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(Oakland, CA) The Oakland Police Department Animal Services Division is proud to introduce Megan Webb as its new director. Webb accepted the position of Oakland Animal Services (OAS) director on April 11, 2009.

“I’m excited about working closely with staff, volunteers and community members to find innovative ways to expand our services and improve the quality of life of the animals in our care,” Webb said in regard to the announcement.

A native and resident of Oakland, she has been with Oakland Animal Services since 2002 as the community outreach program manager. Among her endeavors, Megan has built and maintains a volunteer program of over 150 volunteers who donated close to 13,000 hours last year. In 2007, Webb co-founded the Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter (FOAS), a successful 501c3 nonprofit that brings additional funding and attention to the shelter to improve the lives of the animals in its care.

Webb has successfully administered all aspects of Oakland Animal Services since 2002 and previously served as the director of a regional and statewide public health project. With over a decade of management and animal shelter experience, a BA in biology from UC-Santa Cruz, and an MBA from UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Webb’s background is a solid fit for the director’s role. Augmenting these credentials, Webb is also a certified conflict mediator, has created and taught courses for the Humane Society of the United States, and speaks Spanish – making her a well-rounded appointee.

Oakland Animal Shelter will be closed from 12-3pm fo Friday, March 27th for the funeral of the four Police Officers. We will reopen from 3-7pm on Friday.

The Oakland Animal Shelter would like to offer condolences to the friends and family of the Oakland Police Department Officers killed in Saturday’s tragic events. Our hearts go out to all members of OPD during this difficult time. We rely on these Officers to provide assistance and back up for our Animal Control Officers in the field.

As a member of the Oakland Police Department, Animal Control Officers have built strong relationships with Oakland Police Officers. We have witnessed the dedication with which OPD Officers serve the public’s interest and the interests of animals in the City of Oakland. Whether it is the extraordinary actions of the Police Officers responding to our last cockfighting call which led to the arrest of 69 people or the action of a single Police Officer responding to a call of an injured animal in the middle of the night, the dedication with which these Police Officers perform their duties is obvious.

Though responding to animal calls is a small, relatively unknown, responsibility of Police Officers in Oakland it is a duty they perform with compassion and a responsibility they take seriously. Countless times OPD Officers have transported injured dogs and cats to the emergency vet clinic in the middle of the night, brought them to the shelter for safe housing, and responded to and removed animals from cruel situations. They have issued countless citations for Failure to Provide Proper care to owners of neglected animals and have shown up in force to protect the safety of Animal Control Officers responding to animal calls.

The animals of Oakland and the citizens who care about them owe a debt of gratitude to the Oakland Police officers who provide these invaluable services.

Saturday’s tragic situation reminds us all of the dangers these Officers face everyday protecting human and animal life in Oakland. We, at Oakland Animal Services, offer our support to our fellow members of the Oakland Police Department and their families during this difficult time and would like to thank all of the Police Officers in Oakland for the job they do everyday. Oakland Police Officers have always shown up for us and for the animals of Oakland and we will never forget that.

We will be closing the Oakland Animal Shelter at 5PM Tuesday March 24th in honor of the slain Officers and so that our staff and volunteers can attend the vigil planned by City Hall.

Each Spring the Shelter is inundated with kittens and mom cats with their babies because unaltered cats in the community breed.  The result is hundreds of orphaned kittens and stray moms with their kittens with no where to go but the Shelter.  We will need people to volunteer to foster kittens.  If you are interested, please complete this  FORM .  Thank you!

On Saturday, February 28, 2009, Oakland Police Department (OPD) raided an East Oakland warehouse where a cockfight was in progress with approximately 100 spectators. Oakland Police arrested 69 individuals, impounded five cars with roosters, seized $4,400 in cash from the yard and from spectators, and gathered boxes of cockfighting paraphernalia. Oakland Animal Services handled the 118 birds found on the property, many of whom were severely injured or dead.

