Comments on: Happy Tails

By: Greg Hug & Sumiko Saulson

Greg Hug & Sumiko Saulson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:18:14 +0000

When we moved to Oakland last October, Greg and I were very excited to learn that our landlord would allow us to have a cat (we’d wanted a cat for quite some time). We saw the Oakland Animal Service’s advertisement for a special on calico cats… but when we came in last Halloween to see the cats, we fell in love with what T.S. Elliot called a Jellicle cat… Bootsy (formerly Oreo), a big, laid-back but playful black and white tuxedo marking domestic short hair. We found out B&W as well as all-black cats had a hard time finding homes that time a year because people are superstitious about them.

Much like the cat in T.S. Elliot’s “Song of the Jellicles”, Bootsy (aka “Buts-buts” and “baby boy”)enjoys lounging all day, usually in his beloved cat bed by Greg’s desk. He also likes sunning himself in front of the screen door in the summer. At night, he wakes up and starts romping around the house, playing with our other cat, Marla. His favorite cat toy is a piece of cloth on a stick he likes chasing around – just like the one he was playing with at OAS when we first met him. He also really loves to eat, and put on a lot of weight in the first few months, but we’ve since managed to get his weight back under control with some veterinary advice (which was to put him on a portion-controlled all-dry-food diet and eliminate any wet food). And now he is once again slender and lithe enough to jump up into his favorite window, right above Greg’s easy chair.

We can’t thank OAS – and especially the patient and knowledgeable Jen – for all of their help in finding the right cat for us. The staff had familiarized themselves with the personalities, temperaments, and special needs of all of the cats.

They addressed our concerns about how each cat would get along with us, my frequently visiting family members (including some children). They even answered questions about the “cat who came with the place”, a petite adolescent calico (Marla) the last tenant left behind, who was living in the yard and occasionally tried to barge into “her” house. Bootsy – who was a stray when he was picked up by OAS – is very able to hold his own with other cats. He seems to really enjoy domestic life and shows zero interest in going outside.

Happily, we were able to get the young semi-wild calico re-domesticated (the Oakland SPCA told us that cats under a year are usually able to acclimate themselves to house cat life) and by January she was calm enough that we were able to take her in to get her fixed (at Oakland SPCA) and get her her shots. We had to keep her inside after her surgery, so in January we became a two cat home.

Here is a picture of Bootsy in his well-used cat bed.

By: Sabine Westerweck

Sabine Westerweck — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:41:26 +0000

Thank you so much for your patience and advice with our bunny bonding. Our bunny was a little lonely, so after a few visits to OAS and several e-mail chats with Debbie, we finally had a match made in heaven. These two are totally in love and are constantly grooming and snuggling each other. Thanks again to all the bunny volunteers who helped us out and let our 2 little boys hold every single bunny they could get their hands on!

By: Tammy Brown

Tammy Brown — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:50:56 +0000

We were looking for a dog that loved balls and kids. The staff recommended Possum, a pit bull mix. I was a little wary of a pit bull, but my son fell in love with her. He and the staff were right – Possum is awesome! She has so much personality – my son and his friends love her and she LOVES kids (she thinks she’s one of them). I would definitely recommend a pit bull to families with children (as long as the OAS staff recommends the dog).

By: Melissa Bowman

Melissa Bowman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:06:19 +0000

My bunny Max and I lost our companion, Delilah, over a month ago and it was apparent that he needed a new friend. He tried dating a couple of other bunnies, but nothing seemed to be working out for him and he was becoming more depressed.
In earnest I visited petfinder and found a picture of “bubbles.” I went to the Oakland Animal Services to “screen” her for him and what I found was a delightful, sweet bunny who I hoped would make Max an ideal mate!
I brought Max in for his date with “bubbles” (her name has since been changed to Chloe) and it was love at first sight!
My previous experience of bonding Delilah and Max was quite arduous and took several months before they “clicked.” With Chloe and Max, they were bonded within the first 24 hours and have been living happily together ever since!
Thank you so much Oakland Animal Services for helping my Max find somebunny new to love.

By: Devante

Devante — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:05:27 +0000

We have adopted Gordon on June 12. He is the center of attention in the house. Gordon loves car rides, he is ready to go as soon as the car door opens. He also likes cuddling and is very affectionate. Gordon is very playful and has plenty of playmates. I want to thank OAS for giving us the opportunity to adopt this adorable pet.

