W A S H I N G T O N C O U N T Y S P C A

Holiday Edition 2015

2 | Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 www.wcspca.org

Noted anthropologist Loren Eiseley once wrote…“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the

ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat

startled wise man.To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw

them in, they’ll die.”Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But,

young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,

“It made a difference for that one.”

Being part of animal rescue as I have for many years, there are times I pose the question: “Am I tru-ly making a difference?” As a volunteer photographer who has traveled all over the State of Oklahoma and New Orleans doing pro bono photo shoots of adopt-able animals, I’ve seen the inside of more shelters than I care to count. I’ve been to places where the animals are little more than shadows lying on cold concrete with meager sunlight to comfort them. I’ve

seen beautiful animals gazing with hollow eyes, a defeated look upon their face. There are days when the answer to that question is, “I don’t know.”

And then there are dogs like Hope. Like Marshmallow. Sweet Lola, who finally had a chance despite her breed. Handsome cats like Casanova, saved from a kill shelter. As I watch these sweet animals rise from the ashes of despair – homeless and unwanted – to being part of a loving family, I know our work is not in vain. Each of these animals have a future because we cared.

As we come to the close of our 50th anniversary and begin a new year, I am renewed with promise of a brighter tomorrow for these animals. The strides we’ve made for them at the shelter – improved cleaning procedures, the end to breed-specific discrimination, and more transport and rescue partners – only makes their lives better.

Indeed, there are thousands of homeless animals and while we can’t save them all, at the Washington County SPCA, we will diligently work towards “making a difference for that one.”

May the new year find you happy, healthy, and making a difference. c

16620 State Highway 123Bartlesville, OK 74006-0040

(918) 336-1577www.wcspca.org

StaffPenny Addis Sara BlakeMiranda Coffey Erika FultzKelly Gerrish Casey HeyerLucy Lajara-NansonMichael LeardWilliam Little SunRobert LutonMatthew RoseOlivia SmithSue Whiteturkey

Board of DirectorsSherry Stinson, presidentDana Doornbos-Keirsey, vice presidentKayla Wilson, secretaryJohn Fress, treasurerBryan Acker Michael KempDeanna McDonald Keith Sheffield

MissionThe Washington County SPCA’s mission is

to protect the welfare of the animals we

come in contact with and to promote the

humane treatment and well being of these

animals. We serve the animals, citizens, and

communities of Green Country from our

location at 16620 State Highway 123, just

north of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The Washington County SPCA is a 501(c)3

private, non-profit organization not affiliated

with any other entity and receives no govern-

ment subsidies or funds from the ASPCA or

The Humane Society of the United States.

Newsletter designed by Sherry Stinson

Tyler Creative | tylercreative.com

All Photos courtesy of

TylerDog Photography | tylerdog.com

In This IssueHope for Tomorrow ................... 3

Volunteer: Helen Bresson ........ 4

Success Story: Marshmallow .. 7

Success Story: Maggie .............. 8

Crowdfunding ............................. 9

Adopt-A-Kennel ........................10

Pet Pantry ....................................12

Gifts of Love ................................14

Sponsors ......................................15

Just a Paws

Photo by Paula young

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“Please help me!” her eyes screamed. A sad little dog with practically no hair, her skin was one big scab, bloody and flaking from constant scratching.

I first saw her when a photo was sent to me, but nothing could prepare me for ac-tually seeing her in person. Tears formed in my eyes as she stood there, shaking in her darkened kennel, and my heart sank. “There’s no way I can do this,” I thought to myself. “It’ll be too hard.” Yet, I made a promise. A promise to a friend. A promise to help. And no matter what, I was keep-ing this promise.

I’d never seen an animal in such con-dition. The little bit of hair she did have was so brittle, it broke off at the slightest touch. Her skin was so inflamed, she stood stock still as if it hurt to move. I knew our shelter was already financially strapped

Hopefor Tomorrow

by Kayla Wilson

and simply didn’t have the funds or quiet place this little girl would need to heal. I gathered her up and we went straight

to the vet where she was diagnosed with severe demodectic mange, a secondary skin infection, and anemia. Her immune system so compromised, my veterinarian cautioned me she might not make it.

The first few days were heartbreak-ing. She was so sick, I worried each time I went to her crate that she wasn’t going

to wake up. Slowly she began to improve physically. Mentally, she had a long road ahead of her. Not only was this poor girl

Hope for Tomorrow–Continued on Page 9

Hope suffered from demodectic mange, a secondary skin infection, and anemia from flea bites.

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Helen Bresson is a wonderful friend to and long-time supporter of the Washington County SPCA. For the past 10 years, she’s fostered, volun-teered, scooped poo on scorching summer days and cleaned kennels during freezing Oklahoma

winters. No matter what the need, Helen is there. Her mantra is always “I’m here for the animals...” as it should be. Here’s her story…

What first prompted you to become a volunteer?I always loved all kinds of animals. I wanted to be a vet when

I was a little girl, but not so good with science, so I kind of blew that! I think it was one of the floods. I was volunteering with another animal agency in town and the SOS call came out. The shelter was on the verge of flooding and they needed peo-ple to help evacuate. We spent a long time at the Dewey Fair-grounds that summer. I’ve been hanging around doing different things ever since.

Which task do you enjoy doing most?What I really love to do is go get the dogs out of their kennels

to play. I like to do a little training and let them stretch their legs and run, or come over and cuddle, or just roll in the grass and be a dog. I also love being the “treat lady.” I bring a bag of treats and walk through the kennel and give everyone a treat.Even if they won’t come take it from my hand, they get one in the kennel so they know they are special, too.

