Our volunteer groomer, Karen, performed her magic on some of our Shelter dogs this weekend:
Jake – Before, During and After Grooming
Jennie – Before and After Grooming
News
Small Dogs Sent to Other States!
Oakland Animal Services has seen a huge influx this year in the number of small dogs we are getting into the Shelter. This may be a result of movies that highlight little dogs as the stars or the downturn in the economy – people are downsizing to apartments and getting small dogs and then moving out of the area and leaving these little dogs behind. Whatever the reason, we now often have 75 small dogs in the Shelter at any given time! The Shelter was not designed for small dogs. We’ve had to make major changes in our dog housing to accomodate these little guys.
We’ve also developed partnerships with rescue groups outside of the state that can help adopt them out. States like Oregon, Washington and Arizona have not seen an increase in small dogs in their shelters and are able to get them adopted much faster than we can here. This partnership helps us find homes for these little dogs and also helps them compete with puppy mills to prevent an overpopulation of unaltered small dogs in their areas.
We’d like to thank all of the volunteers who helped coordinate the transfer (especially Patty Ozenne), volunteers who transported the dogs out of state, and the organizations who took the dogs:
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona – 20 small dogs on October 3, 2009
- Ginger’s Pet Rescue of Washington State – 18 small dogs on October 17, 2009
- Collar of Hope Rescue of Washington State – 7 small dogs on October 17, 2009
Barbaree, Patty, Sugi and Marnie help get OAS dogs ready to go to Washington State!
OAS dogs on their way to Washington State!
Woman Charged with Two Counts of Felony Animal Abuse
After months of joint investigation by the Oakland Police Department’s Oakland Animal Services (OAS) and the Crime Investigation Division (CID) – Theft Section, La Preda Thomas of Oakland was arraigned on Friday, October 9, on two felony counts of animal abuse charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. Thomas is accused of severely injuring more than 15 cats and kittens in incidents dating back to 2006.
Thomas became known to Oakland Animal Services and several animal rescue groups in 2006 when numerous times she was found with cats or kittens she claimed to have “rescued” that had serious and unusual injuries, ranging from multiple broken limbs to huge puncture wounds to a severely injured eye. Many of these cats also had their claws crudely cut off, sometimes with portions of their toes removed.
In one case, in 2007, OAS seized a group of kittens from Thomas’ residence that had been left in a cage in the hot sun with no water. Upon further examination, it was discovered that two of the kittens each had a front leg that was completely broken in half in almost identical locations. OAS learned from CID that Thomas was on probation for burglary. Terms of her probation included a search of her residence. OAS requested and participated in a search of the home this past July and again in September. In the first search, OAS and the search team rescued three kittens; almost every limb of each of these kittens had a fresh or healing break or fracture.
The second search of her home revealed an injured female cat and her kitten; the mom had a badly broken front leg and shattered hip that probably will need surgery. These cats are all healing and safe, thanks to the Montclair Veterinary Clinic, which donated all of the many radiographs needed to charge the case, and to Island Cat Resources, which assisted in finding the victims loving foster homes.
Experienced OAS veterinarian Dr. Jyothi Robertson says, “As a veterinarian, this is the first time I have seen so many severely malnourished animals with similar fractures coming from a single person claiming to be a rescuer.”
Despite the number of injured cats rescued from Thomas, she denied hurting any of the animals, claiming only that she specifically looks for injured cats to rescue, trapping or grabbing them in the community. OAS located a resident who had given kittens to Thomas. This person stated that the kittens were healthy, normal, and active before she gave them to Thomas. These same kittens were later found at Thomas’ residence. One was dead; the other’s front legs were both shattered, and he had pneumonia secondary to several broken ribs.
Thomas remains in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Megan Webb, the director of Oakland Animal Services since April, says that one of her main priorities in her new role as director is to prosecute serious cases of animal abuse and neglect in the city. “Animal abuse is a crime and should be treated as such,” she says. “I’ve been so impressed with the support and assistance we have received from the police department on these cases.” This is the third felony animal-abuse case that OAS has helped to charge since Webb became director. The first was a cock fighting case where more than 150 roosters were seized. The third involved an 18-year-old man who is accused of having slashed the throat of his neighbor’s cat on two separate occasions. He remains on a psychiatric hold until he is transferred to Santa Rita jail.
