Ice storms in Oklahoma can be frigid and life-threatening for anyone left outside, especially a tiny puppy. At just three months old, Lucas was abandoned, freezing, and seeking shelter inside a dumped couch during February’s Winter Storm Uri. Miraculously, a Clinton animal control officer found him, lucky to still be alive.
He went into a foster home in Clinton, Oklahoma, and flourished into a highly adoptable dog, but trapped in a state with extreme overpopulation and some of the highest euthanasia rates in the country, no one wanted him. So Lucas was incredibly fortunate to be transported to the Pacific Northwest, where adopters are ready and eager to welcome new friends into their lives.
Several times per week, animals with stories like Lucas arrive at The NOAH Center from shelters within Washington State and beyond. Some come from only a city or two away, while others fly across the country; most come with similarly tragic backgrounds. Before, they languished inside overcrowded shelters with too many animals and very few people willing to open their homes. But, after arriving at The NOAH Center, their life begins anew, each receiving a second chance to find loving, forever homes.
Some of our new arrivals fly out of their crates, wiggling and eager to welcome us. Others come out warily, taking as much time as they need to decompress from their travels and find comfort in their new surroundings, allowing our new human faces to become familiar. Yet, our hearts are always warmed as they quickly learn to trust again and know that they are now safe.
Our team starts each animal off by providing them with warm and safe housing, healthy and nutritious food, enriching toys, and plenty of love and validation from our staff and volunteers. Soon after decompressing from transport, all head to our on-site Spay & Neuter Clinic for surgery, are brought up-to-date on their vaccinations, microchipped, dewormed, and otherwise readied for adoption. Finally, each finds endless love in the hearts and homes of our local community.
Lucas found his forever home after only two hours of being made available for adoption, creating space for yet another homeless dog in need. Each time an animal is adopted, that adopter saves two lives; the one they are welcoming into their family and another who will take their place at The NOAH Center.
We could not be more pleased by our impact and have our incredible supporters and volunteers to thank. To date, our Adoptions Team has matched more than 45,000 cats and dogs with their forever homes. Our Spay & Neuter Clinic has altered an extraordinary 127,000 pets, offsetting the pet overpopulation crisis and serving low-income members of our community. And, our network of Foster Care Families extends the walls of our facility, helping us save the lives of over 12,000 underage puppies and kittens from euthanasia.
You can support our life-saving work! Please consider making a financial contribution. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we run entirely on donations from individuals just like you. So give today, and help us continue this critical mission.
We hope to see you around! We are always looking for helping hands, and volunteering is a meaningful way to get involved in our work. Visit our website to learn more about volunteer opportunities at The NOAH Center.
