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Common Bonds Monthly Update November 2023

November 17, 2023

Common Bonds to present Lunch and Learn Series on Community Cats

As animal welfare pros wrap up an extended kitten season and in advance of the next flurry of furries, Common Bonds is teaming up with Best Friends Animal Society for a three-part series on Community Cats. Mark your calendars and join us for Common Bonds Presents on Community Cats at 12pm on November 28, December 12, and January 9. Register for each session below:

Tuesday, November 28
CCP 101: Intake, Eligibility, and Returns https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudemgqDsuH9QxvyfoyasVznIZHWzyi9QH

We hope you’ll share your lunch time with us as we explore community cat programs over the next three months!

Northern Oklahoma Humane and Good Fix Program Wrap Third Successful High-Volume Spay Neuter Event

The old Mitchco Fabrications warehouse in Ponca City served as ground-zero for a massive free spay neuter event held October 26-29.

Northern Oklahoma Humane Society and Good Fix recently concluded their third successful high-volume spay neuter event during the past year. The Ponca City community stepped up one again to support the latest free clinic, which was held October 26-29. Karlissa Archibeque, Executive Director of Northern Oklahoma Humane Society, expressed her appreciation to all who made the event a huge success.

“We are so grateful for the team of veterinarians, volunteers, and sponsors who partnered with us for this free clinic, which resulted in sterilization procedures for 1,263 pets over four days,” Archibeque said. “This initiative is transforming Northern Oklahoma, creating a healthier, more compassionate community.”

When adding the numbers from the most recent clinic to the two previous events held during the past 12 months, a total of 2,790 animals have been spayed or neutered. Archibeque is looking forward to building on the success of the collaboration with Greater Good Charities’ Good Fix program, which travels the world to provide high-volume spay neuter services.

“Free spay/neuter services address pet overpopulation, reduce strays, and ease the burden on local animal control services, leading to a 20% decrease in our shelter intake from January to mid-October,” Archibeque said.

Besides relieving the local shelter intake burden, the latest NOKHS/Good Fix clinic also made a difference in Tulsa. T-Town TNR volunteers braved rain and freezing temperatures to capture 248 cats during the four-day clinic, with 239 of those animals fixed, vaccinated, ear tipped, microchipped and treated for fleas.

Staff and volunteers check on the recovery of cats who were sterilized as part of high-volume spay neuter event in Ponca City.

Common Bonds Partners with The Oklahoma Animal Control Association for Shelter Workshop

Municipal animal welfare managers and ACOs from across Oklahoma gathered in Moore November 2-3 for a shelter animal workshop made possible by The Oklahoma Animal Control Association. Common Bonds assisted in programming several sessions, welcoming Liana Moss with the University of Denver’s Institute for Human Animal Connection for a presentation on ACO’s and community engagement. Also, Catherine Eldredge and Paula Powell, strategists with Best Friends Animal Society, presented on how shelter managers can take back their lifesaving power in the face of media and stakeholder backlash. Also, Dr. Kathy Thomas, clinical director for the Warrior’s Rest Foundation, Jon Gary, Superintendent of OKC Animal Welfare, and Matt Goodwin, an executive pastor and animal welfare leader in Oklahoma City, explored trauma and compassion fatigue in animal welfare. Common Bonds would like to thank TOACA President John Fryrear and Moore shelter manager Samantha Phillips for inviting us to be part of this special two-day session. We look forward to the opportunity to strengthen this partnership in the future on behalf of municipal shelter leaders and ACOs across Oklahoma.

Liana Moss with the University of Denver’s Institute for Human Animal Connection Presents during the TOACA Shelter Workshop Thursday November 2 in Moore.

Above: John Fryrear, Director of Moore Animal Shelter and President of the Oklahoma Animal Control Association (center) is flanked by members of his animal services team during TOACA’s shelter workshop on Friday November 3. Below: participants in the shelter workshop gather for group photos following the conclusion of the two-day workshop.

Pet Holidays

November

National Adopt a Senior Pet Month

National Prevent a Litter Month

December

National Cat Lover’s Month

Dec. 2: National Mutt Day

Dec. 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine

Dec. 10: International Animal Rights Day

What good things are happening on behalf the animals at your shelter or in your community? Let us know! email Kelly Burley at [email protected] and we’ll consider it for future newsletters.