By: Heather Church

Heather Church — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:59:34 +0000

On July 2, 2010, I adopted “Blue,” a quiet, gentle kitty with the description of “Very mellow.” He was bony, very stressed and overgrooming himself to the point of having no fur in some spots. I really didn’t know what to expect when I got him home. I live alone, so I figured at the very least, the calm environment would do him some good. Boy, was that an understatement. Blue, renamed to Dexter, stopped overgrooming immediately, and his fur is already much thicker and shiny. There was no acclimation period – he loved his new home right away. He is so intelligent, quite possibly the smartest cat I’ve ever seen. He wakes me up 5 minutes before my alarm goes off (how does he know that??) by playing with my feet under the covers, and follows me everywhere as I get ready for work. He eats on a regular schedule, and on top of Science Diet, receives chopped chicken or turkey every morning after he eats his food. He’s so affectionate and interactive, and even knows his new name. He is a very, very happy, good-natured boy, and I can’t thank you enough for making his adoption such a wonderful experience for me.

By: Jim Tibbs and Philip Anderson

Jim Tibbs and Philip Anderson — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:39:23 +0000

We are thrilled to have a new family member as a result of the OAS Adoptathon. Portia came to us with a rather troubled history that included three former names (Gidget, Kyria and Blondie) and a hand written warning note from the previous owners that gave up on her.
She was clearly meant to be a part of our family because she fit right in from day one. She has become fast friends with our older dog k.d. who is living with cancer. They run, frolic and play together like two puppies with endless energy. We take them to work with us each day and enjoy watching the antics that result from their play sessions. Portia seems truly grateful to have found a home where she is loved and we feel blessed to have her as a part of our lives.

By: Kristina Drobocky

Kristina Drobocky — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:06:47 +0000

I adopted Jackson (formerly Pongo) from OAS last November. I have to say it was the best decision I have ever made. Growing up, we always had pure bred animals, but when I went to look for a dog last year I really wanted to get one from the shelter and I definitely did not want to go the breeder route. Jackson is a Pit/Dalmatian cross and the best dog I have ever had. He is smart, loving and just the right mix of couch/bed potato and trail runner. The day I adopted Jackson I think I went to every local shelter in the East Bay before I found him! When I walked into OAS I knew that it was going to be a good experience and then I set my eyes on my boy!

He is almost a year old now. We hike all over the East Bay – he especially loves afternoons at Point Isabel making all kinds of new friends at the dog park. He has stayed in hotels with me, gone to work and somewhere decided that he is actually a water dog…even though he hasn’t quite figured out how to swim with his mouth closed. My three cats grudgingly have admitted that he is not that bad. I love starting my day with him and the smile he puts on my face every day with some new trick, sound or goofy look. No matter how stressful work is, it all goes away when we hit a trail and go for a long walk.

I am so grateful for the volunteers and people who support OAS – without them, I never would have found Jackson. Thank you!!!!

By: Lisa Oyama

Lisa Oyama — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:08:15 +0000

We scoured the internet and the local animal shelters to find our puppy — and we found him at Oakland Animal Services on Mother’s Day. Our “little” puppy is getting to be quite a big boy! We call him “Maki” — or Makizushi, Macchiato, Makimon, Norimaki, Futomaki, The Makinator — and he answers (most of the time). He is Mr. Social and loves to play with other dogs, and if the dog isn’t interested, he will settle for meeting the dog’s owner. Dog or human, he loves them all.
Maki loves going to puppy class, the dog park, Point Isabel and basically anywhere we have taken him. He even stayed with us in Monterey at a fantastic dog-friendly hotel (Portola Hotel & Spa) and romped on Carmel Beach. He has taken well to riding in the car and walking on leash — and we enjoy just having him around being a dog. It has been a big adjustment having a puppy around, but it has been well worth the effort!
Thank you, OAS, for bringing us the newest member of our family. He’s a game-changer, in a good way

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:25:00 +0000

Thanks to OAS for being so patient with my newly adopted cat Diamond. Diamond had been at the shelter for nearly 4 months, and was showing signs of stress and frustration from not having a fair go of things lately. This made him far from the ideal ‘lap’ cat, but during our initial visit he showed signs of a more affectionate side when we gently rubbed noses and he rubbed his cheek against the bill of my hat. I really felt like Diamond was a fun-loving, happy cat inside who just needed the reassurance of a stable, loving family. I’m very happy to say that Diamond has proven me right, and his personality is a total 180 degree switch from when he was at the shelter. He truly was a Diamond in the rough, and is now shinning bright. For the past week I’ve been the lucky recipient of daily licks, purring, and lap-naps from a most appreciative and happy cat. Hooray for my new “Buddie” who now has a second chance at life thanks to the OAS and their conscious effort to find a good home for one of their more overlooked residents.