Homeless animals outnumber homeless people 5 to 1 and animal abandonment is becoming increasingly worse as people face financial hardships and are no longer able to feed or house their animals. Animal shelters and rescues are running over and overwhelmed, and many animals are being euthanized on a daily basis. However, locals are making a “paws-itive” difference by finding “fur-ever” homes for animals in the McIntosh County area, especially pups that are ending up in the Eufaula pound.

Since the City of Eufaula only has a pound and does not have the manpower or the means to turn it into a shelter, Eufaula city employee Ricky Norwood has been diligently working with citizens and a local volunteer group, Paws N Claws-Eufaula, to find homes for these pound pups. Per city policy these pups only have 10 days after they are picked up to find a home or they are in jeopardy of being euthanized. Because the city does not have an animal control officer, the pups are only picked up when someone calls in and declares them a nuisance.

When local teacher and animal lover, Lori Powell-Fells, saw there was an urgent need to help the city and help these pups, she started a volunteer rescue group to share their information in hopes of finding them all homes. Then she also enlisted the help of the local newspapers to help save these animals in the area.

“Since the beginning of January no pup has been put down and we hope to keep it that way,” Powell-Fells said. “We have worked hard to get the word out and others have stepped up to either rescue, foster or help financially by buying supplies, paying pound fees and even helping fix some rescues. We couldn’t do it by ourselves and we know it takes everyone to do their part to make a real difference in our communities.”

Since the beginning of the year, over 25 or more dogs have found forever homes through Paws N Claws. They have even had a food give away event to help locals struggling to feed their own pets and have helped other rescues who have been overwhelmed with so many abandoned animals this summer.

“We are always looking for ways to help solve the problems we see in the community. Animal abandonment, neglect and abuse are everywhere. We try to do our best to help people who are struggling but our priority is rehoming the pound pups. Our Oklahoma summers are brutal and we know these animals won’t survive on their own without help. So we are asking people to share our social media page to help find homes for these fur babies or if they can help in other ways that is great. We also want to remind people as temperatures rise that if it’s too hot for your bare feet on the asphalt, then it’s too hot for your animals’ paws too. If the air is 95 degrees, then the asphalt can easily be 135-155 degrees and cause severe burns. Leaving an animal in a hot car or garage can also be fatal and outside animals especially need an adequate water supply all day long to keep them from dehydration.”

Currently Paws N Claws is selling jewelry at BB Boutique and Slice of Country as a fundraiser to help with these pound pups and rescues. Donation buckets are also located in the offices of the McIntosh County Democrat and the Eufaula Indian Journal. All proceeds go to help the pound pups and rescues.

“We are grateful for all the help we have received in the last six months and we hope the next six months are positive too.”