Tulsa Animal Services Keeps Large Dog Adoptions Free, Resumes Modest Fees for Small Animals

The shelter will continue its pandemic-era policy of free large dog adoptions while reinstating modest fees for smaller pets.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:23pm

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Tulsa Animal Services (TAS) announced that it will be resuming modest adoption fees for select animals starting this month, while keeping the adoption fees free for large dogs. This comes after more than two years of all-fees-waived adoptions for any animal at the shelter.

Why it matters

The move by TAS aims to strike a balance between encouraging pet adoptions and covering some of the shelter's operational costs, as it continues to grapple with the ongoing effects of the pandemic on animal intake and resources.

The details

Under the new policy, TAS will maintain its pandemic-era practice of offering free adoptions for large dogs, while reinstating modest fees for smaller animals like cats and small dogs. This decision aligns with city ordinances and aims to make pet adoption more accessible while also generating some revenue to support the shelter's operations.

  • TAS has offered all-fees-waived adoptions for any animal since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
  • The new policy of free large dog adoptions and modest fees for small animals will take effect starting this month (February 2026).

The players

Tulsa Animal Services (TAS)

The municipal animal shelter in Tulsa, Oklahoma that provides adoption, rescue, and other services for homeless pets in the city.

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The takeaway

Tulsa Animal Services' decision to maintain free large dog adoptions while reinstating modest fees for smaller pets strikes a pragmatic balance, allowing the shelter to continue encouraging pet adoptions while also generating some revenue to support its operations during the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.