Owasso residents press council for transparency after shelter statistics and euthanasia concerns

Dozens of Owasso residents and local animal-rescue leaders urged the Owasso City Council on Monday to require greater transparency and change practices at the city animal shelter, saying the shelter’s reported live-release rate has fallen and that routine procedures and communication block rescue efforts.

Nicole Gholson, a longtime Owasso resident, opened public remarks with statistics from the city’s shelter reports and specific questions for staff. “In 02/2023, 346 animals entered the facility, and 111 were euthanized, resulting in a live release rate of approximately 68 percent,” Gholson said. “In 02/2024, intake rose to 394 animals with 144 euthanized, bringing the live release rate down to 63 percent.” She asked the council to clarify ambiguous disposition categories such as “adoption other,” to identify which rescues took animals labeled “rescued,” and to explain four euthanasia categories listed in the report.

Gholson and other speakers described cases they said reflected poor handling at the shelter. She recounted the case of a…