“On the city’s Channel 14, we’re trying to get photos of the dogs and cats up there so the public can see which ones are available for adoption,” Bush said. “There are some beautiful, gorgeous dogs and cats out there.”

Animal Control Officer Ron Mayes said he thinks lack of education is the main reason animals are abandoned.

“Some people are not educated in the care of animals,” he said. “You can’t know what to do if no one has ever taught you. One of the things we try to do as animal control officers is to educate the whole community.”

Mayes said he has been on the job for six months. His training included a two-day session with the Animal Control Officers Association, field training with Muskogee Animal Control Officer Larry Phelps, and state certification in how to properly euthanize an animal.

“I think we’re doing good for what we have,” he said. “We do need a larger facility; we have 21 cages for dogs and 16 cages for cats.”

People who do not take responsibility for their dogs or cats may face a hefty penalty. Whether it is failure to give the animal a rabies shot, lack of city tags, or running loose, each fine is $244, Mayes said. On the other hand, the cost to reclaim a lost animal from the shelter is only $5 plus $3 per day.

Mayes said the shelter staff tries to get each animal as healthy as possible to make them good candidates for adoption. They also work with Coins 4 Critters to find foster homes.

“To adopt one is a $25 fee,” he said. “But if they get them spayed or neutered within several months and bring some documentation from the veterinarian, they can get that money back.”

Ideally, the process will move quickly, because there are too many stray animals to keep them all in the shelter.

“The rule is that we are supposed to euthanize them after three days,” Mayes said. “If they look really good we try to keep them longer, but if they are in bad shape we euthanize them. Last week we had to put down 40 animals.”

Father Kirk Woodliff at Grace Episcopal Church said there is a moral dimension to the relationship between people and animals.

“I believe that they are created in God’s image, too,” he said. “I think that taking care of all creation includes taking care of animals. When we ignore the animal kingdom, doing so will only get us into trouble. Compassion extends to all living creatures.”

Mabe said our area communities have not achieved an acceptable minimum standard for humane treatment of animals.

“We don’t have a passing score,” she said. “That’s why education is so important. You’ve got to start young, that’s why we’ve been working with Tony Goetz Elementary.”