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Abbie Kate Sullivan

301 S Doty St
Stillwater, OK 74074

Rep. Trish Ranson

2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

September 22, 2023

Dear Rep. Trish Ranson:

I hope this letter finds you well and the good intent I have for it is well worth the read. As
you may know, advocacy against animal kill shelters is increasing as I now feel called upon to
stand up and fight against the animal negligence, animal abuse & wrongful murders. Unfair
humane euthanasia is a resolution shelters have used due to overflowing, may I add healthy,
cross breeds. I've noticed you are a part of the Committees of Public Health and I feel as a
member of that, you are eligible to make a change. I ask that with your time and understanding,
you can take my request into consideration.

Taking a look at the Animal Humane Society's description of what it means to be

“no-kill” gives us a direct explanation of the issue. Statistics state a shelter must be at 90%
capacity to be considered “no-kill” (What Does It Mean to Be No-kill?, n.d.). What about 89%?
Does a shelter automatically induce euthanasia procedures even at a near full capacity? What
exactly determines a 90% capacity? Humane Societies are non-profit organizations built by the
state for public animal care. Wouldn't that mean the state is in charge of determining the capacity
the building will hold? Easily accessible from google, Oklahoma has an estimated 100,000
strays. That's 100,000 abandoned animals who are facing life or death everyday on the streets. If
you put them in a shelter that's below 90%, they become up for discussion. If I could divert to
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another “no-kill” situation for comparison, I would like to discuss abortion. People fight to
protect the rights of an unborn child who has no communication skills, no original thoughts of
their own quite yet, and hasn't gotten the chance to live. Are animals not living creatures? They
seem to be a step ahead of the fetus by actually acquiring all of the previous skills I had
mentioned before but are disregarded.

According to data from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA), approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year in the United
States (ASPCA, n.d.). However, the implementation of no-kill policies has resulted in a
significant reduction in euthanasia rates. In no-kill shelters, euthanasia is reserved for animals
with severe medical conditions or those deemed a threat to public safety. Just because a child is
in an orphanage for 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years does not make him unwanted and you don't
see that child being euthanized. You don't see waiting children's lives taken just because they are
deemed not a top priority. The ASPCA has been actively promoting the "No-Kill 2025"
initiative. This initiative aims to reduce euthanization rates in animal shelters and encourages the
adoption of strategies that save more animal lives .By supporting no-kill shelters, we join a
growing movement that prioritizes the welfare of animals and takes proactive steps to reduce the
euthanization of healthy and treatable pets.

We adopted our first rescue, Sandy, when I was 4. Sadly she passed away pretty early so
we rescued Belle. Belle was the most precious and sincere black lab but sadly grew way bigger
than what our tiny home for 3 could fit. Then along came Spot and Buster. We adopted them
within a year of each other and still have them to this very day. Spot was the runt of his litter but
was also a mutt. The term mutt is used in a negative sense typically meaning the dog isnt a
purebred and instead a combination of different species. Spot was overlooked but when I saw the
little blue spot in his eye that matched mine, I knew he was for me. Buster was a mutt as well but
was surrendered from his previous owners. He was still only a puppy once he was diagnosed
with halitosis but the family decided with non-improving conditions and barely even having the
puppy, that the vet bills were not worth it. We gladly looked past the faults and saw the beauty
and compassion that lay beneath the fur of these strays and I wouldn't change it for the world.
My pups went from worried in a cement, cage-feel building to wearing tutus and licking dinner
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off the fork. They were given to us neutered and had been updated on all their shots. They get to
live and pass peacefully surrounded by love and family because someone else in this world did
care enough.

I have come up with a few ways to push forth in a positive direction for my advocacy.
First being to increase public awareness. Educational campaigns on volunteer opportunities,
lessons on adoption benefits, and of course take donations towards luxuries for the animals
currently incarcerated within a shelter. Being a non-profit organiztion means coming up with the
funds on your own and not bargaining a deal for money. Considering there is no money input and
its solely based on the publics generosity, we could collaborate with local vet clinics to offer
affordable nueter/spay services. As mentioned previously, there were around 100,000 strays
calculated across Oklahoma, affordable treatment towards nuetering and spaying would decrease
the repopulaton rate and put ease on the shelters.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude for taking the time to consider this
important matter. Animals may not have communication abilities like we do but neither do some
of our own and we treat them with the utmost respect. I urge you to support this cause by
advocating for no-kill animal shelters, implying the promoted solutions, and ensuring our state
will take a progressive stance on animal welfare.

Sincerely,

Abbie Kate Sullivan

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Cited Sources Page

ASPCA, www.aspca.org/. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

“Home.” Stillwater Humane Society, hspets.org/. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

“Oklahoma.” Best Friends Animal Society - Save Them All,

bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics/oklahoma.

Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

Tulsa, A., & Admin. (2020, November 20). 2022 was a Great Year for ARF!. Animal
Rescue Foundation | Tulsa, Oklahoma. https://www.arftulsa.org/
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What does it mean to be no-kill?. Animal Humane Society. (n.d.).

https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/news/what-does-it-mean-be-no-kill