The Tulsa SPCA is considered a managed-intake shelter. That means we are able to make intake decisions based on things like available space, suitability for our housing options and other factors. We would be considered, by those who use the term, a “no-kill” shelter.

With regard to the description of shelters, we advocate for use of the terms managed admission and open admission because to use the term “no-kill” implies we don’t “kill” animals but other shelters do. The sad reality is government shelters are required to take in surrendered, injured or at-large animals and because of space limitations must sometimes euthanize in order to make room for new arrivals. The decision to euthanize an animal is heartbreaking for anyone but especially for those who chose to work in an animal welfare organization and even more so when you have to make the decision due to space constraints. The difficult decisions they have to make are a result of poor decisions by pet owners in the community not poor decisions by employees carrying out their legal obligations. If there was no pet overpopulation issue due to failure of owners to spay and neuter their animals, or if animals weren’t abandoned, left unattended or unidentifiable (no microchip or tag), the numbers coming into shelters would be manageable and not require those heartbreaking decisions.

The reality is, the Tulsa SPCA also has to euthanize animals, but thankfully never for space. We are committed to making sure our community is safe and so we will not adopt out a dog or cat we determine is dangerous. We are also committed to making sure dogs and cats in our care do not suffer unnecessarily and so will humanely euthanize for untreatable medical conditions which are causing suffering.

For 2022, we are happy to report our Live Release Rate was 98%.