UPDATE December 11, 2017: The strike has been suspended and the shelter will return to normal services beginning Dec 12.
The City’s employee labor unions have called for a labor strike beginning Tuesday, December 5, 2017, which they indicate may continue for an indefinite length of time. Oakland Animal Shelter employees are represented by these unions.
During the strike, OAS will be providing limited services to the public. OAS will be open during regular hours for owners looking to reclaim their lost animals and for members of the public who must bring in stray or surrendered animals. We ask that you hold onto an animal, if possible, until the conclusion of the strike.
Routine services such as adoptions and licensing WILL NOT occur during this time. OAS will continue to rely on partner agencies to transfer animals from our care so that they may be adopted through alternate channels.
OAS will call upon its cadre of volunteers to assist management to provide care for the animals in our shelter.
Calls for emergency response on animal-related matters should be directed to the Oakland Police Department (OPD). Calls for routine services including dead animal pickup, strays and other non-emergency calls will be delayed for the duration of the labor strike.