Barking for a Cause is a small but mighty animal shelter located in Muldrow run by two extraordinary women, Karen Smith and Seanette Woodward.
Smith started her animal journey in August 2023 and said she has seen many cases involving animals–cases just like Oreo’s.
Oreo, a black and white dog that had been at their rescue shelter for about 15 months, soon wiggled his way into Smith and Woodward’s hearts.
“He is a loving and friendly dog but was hard to adopt out due to his allergies and medication that his forever home would need to purchase for him,” Smith said.
When Oreo’s forever home found him, he was happy as one dog would be. “He all but jumped into their new car,” Smith said. “When something like this happens at the shelter, it’s inspiring, really. It makes me feel like I am really doing the right thing.”
Oreo’s forever family had already adopted an animal before, a cat named Mister.
“When adopters come back, it shows I am doing something right and that’s inspiring,” Smith continued.
Smith said she started this operation because she knew there were a lot of dogs in need. She took note of how the city shelters did not often take all county dogs, and knew in her heart that all dogs needed help.
Smith and Woodward said they have had people from all over the United States come to adopt a variety of animals. Most recently, a dog named Conner was adopted by a family in McKinney, Texas.
Smith and Woodward offer a lot of support to the animals, and even potential adopters. They cover shots, vaccinations, tick and flea preventatives, spaying and neutering, and microchipping.
And all of that, including food, can get very pricey–because they are an organization that runs mostly on donations.
“This is exactly why the Sequoyah County TIMES Pet Calendar Contest matters,” Smith and Woodward said. “Not only does this give animals spotlights, but every entry, every vote, every preorder helps support the rescues working tirelessly to care for pets like Oreo until they find the families they’re meant for. Each vote that had been received was another dollar that the shelter received.”
“All dogs deserve to land on safe paws,” Smith said. “Before adopting a dog or any animal, you must know if you have the ability to give the care they need.”
Woodward said that the animal problem is a community issue, and that it can be helped if the community was more responsible.
“If we could just spay and neuter the animals, it would help the issue a lot,” Woodward said.
Anyone wishing to support the shelter, whether through donation, fostering or adoption, can reach out to the women at 479-2221163 or through their Facebook page, Barking for a Cause Animal Rescue of Oklahoma.
