Whether it’s a one-pet household or a city animal shelter, taking care of dogs and cats can get expensive.

However a new organization is in the works to help ease the costs of operating the shelter and of getting animals spayed, neutered and adopted.

Animal lovers Robin Perkins and Jackie May have set up Coins 4 Critters to help the city better care for animals and to ease the stray animal population.

“We’re really putting in an effort to get a spaying and neutering program going on,” said Perkins, a Muskogee resident who calls herself an animal fanatic. “So many people get their animals from the shelter, but they don’t get them spayed or neutered.”

She said the shelter charges a $25 fee to adopt a shelter dog or cat and refunds the fee if the new owner shows proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered.

However, it takes money to get care for the animal. Veterinary clinics in Muskogee charge between $25-75 to spay or neuter cats and between $45-125 for dogs, often depending on the dog's size.

Perkins said she would like her organization to help pet owners afford such operations.

May, a retired Muskogee Public Schools secretary, said the group might help the shelter provide spay/neuter vouchers for pet owners on limited income.

The two women say they also hope the organization could help the Muskogee Animal Shelter pay for new dog pens, cat cages and bedding.

“There are things the shelter needs that are not in the budget,” Perkins said.

She said she wants to get raised “beds” to keep dogs clean and dry in their shelter pens.

“When they (shelter workers) clean out the cages, they use water hoses and the animals just get wet,” she said.

She said she knows the shelter also needs areas where dogs can get exercise and meet prospective owners, plus outdoor pens for larger dogs.

Muskogee Animal Shelter Director Wayne Cartwright said he hasn’t decided yet what the shelter needs first.

“Our budget is going into the city budget process and we’ll see what they approve,” he said. “One of our biggest concerns is having an exercise area for our dogs.”