Pets and people mingle for adoption

By Stacey Cameron, NEWS 9

In July, the Oklahoma Humane Society will help find homes for nearly 100 cats and dogs, but more than 1,300 healthy animals will be put down in the same month.

Wayne Coyne, lead singer of the Flaming Lips, helped a puppy find a home by adopting.

"We really need to change the way Oklahoma City is treating its animals," Coyne said.

Thousands of stray aren't so lucky to have a rock-n-roll rescue. Samantha Burnett of the Oklahoma Humane Society said the metro's animal shelter is the largest intake shelter in the state.

"They receive approximately 29,000 animals every, single year," Burnett said.

The Oklahoma Humane Society tries getting all the cats and dogs adopted, but Samantha said right now, more than 16,000 animals are put to sleep each year in Oklahoma City.

"In the fiscal year...Oklahoma City tax payers paid $1 million dollars to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals," Burnett said.

To help the animals, the Humane Society is getting ready to open two new facilities.
One is a low cost spay and neuter clinic, helping low income pet owners fix their animals, while the other facility is a new pet adoption center where people can find all sorts of furry faces.

"To meet them, greet them, possibly fall in love and take them home," Burnett said.

So while Coyne's taking a pup, he hopes more people will adopt from local shelters.