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Oakland Animal Services

Oakland’s only open admissions shelter

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Shelter Town Hall meetings announced

Posted

Join us for a series of Town Hall meetings to hear from Oakland Animal Services’ Director, Ann Dunn, who will share updates on OAS’ operations, programs, and vision, as well as answer any questions from our community. These sessions are open to all, and will be held virtually over Zoom on the following Wednesdays at 6:30pm:

  • March 15: General overview, including an overview of services and programs, and a discussion of all species (cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals)
  • April 12: How OAS makes outcome decisions (e.g. adoption, transfer to other organizations, and euthanasia)
  • May 10: Understanding what animal control officers do
  • June 7: Specific topics around cats
  • July 12: Specific topics around dogs

Click on the links above on each date for the registration link or recording for each session.

We will post registration links for the other dates in our Events Calendar.

Over 30 dogs seized; help us help them!

Posted

Little Gandolph before he was dematted.

Recently, over 30 dogs were seized by Animal Control Officers and brought into OAS for urgent care. They were found living in unsanitary conditions — in a feces-and-urine-soaked apartment — and were severely neglected.

These dogs required immediate medical treatment, including extensive dental and eye surgeries estimated to cost $30,000, and OAS staff quickly jumped into action to help them.
Friends of Oakland Animal Services is committed to funding the care they need to have a second chance, and donors like you make this possible.

DONATE HERE TO HELP THE TOLKIEN PUPS

A large number of the dogs also have chronic untreated eye conditions with secondary irritation from matted fur abrading the surface of their eyes. As time was of the essence, OAS volunteer groomers went to work quickly to remove matted fur and trim toenails. All of the dogs suffered from untreated dental disease ranging from moderate to severe with significant oral pain.

Frodo’s matted fur and overgrown toenails.

Every one of these helpless pups needs urgent dental care with extractions, and some will need enucleations (removal of the eye). OAS staff is working as quickly as possible to make this happen.

Arwen before and after being groomed.

We’re hopeful for their recovery and we’re looking forward to the day they will be pain-free.

DONATE HERE TO HELP THE TOLKIEN PUPS

City of Oakland Notice of Ransomware Attack

Posted

The City of Oakland has learned that it was recently subject to a ransomware attack. The Information Technology Department is coordinating with law enforcement and actively investigating the scope and severity of the issue.  Our core functions are intact. 911, financial data, and fire and emergency resources are not impacted.

The City is following industry best practices and developing a response plan to address the issue. In an abundance of caution, ITD has taken affected systems offline while they work to secure and restore services safely. In the meantime, the public should expect delays from the City as a result. We are actively monitoring the situation and sending updated information as it becomes available.

Help us find homes for 50 dogs in five days!

Posted

Can you help us find new homes for 50 dogs in 5 days? Because that’s what we need to open up room in our shelter and foster program to enable us to continue taking in the dogs that arrive in our care every single day!

Oakland Animal Services is Oakland’s only open admission shelter, helping over 6,500 homeless, lost and injured animals annually. Since 2020, OAS has undertaken a significant restructuring to save more shelter animals’ lives. By focusing on returning lost pets, increasing adoptions, expanding foster programs and supporting people in keeping their pets, OAS has decreased euthanasia for dogs by 67% and has not had to euthanize dogs for space since 2019.

Overcrowding has become an epidemic for shelters across the country, and in Oakland dog intake has been increasing over several months. In 2022, OAS took in 555 more dogs compared to the same period in 2021. There is now an urgent need to find 50 big dogs a home by Monday, January 16, 2022.

OAS is asking the community to save an animal’s life by adopting a dog. Those who want to help but cannot adopt are encouraged to foster a pet, which will help address the immediate crowding crisis.

“The changes we have made in the last three years, as well as the tremendous community support that we have received, has made it possible to achieve the lowest euthanasia rate for dogs in OAS’s history in 2022. We’re asking for people to step up in a big way to help our dogs now,” said Ann Dunn, Director of Oakland Animal Services.

We’ll be having extended adoption hours from Thursday through Monday, where you can stop by without an appointment and head home with your new dog!

Check out all our available dogs and pick out your favorites to meet. And, if you’re not in a position to adopt, please help us to spread the word to your networks – we can’t do this without the support of all of our community!

Extended adoption hours:

  • Thursday 1/12 noon-7
  • Friday 1/13 noon-5
  • Saturday 1/14 noon-5
  • Sunday 1/15 noon-5
  • Monday 1/16 noon-5

Saying goodbye to our friend Pat Luchak

Posted

Oakland Animal Services (OAS) lost a giant this weekend. Since Pat Luchak began volunteering at OAS in 2008, she was a tireless advocate for Dobermans and Pit Bulls and other big dogs that were at highest risk for euthanasia. To know Pat was to know her absolute tenacity and unwillingness to accept the status quo for dogs at OAS.

Over many years, Pat was the personal conduit to getting so many dogs to rescue organizations as she relentlessly connected with people far and wide to find help for dogs who would have otherwise been euthanized. She did that up until the end of her life, since even battling her own illness was not a reason to her to give up the fight for vulnerable dogs.

