Animal rescue update from meth bust
Published on July 01, 2026
Oklahoma City Animal Welfare staff continue to care for more than 500 animals rescued from a property following a large methamphetamine bust in southeast Oklahoma City on June 25.
The animals, which include more than 450 various bird species, 42 dogs, 4 cats, 4 reptiles and one horse, have been evaluated by veterinarians, and many have been found to be in poor health.
Animal Welfare investigators are pursuing animal cruelty charges against the owners through the District Attorney's office.
"We initially reported that the animals were in fairly good health," OKC Animal Welfare Superintendent Johny Sandoval said. "As the seizure progressed, it became clear that many of the animals had health concerns. Staff is doing everything possible for the best outcome for these animals."
Space for the new animals
Because most of the rescued animals are birds, shelter staff rearranged rooms and modified existing spaces to safely accommodate the sudden influx.
The next steps
The owners surrendered the animals to Animal Welfare on June 30. Staff plans to work with partner organizations to transfer many of the animals into their programs. But that can't happen until evaluations related to the investigation are concluded. The animals are not currently up for adoption.
Donations
Financial donations to help support the shelter can be made to okc.gov/aw-donations. The shelter needs small metal bowls and small plastic carriers to help safely transport the animals. Please note, the shelter will be closed on Saturday, July 4, and reopen Tuesday, July 7.
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to OKC Animal Welfare's operations, assisting with animal care and educational outreach. To get started, applicants should submit an online application. After a background check, staff will provide information on how to join a virtual learning classroom to complete mandatory training.
Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to handle animals. Those between 13 and 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult age 21 or older.
Animal adoptions continue
People can come by the shelter and adopt dogs, cats and other furry friends. All adoptable pets have been spayed or neutered, have age-appropriate vaccinations and have been treated for worms. Adoptable pets can be seen on the OKC Animal Welfare website.
About OKC Animal Welfare
The Oklahoma City Animal Shelter is located at 2811 SE 29th St. and is open for adoptions Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Pets in foster care are also available for adoption outside regular hours. To view adoptable animals and learn more about how to get involved, visit okc.gov/animalwelfare.
OKC Animal Welfare provides care and shelter for homeless pets in Oklahoma City while working to reunite lost pets with their owners, promote responsible pet ownership and increase lifesaving outcomes through adoption and community partnerships.
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