New Oklahoma City clinic helps leash pet count, surgery cost

Last year, the animal shelter on SE 29 euthanized 17,600 dogs and cats, said Christy Counts, executive director for OK Humane. The new clinic at 4522 NW 16 will help drive the Humane Society’s goal of making Oklahoma City a "no kill city” for shelter pets.

"People think that if they find good homes for puppies their dog had, that that’s being responsible, but that’s not the case,” Counts said. "Those puppies have puppies, and then those puppies have puppies, and then some of those animals wind up getting euthanized.”

As part of Humane Alliance based out of Asheville, N.C., the OK Humane Place clinic gives a new, low-cost option for pet owners to help keep the pet population under better control. The clinic will help those with an annual income of $40,000 or less, and officials hope to perform about 15,000 sterilization operations per year on dogs and cats.

Dr. Beth Ruby, a volunteer doctor at the clinic and member of the Vet Advisory Board, said the new clinic performed 45 surgeries in its first two days.

"For lots of people, with the economy being what it is ... I know that people’s pets are falling by the wayside,” said Kelly Kimble, who took her cocker spaniels Max and Sam to the clinic Tuesday.

Kimble said she was apprehensive about getting her dogs sterilized because of the price. At her normal veterinary clinic, it would cost $250 per animal. At the OK Humane Place clinic, it costs $60 for female dogs, $50 for male dogs, $35 for female cats and $30 for male cats.

But the lower cost didn’t mean she would be getting a lower quality of service. Kimble said she was so impressed with the clinic that she’s going to volunteer with pets at least once per month.

"I love animals, and I think there are a lot of people out there who want to provide better care for their pets but are financially unable to do it,” Kimble said. The clinic "is a fantastic avenue for people to be able to provide pets with the care they need, reduce the overpopulation issue and not have to have their pets go without eating at the same time.”

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