Volunteer Group Expands Reach to Help Rural Animals

Paws N Claws starts new Facebook page to aid community pets beyond Eufaula city limits.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:05am

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Paws N Claws, a volunteer animal rescue group in Eufaula, Oklahoma, has launched a new Facebook page called PNC Community Pets to help find homes for lost, abandoned, and neglected animals in rural areas beyond the city limits. The group, led by volunteers Lori Powell-Fells and her daughter Livy Powell Shackelford, aims to prioritize the city's overcrowded animal shelter while using social media to connect rural pets in need with potential adopters.

Why it matters

Animal abandonment, abuse, and neglect are growing problems not just in Eufaula but across the region, driven in part by a lack of affordable spay/neuter services. By expanding their reach, Paws N Claws hopes to rehome more pets and raise awareness about the importance of responsible pet ownership.

The details

The new PNC Community Pets Facebook page will focus on animals outside the Eufaula city limits, while the original Paws N Claws page will continue to prioritize the city's overcrowded animal shelter. Volunteers Lori Powell-Fells and her daughter Livy Powell Shackelford will manage the new page, posting photos and information about lost, abandoned, and neglected pets in need of adoption.

  • Paws N Claws was founded several years ago to help the City of Eufaula find homes for pound animals.
  • The new PNC Community Pets Facebook page launched in April 2026.

The players

Paws N Claws

A small volunteer animal rescue group based in Eufaula, Oklahoma that helps find homes for pets at the city's animal shelter.

Lori Powell-Fells

A volunteer with Paws N Claws who helped launch the new PNC Community Pets Facebook page.

Livy Powell Shackelford

The daughter of Lori Powell-Fells who created and will maintain the new PNC Community Pets Facebook page.

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What they’re saying

“We are seeing more animal abandonment, abuse and neglect not only in McIntosh County but everywhere. People just don't understand that the consequences of not getting their pets spayed or neutered far outweigh the cost of a one-time fee to fix them.”

— Livy Powell Shackelford

“We know we can't save them all, but together we can make a difference in our communities and save the ones can.”

— Livy Powell Shackelford

What’s next

Residents in McIntosh County can contact Livy Powell Shackelford or Lori Powell-Fells to post information about lost, abandoned or neglected pets on the new PNC Community Pets Facebook page.

The takeaway

By expanding their reach beyond the Eufaula city limits, the Paws N Claws volunteer group is taking an important step to address the growing problem of animal abandonment, abuse and neglect in rural areas of Oklahoma. Their new Facebook page will help connect more pets in need with potential adopters and raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.