The Washington County SPCA relies on community donations of all kinds, according to Gina Preston, Volunteer & Events Coordinator for the facility. “We run on monetary donations. We are not funded by anyone,” she says.  Besides day-to-day operations at the shelter, donations help support several community outreach programs. “We have two transfer programs going to Colorado”, Preston explains. “Their spay/neuter program was so successful that they need animals.” Volunteers from WCSPCA transport 20-30 dogs per month during nice weather. Cats from the Bartlesville facility are transported to PetsMart in Tulsa where they are finding good homes through that alliance. Locally, the Alley Cat Alliance works to spay and neuter alley cats in order to help control the pet population.

Preston estimates that the WCSPCA houses 200 animals at any given time. Besides monetary donations, they also need canned and dry cat and dog food, old newspapers, old cereal boxes (to be used for litter boxes), old towels and laundry detergent. But of utmost importance are volunteers. “Our volunteer program is of primary importance. We have really dedicated volunteers. Without them we couldn’t do all that we do,” says Preston.