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Five Tulsa-area families share stories, challenges and funny facts about how they came to know and love their adopted pets.
Daisy
When newlyweds Jane and Eric Taylor picked up the Tulsa World on Aug. 9, 2009, they were stunned by the story of a courageous beagle-dachshund mix. Abandoned and with facial injuries from what officials believed was an accident, Daisy was taken to the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) by a good Samaritan.
Married only a week at the time and with three cats already, the Taylors didn’t think twice about applying to adopt the special dog.
“The handicaps never even crossed our minds,” says Eric, who wanted a dog of his own after growing up with one. “We were just hoping it was us that could give her a good home. She’d been through a lot.”
While Daisy was at the SPCA, Dr. David Russell of Veterinary Dental Center of Tulsa performed two facial-reconstruction surgeries on her severed nose and upper lip. Thanks to his successful treatment, her eating and breathing are affected only slightly today and her nose merely requires regular cleaning.
While Daisy’s adoption journey has been relatively smooth, Eric does note some challenges, including her runaway attempt during her first night at home.
“The first night, she ran out the door and we had to go looking for her,” he explains.
After the Taylors searched and returned home empty-handed, Daisy miraculously found her way back to their house, although she’d only been on the property a few hours.
After nine months, 6-year-old Daisy has adjusted well to life with the family, despite what Eric describes as a lingering fear of abandonment. But each day with her new family cements the permanence of Daisy’s forever home. The sweet “lap dog” loves to ride in cars and go for walks, and she’s even getting used to the cats, Eric says.
“She has been the perfect pet for us,” he adds. “For what she has been through, she’s the most loving dog I’ve ever seen.”
Fun fact: One of the Taylors’ cats was already named Daisy. Rather than confuse either pet with a new name, they call the canine Daisy Dog, or D.D. for short.
Puddin
When Teresa Wixson and her family went to the Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show in February, they were looking for anything but another dog. With a 6-year-old black poodle named Marley and a cat at home, the Wixsons had considered getting a puppy for their daughters, ages 13 and 8, but not for a few years.
But when Wixson walked past a Humane Society of Tulsa booth, she was instantly drawn to a white miniature poodle named Puddin.
After speaking with Humane Society staff, the Wixsons learned that Puddin was brought to the organization after his elderly owners had moved into a nursing home. At 9 years old, Puddin’s adoptability wasn’t good before meeting the Wixsons, says Kiley Roberson, who handles community outreach for the Humane Society.
“It’s really hard to adopt older pets because people usually want a young pet that they can have in their life for a long time,” Roberson explains.
But for Wixson, Puddin’s age was no consideration. There was just something special about him, something that’s difficult for her to put into words.
“There was just something there,” she marvels. “It was that particular dog.
“We knew how much we loved our poodle, and the thought of something happening to her, I just couldn’t handle it.”
Since coming to live with the Wixsons, Puddin, who formerly was an only pet, has transitioned happily. Wixson says Marley is quickly drawing out the loving lap dog’s playfulness. Puddin has already lost half a pound playing “chase” with the younger poodle.
Today, Wixson is glad she trusted her instincts when it came to adopting a pet. She recommends that others follow their hearts, too, even if they aren’t looking for another dog or cat.
“If you don’t know if it’s going to work, go ahead and try it,” she suggests.
Fun fact: Knowing Wixson had fallen in love with Puddin at the boat show, her husband, Reid, secretly applied for Puddin’s adoption. He and their children surprised Wixson with Puddin a few days before Valentine’s Day.
Gonzo
It’s not unusual for pets to entertain their owners, but some, like Gonzo, could be stand-up comedians. As if whistling, barking and playing peek-a-boo weren’t enough, the conure parrot also says phrases such as “Pretty boy” and “Baby, baby,” says his owner, Joe Steinberg.
Steinberg and his wife, Julie, adopted Gonzo from a local vet clinic in 2002, after his owner could no longer take care of him and left him with the clinic staff. The Steinbergs had owned a few cockatiels and were looking for another type of bird at the time, Joe says.
While they didn’t know much about parrots, they realized that Gonzo, age 5 at the time, would probably be a longtime family member. Conure parrots can live up to 35 years in a safe, healthy environment, according to www.avianweb.com.
While the Steinbergs’ dogs tend to ignore him, Gonzo often teases their cat by hanging upside-down on his perch and “playing dead,” Joe says. Amazingly, Gonzo knew all of his tricks and phrases before coming to live with the family, although he picked up the barking on his own.
“Gonzo is a character,” Julie says. “I can’t imagine him not being with us.”
The Steinbergs, who are raising two foster children, recently added another rescue pet to their brood when they adopted Simon, a 5-month-old retriever-Australian cattle dog mix, from the Tulsa pound. Julie says they were told the dog was just days away from being flown to Colorado to be euthanized.
Having bred rottweilers several years ago, the Steinbergs appreciate responsible breeders but today have expanded their views on pet rescue.
“In my opinion, every animal deserves a home,” Julie says. “It breaks my heart to see so many animals in shelters.”
Fun fact: One of Gonzo’s favorite activities is singing in the shower. He has a shower perch, where he regularly enjoys the warm water and humidity.
Star
After having to put down her 10-year-old cat, Angel, for health reasons, Sally Leininger wasn’t sure she was ready for another pet anytime soon. But when her husband, Peter, surprised her in December by filling out an adoption application at Street Cats, a local nonprofit cat shelter, she went along with the idea.
Sally was adamant about one thing, however: She had to have a connection with any cat they took home. Unfortunately, during the Leiningers’ first visit to Street Cats, she wasn’t sure she felt a spark with any of the cats they met.
Then, a shelter worker told the Leiningers about Star, a 3-year-old tuxedo cat that had been left on the Street Cats doorstep and fostered out because of a lack of space. When they met Star, Sally Leininger instantly felt the connection for which she’d been hoping.
“She seemed to know her name and was just into everything,” says Sally, who liked that Star was alert and friendly.
The Leiningers, both 74 and retired, turned out to be perfect owners for Star, who needed to go to a home with no other pets. Sally says the new cat has made a pretty seamless transition and has adapted well to her new family and their guests.
Although the Leiningers have owned many pets during their 45 years of marriage, Star was their first rescue animal, Sally says. However, the couple supported Street Cats financially for several years because Peter was attracted to the organization’s mission and its low overhead.
“It’s 100 percent volunteer, so all of the money goes straight to the cats,” Peter explains. “We do have a love for cats, their independence and their personality.”
Fun fact: Although she has her own bed, Star prefers to sleep at Sally’s feet. Most mornings, Star wakes up, finds her toy and drags it back to the Leiningers’ bed for an early playtime.
Felix
Married 38 years, Cheryl and Clyde Wootton have owned more than eight cats and dogs. All of the animals have been rescued pets, including Felix, a 13-pound American tiger cat they recently adopted from the Humane Society of Tulsa.
Like the Wixsons, the Woottons also found their new friend at the Humane Society booth at February’s Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show. Felix was a cat among many dogs up for adoption, so Cheryl walked over to pay him some attention. When the two made eye contact, she says she was sold.
“He likes to interact with people, which is what first caught our eye,” she says, adding that his striking markings also made him stand out from the crowd.
Felix now lives with the Woottons; Cheryl’s elderly mother; and the Woottons’ adopted American Eskimo, Heartly. Cheryl says the animals get along quite well and keep her mom company when she and Clyde are out.
Only with the family a short time, 1-year-old Felix has quickly picked up the Woottons’ daily routine and brings a lot of energy to the home. He is also making progress on his “bad habit” of clawing.
“When we got him, he didn’t know how to retract his claws,” Cheryl says. “It was something he didn’t learn as a young cat.”
When they see Felix using his claws inappropriately, the Woottons say “no” and get him to relax his paws by massaging them until the claws retract. He gets treats or special attention for good behavior.
Their great experiences with Felix and other rescued animals have made the Woottons unofficial advocates for adopting and taking good care of pets. Cheryl suggests that people contact local rescue organizations before buying an animal from a breeder or off the street.
“We’ve really enjoyed all our animals over the years,” she says. “Each one brings something different to your life.”
Fun fact: Felix’s favorite toy is a battery-operated chirping bird. When the Woottons first gave it to him, he spent hours swatting at the bird, driving his owners crazy with the chirping sound. Now, they give Felix the toy only as a special reward, Cheryl says.
Oklahoma Alliance for Animals brings rescue groups together
In the past, Tulsa’s many animal welfare organizations worked independently toward the same goal. That changed in 2004 when Jamee Suarez-Howard, a longtime SPCA volunteer, founded the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA).
“Six years ago, rescue groups didn’t work together or talk to each other,” says Suarez-Howard, OAA president. “No one could ever get the message out about what needed to be done.”
Today, through private donations and volunteer support, the Tulsa-based OAA has created successful partnerships among animal rescue organizations, veterinarians, municipal animal shelters, law enforcement agencies and communities in and near Tulsa.
Each year, the OAA coordinates many successful public education campaigns to increase pet adoptions, reduce the use of euthanasia among adoptable animals and promote spaying and neutering. More than 800 animals were spayed or neutered in February alone as a result of the OAA’s “It’s Hip to Snip” program, Suarez-Howard says.
The OAA recently expanded its vision to tackle animal cruelty issues throughout the state. The organization offers the only Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET)-certified animal cruelty training classes in Oklahoma. As a result, more than 300 police officers have learned how to prosecute animal cruelty cases during the past year, OAA Outreach Director Ruth Steinberger says.
“There has always been animal cruelty, but animal abusers just don’t take it seriously,” Suarez-Howard says. “I think you need to have a network of people working together to save animals’ lives.”
“Rock and Rescue”
The OAA works with pet rescue groups and shelters statewide to host monthly adoption events, such as the “Rock and Rescue” pet adoption festival. The third annual “Rock and Rescue” is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 22, at RiverWalk Crossing in Jenks.
Suarez-Howard says she hopes the free event will help jump-start adoption awareness, as summer is typically a slow time for pet adoptions.
“I think it’s because families are on vacation, and it’s just a very busy time of the year,” she explains.
Last year’s “Rock and Rescue” brought together more than 20 pet rescue organizations and shelters and connected more than 50 animals with new homes. In addition to pet adoptions, the family-friendly event features live music and a pet fashion show.
For more information, call the OAA at 742-3700, e-mail info@animalallianceok.org or visit
www.animalallianceok.org.
For more information
Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
2910 Mohawk Blvd., 428-SPCA (7722)
www.tulsaspca.org
The Humane Society of Tulsa
6232 E. 60th St., 495-DOGS (3647)
www.tulsapets.com
Street Cats
6520 E. 60th St., 298-0104
www.streetcatstulsa.org
