Catch up on the latest news and events from the Friends of Oakland Animal Services.
Friends of OAS
Vote now to help FOAS win a People’s Choice award!
Michelle Dunn (left) with Archie (formerly Yin Yang) and Susan Reale with Chipper (formerly Kuro). Photo by Soulful Pet Photography
The Friends of Oakland Animal Services has been chosen to receive a Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes grant, and possibly more, with a vote from you! Vote for Oakland Animal Services in the People’s Choice competition through December 20 for a chance to help grant us up to $25,000 in additional lifesaving dollars.
****VOTE HERE****
“My kidney donor saved my life. In turn, we saved the lives of two puppies who have created even more of a forever bond between us.” Those words and this incredible story, submitted by our adopter, Sue Reale, earned us much needed funding to help us continue to serve Oakland’s residents and pets.
Now it’s your turn to grant Holiday Wishes!
****VOTE HERE****
Free spay/neuter for Oakland dogs and cats
Each year, our shelter takes in thousands of homeless dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. To help reduce the overpopulation of pets in Oakland, Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) has launched a FREE spay/neuter program for dogs and cats (including feral cats). The program is open to residents of Oakland, CA.
The first FREE pet fix day will be on December 7. FOAS will be providing transportation round-trip from the the meeting point at OAS to the Fix Our Ferals surgery center in Richmond. Space is limited, and YOU MUST HAVE A CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT with us to participate.
This free service includes sterilization surgery, core vaccinations, microchipping and routine flea treatment. Here are the details:
** YOU MUST HAVE A CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT TO PARTICIPATE **
- To participate, complete this online form, and we will contact you if we are able to accommodate your pets:
- Your animal must be dropped off with FOAS staff, in the parking lot at Oakland Animal Services, 1101 29th Ave, between 6-7am on December 7.
- You must pick up your animal the same day, between 5:30 and 7:00pm. Animals not picked up will be considered abandoned, and impounded at the shelter. Fees may apply to redeem your pet.
- The program is open to dogs and cats, including feral cats, belonging to an Oakland resident. Minimum weight is 3 pounds. Maximum weight for this event is 60 pounds due to transport limitations.
Contact petfix@oaklandsanimals.org with any questions or for more info.
We have more in store for 2018! Stay informed about our spay/neuter program and other FOAS news by subscribing to our email newsletter.
FOAS Fall Newsletter
The fall e-newsletter is now available. Catch up on the latest news and events from the Friends of Oakland Animal Services.
Friends of Oakland Animal Services receives $40K from PetSmart Charities
City’s Newest Development Will Keep Homeless Cats Purring While Awaiting Adoption
Contact: Lisa Franzetta, Friends of Oakland Animal Services — lisa@oaklandsanimals.org
Photo credit: oakocalyptic
OAKLAND–The Bay Area real estate market may be notoriously harsh, but housing prospects are looking up for Oakland’s homeless cats, thanks to a $40,000 grant to Friends of Oakland Animal Services from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America. The grant will provide for the renovation of cat kennels in the shelter’s holding area, creating more modern, less stressful living spaces that will ultimately improve the felines’ chances of finding their forever homes.
Why are the shelter’s new cat condo plans getting major meows of approval? In 2016, Oakland Animal Services took in more than five cats every day — a total of 1,899 for the year — and 10 to 12 at a time are housed in the holding area now awaiting renovation. The improved design of the new condos will help reduce the spread of illness, give cats room to stretch, move around, and enjoy high perches, and reduce the anxiety associated with shelter noise. What’s more, by allowing shy or noise-sensitive cats to be made available for adoption from these more private quarters, more cats will be saved who would otherwise not be adoptable from the shelter.
“This generous grant means that Oakland Animal Services will be able to provide top notch housing for our city’s cats while they are passing through our shelter on their way to their new families,” says Oakland Animal Services Director Rebecca Katz. “We’re thrilled that PetSmart Charities shares our commitment to ‘cat-friendly housing.’”
”Oakland Animal Services has long been committed to helping homeless pets in the Bay Area, and with plans to build new ‘cat condos,’ they are making an effort to provide cats in need with the comfort they deserve as they search for their forever home,” said Jenny Aho, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “Pets in need deserve a great home, even as they are waiting for the right family.”
Shelter Operations is just one of PetSmart Charities’ ten grant categories designed to support animal welfare organizations and nonprofits as part of their newly expanded mission to find lifelong loving homes for all pets by supporting programs that bring people and pets together. Funding from PetSmart Charities supports best practices that help pets thrive in a shelter environment until they find their forever family and offers funding for shelter-based programs that improve adoptions, reduce pets’ length of stay and strengthen shelter infrastructure.
—
Oakland Animal Services is Oakland’s only “open admissions” shelter, accepting all of Oakland’s homeless, injured, orphaned, unwanted, lost, abandoned and mistreated animals. With the assistance of dedicated volunteers and the support of nonprofit Friends of Oakland Animal Services, OAS saves the lives of thousands of animals every year.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc
For Hire: Animal Transfer Coordinator
General Purpose
Improve the lives of animals in Oakland by facilitating transfers from Oakland Animal Services (OAS), the city’s only open-admission shelter, to nonprofit adoption partners and other outside agencies. Incumbent will oversee the Oakland Animal Services transfer program to include cultivating relationships with partner shelters, selecting appropriate animals for transfer and maintaining communication internally and externally about animals being transferred. This staff position is also responsible for assisting the Foster Care Coordinator in fulfilling his/her duties in his/her absence.
To apply, email resume and cover letter to: info@oaklandsanimals.org.
