TALALA, Okla. — Ward-Wiseman Animal Haven is entering a new chapter. After spending nearly 17 years in Collinsville, the no-kill rescue is preparing to build a no kill shelter on newly purchased land in Washington County.
The move comes after the City of Collinsville chose not to renew the rescue’s lease last year. Since then, board members have worked to raise funds, continue community programs, and find the right property for a new facility.
A Fortunate Break in a Difficult Search
Board President Coza Huffman says securing land proved to be one of the biggest challenges in the transition.
“It’s been up and down. Looking for land that would be zoned properly has been difficult, and we realized it would be very expensive,” Huffman said. “We were fortunate enough this summer to have someone step up and say, ‘I’ve got two acres I would sell you for a price we could afford.’”…