Animal welfare work can be challenging, and at times painful, but Pat brought to it such a beautiful spirit that lifted everyone around her. She showed us what is possible when someone gives their all to help dogs who need a lucky break. She was that miracle for so many. She showed that same compassion to the people around her. We will honor her memory by keeping up the good fight on behalf of the vulnerable dogs who need us to make magic on their behalf.

Please feel free to share a fond memory of Pat in the comments below.

OAS seeks Registered Veterinary Technician

Posted

Oakland Animal Services is the open admission shelter for the City of Oakland. In the last two years, OAS has grown the veterinary team to two full-time veterinarians and three registered veterinary technicians. The needs of the veterinary team are also supported by contracts with 24-hour emergency veterinary services and external support for some spay/neuter and general medicine. The person hired for this position will be joining a compassionate and dedicated team that is helping to increase lifesaving for shelter animals and providing services to low-income pet guardians when possible, to help keep animals with their families.

As a pilot shelter in the Human Animal Social Services (HASS) program, OAS has introduced equity focused shelter-intake and community-serving programs, such as providing access to veterinary care. Through a recent grant, OAS is creating a voucher program to partner with local vet clinics to assist owned animals with urgent needs. Through support from Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS), OAS has created an Outcome Team, made up of the Foster, Adoption, Transfer and Behavior Coordinators, to focus on hard-to-place animals and reduce length of stay, resulting in a greater than 90% live release rate for shelter animals.

We are recruiting to fill one Registered Veterinary Technician  vacancy and looking for someone who is:
  • A skilled clinical technician. You will be expected to support veterinarians in various medical and surgical procedures, and perform other technical veterinary services independently with minimal or no direct supervision
  • A team player!  You will be part of a great, collaborative team that promotes teamwork, communication, and cooperation with all other departments
  • Aware of critical care and shelter operations.? You will be expected to work alongside animal health care experts and have knowledge of general veterinary medical practices and procedures to treat injured or sick animals
  • Skilled at leading volunteers and other employees. You may need to provide direction to others on the team.
  • Well-organized, with the ability to do accurate work with great attention to detail.  Your work requires precision and accuracy, particularly with basic drug and fluid calculations

More details here.

Full job description here.

OAS seeks Veterinarian

Posted

Oakland Animal Services (OAS) is the open admission shelter for the City of Oakland. In the last two years, OAS has grown the veterinary team to two full-time veterinarians and three registered veterinary technicians. The needs of the veterinary team are also supported by contracts with 24-hour emergency veterinary services and external support for some spay/neuter and general medicine. The person hired for this will be joining a compassionate and dedicated team that is helping increase lifesaving for shelter animals and providing services to low-income pet guardians when possible, to help keep animals with their families.

As a pilot shelter in the Human Animal Social Services (HASS) program, OAS has introduced equity focused shelter-intake and community-serving programs, such as providing access to veterinary care. Through a recent grant, OAS is creating a voucher program to partner with local vet clinics to assist owned animals with urgent needs. Through support from Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS), OAS has created an Outcome Team, made up of the Foster, Adoption, Transfer and Behavior Coordinators, to focus on hard-to-place animals and reduce length of stay, resulting in a greater than 90% live release rate for shelter animals.

The OAS Animal Control Officers (ACOs) significantly increased their capacity to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases. The veterinary team plays an integral role in supporting these investigations, as well as being supported by a contract vet who specializes in forensic medicine. At the same time, the ACOs focus much of their time connecting with pet guardians who need support. It’s an exciting time for OAS as we shift from a reactionary model to one that is community serving. The person hired for this position will play a key role in shaping OAS’s approach to access to care for low-income pet guardians, while helping build a sustainable veterinary program to support lifesaving for shelter animals.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Pragmatic and able to make the most of limited resources. You will need to evaluate treatment options and make effective diagnostic decisions in an environment with limited funding.
  • A skilled communicator that understands how to reach a variety of audiences. Oakland is a diverse community with many different stakeholder groups, you will interact with members of the public, volunteers, and other city employees in the course of work.
  • Caring and compassionate with a positive attitude. You will handle and treat sick or injured animals, and support pet owners during both exciting and difficult times.
  • A strong problem solver. You will encounter unexpected or challenging situations that require you to work well under pressure and balance multiple priorities.

More details here.

Full job description here.

FOAS seeks Dog Foster Coordinator

Posted

Under general supervision, the Foster Coordinator is responsible, as part of the foster team, for developing and administering the foster program primarily for large dogs from Oakland Animal Services (OAS). With approximately 40% of OAS dogs in foster care, the Foster Coordinator will also be tasked with improving the adoption program for foster dogs to better engage foster volunteers in the marketing and adoption process. Since OAS launched the foster program in 2020, it has helped OAS increase the live release rate for dogs from 84% in 2020 to over 90% today.

Through support from Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS), OAS has created an Outcome Team, made up of the Foster, Adoption, Transfer and Behavior Coordinators, to focus on placing animals and reducing length of stay. The Dog Foster Coordinator will work in close collaboration with the Outcome Team, OAS leadership and it’s veterinary team.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, flexible and able to work effectively in a fast-paced team environment.

More information, including salary, benefits, and how to apply

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