Friends For Folks - Dog Training Program

03/02/2026

PLEASE email Rep. Trey Caldwell ([email protected]) urging him to hear HB 3915 (sample below) ⬇️

Please give a moment of your time to help animals across Oklahoma. ⬇️

TAKE ACTION BY MONDAY, March 2 at noon!!!

HB3915 would establish an Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program.

Rep. Mickey Dollens has authored HB3915 to create the Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program to be overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. Animal welfare organizations and local governments would be able to apply for funding to spay/neuter cats and dogs belonging to low-income residents and feral cats. An advisory board would award grants.

This grant program has the ability to become a statewide funding source for spay/neuter.

The state of Texas recently opened grant applications for spay/neuter. Last year, its legislature and governor approved $13 million in funding.

🛑 Time is running out to get HB 3915 heard in the full Appropriations and Budget Committee.
📍 Email Rep. Trey Caldwell – Chair ([email protected]) urging him to hear HB 3915 (sample below).

Please add your own comments to your email.

Subject: Please Hear HB 3915 in the A&B Committee

Dear Representative Caldwell,

I respectfully urge you to hear HB 3915 creating the Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program in the full Appropriations and Budget Committee. More spays/neuters can be performed with the same amount of funding as the current program. Transparency is important so we know the number of spays/neuters performed each year.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, OK] [Your Zip Code]

09/02/2025

08/23/2025

Someone go adopt this precious dog! She has completed our program and is ready to love you.

07/04/2025

Clean, new/gently used towels are urgently needed for the Lexington prison Dog program. They can be dropped off at seven days a week at STASH: 412 East Main St. in Downtown Norman.

Don't have towels, but want to pitch in? We also need fans and treats. Here's a full list for an easy way to help:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2RFV2N5SWN98N?ref_=wl_share

07/02/2025

"Programs like Friends for Folks have given dogs here a second chance through training and companionship..."

A nice mention of the life-saving work of our program mentioned here:

By Barry Porterfield

06/17/2025

Please read about Jupiter, one of our program's recent graduates.

05/11/2025

Sister Pauline, who started the prison dog program, had a chance to meet Pope Francis with her dog, Pax. She always said dog spelled backwards is God.

“Pope Francis wants for us to look at people who have been traumatized and abused, giving them the spirit of welcome by showing them respect and dignity which will help build their self-esteem and they too can move forward to contribute something wonderful to better our world.”

03/19/2025

Want to join us in making a difference? We're raising money to benefit Friends for Folks, and any donation will help to keep this program alive. The Friends for Folks program is a triple win;

The pet is brought from a shelter or sanctuary and paired with an inmate of good standing. The dog is trained and then placed in forever homes in the community. These pets are often paired with widows, children with special needs, and veterans. We train over 80 dogs a year between Mabel Basset and Lexington prisons.

All dollars raised go toward dog food, medical supplies, program maintenance, professional trainer, pet supplies and many other needs. It takes over $50,000 a year to run this vital program. This impacts over 50 inmates a year and over 100 people.

We have practically zero recidivism with this tested program of over 33 years. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to our community.

https://gofund.me/73f3747c

02/17/2025

Thank you for the wonderful coverage, Norman Transcript.

HUDSON HOWARDFOR THE TRANSCRIPT In 2018 on a cold, rainy October morni