Oklahoma Humane Society

PROJECT PURPOSE

The new OK Humane Campus is a well thought out, shovel ready project that will not only provide a larger and healthier environment for the animals in our care, but will also significantly improve the experience of adopters, volunteers, and all community visitors. In addition to blending animal comfort with the adoption of pets, the new OK Humane Campus will provide the opportunity for robust community involvement, education, and enrichment for decades to come. The new OK Humane Campus is designed in conjunction with Oklahoma City Animal Welfare to reduce the pet overpopulation problem in Oklahoma and to create a more humane city and state. The project encompasses a campus located in downtown Oklahoma City adjacent to lower Scissortail Park and a low cost state-of-the-art veterinary clinic in south Oklahoma City. OK Humane is the only non-profit animal welfare organization to have an active working partnership with the City of Oklahoma City pursuant to the terms of a written MOU. OK Humane has been named the conditional redeveloper for the downtown property by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority.

EVIDENCE

The Oklahoma Humane Campus would have an overwhelmingly positive economic and community impact on both the people and homeless companion animals of Oklahoma City. When complete, it is anticipated that the Oklahoma Humane Campus will include approximately 26,000 square feet of space dedicated to the intervention of homeless animals, the innovative delivery of animal welfare, educational, and community services. Space will be allocated to animal intake, holding, and adoption areas. The remaining space will be divided between clinical service areas, staff offices, educational, and gathering spaces. The Oklahoma Humane Campus will offer both dog and cat adoption areas with communal living and playrooms as well as dedicated space for training and behavior modification programs. The low-cost veterinary clinic will provide intervention into the pet overpopulation issue. By using heat maps and partnering with OKC Animal Welfare the target market has been identified and is predominantly in south Oklahoma City and rural areas. The statewide aspect will intervein in several significant ways. Transport of animals at risk for euthanasia to Oklahoma City for adoptions, statewide spay + neuter programs, statewide educational opportunities for the public and population control measures in three key areas of the state. Northeast (Vinita), Southeast (Poteau) and Southwest (Altus).

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The OK Humane top priority during COVID-19 has been the health and safety of our staff, donors, animals, fosters, volunteers - and the community at large. During 2020, animal adoptions increased, but pet population measures decreased. When the United States Surgeon General declared all non-essential surgeries to be cancelled, OK Humane stopped spay+neuter services for over 8 weeks. Hundreds of people, pets and communities were affected, the majority of those disproportionately impacted were lower-socio-economic status populations. 2021 brought a new set of problems as the rural areas saw booms in animal populations and animal returns increased across the state. As people began to transition back to office settings, animals were returned in record numbers. The project will help address situations for years to come where vulnerable people and animals are unable to stay together. By offering food, medical and even assist with pet deposits for victims of domestic violence.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

An economic impact study conducted in 2018 shows that the economic impact of the downtown OK Humane Campus will have over a $118,567,000.00 economic impact over a five-year period. Increased rates of volunteerism and engagement with animal welfare issues, increased brand equity, increased social capital and humane education programs will be measured along with the reduction of the cost assumed by OKC Animal Welfare for animals as the overpopulation problem is addressed. The veterinary clinic will provide low-cost care for targeted demographics, including spay + neuter. By addressing the overpopulation issue Oklahoma City will become a top-tier city for animal welfare, and when animals fare well, people fare well. Measuring project performance will be simplified through several data bases currently in use. Shelter Animals Count national database collects data for nationwide performance, intake reduction at OKC Animal Welfare is collected through a shelter management program and all medical, adoption and intake numbers are collected through PetPoint. Volunteer and education activities for the human population are collected through a program called Volgistics. All goals and measurements are set annually and through a three to five year organizational strategic plan.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma