Kemo came to Oakland Animal Services (OAS) more than six months ago as a stray. Blind from a degenerative disorder, the big, loveable dog has done his tail-wagging best to secure himself a new home. Despite the added challenge a blind dog brings with him, Kemo has come close to making that leap several times. But each time, for one reason or another, the fit just hadn’t been right. And then came Phoenix House.

Kemo will live in Phoenix House—a cottage located on the Phoenix Pack grounds. The house was originally built for another blind pit bull, Phoenix, who was blinded from wounds sustained when he was used in dogfighting. The cottage is equipped with everything a blind dog needs. It is climate controlled and provides the consistency needed by a blind dog: permanent furniture placement, no unexpected sounds, and a stable routine. These characteristics—along with a safe outdoor space where a blind dog can stretch his legs without injuring himself—were meant to give Phoenix a feeling of security. Now Phoenix House will do the same for OAS’s Kemo.

OAS Director Megan Webb is excited about the Kemo/Phoenix Pack fit. “Phoenix Pack is a pit bull rescue organization that has stepped up to assist with dogfighting busts for more than nine years now,” Webb explained. Through the staff’s breed knowledge as well as the organization’s thousands of hands-on hours and advanced training, Phoenix Pack has secured its place as St. Louis’s expert in the area of dogfighting and the pit bull breed. The group is also a member of the Pit Bull Rescue Alliance (PBRA), which is made up of independent organizations dedicated to pit bull rescue as well as education about and advocacy for the breed.

Moving to Phoenix House will open a new world for Kemo. After he settles into the cottage, Phoenix Pack trainers, behaviorists, and volunteers will visit Kemo several times a day, each focusing on his or her area of expertise to ensure Kemo receives ongoing stimulus, exercise, and interaction with humans and other animals. With Kemo, they will specifically target any dog/dog issues, moving him steadily toward his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Therapy Dogs International (TDI) designations and training him to become a breed ambassador who may even visit schools.  Along the way, he will undergo ongoing temperament testing and evaluations to ensure proper placement in a forever home. 

“The best part,” Webb noted, “is that Kemo is guaranteed a home at Phoenix House for as long as he needs it.” 

Doggie goggles in place, Kemo will be leaving for St. Louis in the next week or two. Phoenix Pack and Friends of Oakland Animal Shelter, the foundation arm of OAS, will share the cost of Kemo’s trip to his new home.  It is hoped that this is one ride that will be smooth sailing for a dog who has hung in there, despite it all.

Five years ago, when I signed up to volunteer, I didn’t know that OAS was an open-access municipal shelter. My intentions were simple: I wanted to spend time with dogs and to give back to the community. I thought that volunteering would be about playing with dogs and puppies. After awhile I began to notice the staggering number of new animals that come in through the doors of OAS and the challenges that result from that overpopulation. As an open-access shelter, OAS is the only facility in Oakland that takes in any and all animals, no matter what breed or species, age or condition. Then it’s our job—the staff and volunteers—to care for them and find them good homes, whether that’s adopting them out directly or transferring them to one of the many private rescue groups we work with.

Today I think of OAS as ground zero of saving animals’ lives. I’m constantly amazed by how much OAS accomplishes. Unlike nonprofit, limited access shelters, OAS is a city agency that has the additional mandate of responsibilities such as picking up sick, dead, or stray animals in Oakland; licensing animals; investigating dog bites and potentially-dangerous-dog cases; and gathering evidence in abuse cases and seizing animals that are being cared for inadequately. OAS does all of this while managing hundreds of animals under one roof and working within a tight budget in a city struggling with a deficit. (It reminds me of that quote about Ginger Rogers doing everything that Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.)

While I started volunteering because of the animals, I kept coming back because of the people. I had wanted to give back to the community, but I’m the one who has benefited from the amazing group of dedicated people at OAS. It includes incredibly generous volunteers and staff who give so much of their time to both the animals and to each other. They give me the courage and support to keep going when times are tough.

It’s not always easy volunteering at an open-access shelter where euthanasia is a sad reality. We mourn for the lives that we can’t save: dogs who come in covered with scars from dog fighting, so undersocialized that they cannot relate to other dogs or to people; roosters seized from fighting busts who have nowhere to go. One thing I’ve always felt good about is knowing that there is no timeline for how long an animal will stay with us. Some of the cuter or more unusual breeds get adopted out in a week; others stay with us for over a year and become volunteer favorites.

For me, I’ve found that the best way to cope with the sadness of these shelter realities is to fight on in their memory, to work even harder to help the new animals that are coming in our doors every day. If you have an animal companion, then you know how much animals help keep you rooted in the present moment; it’s a gift. The shelter is a stressful place to live: animals do not get the space and attention that they need to fully express themselves. That’s why letting a dog out of his kennel to run free and be a dog makes a world of difference in his life. That’s the difference that we make. That’s why we are here.

Every time I walk into OAS I see this plaque at the entrance, inscribed with a quote by Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” It reminds me why I keep doing this. Homeless animals are part of our community, and caring for them is a community responsibility, from the most passive end of the spectrum—paying taxes that fund OAS—to the most active—volunteering.

When I started volunteering, I had no idea what I was getting into. Yes, my work has made a difference in the lives of animals, and it’s given back to the community—just as I had hoped—but the biggest difference, the unexpected difference, is that it’s also changed my life. It’s made me a better person: a better dog handler; an advocate for animals; a member of an active, compassionate community. I am proud to be part of OAS.

— Yvonne, dog volunteer

Kittens are only $25, or two for $40, this Saturday only. Plus, adopt any already spayed/neutered adult cat FREE!

Flying kitty!

Sunday, 7/11: Dog Days of Summer, Jack London Square! (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

The East Bay SPCA is hosting its annual Adopt-a-thon in the heart of Jack London Square, and OAS will be there!  Come meet some of our adoptable dogs, cats and rabbits while you visit the farmer’s market!

The OAS volunteers and staff worked as a team to make this event happen!  To highlight some of their contributions:

-All of the mentors for their planning, preparation and input into the event!  And, for performing the “screening” part of each day which made it possible for us to do so many adoptions so efficiently and effectively!
-The ACO’s who completed the adoptions and dealt with red flags and the ACA’s who jumped in where needed
-Members of the publicity team (Amy B, Pat L, Yvonne, and Katie) for creating the press release and PSA’s to get the word out! And, to all of the volunteers who spread this info to their personal networks! We sure spread the word!  We were picked up on multiple TV channels, newspapers, radio stations and internet sites!
-Martha for working so hard to get the animal’s ready for the event – organizing spaying/neutering through UC Davis and OAS, ensuring temperament testing was completed and moving animals throughout the Shelter….a huge task!
-Yvonne for designing the flyer and forms for the day!
-The photographers (including Warren, Enjel, Tim, Martha and Michelle) who took the photos of all of the dogs and cats who were available for adoption – including those in the back!  For example, Tim and Martha took over 1000 photos of dogs on one day and then Tim reviewed and uploaded them to use! A big job!  The photographers made it possible to post their photos on the internet and in the adoption gallery – this was a huge part of getting so many animals adopted.
-Roger for creating a system to merge all of the data about each animal, including their photos, into individual profiles that he printed.  This was a big job!  Thank you to Martha and all of the volunteers who helped get this info into the system!
-Amy Haddix for taking on the tough role of being the “lead volunteer” on the first day during the busiest, most confusing time.  We could not have gotten through it without her hard work, leadership and organization!
-FOAS for covering the cost of all of the preparation for the event and providing lunch for everyone on both days!
-Chui for jumping in and doing anything that was needed to get the work done – including moving lots of heavy furniture to set up the classroom.
-All of the volunteers (and some of their friends/family) who participated in the event – showing animals, greeting members of the public, directing parking, setting and cleaning up, etc!  I had so many visitors tell me how welcomed they felt at the Shelter and how friendly the volunteers were! 
-Michelle, a rabbit volunteer, who worked at the greeting table every session of both days and provided important consistency;
-Elena and Tanya for decorating the Shelter.
-Mentors, including Steve and Mary, who helped get dog/cat testing done;
-Pi for grooming so many of the dogs who went from disgusting to distinguished to adopted because of her grooming skills!
-Lauren for entering all of the adoptions into our database and Roger for copying and tracking all of the paperwork to submit to Maddie’s.
-Members of the OAS vet staff who worked so hard to get so many of the animals spayed and neutered so they could leave immediately after adoption. They will be working hard this week to get the rest of the animals who were adopted spayed/neutered!
-Jan who set up Deloitte’s Impact Day at OAS for June 11th.  50 employees of Deloitte (and some OAS volunteers) came to OAS and beautified the Shelter the day before the event!

This was an event that took a large number of folks who each played a critical role in making it work.  Thank you to all of you!

(just one of our very happy adopters)

Join us for a real “Free Fur All” when Oakland Animal Services hosts the Maddie’s Fund event “Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon” on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13. That weekend, Maddie’s Fund will cover all adoption costs for both dogs and cats. Better yet, for each successful OAS adoption at the event, Maddie’s Fund will donate $500 to OAS!

Special extended hours for the “Free Fur All” will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

“We’re preparing a large group of staff and volunteers for the two days to help as many people as possible find a dog or cat companion,” OAS Director Megan Webb explained. There will be a wide variety of cats and dogs available to adopt, including kittens, puppies, and small dogs.

“This is such an exciting opportunity—people not only get a wonderful animal companion for free but also make it possible for OAS to get $500 when they adopt,” Webb stated. “And then we’ll use these donations to improve the quality of life of animals at the shelter.”

Webb pointed out that the regular OAS adoption guidelines will apply that weekend.  And, although animals cannot be adopted free in advance of the event—and no animals can be put on “hold”—OAS encourages potential adopters to visit the shelter beforehand for prescreening, to ensure they qualify for an adoption.

“Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon” is the inspiration of Maddie’s Fund, a foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft, founder, Dave Duffield, and his wife, Cheryl. As stated on the website, the goal of the foundation, named in memory of the Duffield family’s miniature Schnauzer, Maddie, is to create a “no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed loving homes.” With the weekend’s event, Maddie’s Fund also hopes to spotlight the many groups whose efforts save countless dogs and cats each year.

Judge Jacobson commented in the courtroom this morning that he had received many letters from citizens about the case and it was obviously one that people were taking very seriously.  He stated that Thomas obviously suffered from severe mental illness.  He sentenced her to  one year in county jail which she has nearly completed.  This will be followed by one full year in a dual diagnosis residential  program for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse issues.  Thomas is scheduled to be transferred directly from jail to the residential facility on June 14, 2010.  She was also sentenced to 5 years of felony probation.  She is not to own or possess any animals during her probation.  If she violates her probations, she will go to jail for three years and will not get any credit for the time she spent in the program.