Cockfighting is illegal in California, and the possession of roosters is prohibited in Oakland. Of the 69 people arrested, 67 were cited and then released for attending the cockfight and/or possession of birds for fighting or cockfighting implements—misdemeanors that can carry heavy fines. Two men were arrested and taken into custody; one who stated he resides at the property was charged with allowing cockfighting on the premises.  The second man was charged with aiding and abetting since he entered the cockfighting ring and tried to grab the fighting birds when OPD officers entered the scene. OPD also seized cash and five cars with roosters that were related to the fight.

When animal control officers arrived, they found two roosters, one dead and one dying, in the constructed “fight pit,” 28 recently dead birds in a hole in the yard, 10 dead birds inside, and 80 live birds. Approximately half of the live birds were moderately to severely injured. These injuries consisted of lacerations from fighting with “gaffs,” extremely sharp knifes that are attached to their feet. As the birds fight, these knives slice and cut, until one bird is killed and the other is declared the “winner.” Animal control officers humanely euthanized all of the seized fighting cocks because of their extreme aggression; eight hens from the property were brought back to the shelter to be adopted.

“Cockfighting is extremely brutal and inhumane and often goes hand in hand with other serious crimes. I’m proud that Oakland Police Department takes cockfighting seriously and is acting to decrease this crime in the city” stated Oakland Animal Services Director Adam Parascandola. “Captain Anthony Rachal from Area 3 and his staff under Sgt. Michelle Allison’s direction executed a well coordinated raid on the property leading to the arrest of 69 people involved in this heinous activity.”

Donate to Baby Chloe

Pomeranian puppy suffers broken front legs.

The Oakland Police Department arrested Kem Eap on February 20, 2009, for breaking both front legs of a four-month-old Pomeranian puppy. The Alameda County District Attorney’s office has charged Eap with two felony counts of animal abuse. Oakland Police Department’s Criminal Investigation and Oakland Animal Services are investigating the incident.

An anonymous caller informed the Oakland Police Department of the injured puppy, and both police and animal control officers responded. Baby Chloe, who was found hiding under a television set when officers arrived, was unable to use her front legs and had to depend on only her hind legs to stand.

Baby Chloe has now had extensive surgery to repair her fractured legs. Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter, a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to helping improve the quality of life for shelter animals, is collecting donations to pay for Baby Chloe’s surgery and for the veterinary care of other injured shelter animals. Donations can be sent to Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter at PO Box 3132, Oakland, CA 94609, or online at www.oaklandsanimals.org.

“We are focusing on assisting with the investigation of this case and ensuring that this puppy makes a full recovery from her serious injuries,” states Adam Parascandola, Oakland Animal Services Director.

Little Lance, the dog who nearly a year ago was beaten, shot and thrown from a moving vehicle, has been adopted! He is nearly fully recovered and will have an amazing life in his new home in Nob Hill. This is Little Lance’s story:

UPDATE 8/1/08:  On Friday night, August 1, Oakland police responded to a call of two injured dogs on the side of the road. When they arrived, one dog—a female, miniature pinscher—was dead, and a small male mixed breed dog was lying on the ground severely injured and in pain. Neighbors in the area said they had heard several loud gunshots, a car door open, then a dog screaming, and the sound of a car racing off. A local resident stated that she went outside immediately after she heard the commotion and found the two dogs in the gutter.

The female dog was examined by an Oakland Animal Shelter veterinarian and was determined to have died from a gunshot wound to the neck. Her back leg and spine were also shattered. The surviving dog is currently being treated at the Oakland Animal Shelter at 1101 29th Ave. He has a broken back and pelvis and a possible gunshot wound to the neck. He will need further surgery to wire his broken bones back together and a foster home in which to recuperate.

”The attack on these dogs was extremely vicious,” says Adam Parascandola, Oakland Animal Shelter director. “Not only were these dogs shot and thrown from a car, but the massive trauma to both dog’s spines and legs leads me to question if they were also previously beaten. It is clear that whoever is responsible for this crime is capable of extraordinary violence.”

UPDATE: 8/12/08 – Noon:  Little Lance is going to need an MRI, multiple x-rays, intensive surgery to insert a plate into his back, and further surgery to hopefully salvage his injured leg.