When did you decide to become a foster?Oh, gosh, I’m not sure I decided to be a foster again. I fostered

for a different rescue many years before and Mighty Dog (my current dog) was my foster fail. After my big dog at the time lost his mind and went after Mighty a few times, Mighty decided he didn’t like other dogs too well, so I quit fostering when he was about one.

One of the shelter staff knew how much I loved dogs and how I missed having fosters, so she came to me about a little Aussie puppy that came to the shelter injured and needed a short-term foster. I thought I could probably handle a puppy, so we tried it. I had so much fun with that little puppy, Sophie Grace; she was so smart! I was hooked again.

What advice would you share with potential fosters?I guess I’d say remember it isn’t about you, it’s about them. I

say that because people ask me all the time how I can foster and then give the puppy or dog back. I can do it because they need me. It’s not about what I need, it’s about what they need. Anoth-er way to look at it is when you foster, you get the opportunity to meet and love a lot of really great dogs. You make a difference in their lives, and you help them along life’s journey. Plus, I love puppies! I get to bring puppies home and love them and their sweet puppy breath. Then I get to take them back and not have

to deal long term with all of the puppy phases. It’s awesome!I’d tell a potential foster, you will cry when you take them

back. Even when you think, “I can’t wait to take this crazy dog back,” you’ll cry when you leave them at the shelter. Yes, I have said that, and yes I cried when I left them and worried about them until they found their forever home. But, they are well and whole, and they’re ready for the next stage of their journey. There is always another dog or cat that needs extra love and attention to save their life. When you look at it like that, you can do it.

But most of all, I would say, love them, enjoy them, cherish them, and let them be themselves. Get to know them so you can help find the perfect home. Be honest about their behavior and their likes and dislikes. Be objective. Just because a dog isn’t your ideal dog, doesn’t mean that dog isn’t someone else’s ideal.

What’s the most difficult thing you’ve encountered as a volunteer / foster?

Seeing the results of what people do to animals is sometimes difficult. There was a litter of puppies that had been so trau-

matized by people, it was heartbreaking. After hours and hours and lots of volunteer help, we got most of those puppies to come to people without being totally terrified. That’s just one example of terrified dogs.

Seeing a dog go kennel crazy is hard. It’s a horrible thing to see. They are miserable and no one wants to adopt them because of their behavior. This is another reason fostering is important; at-risk dogs can go to a home environment and have a better chance at adoption.

If you could name only one, out of all the animals you’ve encountered and helped throughout the years, what would be the most heartbreaking and most uplifting?

My sweet Emma Jane is both. I named her after my Aunt Jane. My Aunt Jane had that toughness about her that made her a survivor. You know the kind I mean. Little did I know this little girl would need every bit of the toughness of her namesake.

Emma was most likely a Great Dane/Mastiff mix. She was about three-months-old when she came to the shelter with her leg broken in a spot that could not be set. She was so malnour-ished her paws and legs were broken down and bowing. She limped off her bad front leg and threw her good front leg forward to walk because she couldn’t stand up on her paws, and yet, her tail wagged. She wagged, and cuddled, and loved, and she trust-ed. Amazing. She broke my heart and yet, her spirit, something about her spirit, I’ll never be able to put my finger on it, maybe it was the tough in the sweetness.

While she gained strength and grew she had several health problems. First, kennel cough. Nothing unusual about that. We treated it with antibiotics. Then, a couple of weeks later she wasn’t her usual bouncy, nutty, puppy self. She wouldn’t eat, or drink, she didn’t want to move, and she threw up. Long story short, she had parvo. When Amber told me how she tested I thought that was the end of her, and my heart broke. But, Am-

Making a difference

Fostering Saves Lives

volunteers

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ber said we caught it fast enough and we would try treating her. I cried every day she received treatments because I knew she hated it so badly, but it was worth it; Emma Jane lived. Miraculously, she lived.

While she was being treated I noticed rashes and hair loss. We thought it was just grass allergies or something. We sent her off to OSU to get her fixed. They sent her back, not fixed. She had demodectic mange. Oh, for pity’s sake! How much can one little girl go through! So we treated that.

Through it all I watched her gain strength. I watched her fill out and gain energy. I watched her broken leg heal, her “good” leg heal and straighten, and saw her stand up on her paws. I watched her learn to walk and run and pounce and play like she had never been hurt. I watched her overcome a deadly illness that kills so many. It doesn’t get any more uplifting than watching and being a part of that transformation. That is why and how I can do what I do.

Emma Jane went on a transport to Kansas City to find her forever home. I think about her often and hope she found an awesome home. I miss that little sweetie, she took a little part of my heart with her. See, you made me do the ugly cry talking about her.

Tell me a little about yourself outside of volunteering; i.e. how many personal animals you have, their stories, etc.

I have two dogs of my own. Lucky is a 12-year-old female Border Collie/Shepherd mix. Mighty Dog is a 9-year-old male salad bar dog. When people ask me what he is I say, “Name something, he

probably has it in him.”Lucky was a stray. I had another

dog, Molly, well, I had two other dogs, Molly and Fuzz, but Mol-ly is the one who is part of this story. Molly, an Australian Shepherd mix, was dying, she had cancer. I had actually made an ap-p o i n t m e n t to have

her put down. She had a large tumor on her back, headed for her spine. I came home one night and there was this little puppy playing in my neighbor’s yard on the cor-ner. I was pretty sure he didn’t have a new puppy and she looked like a Border Collie. I always thought I’d like to have one. I went to check on her and she ran under my neighbor’s porch. I talked to my neighbor; the puppy wasn’t his, I asked him

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Making a difference

Fostering Saves Lives

Fostering Saves Lives–Continued on Page 6

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steady, loving, Zen dog since that day. That’s not to say she hasn’t destroyed her share of “stuff,” but, oh my goodness, she has been worth every torn up thing! I truly believe God sent her to me that day.

