Round Up to Save Lives

In the heart of Kay County, the Northern Oklahoma Humane Society (NOKHS) stands as a sanctuary for abandoned animals, offering them a glimmer of hope and a chance for a new beginning. The organization lovingly takes in countless cats and dogs, finds them safe foster homes, and helps them find forever families. Their dedication to the well-being of our community's animals can be seen through their annual free spay and neuter clinics and various low-cost vaccine clinics.

In 2020, NOKHS undertook a significant transformation, not just in physical space but in its identity. The organization built a new facility to expand its services and embraced a new name.

“Originally, it was the Ponca City Humane Society, but now it’s the Northern Oklahoma Humane Society,” shared Karlissa Archibeque, the executive director of NOKHS. She explained that this name change reflects their deepened mission to extend their care and compassion across northern Oklahoma, reaching out to even more needy animals.

Despite their best efforts, Archibeque acknowledges the ongoing challenge of capacity. “We’re still in a little bit of a struggle with being able to reach out too much regarding actually taking in animals from other areas, and that’s just because right now, we stay so full. But we do. And if something happens in Newkirk and they contact me and I’m able to help, if we’re able to, we will. The same goes for Blackwell and Fairfax. We’ve been doing some Tag and Release (TNR) cats in the Fairfax area.”

Foster families play a crucial role in their mission. “A lot of times, our numbers are higher than our maximum capacity within the facility. And that’s because we have a lot of people who have animals in their homes that they’re caring for. But we still provide all the financial assistance, medical assistance, food, supplies, all those things.”

Funding these vital programs is a challenge. Justin Mathews, President of NOKHS board, emphasizes the critical need for public support. “The most common misconception is that we are part of an umbrella organization or that the City of Ponca City assists with funding our operations.”

The reality is that running the shelter costs $279,000 annually, with $23,000 in monthly expenses alone. “This includes $2,000 allocated for our in-house veterinary services, $300 to bring the Oklahoma Humane Society’s Statewide Mobile Clinic to provide low-cost spay/neuter and other veterinary wellness services to our community, and approximately $1,300 for insurance coverage,” Mathews detailed.

Even with their local management, public support has declined 37% since their renovation in 2020. Like many nonprofits, they felt the sting of reduced donations during and after the pandemic.

“One thing that didn’t pause was the homeless pet crisis and the community’s expectation that we do something about it. I believe the perception that the City’s resources supplement such a drastic decline has led people to think the lifesaving work we do is secure without their support.”

Fundraising efforts are vital to their survival. Mathews explained that they host three major fundraisers each year and smaller corporate-sponsored events to support their mission. Grants have also been instrumental, including a recent $28,000 award from Best Friends Animal Society to fund a part-time Foster Coordinator. This position will help reduce the length of stay for pets and amplify NOKHS’s impact in northern Oklahoma.

Over the past two years, NOKHS has touched the lives of over 1,300 animals, with 54% of these rescues coming from Ponca City Animal Control. This remarkable achievement underscores their unwavering commitment to preventing unnecessary euthanasia and highlights the financial dedication required to make this difference. As they work in partnership with the City of Ponca City toward becoming a No-Kill community by 2025, Archibeque reflects on their mission: “We continue to be the driving force in sustaining the progress we’ve made together. If we can recover the public support we enjoyed before the pandemic, we would be able to expand our programs to include more behavior training and rehabilitation, enhance pet retention services and invest in youth education. This is the next crucial step in the evolution of our organization, and it will only be possible with the generous support of our compassionate community.”

Their latest initiative, the Round-Up Program, offers an innovative way for people to contribute. Powered by Harness, this program allows supporters to round up their everyday purchases to the nearest dollar, with the spare change donated to NOKHS. This easy, secure giving method ensures that even small contributions can collectively make a significant difference in the lives of animals.

Mathews reassures supporters of the program’s security: “Harness uses bank-level security protocols to protect your information, and you can track your donations through your personal Donor Dashboard. It’s a small change for you but life-changing for homeless pets in our community. If a large one-time donation isn’t feasible, you can provide consistent support with a monthly contribution.”

Unlike traditional round-up programs at the register, this round-up happens seamlessly “in the cloud.” When you log in and select the account or card you wish to connect, it authorizes Harness to receive transaction updates for your Round-Ups. “We do not handle any of your login credentials; they are encrypted and protected by your bank’s security protocols,” assured Mathews. Each time a new transaction is posted to your bank account, the spare change is added to your Round-Ups page on your personal Donor Dashboard, which you can access anytime. Multiple transactions might be posted at once, and the total change from each is added to your Round-Ups page. Throughout the month, your spare change from various purchases—whether online, in-person, or bills—is rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Signing up for the Round-Up program is quick and simple. You can set a monthly donation cap after creating an account and entering credit card information. The spare change from your purchases is accumulated and charged as a single lump sum at the end of each month, ensuring maximum support for NOKHS with minimal processing fees.

NOKHS is also thrilled to bring back its beloved Mutt Gala on Oct. 12, 2024, at MLZ Ranch. This year’s event, themed “The Great CATsby,” promises a glamorous celebration of the 1920s filled with fun, festivity and fundraising. Additionally, NOKHS is partnering with the Ponca City Fire Department to create a 2025 calendar featuring local first responders with adorable puppies and kittens. “This long-discussed fundraiser is finally becoming a reality,” said Mathews.

To learn more about how you can support NOKHS, purchase tickets to the Mutt Gala or get a calendar, visit NOKHS.com or follow them on social media at nokhumane.

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