About Free To Live

Free To Live is a non-profit sanctuary for stray, abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats. It is the largest no-kill sanctuary in Oklahoma. From Free To Live more than 500 animals are adopted out to loving homes each year. At the sanctuary, animals that are not adopted live out their lives with healthy food, shelter and medical care. Euthanasia is not practiced.

OUR HISTORY:

Free To Live began as a dream of Bill and his late wife Pat Larson. In 1982, the Edmond couple purchased 20 acres of land north of Edmond and began construction. The Larsons and a handful of dedicated volunteers did much of the work. On August 7, 1984, Free To Live opened its doors and the Larsons' dream became a reality. Bill Larson continues to be involved with the sanctuary and serves on the board as a lifetime member / founder.

THE SANCTUARY:

Free To Live has a professional salaried staff that includes a kennel keeper, cattery keeper, Business & Development Director, Animal Care & Operations Director, secretary, full and part-time maintenance staff, as well as two veterinarians on retainer. Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the organization. FTL is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year; the kennel and cattery keepers live on-site in order to provide complete care.

Free To Live takes in as many dogs and cats as possible; space and funds are currently available to care for approximately 150 dogs and 150 cats. Animals brought to FTL are initially placed in isolation for a minimum of 10 days. During this time they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and given general physical examinations. There are separate isolation buildings for dogs and cats; each unit has an enclosed indoor/outdoor run.

Once dogs leave the isolation area, they are housed, according to their size and personality, in one of the kennel's 33 indoor/outdoor units. Each area has beds and access to spacious outdoor fenced runs measuring 15-by-54 feet for the smaller dogs and 34-by-54 feet for the larger dogs. Older dogs that are no longer active enough for life in the kennel live in the office annex area that also has an enclosed, outdoor run. From the office these dogs can be closely monitored, pampered and enjoy more companionship.

Our cats, after the isolation period, are transferred to the large, cheery cattery with large inside and outside play areas. The cattery is shared by the main cat population and its inside room has plenty of small cubicles for cats to nap or hide in. Toys to play with and climb on fill the main play areas.

Another room and outdoor play area contains some of the new arrivals and younger cats.  This same room has roomy stainless steel areas for the kittens and their mothers.  

There are four separate areas with outdoor runs where the cats with FIV, Leukemia, Rhino Virus and our senior kitties live.   We also have an isolation building with 10 additional runs for our cats that have medical conditions that require separation from the main population.

Two Edmond veterinarians provide excellent medical care. The dogs and cats are given 100% nutritionally balanced food; special diets are supplied for animals that require them. Free To Live's kennel and cattery have large cooling fans and heaters for the animals' comfort. All of the animal areas and bedding are cleaned daily.

ADOPTION:

Most animals at Free To Live are available for adoption. Those seeking to adopt a Free To Live animal are screened to help ensure suitable placement of our animals. Free To Live maintains a no-questions-asked return policy for any animal adopted from the shelter for the life of the animal. All animals receive their vaccinations and are spayed or neutered before they can be adopted. A $60.00 adoption donation is requested (Senior citizens receive a $10 adoption fee discount). The sanctuary is open to the public every day of the week except Wednesdays.