We’ve been working hard to find ways to improve the lives of the animals while they are in our care. Small dogs are often extremely frightened when they come into the Shelter since they are surrounded by much larger and much louder dogs in the kennels. We wanted to find a way to house these little dogs in a new way. So, we found a room to remodel and with the help of multiple volunteers we repainted the room and filled it with comfy furniture and bedding to make “Smallville”. Now, little dogs will live in this room together without cages and away from the noise of the “big dog” kennels. We have already noticed a major change in the behavior of the first small dogs that we’ve placed in this room. They are much less stressed and outgoing! 
News
Murals Beautify Our Socializing Rooms
Lynda Dann (www.lyndadann), artist and Oakland Animal Shelter volunteer, painted each of the Shelter’s animal socializing rooms with themed murals. Dann donated a large amount of her time for this project and the rest of the costs were co-sponsored by Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter (www.oaklandsanimals.org) and Pet Food Express (www.petfoodexpress.com).
The staff and volunteers of the Oakland Animal Shelter have been making the Shelter warmer and more inviting for visitors. “Many people imagine animal control facilities as dark, depressing institutions and therefore won’t adopt from them” says Oakland Animal Shelter Director Adam Parascandola. “Our goal is to make our Shelter a fun, comfortable destination spot for families to meet all of our adoptable animals. These murals are an important part of this project.”
Lynda Dann has transformed each socializing room to make the visitor feel as if they are standing in the center of a garden, undersea world, and an expansive meadow. Dann says “The first two murals, “Zoe’s Garden”, and “Mr. Zip’s Aquarium, honor the spirits of two treasured cats who saw both myself and my husband through some difficult journeys. The third mural, “Vincent’s Magic Mountains”, celebrates the memory of hikes taken through the years with my late brother and our various family dogs.”
Dann has lived in Oakland for over 23 years and has been a Shelter volunteer for nearly three. Her paintings and artwork depict real or imagined objects one might find in nature. Dann says “This project is very special to me. I wanted to create environments for the cats and dogs by giving them magical imagery as backdrops.”
Oakland Tribune article, http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_8983340
Sac Bee Features Volunteer- Jarrod Cooper
Jarrod Cooper, Oakland Animal Shelter volunteer and players for the Raiders, is featured in the Sacramento Bee this week for his work at the Shelter: http://www.sacbee.com/raiders/story/764231.html. Photo from Sacramento Bee.
The Dog Coop is Open!
Its a BIG day at the Oakland Animal Shelter! Our new outdoor dog exercise area (The Coop) is complete and ready for dogs! We now have ten, large areas for dogs to play outside. Volunteer, Jarrod Cooper, donated the funds through the Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter to have the area cemented and the kennels built! We are now able to get dogs outside throughout the day which will significantly improve their quality of life at the Shelter! http://eyespot.com/share?cmd=permalink&r=0XCzIG2UEokNkXiEJW0yIWmmdR
Cooper, Raider's Player and OAS Volunteer, Featured in Chronicle
Cooper, Raider’s Player and OAS Volunteer, Featured in Chronicle
Press Conference at OAS: Michael Vick Dogs in Oakland
Example News Stories:
Oakland Raiders players will welcome dogs from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels who have been selected by BAD RAP to be re-homed in the Bay Area on January 25, 2008. Raiders players will discuss their new partnership with BAD RAP and Oakland Animal Services to improve the lives of dogs in Oakland.
Ten pit bulls from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels are now in the Bay Area in BAD RAP’s foster care program and will soon be available for adoption. BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls), a nonprofit pit bull group, extensively evaluated all 49 dogs from the Vick property and found that 48 of them were safe with people. They selected 10 of the most outgoing and social dogs to bring back to the Bay Area for care, training and re-homing.
Donna Reynolds, Executive Director of BAD RAP, states, “These dogs serve as examples of how pit bulls are often victimized and how they deserve the same consideration as other breeds: a chance to be treated humanely, comforted, and viewed as individuals.”
The Michael Vick situation underscores the abuse and neglect of dogs that takes place throughout the country. BAD RAP has partnered with Oakland Raider’s players and Oakland Animal Services to create Code 597, a program to address this issue in Oakland. The effect on the public of seeing animals victimized by high profile and popular celebrities, such as Michael Vick, can serve to reinforce ideas that animals are objects to be used.
The goal of Code 597 will be to combat these images by showing positive role models like Jarrod Cooper, #40 of the Oakland Raiders and a dedicated Oakland Animal Shelter volunteer, and providing resources to community members to improve the lives of their animals. Oakland Animal Services Director, Adam Parascandola, says that “Abuse and neglect of animals is an everyday occurrence here in Oakland. Code 597 is an exciting and innovative partnership that will allow OAS to more effectively prevent animal cruelty through education and by providing assistance to Oakland citizens to help them be more responsible and humane guardians of their animals.”
Video – Jarrod Cooper Talks About Volunteering at the Shelter
Watch this video of Jarrod Cooper, Oakland Raider’s player #40 and dedicated Oakland Animal Shelter volunter, talking about what its like to volunteer at the Shelter.