Download a PDF of the job description.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Maintain and cultivate relationships as well as serve as primary point of contact with partner shelters and transfer partners both in and outside of the Bay Area.
- Build new shelter and transfer partnerships through outreach and networking.
- Coordinate all transfer/transport details, including any veterinary scheduling, recruiting the help of staff and/or volunteers as needed.
- Assist shelter staff with weekly population assessment to ensure timely process for transfers.
- Provide regular outreach via e-mail and phone with transfer partners and partner shelters.
- Maintain sharable database with photos, videos, and descriptions for animals needing transfer.
- Coordinate with receiving partners on individual animals eligible for transfer by reviewing medical and behavior records, provide further dialogue as needed. Reach out to partners regarding animals in need of special assistance.
- Perform data entry to maintain appropriate recordkeeping. This will include animal transfer statuses and partner interest.
- Develop transfer program protocols and procedures.
- Maintain transfer program statistics and reports.
- Work closely with shelter management and Foster Care Coordinator.
- Assist OAS Foster Care Coordinator with workload during his/her absence to the extent possible.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Associates degree or equivalent from an accredited college or technical school
- Two years of experience working or volunteering with an animal care, rescue, or shelter organization
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Commitment to the mission, goals and success of Oakland Animal Services
- Verifiable experience handling domestic animals, with an intermediate understanding of dog behavior preferred.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and database systems
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Positive attitude with the ability to work both independently and cooperatively with staff, volunteers, and outside partners
- Flexibility, adaptability, aptitude for effectively prioritizing multiple tasks and a strong work ethic
Working Conditions
- Primary work location in an animal shelter environment
- Exposure to loud noises in the kennel areas
- Potential for exposure to animal feces, blood, and zoonotic diseases
- Potential for exposure to animal bites and scratches
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule which may include evenings and weekends
- Must be able to tolerate the emotional aspect of work in an animal shelter environment, including the use of euthanasia
Compensation
- $18 – $22 / hour DOE
FOAS hires a Program and Fundraising Director!
The Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) is happy to announce that a new program and fundraising director has been hired! Lisa Franzetta will be joining the FOAS team and working closely with the board of directors, volunteers, supporters and other organizations to coordinate FOAS community programs that aim to reduce the number of homeless animals in the city of Oakland. The primary program she’ll be working on initially is a community spay/neuter program targeting dogs and cats in Oakland.
Lisa brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit animal welfare work and has been a shelter volunteer since she was a college student, including doing weekly cat care shifts at Oakland’s Hopalong Animal Rescue for the past two years. She has developed and implemented campaigns as a senior coordinator at PETA and directed marketing and communications teams at the Animal Legal Defense Fund and, most recently, at the University of San Francisco. In addition to her work with FOAS, Lisa is also enrolled in a master’s program at Berkeley’s Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College. She has two rescue cats, including grey tabby Gus, himself an OAS alumnus.
Lisa starts her work with FOAS on July 31.
Mickey’s Medical Fund pays for more than a dozen animal dentals in the first quarter
In the first quarter of 2017, Mickey’s Medical Fund paid for more than a dozen dental procedures, including extractions, cleaning, and x-rays. The shelter takes in many great animals but a number of them have terrible teeth – the pain and discomfort can lead to feeding and grooming issues, or can make the animal grouchy and irritable.
By getting their teeth fixed, Mickey’s Medical Fund enables these animals to be adopted or transferred to partners who otherwise might not have been able to take them in.
The dogs and cats pictured in the photo all received treatment, and have been either transferred or adopted!
Contribute to Mickey’s Medical Fund to help Friends of Oakland Animal Services continue their life-saving work.
For Hire: Foster Program Coordinator
Under general supervision, the Foster Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and administering the foster program for shelter animals. This is a part time, hourly position funded by a grant for a period of one year. The Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) intends to continue the program after one year but this may be dependent on continued grant funding.
The position reports to the FOAS Board of Directors for employment matters and the OAS Director or his/her designee for daily job operational needs.
Download a PDF of the job description.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Recruits and trains foster care providers
- Coordinates movement of shelter animals into and out of foster care; orders/provides supplies as needed
- Assists with planning and conducting onsite and offsite adoption events
- Coordinates and assists with veterinary care for animals in the foster program
- Maintains regular contact with foster care providers; provides support for behavior and medical issues
- Maintains meticulous records of animal care, status and location using the shelter database software
- Provides regular reports to shelter management and the FOAS board regarding program status, successes and challenges
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Associates degree or equivalent from an accredited college or technical school
- Veterinary Technician training and experience desirable
- Two years of experience working or volunteering with an animal care, rescue, or shelter organization
- Valid Driver’s License
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Commitment to the mission, goals and success of Oakland Animal Services
- Knowledge of basic animal health care and safe animal handling practices
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and database systems
- Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relations with the public and other employees.
- Flexibility, adaptability, aptitude for effectively prioritizing multiple tasks and a strong work ethic
- Ability to recognize symptoms of common animal diseases; ability to lift and handle cats and dogs (including large breeds).
- Knowledge of dog training and cat socialization methods desirable
Working Conditions
- Primary work location in an animal shelter environment
- Exposure to loud noises in the kennel areas
- Potential for exposure to animal feces, blood, and zoonotic diseases
- Potential for exposure to animal bites and scratches
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule which may include evenings and weekends
- Must be able to tolerate the emotional aspect of work in an animal shelter environment, including the use of euthanasia
Compensation
- $18 – $24 / hour DOE
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to info@oaklandsanimals.org.