Mighty Dog, wow, he is just as spastic and bad as Lucky is sweet and good. But, somehow, he’s never been destructive like she is, go figure. Mighty Dog started out as a foster, remember I said he was my foster fail? He came to me through ARF. He was 27 hours old when I picked him up at the Bulldogger apartments. Appar-ently a dog up there had puppies. Neigh-bors checked on the mama and puppies only to find a grisly mess. The mother had eaten all the newborn puppies but Mighty Dog. They told the owner of the mama dog they were taking the puppy home with them to try to save it. The owner ap-parently didn’t care. After spending the night trying to keep the little guy alive

they called for help. That is how he came to me. It was December 1, and it was bitter cold. It was touch and go with him for several days. We spent many long nights up just trying to stay alive. It was dur-ing one of those long nights that he got his name. Sometime I’ll tell

you the story, but it’s too long to tell the whole thing here. I found

out later the odds against a puppy like that surviving was slim-to-none. If I had known then what I know now, I don’t know if I would have had the courage to try. I prayed a lot and worried a lot and hurried home a lot

with the prayer on my lips that he was still alive. I al-most lost him several times. It sometimes scares me to think that his life could have been over if I had hit one more red light on the way home. That’s how close it was and how easy it is to lose a tiny, orphaned puppy. You hear people say all the time “who saved whom” when it comes to animal rescue. This is one definitely of those cases, life was hard for me right then; I was struggling. This little guy came to me to-tally helpless. He needed me, he needed me to get out of bed, feed him, clean him up, keep him warm and love him. So, I got out of bed and I took care

of him and he took care of

not to call animal control because after Molly was gone I would take her. I went in the house and Molly was really, really bad and sad. Molly loved puppies. I de-cided to go get that little puppy and see if it made Molly happy or more agitated. The puppy wouldn’t come out from under the porch, so my neighbor got a hot dog and out she came!

I took her in to see Molly. Oh, my gosh. Molly got so excited! She perked up and did “helicopter tail”. She couldn’t move much so I set the puppy next to her on the bed. Later that night we went out front to potty, as we went down the stairs the tumor finally hit Molly’s spine and paralyzed her rear end. I carried her in and out for potty time. The puppy, which I named Lucky, came right with me each time. She sat next to Molly while I held her so she could potty. She laid right next to Molly on the bed all night long. She never left Molly’s side. We’re talk-ing about a two-three-month-old puppy. It was unbelievable! She made my pre-cious Molly’s last night on earth more comfortable and happy. I knew then she was a spe-cial dog. She has been my sweet,

me just by being. We are both alive and happy and healthy and we still get out of bed every morning. He is spoiled rot-ten, and in some ways, the worst dog I’ve ever had in my life, and in some ways the best. I wouldn’t trade him for the world, but I sure hope I never have another one like him. I’ve met my stubborn match in Mighty Dog!

So those are my babies.

If you had one superpower, what would it be? :)

Wow, I don’t know. What did Marshy say? (we responded with “SuperBark”). Oh, I guess a SuperBark is out for me!

A superpower. Hmm, I want to fly like Superwoman I could fly through the air and right wrongs when I see them. I could swoop in when Marshy uses his SuperBark and carry the bad patooties off to the “pleasemen and pleasewomen”, (that Marshy, his take on words makes me laugh!). We could be the bumbling dynamic duo, not like Batman and Robin who actually know what they are doing. We can be the superheros of neglected and abused animals everywhere. Yep, I think that would be good. I can’t think of anything profound, I just want to help the critters.

So while I have the floor, I’d like to en-courage people to volunteer. There are so many things that need to be done at the shelter. It doesn’t have to be every day or even every week. One hour a month would make a difference. Come do laun-dry, hold a tiny kitten or puppy. Drive the van to take the animals to spay/neuter clinics. Foster a puppy/dog or kitten/cat. Walk a dog. Let the people at the shelter know what things you would enjoy doing, or would be willing to do, then they can call you when that type of help is needed. When the shelter is short-handed I go help clean kennels. Is it my favorite thing to do? Nope, but you know what, I get to get inside the kennels with the dogs and talk to them and give them a little pat and a kiss. If you want to help but can’t physically help, donate, even if it’s spare change or a roll of paper towels, every penny, every roll of paper towels, counts.

And finally, let your shelter staff know you appreciate them. A simple “thank you” can go a long way. They do a tough job for not much pay, day in, day out, ev-ery day, hot, cold, rain, snow, they are there taking care of the animals. They are awesome, let them know. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Thank you for the op-portunity to say that. c

Fostering Saves Lives–Continued from Page 5

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During the blazing July heat, an extremely overweight senior Lab came to the shelter as a stray. We knew the heat, combined with his unhealthy state, would pose a grave danger to him, so we reached out to one of our star foster homes, where the old boy, now named Marshmallow, was able to start the journey to better health. Here’s his story as related to his “Aunt Sherry”…

Can you tell us a little bit about how you ended up at the SPCA?

Oh, Aunt Sherry, you know I don’t really know how I ended up there. One day I was at my other home and the next day I was out on the street all by my lonesome. I was very scared. I’m old and out of shape and I couldn’t protect myself if some-thing happened. Then someone saw me and said I was a stray ‘cuz I didn’t have my own per-son no more. Next thing I

know I’m in a kennel at the shelter. At least I wasn’t by myself anymore. I was safe.

