...the guy hands over a form for me to fill out to get atleast puppy food. So, I had to go sit down, fill it out and then go back at the end of the line. I was there for over an hour and a half just for the wait. Then a new lady comes to sit after the other lady left that the new guy asked about the form and stuff. Not one time the first 2 people said anything about the age REQUIREMENT!! One...they don't give formula or anything for a young puppy. When I explained my situation..she basically shamed me that I should be able to afford my pet. Then we heck is your food assistance for lady? After being humiliated and shamed in front of customers, I politely said normally I could but formula is expensive. The age limit is your puppy is supposed to be atleast 4 months or older for the pet food assistance. Where you get the free food. What is the reason for food assistance, if all you're going to get is shamed that you "can't afford" your pet. When their shelter is full to the brink. I watched atleast 7 dogs in an hour get surrendered. I'm doing my best to "afford" my pet and keep it. Not give it away or surrender her. But thank goodness some other kind people told me about homemade formula I can make and use to feed my puppy. She does eat mushed up puppy food a little, but she still needs to be supplemented the difference. I was there to get the info for spay and vaccines. I was there to see about food. But that's fine. I just thought yall should know before recommending the Animal Welfare for the pet food assistance unless your dog is 4 months older, but clearly they already have a negative opinion of owners because we should be able to "afford" our pets. I stood up for myself tho and told her she was wrong. Why have a program to help owners with food but them shame and humiliate an owner who needs a little help? Heck they do t even answer their phone or return calls. I will never go back there again. That lady should nit be working at the front desk or around people if she...

Let me tell you about the most HORRIBLE experience any family should have to go through. On the 23rd, I ventured into this shelter thinking I was going to do a good thing by saving a puppy from being put down. After a few hours and a lot of puppy time visiting I chose one. Filled out paperwork to foster to adopt. I was informed that the puppy had a breathing problem and that their vet had to check her out before being released. Made sense to me. On the 26th I was called to come pick her up. Me and the Mrs went down just after lunch and brought home this new bundle of joy to surprise our kid when she got home from school. Kid was over the moon with this new addition. We noticed that the pup was having some breathing issues and of course I thought, new home, new people, just nerves she'll calm down. The morning of the 27th I woke up, puppy still sitting up, didn't drink anything and still breathing heavily so we rushed her to a 24hr vet. As soon as we arrived the vet sprang into action. The little pup was literally gasping for air. While vet worked on her we called the emergency hotline.. we were told to bring the pup back to the shelter cause she was technically still city property but they would be waiting for us. When we arrived the staff that was behind the desk had no sense of urgency what so ever. By the time they pulled their finger out of their a🤬🤬, and gt me to carry her to an exam room, I believe she passed right in my arms. The vet with the beard was literally moving so slow, snails could have had a booth call. After 15 mins of waiting we were informed that they put her down and claimed it was strep throat. That was a lie since the other vet that we took her too gave us a list of what was or could be wrong with her. No reimbursement either for the money we spent trying to save this pup which I don't even care about that. My point is if your going to choose to work at a shelter as a employee or vet, take some pride in your job, have the compassion for the animals and do your job the best you can. I will NEVER nor do I recommend anyone getting an animal from this shelter. It is by far the WORST run facility I've ever been in. They get a 1 star cause I had to but for me it...