“Free Fur All”: OAS Gears up for Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon
Oakland Animal Services (OAS) is again gearing up for what promises to be a “Free Fur All” on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. That weekend, OAS will be taking part in the second annual Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon through animal foundation Maddie’s Fund. Throughout that weekend, dog and cat adoptions will be free to qualified homes—FREE—and, better yet, each successful adoption will earn the shelter a generous donation from Maddie’s Fund of anywhere from $500 to $1,500.
“This year, again, the event is open to both dog and cat adoptions—and puppies and kittens, too, of course—and regular OAS adoption guidelines will apply,” OAS Director Megan Webb explained. “We adopted 133 dogs and cats during the adoptathon last year, which raised $66,500 for the shelter! These funds were critical to offsetting a large decrease in the shelter’s operations budget and allowed us to pay for necessary veterinary supplies and equipment and medications for our shelter’s animals.”
Based on experience with last year’s adoptathon, Oakland Animal Services has created an even more streamlined adoption process for the two-day event. Anyone who is interested in adopting during the adoptathon can come to the shelter to be “pre-screened” beginning May 28 to make their experience finding an animal companion at the event as efficient as possible.
This year, animals from OAS will be featured not only at the city’s shelter at 1101 29th Avenue, Oakland, but also at the Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton and Woof Boarding and Day Care in San Ramon.
The umbrella event, “Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon,” which is open to animal groups in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, is the inspiration of Maddie’s Fund, the foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. The goal of Maddie’s Fund, named in memory of the Duffields’ miniature Schnauzer, Maddie, is to revolutionize “the status and well-being of companion animals,” by guaranteeing all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats loving homes. Through the event, Maddie’s Fund hopes to spotlight the many groups whose efforts save countless dogs and cats each year.
Hours for the Oakland Animal Services’ “Free Fur All” will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 5.
Oakland Animal Services’ animals will be shown at three locations during the event:
1. Oakland Animal Shelter, 1101 29th Ave, Oakland, CA
2. Stoneridge Shopping Mall,
One Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (Grand Court Event Area is the Command Center for this Pet Adoptathon)
3. Woof Doggy Day Care and Hotel
25 Beta Court Suite N
San Ramon, CA 94583
925-855-9663