How did you come to live with Mama Helen?Well, one day I was laying in my kennel at the shel-

ter. It was so hot outside. I was a layin’ there, panting, and there was all this activity in the kennels, way more than usual, lots of doggies leaving. Someone says it was “Clear the Shelter” day.

Well, peoples looked at me laying there, panting so hard, with my back turned, I was so sad, and so hot, and I was having troubles breathing. No one wanted to take me home, but they made pitiful

sounds at me ’cuz they felt so sorry for me.So it was the end of the day, and you were there,

Aunt Sherry, and you told some of the last peoples looking at us doggies that you’d really like to find me a foster home to go to to help me lose some weight. You say you were worried about me being in the ken-nel where it was so hot and the floor was hard on my old joints. Mama Helen happened to be in the ken-nels visiting her Gus-Gus, the three-legged dog she fostered (I didn’t call her Mama then ’cuz that woul-da been weird ’cuz I didn’t know her!). Then Mama asked if you really meant that ’cuz she would take

me and love me and help me get healthy again.Mama talked to Miss Erika and they made

a plan, and next day I came to live at Mama Helen’s where I have air conditioning and a soft bed, oh, and Lambykin, my fav toy!

Another volunteer, Miss Shannon, was so happy when she heard I was a goin’ with Mama! She said she’d just been out feedin’

me and I was cryin’. Miss Shannon had just told me please to not cry ’cuz something good was gonna happen for me, and she was right!

Did you know marshmallows are good with hot chocolate?

Yes, I watch the Food Channel a lot, so I already knowed that! And marshmallows are good melted in Rice Krispies, too. I think I’d like some of those if Mama would let me have any. She’s purty strict on my food, though. Do you think maybe you could get me some for Christmas? Rice Krispies, that is, not marsh-mallows! I gots enough of me! Heehee!

Speaking of hot stuff, we’ve heard you’re quite popular and make all the ladies

swoon? Can you confirm this?I am def’nitly a hunka-hunka! Mama says I am the most hand-somest dog she has ever had the

Marshmallowsuccess stories

Marshmallow–Continued on Page 11

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As the last vestiges of summer waned, Bark Park Buddies invited us to their annual Dawg Days pool par-ty. One of the founding members of Bark Park Buddies, Pat Poindexter, was there and we struck up a conver-sation. Her sweet babies, Abby and Honey, had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and her search for a new furry to love had thus far been in vain. With that in mind, we knew we had the perfect match for Pat, dashed back to the shelter, and returned with a match made in Heaven! Here’s her story…

I am a Bartlesville native, past business owner and a Realtor with McAnaw & Company for the past 18 years. I have always had a dog in life since I was 10 years old. My first pet was a Dachshund mix, then I had a Peek-A-Poo, then two more Dachshunds. They had very long lives, living until they were 16 and 17 years old.

After they passed, I went to the Washington County SPCA and found Abby. I love horseback riding, so I was looking for a dog to break the trails for me. Abby defi-nitely fit the bill. She was part Lab and part Brittany Spaniel. She loved it when we hit the trails!

When Abby was about 8, I found her a friend at the WCSPCA and she was a “Honey.” She was Abby’s best friend and a pleasure for anyone who wanted a little “lovin’”. These two girls were my life and I loved them both dearly. I lost Honey to a stroke a couple years after Abby passed due to her age. So it’s been awful quiet around the house without the pitter-patter of little feet.

Now I have Maggie! Another SPCA rescue, she is a mixture of Abby and Honey all together in one smaller body! She has the personality of Abby, and tries so hard to please and love on you as Honey did. It took awhile for me to want another dog but I knew she was the “one” the moment I saw her (thank you, Sherry Stinson)!

Maggie’s favorite thing to do is antagonize the cat, She-ra, Princess of Power! They totally enjoy the chase, hiding and scaring each other daily. Maggie also loves taking everything that’s not tied down out to the bird feeder as if offering some kind of sacrifice to the birds.She knew how to sit when I first got her, she takes food from your hand gently with very good manners. She’s simply amazing!

The name she was given at the shelter was Honey, just another sign she was the one as I had just lost my Honey Dog. I named her Maggie Mae and her nickname is Mags! Of course, when she’s eating remote controls and the couch cushions, it reverts to Maggie Mae Poind-exter! My Abby did the same thing when she was young and I know, just like Abby and the other dogs in my life, Maggie will become a very good dog in a few more years.

Maggie is another chapter in my life. I look forward daily to coming home to her, even though I am not sure what I might find! She’s a great snuggler during TV time and cuddler at bedtime! Thank you, Washington County SPCA, for bringing such a wonderful baby into my life! c

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Editor’s Note: If you’d like to visit Cooper Dog Park, it’s located at 2400 S.E. Adams Blvd. in Bartlesville. To learn more about Bark Park Buddies, visit them on the Web at www.barkparkbuddies.com.

success stories

Loveat first sight!

Pat and Maggie enjoy the day at Cooper Dog Park in Bartlesville.

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sick, but terrified of people. Without knowing her history, I knew we had a long journey to healing. Yet I had hope.

With that in mind, I decided she should be called Hope.Daily, we bonded. I spoke gently and quietly to her. Hope’s five foster siblings, all rescues, keep their distance, almost as if they knew she needed time. As she slowly recovered, Hope became curious. She sniffed and poked and danced around them, trying with all her might

to get them to play. In time, all five fell in love with the ornery little Jack Russell mix.

