Oakland Animal Services lost a beloved volunteer recently. Alva Cortez was an inspiration to many of us at the shelter. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our shelter animals, always with a smile and a positive attitude.
“Alva was a very important part of Oakland Animal Services,” said volunteer Steve LaChapelle. “She brought joy to many homeless animals, helped them find homes, and made other volunteers smile. I will miss her very much.”
Alva could make the perfect adoption happen because she knew all the dogs and how to match them with adopters. She had a big heart for all creatures big and small, but had a particular fondness for pitties. In her honor, 13 volunteers have sponsored 13 pit bulls (one a month) in honor of Alva. For the month of November, Elton is the sponsored dog.
My name is Elton, and I"m a gentle and medium energy guy. I walk pretty well on-leash, and I'm not too rambunctious. If you are looking to add a mellow boy to your family, come meet me! Elton is id #20294.
“On stressful days at the shelter, when nothing seemed to be going right, Alva was always a beacon of hope and positive energy,” said volunteer Pat Luchak. “She made everything seem better when she was around.”
Her family has started the Alva Cortez Memorial Fund, which will go towards pit bull adoption needs. To donate or to sponsor a dog, go to www.oaklandanimalservices.org/donate.
