Trish Roque

We regret that basic dog training classes will no longer be offered at Oakland Animal Services. Class originally scheduled for Saturday, September 3 has also been cancelled. To see a list of recommended dog trainers and classes, visit our resources section.

Visit the CrowdRise Fundraising Page

The PAW POWER! Mural Project unites local artists, art students, and youth to improve and beautify Oakland Animal Services (OAS) through the creation of indoor and outdoor murals that reflect the positive and loving spirit of the shelter and its animals, staff, and dedicated volunteers.

Imagine being greeted by this beautiful mural when you first walk into the Oakland Animal Shelter.

OAS is the city’s only open admission shelter, taking in all of Oakland’s homeless, injured, and mistreated animals. It is our municipal shelter and with community participation it can be an outstanding animal welfare facility. Several artists have committed to creating murals at the site in order to showcase the shelter animals in a new light with the important goal of boosting adoptions. By infusing the shelter with uplifting imagery and gallery-quality artwork, the shelter will be more lively, and visitors and potential adopters will see the animals as happy pets. It is important to dispel the myth that shelter animals are defective (or worse, disposable) when in fact they are simply in need of a new family.

The PAW POWER! Mural Project celebrates Oakland’s nationally recognized art scene by connecting OAS with local artists and connecting artists with Oakland’s four-legged citizens in a meaningful, long-lasting way. The artists that are participating in the first round of PAW POWER! are Claire Brees, Renee Castro, Nancy Mizuno Elliott, the Illuminaries, Russel de Leon, Robert Minervini, Laurel Nathanson, and David Polka.

The Friends of Oakland Animals Services is currently collecting donations to raise funds for this project. Visit the CrowdRise page to donate.

This colorful mural could greet folks in the parking lot of the shelter.

Help Oakland Animal Services house our long-term cats in comfort and health. It is time to replace the old, broken, rusted cages that these cats are housed in. It takes a village and we need your help!

Donate to help FOAS raise $30,000 during the Saving Pets Challenge.

The Fourth of July can be a frightening time for animals, when the loud sounds of firecrackers and fireworks often sends pets scurrying out of the house or yard in search of security or shelter. Oakland Animal Services reminds all animal owners that they can save themselves and their pets a tremendous amount of heartache and anxiety by keeping the animals comfortable during Fourth of July celebrations:

• Keep pets indoors and at home; they will be happier and not tempted to escape from loud sounds.

• If your dog is crate-trained, put him in his crate covered with a blanket to make him feel secure.

• Create a peaceful environment in your home: play soothing music and lower the blinds to block outside sights and sounds.

• Avoid feeding scraps from the grill and other human food. Some foods like onion, avocado, grapes, raisins and chocolate can be toxic. Pets should never be given cooked bones, especially from chicken.

• Keep pets away from flames, matches and lighter fluid.

• Do not spray your pet with insect repellant or sunscreen that is intended for humans. These can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

• Even if your pet is indoors with you, double-check yard gates and doors to prevent an escape.

• Make certain pets are wearing identification that includes the name and current telephone number of the owner. Confirm that your pet’s microchip information is up to date.

The Oakland Animal Services shelter will be closed in observation of Independence Day on Monday, July 4. Officers will respond to emergency calls and shelter staff will attempt to contact owners of lost pets that have identification. Animals with identification will be held at Animal Services for 10 days. Pets without identification will be held for a shorter legal holding period..

Residents who have lost a pet can also follow the Twitter handle #OaklandLostFoundPets to get up-to-the-minute information on animals that come to the shelter. People who find an animal can also post its picture to #OaklandLostFoundPets to help locate the owner.

Anyone who loses an animal in Oakland should visit www.OaklandAnimalServices.org to see if he has been brought to the shelter. It is also important to visit the shelter in person during open hours as listed on the website. The shelter is located at 1101 29th Ave, Oakland, CA 94601.

Mickey’s Medical Fund has saved the lives of many shelter animals since it was founded in 2015 by Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS). But who is Mickey?

A stray collie, found wandering with a chewed off rope around his neck, was brought to the Contra Costa County Animal Shelter in 2005. He was too thin and had multiple medical issues, but his gentle nature shone through and he was soon taken home by a loving family. Mickey was nursed back to health and then spent the rest of his days walking on the beach, sleeping on the sofa, and enjoying his nightly treat of chopped hot dog, heated to the perfect temperature. He had other doggy siblings over the years, but Mickey remained the darling of his human mother’s heart and he, in turn, was utterly devoted to her.