After months of treatment and care, Hope was well and ready for adoption. As I pondered the thought of her going to a new family, I knew I couldn’t do it. Without intending to, Hope had become a part of my heart and our family. With the blessing of five foster siblings and a very understanding husband, I knew Hope had found her forever home.

To this day, I keep Hope’s “before” photo on the desktop of my com-puter. Why the “before” and not “after?” Because when I see it, it re-minds me it is never for naught when you try and make a difference. I keep it to remember every bit of time and effort I put into helping

her get healthy was worth it. And when I get discouraged, disappointed or overwhelmed it helps me to remember a little bit of love and kindness can make

that same difference for other animals still needing my help. She is living proof there is “Hope for a brighter tomorrow!” c

–Continued from Page 3Hope for Tomorrow

Hope forTomorrowF U N D R A I S E R

Every month, over 200 homeless ani-mals enter the Washington County SPCA. We are their last hope. We’ve made huge strides in adoptions, improvements at the shelter and in medical care for the ani-mals, but we need your help to do more for the dogs and cats who depend on us.

Every dollar you donate goes directly to helping the animals in our shelter. For food, medical care, and other basic neces-sities. Our long-term goals are to equip a spay/neuter facility so we can prevent pet overpopulation and keep unwanted animals out of shelters, then build a new facility to keep our animals warm, safe, and dry.

Help us make a difference for these animals. They deserve a second chance. They deserve better medical care, a better facility, a better chance at life in a loving forever home.

Did you know...

• $1 helps us buy worming medicine

• $5 helps us buy dog, cat, puppy, and kitten vaccinations

• $15 helps us buy a test to see if our kitties have Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids

• $25 helps us buy a bag of cat food

• $35 helps us buy a bag of dog food

• $65 helps us buy a small Kuranda bed so our animals don’t have to lie on cold concrete

• $100 helps buy an extra large Kuranda bed for our bigger dogs,

• $200 helps us buy medicine to treat Heartworms

We can outfit a spay/neuter clinic for

Hope for Tomorrow Fundraiser–Continued on Page 10

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Adopt-A-KennelThe Washington County SPCA’s Adopt-a-Kennel pro-

gram is a fabulous way for individuals and businesses to show their support for the homeless animals of Washing-ton County, while at the same time helping to provide us with the resources we need to care for the thousands of homeless animals we receive each year.

Each kennel we “adopt” provides the shelter with re-sources to feed and vaccinate the shelter animals – over 2,500 animals last year alone. Kennels are sponsored on an annual basis.

Each year-long Adopt-A-Kennel sponsorship costs $1,000 and receives the following benefits:

• Customized Plaque• Your choice of kennel based

on availability• Quarterly bio updates about the pet currently

housed in sponsored kennel• Logo/Name on WCSPCA.org Web site• Annual Partner mention in newsletter• Subscription to Washington County SPCA newslet-

ter• Authorized logo use• Tax deductible receiptFor more information or to reserve your kennel, contact

us at info@wcspca.org.

Current Adopt-A-Kennel sponsors include• Shoemake Law Office • TylerDog Photography• Danielle Weaver-Reiss, State Farm• Dr. Scott Cochran• Dawnette Brady, b2 Design & Construction

ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 Matching Giftsand Volunteer

Grants ProgramConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 strives to improve the

well-being of the communities in which their employ-ees live and work. They support programs that encour-age and support employee involvement in local non-profit organizations. The Washington County SPCA is excited to be eligible to receive both the Matching Gifts and the Employee Volunteer Grants. Details of these programs are below:

Matching Gift – The matching gift program will match employee gifts to eligible 501(c)3 organizations dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000, and retiree gifts dollar-for-dollar, up to $7,500 annually.

Employee Volunteer Grants “Dollar for Hours” – ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 will donate $500 for every 20 hours an employee or retiree volunteers with an eligible 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Addition-ally, teams of four or more employees or retirees may apply for a team grant of $1,000 to an eligible organi-zation.

Please contact the respective companies for the nec-essary paperwork.

For those who are not employees or retirees of ei-ther company, please check with your employer to see if there is a similar program where you work. Together we can make a difference!

approximately $30,000. Once we get our clinic up-and-running, we intend to provide a low-cost alternative for Washington County and surrounding areas in hopes of curbing the number of litters we see coming into the shelter.

Our next step will be building a new shelter out of the flood zone, where we’ve had to evacuate everytime the waters rise. Our clinic building is finished and waiting to be used on the new property. This campaign gets the ball rolling and, with your help, we can see this dream become a reality.

Donate at www.givinggrid.com/wcspca or www.wcspca.org/donate. Together we can make a difference! c

Hope for TomorrowF U N D R A I S E R

–Continued from Page 9

10 | Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 www.wcspca.org

www.wcspca.org Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 | 11

pleasure to have living at her house. I currently have a crush on Destiny the Pi-bble and Jazzy the Amazing Wiener.

You know I has been hot all summer long. I so glad the weather is cooler now, I not near as hot! Oh, wait, sorry, Mama says I was too literal again. She says I should say “Yes, I am one Hot Dog!” Did you know I have a hot dog stuffed toy I take on my walks with me sometimes? It’s true, a nice neighbor lady gave it to me. She says I’m a handsome boy, too!

What’s your favorite part of the day?Dinner! Well, and when Mama comes

home from work for the evening and loves me and plays with me. I love to walk too, but I love, love, love, dinnertime!

What’s your all-time favorite food?

Anything that doesn’t eat me first!

Mama doesn’t give me too many treats, but my favorite thing she gives me ev-ery day is boiled chick’n. I loves me some boiled chick’n! But my very most favorite thing is banilla ice cream!

