Norman Animal Welfare joins statewide push to waive adoption fees next week

Norman residents can adopt a dog or cat at reduced or no cost starting Aug. 24, when Norman Animal Welfare joins more than 40 shelters statewide for the Adopt Your MVP event running through Aug. 30.

The shelter's standard $50 adoption fee may be reduced or waived during the week, according to the city's adoption page. Norman Animal Welfare did not specify whether fees will be fully eliminated or only discounted, so prospective adopters should call ahead.

Best Friends Animal Society, the national nonprofit organizing the campaign, estimates Oklahoma needs roughly 9,700 more dogs and cats adopted this year to reach what it calls no-kill status, defined as saving every healthy or treatable pet in shelters. The state saved 79% of shelter animals in 2025, according to the Journal Record.

"Every dog and cat deserves to be someone's MVP," said Sophia Proler, South Central regional director for Best Friends Animal Society. "Oklahomans have a chance to build their home team by adopting instead of buying from breeders or pet stores."

Norman's shelter already posts strong numbers. The facility at 3428 Jenkins Ave. adopts out nearly 2,000 animals a year and maintains a live release rate above 90%, according to the city's animal welfare page.

Statewide, 61 of Oklahoma's 106 shelters maintained or achieved no-kill status in 2025, Best Friends data shows. Of the 45 still working toward the goal, 31 had fewer than 100 animals left to save.

Best Friends said Oklahoma could hit no-kill if just one in every 200 households adopted a pet this year.

Other participating shelters include Stillwater Animal Welfare, Tulsa Animal Services, Lawton Animal Welfare, the Oklahoma Humane Society, Tulsa SPCA and Pets and People Humane Society in Yukon. A full list of participating shelters and adoptable animals is available at bestfriends.org/adoptOK.

How to visit

Norman Animal Welfare is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center closes daily from 1 to 2 p.m. for lunch and is closed Sundays. All adopted dogs and cats are spayed or neutered and receive vaccinations, a heartworm test and a microchip.