UPDATE: 8/12/08 at 8:00pm We now have enough donations to cover the cost of Little Lance’s MRI, which he needed before surgery! Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital in Redwood City will be doing the procedure at 2:00pm tomorrow.

UPDATE: 8/12/08 at 8:35pm: Little Lance is doing really well–the veterinarian was able to decrease his pain medication, so he is more alert and showing Shelter staff his sweet personality. Little Lance is even giving kisses, sitting up, and wagging his tail!

UPDATE 8/13/08 at 11am: Pet Food Express has just donated $4,000 for any information on the identity of Little Lance’s abuser(s), which brings our total reward offered to $5,000.

UPDATE 8/13/08 at 1:00pm: An Oakland Animal Services volunteer arrived at the Shelter to take Little Lance to his MRI appointment in Redwood City. After being placed into the volunteer’s car, Little Lance stood up and tried to jump out of his crate. He yelped in pain when he sat back down, but his verve and mobility is a very encouraging sign!

UPDATE 8/13/08 at 5:00pm: Little Lance is back from his MRI in Redwood City. When I opened the car door when he arrived back at the shelter, I was surprised to see how perky he looked. He was sitting up and very alert. I took him to the vet room and fed him (he wasn’t allowed to eat until after the MRI), and he gulped his food! (He’s only been willing to eat canned cat food, which we allow him to have since he needs to put on some weight.)

UPDATE 8/13/08 at 7:00pm: For current video of Little Lance, go to [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/txeLx0zgaCg&hl=en&fs=1]

UPDATE 8/14/08 at 12:00pm: The East Bay SPCA has contributed $5,000 to the reward fund for a total of $10,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for killing and injuring the two dogs.

UPDATE 8/14/08 at 1:45pm: We sent Little Lance for his surgery today. His MRI results showed that he has severe spinal chord compression. The surgeons will be shaving off a portion of his vertebrae to relieve the pressure. The MRI showed that the pressure is causing him to be fecally incontinent; we hope that with surgery this will be resolved. They will also be stabilizing his pelvic fracture with a plate, neuter him, and fix his badly swollen eye. Little Lance should be returning to the Shelter tomorrow afternoon.

UPDATE 8/14/08 at 7:00pm: Little Lance’s surgeon just called and said that the pup’s operation went really well! Little Lance had a large bone fragment removed from his spinal canal in addition to the top of his femur bone. He will stay at the veterinary clinic for two to three days while they monitor him. See video of Lance after surgery.

UPDATE 8/15/08 at 12:00 pm: I just talked to Lance’s surgeon, who said that he is doing quite well! Lance had significant spinal chord compression from the large bone fragment that was in his spinal canal. Luckily, none of the root nerves had been cut by the fragment and remain intact, so there is hope that the damage will not be permanent. It is now a waiting process to see if Little Lance’s body can completely heal so he can regain the full function on his left side, along with urinary and bladder continence.

His left rear leg was also very damaged. Although they performed surgery on his leg, it is likely he won’t regain his full range of motion. He will need significant physical therapy to heal.

UPDATE 8/16/08 at 4:00 pm: The veterinary clinic called today to give an update on Little Lance. He’s doing really well and they have been taking him outside for potty breaks–he’s even able to put weight on his back legs! He really perks up when he’s outside and actually seems happy and excited. We are concerned that he is still fecally incontinent, but he will continue to receive physical therapy every two hours. We are so thrilled that generous donations from the public made Little Lance’s surgery and post-operative care possible!

UPDATE 8/18/08 at 12:00pm: I spoke with Little Lance’s surgeon today and she said he is doing incredibly well! He’s apparently been trying to run! He is not wanting to put weight on his back leg, but that should get better with physical therapy. She said he’s a total lap dog and just loves attention. I’m going over to the clinic to visit him and will bring back photos!

Also, we are planning a press conference about Lance on Friday, August 22nd from 9-10am.