Is there any particular thing you like to do more than others?

I love to go for walks. I get very, very ’cited when the mama gets out my leash and says “Marshy, you ready to go walkin’?”. And I love belly rubs, and head rubs and kisses. But that’s not me doing, huh? That’s me gettin’!

If you could give someone advice about being a foster pet parent, what would you tell them?

Hmmmm, this is a very hard question. Well, we doggies and kitties don’t always know how to be in a home, so we will try very hard to not eat shoes and things like that even if they do smell really good. We will try to potty outside, but we might have accidents at first (peoples like it when you potty outside instead of inside, even though they gets to go inside). If you take us home, we’ll let you know how much we love and ’preciate you by wig-gling and we’ll give you big slobbery kiss-es every day! Mama says not everyone

loves big slobbery kisses, but she does, so that’s okay. Most impor-tant, you are helping us be the most perfect doggie and kitty for

someone else and you’re saving two lives – the one you foster and the one who takes our place in the shelter! So, take it from me, Marshy, the smart

ol’ fart – being a foster parent is the best thing in the world for

homeless animals!

How’s the weight loss program going?

Oh, is going okay, just not as fast as I wants, and I miss eating lots. The mean old mama won’t let me eat ‘til I’m stuffed. She says it’s cuz she loves me. Sometimes I gets very

‘scouraged cuz I want to lose weight fast and be able to bounce and play and run fast again. Remember when I told you I almost ran and felt the wind almost in my ears? I wants to re-ally run and feel the wind in my ears again. I love the exercise part of my pro-gram. I would walk and sniff for ever and ever

and ever if Mama would let me. Mostly I wants to make you and Mama and all of TeamMarshy proud! Keep cheering for me TeamMarshy, I am trying very hard, but Mama says “It took a long time to pack it on, it will take a while to pack it off”. She’s purty smart some days, least I thinks so. Anyways, I lost 13 pounds so far and lots of inches. Mama is very proud of me. I have more energy and I can roll over again. I can wiggle better and I can bounce some now. I am mak-ing progress, Mama says that’s all we can ask. Did I tell you I thinks she’s purty smart some days, even if she is stingy with the treats?

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

I want to have the SuperBark like Bolt! And we can paint a lightning bolt on my side and I can be the defender of all help-less animals and peoples. With my Super-Bark I can make the bad guys stop and help the helpless. I can make the please-man or pleasewoman come and arrest the bad guy for being mean, or cruel, or being a stinkin’ patootie. And most important I can get them out of a bad place because I barked and made peoples pay attention and care. With my SuperBark I can be their voice!

Do you like ice cream?I love ice cream!!! Mama gave me some

banilla ice cream at home. We are going to the Sonic soon to get an ice cream cone ’cuz Destiny the Pibble says I have to try it! She says mama has to send you the video of me eating the whole thing! She just wants an excuse to see my hunka-hunka-ness I think. Mama says soon we will have ice cream with marshmallow topping. Wanna know why? ’Cuz marsh-mallow is her favorite even before I got here!

Do you have a wish for the holidays?I do! In fact, if you look at my picture

over there, you’ll see I have my eyes closed reaaaally tight and everything! My number one wish is all the doggies and kitties would have homes and nobody would be cold or hungry or homeless ever! My number two wish is I never have to wear reindeer ears again! Mama, I think you owe me ice cream! c

c c c

Editor’s Note: As we went to press, Mama Helen became a foster failure and added Marshy to her family! So now he’s of-ficially Marshmallow "The Hunka Hunka" Bresson! Congrats, Marshy!

www.wcspca.org Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 | 11

Marshmallow–Continued from Page 7

12 | Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 www.wcspca.org

W A S H I N G T O N C O U N T Y S P C A

We’re excited to introduce a brand new program to the Washington County SPCA. Our Pet Pantry is a service to help those in the commu-

nity, who are dealing with financial hardship, feed their pets. Too often pet owners who are experiencing financial difficulty are faced with the unfortunate decision to give up their pet simply because there’s not enough money at the end of the day and they must choose be-tween food for their family or food for their pets. We believe no one should have to give up their pet because they’re a little short on cash.

With that in mind, we created the Wash-ington County SPCA Pet Pantry. Pet food will be distributed to approved applicants every Wednesday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., as long as supplies last. This is available free of charge for ap-proved applicants. All applicants may only re-ceive food once every three weeks. We are not a retail facility selling pet food, so please keep in mind this is for emergency use only.

We’ve had a few questions about the Pet Pantry program, so we’ll attempt to an-swer them here. If you have further ques-tions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@wcspca.org.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy don’t you feed extra food you get to the shelter animals?

Studies show abruptly and constantly switching an animal’s food can cause gastroin-testinal issues, such as upset stomach and di-arrhea. Previously, only the animals available for adoption were fed a consistent brand while “pound” or stray animals were fed whatever was donated. Given we never had a consistent brand donated, the constant switching was

200+

HomelessAnimalsThat’s the number of animals who come through

the doors of the Washington County SPCA any given

month. Over 200 dogs and cats who would otherwise

be on the streets – hungry and homeless – if our

organization didn’t exist. Over 200 animals facing an

uncertain fate. Our shelter is only as strong as the

community we serve. We need your support to

continue doing the work we do and helping find

loving, forever homes for these wonderful creatures.

Together we can make a difference.

