Volunteer Connie Newell See story on Page 3 StreetCats Adopting Bonded Pairs See story on Page 4 CHATCHATSpring 2021 Thankful for Our Valued Veterinary Partners The success of keeping our adoption all in their name. She has a passion for center cats healthy and providing the Stitch kindness and respect for all animals, as in Time program comes from the wonderful well as stopping overpopulation. They veterinary support we enjoy. Feline treat cats, dogs, birds and exotics and have Specialties is the vet for our adoption center been working with StreetCats since they cats and four other veterinary practices help opened about eleven years ago. There are us provide low cost spay/neuter/vaccinate four veterinarians in the practice and all vouchers for 69 homeless cats per month. do surgeries, but Dr. Hurst has a reputation They are Kindness Animal Hospital, Best in the region for doing the more difficult Friends Veterinary Hospital, Cedarwood surgeries, like knee repairs in dogs and Veterinary Clinic, and Riverbrook Animal paw repairs after declaw problems. In fact, Hospital. sometime after she had gotten involved with StreetCats she was visiting us and Feline Specialties noticed that one of our cats, Adam, was Feline Specialties, walking funny. He also had a habit of biting unexpectedly while sitting on your 9702 Riverside Pkwy, All cats coming in to StreetCats lap. After examining him, she determined began a relationship for adoption are taken first to Feline that his declaw procedure had left a bone with StreetCats in 2000. Dr. Jennifer Specialties for a general examination and spur which was causing him pain and she O’Cain said they were looking for a way any required tests/treatments before being fixed it for him. After that he stopped biting to contribute services to the Tulsa cat cleared to enter the StreetCats adoption as he was no longer in pain and then was community as they only treat cats and center. They also work closely with the adopted to a new home. About a year ago StreetCats seemed like the perfect fit since StreetCats staff to treat any issues that arise she rescued a cat from SpayOK who had we both clearly have a passion for cats. with the cats during their stay at StreetCats. died during a spay, but they had revived For example, Juliana was diagnosed with it. However, the cat had brain damage and hyperthyroidism while in our care in 2019 neurological problems causing her to be and Feline Specialties has the capability blind and have difficulty walking so they to do the specialized radioactive iodine brought her to Kindness to be put down. treatment for hyperthyroidism. Juliana Instead, Dr. Hurst kept the cat to be a shop responded well to it and was adopted soon cat. She stays in Dr. Hurst’s office during after her treatment was complete. the day, but can roam free at night and Several of the Feline Specialties seems to do quite well. They named her staff have adopted furry family members Angel or AJ because she was brought back from us and Chuck (the resident Feline for more love and she lives with their other Specialties clinic cat) is an adoption from two shop cats. StreetCats as well. At Christmas, Feline Specialties does a special fundraising event for their clients where they can “adopt” cat Best Friends angel ornaments with all proceeds going to Veterinary Hospital StreetCats. Dr. Carol Best, of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital, has been working with Kindness Animal Hospital StreetCats since she opened her practice at 5417 S. Mingo about twenty years ago. She Dr. Suzanne Hurst, of started working with StreetCats because the Kindness Animal Hospital at 11035 S. Memorial, See VETERINARY PARTNERS page 2 says their philosophy is Page 2 Spring 2021 VETERINARY PARTNERS from page 1 vet clinic where she had worked in high school had done so. She said A word from our President she likes that our Stitch in Time program helps control the population of unwanted cats. Dr. Best knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since Spring has sprung after a very trying year she was in kindergarten or first grade. for everyone. I want to thank our donors for Best Friends treats cats, dogs, birds, and exotics but they are their generosity during these times. The gift also working toward certification as a Fear Free practice. They use card donations were greatly appreciated as they pheromones to decrease stress in the animals who visit instead of provided clay litter for a year. That is one of our muscling them through the exam. For example, the owner may use a transdermal gel or spray the carrier with Feliway spray to calm it down largest purchases, as we go through $80 worth of on the trip to the vet. Once at the office, they spray paper with the litter a month. As always, our volunteers have pheromone, use wipes, and room diffusers. These pheromones are the been extremely dedicated knowing the cats needed same kind that their mothers use to calm their babies so it is a natural care daily. We’ve had so many who have stepped way to help the animals destress and lessen the anxiety of everyone up to the plate. Our intakes and adoptions have during the treatment. been going strong all year also. Last year we had 77 adoptions and have had 25 this year as of Cedarwood Veterinary Clinic Dr. Robert Poteet at Cedarwood Veterinary clinic, 1412 S. April 15th. Thanks again volunteers, donors and Harvard, has been in business for 52 years and has been working with adopters. Our cats need every one of you. StreetCats since September 1998. He doesn’t recall how we started Kathy Balsiger, StreetCats President working together, but over the years he has supported a variety of animal rescue groups. He treats dogs, cats, birds and occasionally a pocket animal, but he said he does a lot of cats. Dr. Poteet said that he has always liked working with animals and people who like animals, so he doesn’t find that his job is work at all. Over the years he has seen a lot of changes in veterinary practices, Let’s Do Some Summer Shopping especially in technical developments. In the earlier days he had to send all his tests out to a lab and x-rays were more cumbersome. Nowadays The best place to do that shopping is in our Boutique many test results are achieved in the office and there is digital radiology and Adoption Center. You’ll find lots of items for the kitties and ultrasonography imaging so that they can take pictures while the and humans that we’re pretty sure you’ll not be able to animal is on the table and make treatment decisions immediately. He resist. We are located at 6520 E. 60th St. behind Charlie’s also doesn’t handle many emergencies these days since there are ER Chicken and are open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. hospitals that not only treat but monitor the patients more effectively. Tuesday through Saturday. These technological advancements keep Dr. Poteet motivated and For the kitties we have lots of toys interested to continue practicing and he said he is still going strong. and other items your kitty may need. For humans we have a variety of purses, Riverbrook Animal Hospital scarves, jewelry, socks, towels, pictures, Dr. Jana Layton, of Riverbrook Animal books, unique vintage cat curios, and much, much more. Hospital, 3750 S. Peoria, didn’t start out to be a Another place you should shop is our booth located at veterinarian. After getting a degree in biology Jade on Main. They are located at 1639 S. she worked at her Dad’s farm with the cattle. The Main St. in Broken Arrow and are open 10 vet working with them suggested she would be a a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, good veterinarian so she went back to school and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. In our booth we it turned out to be a great fit with her love of animals. She has been at have lots of unique vintage items. Riverbrook since 2007 and purchased it in 2009. All our sales go to feeding and taking She said she didn’t grow up with cats and didn’t even like them care of our cats that are waiting for their fur-ever home. until she worked in a cat hospital and began to realize they weren’t just Therefore, when you come in to shop be sure to play with small dogs and had their own set of issues related to treatment. Cats and pet our adorable babies. Maybe you will fall in love are a challenge because they are especially good at hiding problems with one and adopt it into your home. and not always pleasant to take to the vet, so they don’t always get the We gladly accept donations of cat related items. Any care they need. Now cats have a special place in her heart and while questions you have about our merchandise or donations Riverbrook sees a lot of dogs, she also sees a lot of cats in her practice. e-mail Linda Duckworth: [email protected] Dr. Layton’s passion is around education and communications with Looking forward to seeing you! her clients to understand the why behind her recommendations. Being a partner in our Stitch in Time program fits well with her prevention Linda Duckworth philosophy because it provides a low-cost option for people trying to Merchandise Manager curb overpopulation of cats.