Tulsa, OK

Mayor Kathy Taylor has announced a new partnership between the City of Tulsa’s Animal Welfare Shelter and the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Taylor made the announcement at a press conference on September 19 at the new City Hall.

“This is a historic day for Tulsa,” said Mayor Taylor. “Our partnership with OSU will enhance veterinary care for animals in the City of Tulsa Animal Shelter and provide invaluable learning opportunities for OSU Veterinary students. Not only will City of Tulsa Animal Welfare be able to deliver expert care to the animals received at the Shelter but the assistance of the OSU Vets and their students will enable us to quickly and professionally update both services and facilities.”

Under the new partnership agreement, the City of Tulsa Shelter Vet, Catherine Pienkos, will be appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in OSU’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. As a faculty member, she will oversee the activities of the students assigned to the Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter. OSU will seek funding for two internships. The interns will rotate between the Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter and the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Annual budget required for the partnership is $235,000 and will come from private funds raised by OSU Veterinary Center. An endowment of $6.25 million is required to fund the program. While funds are being raised, veterinary students will begin working with the city of Tulsa.

Left to right—front row: Dr. Catherine Pienkos, shelter veterinarian holds the Mayor’s scrub top, Mayor Kathy Taylor, and Jean Letcher, Animal Welfare Manager; second row: Dr. Charles MacAllister, Head of OSU’s Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department and Task Force member, Dr. Michael Lorenz, Dean of OSU’s Veterinary Center and Task Force member, Bill Handy, Task Force co-chair and Councilor David Patrick, District 3. Dean Lorenz presented Mayor Taylor with an OSU scrub top to “seal the deal” as OSU and the City of Tulsa partner to improve animal welfare at the City’s animal shelter.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Center’s Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.