Pet Pantry–Continued on Page 15

200+

HomelessAnimalsThat’s the number of animals who come through

the doors of the Washington County SPCA any given

month. Over 200 dogs and cats who would otherwise

be on the streets – hungry and homeless – if our

organization didn’t exist. Over 200 animals facing an

uncertain fate. Our shelter is only as strong as the

community we serve. We need your support to

continue doing the work we do and helping find

loving, forever homes for these wonderful creatures.

Together we can make a difference.

www.wcspca.org/donate

14 | Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 www.wcspca.org

Thank you to our generous supporters for Contributions and Special Gifts!Clova L. AbrahamsonJean AbshireKenneth G. & Diana Moon Adams - Adams FoundationLois AdcockDixie F. & Benne J. AllenRaymonda AllenLee Ann AmmonsJanet & Ronald ArringtonLacie AutryKathryn AyresKatrina BaileyDana J. BakerBernie BaldwinRenee BaldwinJoe BandaJaimee BartaBartlesville High School Student CouncilA.E. & Ann BasingerLois BassTerri BeanRobert C & Linda J BeardDiana & Greg S. BeersKaren S. BefortKameha BellCarter & Ross BennettVickie BenzinDr. James Randolph & Suzette M. BirchCharlie BlackRachel BlanketshipJanis BlantonDr. David J. & Marily M. BlumerBrittany BooneJerry & Marilou G. BorkRobert & Sheila BoulangerDeseree BoutwellBetty Jean BowersockCharlotte BowmanClarence BrannanHelen BressonKatherine BrewerWilliam E. & Sue E. BridsonMax & Beatrice BrocklesbyKay BrooksJack BrowderChris BrownGary & Lula BrownJudy BrownRoberta BrownRowena BrownCee Jay BuchananJudge Paul & Phyllis BuchananAllan J. & Barbara G BungeJudy BurnsSteve ByrdCamden and Bill CampbellKenneth C & Donna J CampbellRoberta CarletonKimberly CarpenterKathryn CasebournJohn D. & Jan E. CastelliJay M. & Gretchen E. ChaffinMadison ChaffinJames R. & Mary L. ChambleeJ.D. & Betty J. ChanceEastern Oklahoma Chapter NECAXi Alpha Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma PhiPetsmart Charities, Inc.Carla CherrySanta ClausSheri CloseJames W. & Marcia Cochran

K. & Sandy CohlmiaDarrell CollieRemona ColsonBartlesville Community FoundationD & C ConeJohn ConleyNeal & Mitsuye ConoverHarry CooperNorfolk Southern CorporationDiane CostonRonald W. & Sue CourtneyGary CoutoMr. & Mrs. Glenn A. CoxTravis CraneJay & Teresa DavisPatricia DavisSharon DavisBrenda Z. DawsonRichard DayBeth DeGeerDestiny the PibblePerry J. & Ila R. DickeyRoy & Cassandra DicksonKelly E. & Cynthia K. DivenMarge DoverDaniel DroegeBarbara R. & Jack DuedeIrene DukeMary DuncanRaymond & Anita DunhamJeremy DunkleJaney DunlapM. Lagean DunnGinger DykesHSPD Enterprises LLCRobert L. & Nancy Ruth FarmerHogshooter Creek FarmsLinda FarrisJanis FeazelPhilip FicklingCharles FikeCathey FisherJudy FlintJeanie FrancisSuzanne FrankLiz FugateRobert A. FugateMaebeth FurrowKenneth K. & Anne E. GeorgeJanet B. GeweckeJohn R. & Donna J. GibsonCharles GilmoreRobert & Marita GlissonVicki GodbehereFrank GoerendMarcia GoffStacey GoldingTed & Stacey GoldingBrian & Shelly GoodinTerri GoodmanRyan GottBobbie L. GrahamKerry GrahamMarsha GrahamMarjoleine GravleyCarol GreenMeg & Gil GreenwoodEmma GriffinConnie M. & GrimesDelphi GruenwaldCarol GunnFrank & Sue GwinAudrey HallamJim D. & Gloria HamlinJ. Scott & Sheryl K. Hanslik

Janet Mayo HardinMalcome E. & Roxanne HareJames HarrisKenneth & Rita A. HarrisRita HarrisVada HeidornMartin P. or Donna E. HeppBarbara HerrenLinda HessLisa HettickKatherine HiemstraFarol HightowerLaura HinesCarl HoeltingJeanne HoeyKaren HofbauerJimmie D & Judy E. HollowayScott HoltDanny HoltsclawGreg HookerJudy & C.E. HowardRobyn HowardJohn & Jennifer HoytWoofTrax Inc.Sharon IrwinCarole C. JemisonLoretta JohnsonMargaret JonesNicole JonesRalph & Lawanah JonesTerri JoslenDavid D. & Debbie K. JustRobert E. & Joan Kaplan, MDRosalyn KaylorMarilyn KeeferAnna J. KeithLinda KeithSharon L. KinschRobin KoppelChuck KostomirisCarole J. KowaleskiR.D. & Kay KuerstonToni KylerRobert LaFortuneDeborah Lajara-NansonDr. Walter LajaraChris LancasterSue Ellen LaytonSandra M. LeeLil LeopoldTerry LeschStrawesome LLCKenneth R. & Linda M. LooseScott D. & Karen L. LoveCharles R. & Martha A. LugerBrecheisen, Lumpkin, D.D.S., Inc.Dave LyndTina LynnLinda MahollandKinta MaplesFaye MarloweCharles J. & Mary L. MartinJoel & Shirley J. MartinLarry J & Linda K MartinWashington County Master GardenersJ.R. MattesonJudith MattixJack C. & Jean MattoxJoel E. & Cheryl L. MayhanAngel McCartyLori McCoy - McCoy JewelersDeanna McDonaldKen McGinnisKenneth McGonigal

