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Tulsa Animal Services reports facility progress, staffing needs and fee schedule moving into ordinance
Summary
Tulsa Animal Services updated the commission on construction progress at the new shelter, said the agency’s save rate has risen to nearly 80%, and reported staff vacancies and an approved fee schedule that will be placed in city ordinance with a tentative Aug. 18 effective date.
Tulsa Animal Services provided commissioners an update on construction of a new shelter, staffing gaps and outreach plans during the Aug. 11 Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission meeting.
Sherry Carrier, director of Tulsa Animal Services, said the construction contractor is continuing utility work and has divided the project into “A” and “B” sides. Carrier said crews were finishing underground plumbing on the B side and starting plumbing and electrical work on the A side, with concrete pad preparation and an estimated concrete pour on the B side scheduled for Aug. 21. “Looks very different than it did when it first started,” Carrier said. “You’re gonna see progress pretty fast, and hopefully we’ll have some beams raising in September if the weather cooperates.”
Carrier told commissioners she will provide monthly updates on progress. She identified specific work planned in the near term—waterline work, final grading around the project perimeter, underground plumbing and electrical, and striping and grubbing along 30th Sixth Street West for sewer installation.
On staffing, Carrier said the department is recruiting for a few animal control officer positions and several kennel worker roles; some applicants are in process. She said two field vacancies make timely responses to calls more difficult but praised staff for maintaining services. The commission recorded no formal vote on hiring at the meeting.
The commission also reviewed a fee schedule that commissioners previously approved to move forward at an earlier meeting. Carrier said the schedule had not previously been codified and will be placed in city ordinance; staff will publish communications about the changes. Carrier said the tentative effective date is Aug. 18, and that the ordinance provides a mechanism for annual review going forward. The transcript did not record a vote on the ordinance at this meeting.
Carrier highlighted community outreach and events, including a recent SPCA adoption and fundraising event that produced one adoption, plans for a senior dog event in October and work to land a free downtown microchip event. She described partnerships to help unhomed residents and to reunite lost pets with owners: "If you find a lost pet, you can now stop by any Tulsa fire station and ask a firefighter to scan for a microchip. No shelter visit required," Carrier said, describing a program that places microchip scanners at fire stations to make reunifications easier.
Carrier reported an improvement in the agency’s outcomes since 2018, saying the agency’s save rate rose from 67% in 2018 to nearly 80% today, attributing gains to adoptions, foster homes and spay/neuter efforts.
The commission approved the meeting minutes by roll call earlier in the meeting; three commissioners voted yes in that recorded vote. There were no items on the agenda listed as old business or new business at this meeting, and public comment was noted but did not include any formal action.
The commission will continue to receive monthly construction updates and additional staff briefings as the new facility progresses toward the planned fall work on structural elements.