Small Dogs Sent to Other States!
Oakland Animal Services has seen a huge influx this year in the number of small dogs we are getting into the Shelter. This may be a result of movies that highlight little dogs as the stars or the downturn in the economy – people are downsizing to apartments and getting small dogs and then moving out of the area and leaving these little dogs behind. Whatever the reason, we now often have 75 small dogs in the Shelter at any given time! The Shelter was not designed for small dogs. We’ve had to make major changes in our dog housing to accomodate these little guys.
We’ve also developed partnerships with rescue groups outside of the state that can help adopt them out. States like Oregon, Washington and Arizona have not seen an increase in small dogs in their shelters and are able to get them adopted much faster than we can here. This partnership helps us find homes for these little dogs and also helps them compete with puppy mills to prevent an overpopulation of unaltered small dogs in their areas.
We’d like to thank all of the volunteers who helped coordinate the transfer (especially Patty Ozenne), volunteers who transported the dogs out of state, and the organizations who took the dogs:
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona – 20 small dogs on October 3, 2009
- Ginger’s Pet Rescue of Washington State – 18 small dogs on October 17, 2009
- Collar of Hope Rescue of Washington State – 7 small dogs on October 17, 2009
Barbaree, Patty, Sugi and Marnie help get OAS dogs ready to go to Washington State!
OAS dogs on their way to Washington State!
Small dog adopt-a-thon! Sunday, Oct. 18, 12-5
The Oakland Animal Shelter has lots of lovable small dogs available for adoption. Find the right dog for you at our small dog adopt-a-thon!
On Sunday, October 18, from noon to 5 p.m., we’re hosting a special adopt-a-thon just for our small dogs at the shelter. Each adopted dog will receive a free gift (while supplies last)—but, more importantly, they’ll get a good home.
The $135 adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and microchipping. Please bring proof of home ownership or a document showing that your landlord allows dogs (a lease or a letter).
Check out all of our dogs and our other adoptable animals on Petfinder! See you Sunday, October 18!
Kitten Partnership!
Oakland Animal Services has partnered with other organizations to help foster and adopt kittens that come into the Shelter. Since the beginning of April, 2009, we have transferred 106 kittens and moms to these partners:
- 67 to Hopalong Animal Rescue
- 22 to Berkeley Humane Society
- 17 to East Bay SPCA (In addiiton, SPCA took in 86 orphaned kittens from the Oakland community at their Oakland shelter and clinic!)
Thank you to these groups!
We need more foster parents – please let us know or fill out this form if you are interested in fostering kittens!
Kitten Partnership!
Oakland Animal Services has partnered with other organizations to help foster and adopt kittens that come into the Shelter. Since the beginning of April, 2009, we have transferred 106 kittens and moms to these partners:
- 67 to Hopalong Animal Rescue
- 22 to Berkeley Humane Society
- 17 to East Bay SPCA (In addiiton, SPCA took in 86 orphaned kittens from the Oakland community at their Oakland shelter and clinic!)
Thank you to these groups!
We need more foster parents – please let us know or fill out this form if you are interested in fostering kittens!
Chopper – One of Our Favorite Dogs!
Meet Chopper! This mature guy has passed his temperament tests with both Oakland Animal Services and Bad Rap (Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls). Chopper was recently fostered in a volunteers home for a few nights, and got along great with his dog. He sleeps through the night, is crate trained, house broken, and loves to ride in the car. Chopper is a mellow kind of guy, and would probably do best in a home that can give him the affection and care he deserves. Want a VERY SPECIAL friend??? Chopper might just be what the doctor ordered! Please feel free to email his foster home for any further, go to: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13258188
New Hours – Oakland Animal Services
Oakland Animal Services Gets "Greenified"
The outside of Oakland Animal Services, at 1101 29th Ave in Oakland, is looking much more beautiful lately. A generous citizen donated through the Friends of Oakland Animal Shelter to improve the landscape outside the Shelter. Large maple trees have been planted in each of the outside play areas for the small dogs to give them lots of shade. The bushes that were overgrown have been trimmed back and the weeds have been removed. What a difference it has made!