Phyllis McWilliamsTommie MedinaBeth E. MercerMichell E. & Jerri L. MeyerBonnie MichellKim MillerLarry MillerGayle L. & Judy J. MollenkampElaine MooreKristi MorrisDale MorrisonFrances Fern & George J. MorrisonMark MunyonDonald & Doris MyersArnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral HomeMeredath NettF.L. & Shirley M. NeuzilJerry NickersonJill NobleCharles NoehnMari Ann & Kirk OcobockPeggy & Tom O’ConnorBecky & Brian OlsenChristopher OlsonJay O’NielBeverly OsmentTina OyerA. N. ParsonsJoAnn PayneJeremy PeeplesAletha & Glen PetersonBruce & Velma L. PetersonKaren PetersonSherry PetersonSusan PetersonRobert L. PetriWendell E. & Annette PfeiferKenneth PietyJean Ann PooreDavid & Donna PopeJustin PopeJimmie L. & Glenda M. PowellAllison PowersMary PrincePenny Lynn QuinnRobert L. & Judith A. ReesKrista ReyndersJames L. & Sue ReynoldsGeorge & Jane RhodesKeith & Suzanne RichStormy RichburgJohn RobertsKirsten RobertsDale RobisonTerry Don & Dana Leigh RobyGlenda Sue RogersTrudy & Gary RossMelinda RuleShannon RushSteve RussellGeorge & Kathy SagelCharity SandersHellen & William E. SavageJ.G. & Georgalee SawyerCharles & Barbara SchmidtTammy SchmittA.M. & W. M. SchnitzerDennis & Sheryl SchulzeDAle & Kimberly ScottDianna Marie ScottSusan & John ScottEarl & Jane A. SearsHealthcare Services Corp.Leroy & Lori Shepherd

Gifts of love

Bransford Shoemake & Shoemake Law OfficeDarlene ShoemakeJean B. & Kenneth K. ShoemakerLarry A & Roberta S SigworthSusan SimmonsCarol SlabachKathy SlempMerle & Brenda SmithJane Phillips SocietyClifford A. SousaCharlene SpearsCharles SpencerCOP PR JVA Spirit TeamAmanda StagnoOneta & Hyatt StamperMiles L. & Wanda L. StandishDavid P. & Elaine E. StanfordTodd StanleyBonnie StearnsRaymond E. & Yvonne M. StevensCarol A. StewartMadrienne StewartSherry StinsonCaroline C. & David R. StireStephanie M. StrattonLeslie SullivanL.F. SumpterRoger L. SwanwickEileen SwitzerChristopher & Carol TateBev TaylorDiana TaylorTerrel & Charlotte TaylorDanielle TayrienAlice R. TennisonJackie ThomisonRalph ThomisonCheryl ThompsonSara ThompsonTana TobiasWD & Barbara TomlinsonBecky TothGirl Scout TroopGayle & William TrowerRobin TrusslerSarah TuckerSheilia TuckerVicky TyndallTyler CreativeTylerDog PhotographySteve & Cheryl B. Van AkenMary WadeMichael & Judy WardTerence WardTheo WasherRoger B. & Jane B. WatersKeith E. & Elaine A. WatsonGretchen WendtlandRobert S. & Melinda C. WesneskiKim WheelerJoe WilliamsKayla WilsonPam WoolmanTracy & Kay WordW.A. WymanPaula YoungRobert B. & Tracy M. YoungBetty YoungerBill or Allie Zoldoske

www.wcspca.org Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 | 15

D&QPest Control, Inc.

Many thanks go out to the various businesses that support the Washington County SPCA. Please patronize these wonderful vendors. In the interactive version of the newsletter, all logos are active links to their respective Web sites.

Tulsa Hills

BartlesvilleAnimal Hospital

sPonsors

causing diarrhea in most of our dogs and upset tummies in our cats. We felt all the animals in our care, even temporary guests, should be fed a con-sistent diet of good quality food, so we only feed Diamond Naturals to them.

Is there a specific brand of food you want?

We’re not picky so long as it’s not beyond its expiration date.

Can I donate other stuff?Yes! Cat litter, unused pet beds,

toys, over-the-counter flea/tick pre-ventative (no prescription medica-tion), and pet shampoo.

Guidelines

• Food is distributed to approved

applicants Wednesdays

between 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. only.

• You may only receive food once

every three (3) weeks.

• The quantity of pet food received

will depend upon the number of

owned pets (cats and dogs only),

their size, and the available sup-

ply at the time of request. We do

not provide food for feral cats.

• As supplies allow, we will also

offer cat litter, flea and tick

preventative, and other various

items. We do not guarantee any

product to be available at any

specific time as our supplies are

strictly donation-based.

To view detailed guidelines

and learn more, visit

www.wcspca.org/petpantry

W A S H I N G T O N C O U N T Y S P C A

–Continued from Page 12

16 | Washington County SPCA Holiday Edition 2015 www.wcspca.org

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S. PostagePAID

Bartlesville, OKPermit No. 94

I want to make a difference!Please accept my tax deductible donation to the Washington

County SPCA in the amount of:

$25 $50 $100 $500 Other $______________

Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

City: ________________________________________________________

State: ___________________ Zip Code: __________________________

Email: _______________________________________________________

mail to: Washington County SPCA

16620 State Highway 123 | Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006-0040

Donate Online! http://www.wcspca.org/donate

16620 State Hwy. 123Bartlesville, OK 74006-0040

www.wcspca.org

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