Happy Dog Farm Foundation

Helping dogs find good homes brings joy to the many Oklahomans involved in animal rescue efforts. Patty Lane is one of those people working with adoptable dogs, but she’s gone one step further by also caring for old and dying dogs—a sort of dog hospice.

“I’ve rescued dogs since I was a girl,” Patty said. “After my dad passed away in 2006, I used my inheritance to buy an acreage and build a property for myself and seven dogs. I included two fenced areas and a room designed specifically for the dogs. In hindsight, it wasn’t enough.”

Sick, abused or dying dogs continually entered Patty’s world. As her heart expanded, so did the number of dogs in her home. In 2012, she started the Happy Dog Farm Foundation, a nonprofit dog sanctuary for unwanted dogs, especially smaller breeds.

“I usually have about 20 dogs at a time who are either ill or have aggressive behavior issues. Sometimes it’s puppy mill dogs who’ve been in horrific situations. I work to give them a regular life, or at least comfort and quality to the end,” Patty said.

Helping Happy Dogs

Although the condition of these animals is often sad, Patty herself is upbeat, willing to make time sacrifices to feed, nurse, and manage her canine friends. She manages this around her full time job working with special education children in the Edmond Public Schools.

“I couldn’t do it without the help of other people,” Patty said. “Karen Jackson is my right-hand person and Board member. Dr. Sara Rowland at the Deer Creek Animal Clinic is our incredibly compassionate veterinarian. She’s cried more tears over these dogs than I have!”

Patty is grateful to the many people who donate money and supplies for her dogs.

“I’m so incredibly humbled that people feel Happy Dogs is worth their money. Dog food alone is so expensive, but I’ve stopped worrying about funds, because God always provides everything we need at just the right time,” Patty said.

One outstanding canine is Cooper, who became a valuable companion to a shutin friend. “I began taking Cooper to visit my friend Margaret,who couldn’t have a dog. Once a week, Cooper would go over and sit in Margaret’s lap for an afternoon. Even though Cooper’s care was expensive, it was worth every penny to save his life, because of Margaret.”

Dogs With Stories

When Patty retires in 2024, she plans to form a coalition of rescue organizations to push for stricter regulations in Oklahoma regarding stray animals. “We’ve got to do a better job of keeping these poor animals out of horrendous conditions. We have too many illegal puppy mills and we don’t have a place for dogs whose owners pass away or go to a nursing home.”