Long before Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary found its forever home, this property already had a remarkable story to tell.

The land where our sanctuary now stands has witnessed the transformation of Indian Territory into the State of Oklahoma, the growth of Wetumka, generations of families, and nearly a century of community history. Today, we are honored to preserve that legacy while creating a new chapter dedicated to compassion, education, and the care of animals.

Our story begins before Oklahoma was even a state.

The land that now makes up Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary was originally part of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation. Wetumka was officially surveyed and platted in 1901, while this area was still known as Indian Territory. In 1906, the original town lots—including the seven lots that make up our sanctuary property—were officially patented, just one year before Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907. 

Today, we are proud caretakers of a small piece of that remarkable history.

The farmhouse that serves as the heart of our sanctuary was built in 1927 and is approaching its 100th birthday. 

Over the decades, the property has been home to multiple families who helped shape its story. Among them were members of the Burke and Price families, whose connections to this home span generations.

Today, that same farmhouse is being carefully restored to become the Welcome Center for Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary, ensuring it continues serving the community for many years to come.

One of our favorite projects is uncovering the history of this property.

We've spent countless hours researching land records, studying our original abstract, tracing ownership back through Indian Territory, and learning about the people who once called this place home. Every document reveals another piece of the story, and we're only getting started.

We hope to meet with former owners and local families to preserve photographs, memories, and stories before they're lost to time.

History isn't just found in old documents.

It's found in the people who lived here, the children who grew up in this house, the trains that passed by, the trees that have stood watch for generations, and the memories still waiting to be shared.

Every rescue, every volunteer, every visitor, and every life saved adds another chapter to a story that began more than a century ago.

And now...

Healing Paws has the privilege of writing the next one.

Are you connected to this property or the families who once lived here? Do you have old photographs, newspaper clippings, stories, or memories of this home or the surrounding neighborhood?
We'd love to hear from you. Every piece of history helps us preserve the story of this remarkable place for future generations.
Together, we can ensure that its history is never forgotten.