Lawton Animal Welfare

01/09/2025

*Important Announcement*

Due to limited staff (only 1 Animal Welfare Officer on the road at a time to cover a 24hr period) and the hazardous road conditions, please limit dispatch calls to true animal emergencies at this time.

City of Lawton Code of Ordinances states that when the temperature is below thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit in Lawton, Oklahoma, no dog shall be outdoors and unattended for a period of one-half (½) hours or longer. A dog will be considered "outdoors" regardless of access to an outdoor shelter, unless the shelter has an independent source of heat that is safe for use in outdoor shelters and does not pose a danger to the animal. Nordic animals (i.e., dogs specifically suited for cold environments) are exempt from this provision.

Please make sure the calls are violations of the City Code. We have had an abundance of calls that do not fall within these guidelines, and these take time away from actual emergency calls. While we do appreciate citizens’ concerns and will try our best to attend to every call in a timely manner, we ask that during the time of staff shortage and hazardous road conditions that citizens refer to the City Code before placing calls.

Also, please do not set traps during freezing temperatures. It is inhumane as the animals cannot escape the weather conditions. Animal Welfare Officers cannot answer trap release calls in a timely manner during freezing temperatures and this would be catastrophic to the animal(s). Please wait until the weather improves (above freezing) before resuming trap placements.

-Lawton Animal Welfare
Field Supervisor
Hannah Brown

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01/07/2025

Due to recent actions, we sadly must make this post.

Whereas we are empathetic to situations which arise where citizens may not be able to keep their animal(s) any longer, we must advise that citizens may not abandon animals at our facility at any time. We understand that sometimes these situations arise urgently. We try our best to accommodate owner surrenders as best we can. However, our kennels are oftentimes over capacity and we must schedule owner surrenders out by appointment. If you are needing urgent placement of an animal, we can be a valuable resource for information regarding area rescues and breed specific rescues who might be able to help. What we do not recommend, which is illegal as well as inhumane, is to abandon animals at our facility. We have had quite a few of these recently. Animals abandoned after hours do not have shelter during inclement weather and the freezing temperatures at night. One such animal was placed in a locked crate, in a ravine, during rainy, cold weather. The ravine had filled the bottom of the crate and the animal could not escape the rising water. Also, please do not tie abandoned animals to our fencing. We have coyotes that stalk the area and this could have dire consequences to an animal without a means to escape. Again, we try our best to fit owner surrenders as timely and humanely as our kennels will hold-but please let us try to help you before you find yourself in a worse situation with impoundment fees on top of citations for abandonment of animals. The City of Lawton Code of Ordinances for Abandonment of Animals is posted in our parking lot, along with a warning that the premises are monitored by video surveillance. The City Code can also be found on the City of Lawton website at https://library.municode.com/ok/lawton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH5AN_ART5-1GEPR_5-1-120KEANMISEDOhttps://library.municode.com/ok/lawton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH5AN_ART5-1GEPR_5-1-120KEANMISEDOhttps://library.municode.com/ok/lawton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH5AN_ART5-1GEPR_5-1-120KEANMISEDO

01/02/2025

We survived the confetti, the countdown, and maybe one too many resolutions-we're returning to normal business hours today! Start the new year right (or at least better than your dance moves on NYE) by adopting a new furbaby in 2025!!

*disclaimer-dog in photo not available

01/01/2025

The Staff at Lawton Animal Welfare wish you and yours a very happy and prosperous New Year!

01/01/2025

12/26/2024

12/25/2024

12/20/2024

Shout out to City National Bank for delivering a lot of goodies for the dogs and cats at the Lawton Animal Welfare Division! Our hearts are grateful for your support and generosity. The dogs enjoyed your visit and playtime too! We look forward to seeing you again soon. Happy Holidays and Thank You from the Staff and Animals at LAW.

12/18/2024

We thought you might enjoy our little photo session this morning. We chose four cuties for a Christmas shoot. Talk about hamming it up for the camera!! At the end, you can find each of these animal's kennel card with details about each one. Also, the website is being updated and will be listing quite a few new (and some old) animals that we currently have available.

12/18/2024

🎄Christmas Pajama Special🎄

Come down and join the Lawton Animal Welfare crew in their festive pajamas today for an Adoption Special! Our Superintendent wants to see more shelter animals find warm, loving homes before the holidays. All cats and dogs, four months old or older, are available for $10 adoptions today through December 23!! Just wear your Christmas PJs (or not~we'll pretend not to notice) and select any one of our available dogs or cats that so desperately need a warm bed, gentle pats, and lots of love.

*puppies and kittens under the age of four months, who have not received their rabies vaccinations, are only $27.25 ($10 plus $17.25 rabies deposit)

12/18/2024

We love it when our adopters share the heartwarming outcomes of our adopted shelter animals. It makes this, oftentimes, difficult and heart wrenching job worthwhile. The staff at Lawton Animal Welfare are passionate animal lovers and we are sincerely thankful to the adopters who make a difference in a shelter animal's life!!

12/13/2024

The project will be built over the Old Lawton Fire Station 1701 SW Lee Blvd

12/13/2024

A heartfelt thank you to MacArthur High School and The Master’s Family for gifting us this special performance. Our hearts were warmed by the beautiful Christmas carols. ♥️🎄🎶

12/07/2024

❤ A Special Shoutout to St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lawton and The Bolinsky Family.

Last month, the Lawton Animal Welfare Division received some very thoughtful...and delicious...donations for our staff. We are truly appreciative of your kindne

12/02/2024

As the nighttime temperatures drop below freezing in our area, keep in mind the City of Lawton Code of Ordinances. Chapter 5 Article 5-1-120 Keeping of Animals states that “…when the temperature is below thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit in Lawton, Oklahoma, no dog shall be outdoors and unattended for a period of one-half (½) hours or longer. A dog will be considered "outdoors" regardless of access to an outdoor shelter, unless the shelter has an independent source of heat that is safe for use in outdoor shelters and does not pose a danger to the animal. Nordic animals (i.e., dogs specifically suited for cold environments) are exempt from this provision.”