A New Leaf workers making a difference at new Broken Arrow Animal Shelter

Broken Arrow - When the City of Broken Arrow opened a new animal shelter, there was an opportunity for new workers.
       Some of those workers are not only filling a need.
        They are getting something back as well.
         In tonight's making a difference report, how workers with special needs are bonding with animals in need.
      The City of Broken Arrow is still breaking in its brand new animal shelter and with it comes some new workers.
      That's where the group A New Leaf comes in.
      "People with developmental disabilities can work just like you and I can. They want to earn a living. They are contributing members of society so at a new leaf we take those people and we put them to work in our community," said Mary Ogle, the executive director of A New Leaf.
     People like Brittany Butler now work at the shelter. For Brittany, it means a paycheck, and lots of new responsibility. She takes care of animals in need of a home, giving them extra attention, while she is on the job.
    "Water and feed them. And be nice to the dogs," Brittany said.
     The City of Broken Arrow sees it as a win, win.
     By expanding their shelter, they needed added help.
     The animals love all the attention they get from the workers.
     "We went from a 5,000 square foot operation to a 15 thousand sq. foot operation. Operationally, we have tripled and having A New Leaf folks in cleaning and feed and watering plants has been a great help," said Capt. Scott Bennett with the Broken Arrow Police Department.
    The leaders of A New Leaf say being around the animals at the shelter is therapeutic for its workers.
    So to them, it's more than just a job... it's also making a difference.
    You can see it in the way they care for the animals. You can see it in the workers faces, and you can see the animals enjoy it as well.
     "I feel good. I love the dogs," Brittany said.