Mickey’s passing in May of 2015 inspired his family to make the founding donation to Mickey’s Medical Fund in order to help homeless pets at Oakland Animal Services receive the medical care they need. The fund was established just in time to save numerous puppies that were sick with parvovirus during one of the worst outbreaks the shelter has seen. Without the funds for treatment (and foster families who helped the dogs recover), these puppies would have been put to sleep to prevent spread of the highly contagious disease in the crowded shelter environment. Happily, each one was treated, and most survived the treatment and went on to find loving adoptive homes.

Through Mickey’s Medical Fund, FOAS has been able to help many other animals, paying for everything from medical tests and dental cleanings to necessary amputations and other surgeries. Over the past year, FOAS has been raising funds for a digital x-ray machine so that vet staff can quickly diagnose and treat injured animals in-house. This is especially important to reduce suffering and risk of further injury when animals are transported to an outside veterinary clinic. FOAS is delighted to announce that Mickey’s family has made this dream come true by donating the remaining funds required to purchase the x-ray machine.

The animals (and humans) at Oakland Animal Services are truly grateful to Mickey for inspiring his family to continue helping others in his memory. You can be part of our lifesaving work by making a donation to Mickey’s Medical Fund.

Merlin Pallet Search

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2016

Merlin’s Magical Transformation: One dog’s journey from juvenile delinquent to search-and-rescue star

Oakland, CA– It’s a little-known fact that dogs need jobs to succeed. But if you think about it, some are the guardians of their humans’ laps, some herd sheep and round up cattle, others provide comfort to hospital  patients, some keep intruders away, while some watch over the youngsters in their families.

Merlin, a gangly black Labrador Retriever who arrived at Oakland Animal Services’ shelter in 2014, seemed to have the job of driving everyone crazy. This adolescent’s behavior was cause for worry: Who would want to adopt a dog that went from timid and fearful to bad-mannered and aggressive?

Merlin at Oakland animal shelter in Dec 2014

At many shelters, staff and volunteers would have given up on him. But not long-time volunteer Jamin Hawks, who saw a special spark behind the naughty boy’s façade. She began to work intensely with him, enlisting the help of other volunteers who specialize in obedience-challenged dogs.

“Our volunteers are invaluable for the animals in our care,” said Rebecca Katz, OAS Shelter Director. “They socialize and train our animals while we try to find homes or rescues for them.  For Merlin, Jamin made it her mission to rehabilitate him, working on his behavior and, ultimately, for his transfer to one of our partners.”

Merlin working the rubble pile

Meanwhile, Merlin improved – a little. He began to warm up to people and went from an assessment of “unmanageable” to “trainable.” But at a municipal shelter, it’s almost impossible to give the dedicated attention it takes to really change a dog with severe issues. Luckily, partner group Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR) stepped up and took Merlin into its program.

At GGLRR, the young dog became kind of a punk, especially when it came to other dogs. So a professional trainer worked with him and noted that he was obsessed with balls and had an almost insatiable search drive. Bingo! Just the traits for his new resume. Next step was to contact the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), hoping to get Merlin a new job.

Not only did SDF accept Merlin – they did such a good job that the former juvenile delinquent graduated from the program and is now working with a hazardous-materials technician at the Unified Fire Authority.

“There is a severe shortage of Certified Canine Disaster Search Teams in the U.S.  Dogs like Merlin are trained through Search Dog Foundation to provide a precious, lifesaving resource” said Kate Horwick, Program Manager at SDF.

Well hot dog!

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Frankie, Merlin & Emily at graduation

Oakland Animal Services is the city’s only open admissions shelter: OAS accepts all of Oakland’s homeless, injured and mistreated animals (both wild and domestic), regardless of age, breed, temperament or medical condition.  Visit the shelter to adopt, volunteer or donate.  OAS is located at 1101 29th Ave., Oakland.  For more information: www.OaklandAnimalServices.org

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue is a nonprofit organization that fosters, rehabilitates and houses Labrador Retrievers in the Northern California. For more information: www.labrescue.org

Search Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening disaster preparedness in America by partnering rescued dogs with firefighters. For more information:  www.searchdogfoundation.org

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