UPDATE 8/22/08: Little Lance had a big day today! He was featured in a Press Conference at the Shelter to provide an update on his condition. His veterinarian, Dr. Kim Carlson, brought him to the Shelter for the first time since his surgery. He’s walking and looking fantastic…so different than the dog who was unable to sit up and was in so much pain just a few weeks ago! After the press conference, we took Little Lance to his new foster home. He was very excited when he got there and checked out the entire house and yard. His foster has two dogs and one of them is a little min-pin, like the female he had been with who was killed. Little Lance has his first physical therapy appointment next week.

UDPATE 9/3/08: Little Lance in his new foster home – VIDEO.

UPDATE: 10/1/08: Little Lance came in to the Shelter today with his foster mother, Nadine, for a visit with the Shelter vet. It was incredible to see how well he is doing! He is actually standing on his bad leg and almost putting weight on it! He is still wearing a diaper because of incontinence, but that’s starting to resolve.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ruNA_6dDPg]

Little Lance giving kisses to his vet, Dr. Jyothi Robertson

UPDATE: 12/25/09 – Little Lance at home with his foster family on Christmas:

UPDATE 12/29/09:  Little Lance visits the Shelter and plays with a new friend Ethan:

UPDATE:  Little Lance has been adopted!!!  Here is a note his new family sent to us from Little Lance – “I made it safely to my brand new home.  I was a bit nervous on the car ride but stuck close to my new Dad.  When we got home, I got to go out on my new roof deck.  After we settled in, Dad took me on a long walk to Lafayette Dog Park and Alta Vista Park.  I met lots of new friends and walked like a champ!  The busy City streets didn’t seem to bother me one bit!  Dad also says I’m a quick hill climber! Now I’m at home resting in my bed (see attached)-it’s been quite a day! Love to All, Little Lance”

2009 Calendars of Oakland Animal Shelter animals are now available! There are four different calendars, 1) Mixture of dogs, cats and rabbits 2) Dogs, 3) Cats and 4) Rabbits. These photos were all taken by dedicated Oakland Animal Shelter volunteers to help publicize animals for adoption!

Press Release from the Mayor’s Office Regarding Shut Down

OAKLAND ANIMAL SHELTER WILL NOT CLOSE DURING CITY’S MANDATORY BUSINESS CLOSURE

Oakland, CA — Mayor Ron Dellums announced today that the Oakland Animal Shelter will be exempt from part of the mandatory business closure scheduled for December 24, 2008 through January 5, 2009 to protect the welfare of animals and the community.

“It was always our intent to maintain staffing of the Oakland Animal Shelter during the mandatory business closures so that neither the animals in our care nor our community would suffer,” said Mayor Dellums. “Still, I applaud staff and the animal welfare community for coming together to arrive at a creative solution that balances the need to sustain the vital services provided by the Oakland Animal Shelter with the economic reality that we must cut costs to close a $37 million budget deficit.”

The Oakland Animal Shelter will remain open as usual on the two weekends during this holiday closure period, as well as Monday, December 29 – Wednesday, December 31, 2008, when other City facilities are closed. The Oakland Animal Shelter will close on all the remaining, regularly scheduled mandatory business closure days in 2009, and may close on an additional three (3) Fridays spread out over the remainder of the fiscal year (through June 30, 2009).

Oakland Animal Shelter Schedule During Citywide Business Closure

Date
Open or Closed
Reason for Closure

Wednesday 12/24/08
Closed
City Holiday

Thursday 12/25/08
Closed
City Holiday

Friday 12/26/08
Closed
Citywide Mandatory Business Closure

Saturday, 12/27/08
OPEN

Sunday, 12/28/08
OPEN

Monday, 12/29/08
OPEN

Tuesday, 12/30/08
OPEN

Wednesday, 12/31/08
OPEN

Thursday 1/1/09
Closed
City Holiday

Friday 1/2/09
Closed
Citywide Mandatory Business Closure

Saturday, 1/3/09
OPEN

Sunday, 1/4/09
OPEN

“This is really a win-win solution,” said Adam Parascandola, Director of the Oakland Animal Shelter. “We are grateful to the many animal welfare and advocacy organizations as well as community members who have committed their support and resources to help us through this difficult period and ensure that animals don’t needlessly suffer the ravages of the economic crisis the City is facing. I am pleased that we will be fully operational on all the days we are open during the holiday period.”