Happy stories of animals we have rescued who are now living wonderful lives makes our work so enjoyable and rewarding! Read about Hoss in his new home. If you’ve adopted an animal from us, please share your “Happy Tail” with us!
OAS Featured on ABC Nightline News
Oakland Animal Service’s work to find homes for the huge number of chihuahuas that come into the Shelter was featured on ABC Nightline News - see video here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/home-sweet-home-9814548
Original story: OAS Transports 34 Dogs to Denver!
A Photograph Can Change an Animal’s Life
Some animals at the Shelter wait a long time before they are adopted. People overlook them and just don’t see their true beauty. This is what happened to Widget. He came to the Shelter when he was only about 4 months old. He was a cute, wiggly puppy but weeks turned into months and Widget grew up in the Shelter. He was turning into a gorgeous dog but, still, visitors to the Shelter would walk past him and he wasn’t getting adopted. This is when an incredible photograph can make all the difference. Professional photographer, Sara Atkins, donated her skills, as she has done many times before, to take photos of Widget and capture his true character and the handsome dog he had become! We were then able to publicize these photos and get attention for Widget where none had been before!
Widget was adopted this weekend…nearly six months after he first came to the Shelter! Thank you Sara and all of our volunteer photographers for changing so many animal’s lives.
Real Bones – a Danger to Dogs
Dogs can easily choke on real bones. This terrier was brought into the Shelter by someone who found the dog wandering the streets. She stated that he had been drooling and not eating. When we examined him, we found that he had a huge bone stuck in the back of his throat – with just enough room to let him breathe. We pulled the bone out and he immediately started drinking water and eating. It’s hard to say how long he had been in that condition. (Dog with bone)
Angus Gets “Plastic Surgery”
“Plastic surgery”…well, sort of…our veterinarian, Dr. Kisamov, fixed both of his eyes because he was suffering from entropian – a painful condition where the eye lids turn inwards and rub against the eyeball. He also had a severely infected ear that must have been infected for a very long time because the entire ear was filled with scar tissue. She removed the scar tissue and cleaned out the ear. Angus should be feeling a lot better very soon! He’s a lump of love – look for him in adoption soon!
We Just Had to Call Him Alvin
This little 3.5 week old puppy looks like a little chipmunk – thus the name Alvin! He has a fairly severe infection in his mouth and lymph nodes that we are treating. However, it doesn’t stop him from eating like a champ!
The person who brought Alvin into the Shelter said he bought him off a street corner. It’s a good reminder that puppies should not be removed from their mothers until they are at least 8 weeks of age. This time with their mother is essential for their medical and behavorial health. In California, it is illegal to sell any puppy who is less than 8 weeks of age.
Gummy Bear Needs a Doggy Dentist
UPDATE 1/12/10: Drum roll please!!! Poor Gummy Bear had to have 28 teeth pulled!!!
Her dentist said that her teeth were some of the worst teeth he had ever seen! Her teeth probably got so bad from an infection that started and was not treated. We will be looking for an adopter for her who will commit to brushing Gummy’s remaining teeth every day! Thank you to the Friends of Oakland Animal Services for paying for her surgery and to her dentist at California Dog and Cat Hospital in Berkeley for discounting the procedure.
UPDATE 1/11/10 – We sent Gummy Bear to a canine dental specialist today. She should be in surgery right about now. She will have multiple teeth pulled which should relieve all of her pain and make her able to eat again!
Gummy Bear, a five year old cocker spaniel, was abandoned at the Oakland Animal Shelter. She has some of the worst/most rotted teeth that any of us at the Shelter have ever seen! We think her previous owner probably left her at the Shelter because they couldn’t afford to get her teeth fixed. Her teeth are so terrible that Gummy Bear can only eat soft food. We have scheduled her to go to the doggy dentist on Monday and she’s on pain medications until then. She will need to have most of her teeth pulled. Please consider donating here to donate towards Gummy Bear’s dental work and other animals like her.
Flo’s Foster Pampers Her
Flo, a pit bull that Oakland Animal Services rescued over a month ago, is now in a BAD RAP foster home being pampered! This girl definitely deserves it! Her owner went to prison and Flo was left locked inside an apartment. We believe that Flo had not been properly fed for a long time and had been kept in isolation. She weighed 28 lbs when she arrived at the Shelter and now weighs almost 40 lbs! She also was suffering from horrible infections in both of her ears that had caused her to become deaf. Flo is now loving all of the affection and attention she is getting from her foster.
Little Lance from Tragedy to Adoption!
Little Lance, the dog who over 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. 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”
Little Lance all warm and cozy in his bed in his new home:
Thank you to everyone who made Little Lance’s recovery possible: his wonderful foster parents – Nadine and Jan who spent over 16 months caring for him every day to get him through his difficult recovery and to help him to trust people again! Thank you also to his walking companions - Linda and Pam, his step foster mom and Dad- Cindy and Tom, his drivers – Betty and Simon, his veterinarians and vet staff – especially Dr. Jyothi Robertson at OAS, Dr. Kim Carlson at Berkeley Dog and Cat Clinic, and Dr. Erin Troy at Muller Veterinary Clinic, the staff of Pet Food Express for donating to Lance and publicizing his story, and the many donors who funded his care! Thank you for turning a sad story into a joyful one!
This is a summary of 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!
UPDATE 8/21/08: Since Little Lance’s story broke, over 400 people donated to FOAS on his behalf.” The public outpouring of support and compassion for Little Lance has been truly inspirational. We wouldn’t have had the funds to pay for Lance’s surgery without the public’s help, and now he has a second chance at the good life he deserves,” said Willow Liroff, FOAS president.
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.
Media:
UPDATE: 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.
Little Lance gives his veterinarian, Dr. Jyothi Robertson, a kiss:
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 1/3/09: Little Lance has been adopted!!!
Oakland Firefighters Rescue Wounded Pitbull
One heart-winning young pit bull will soon meet with the Oakland firefighters who saved his life. Remy, as the dog’s rescuers named him, was the victim of a shooting here in Oakland nearly three months ago. Firefighters responding to the call of “shots fired” that evening on May 7, 2009 arrived on the scene fully expecting to find a human in need . . . but were hard-pressed to find any victim at all. That is, until a careful search of the Oakland address led firefighter Ryan Minnagen to a black-and-white pit bull puppy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Firefighters on the scene rushed the injured dog onto their fire truck and to a local emergency veterinary clinic. As luck would have it, the team members that day were all dog lovers, firefighter Dwight Garcia explained; no one hesitated in getting the dog the quickest treatment possible.
The puppy won over the veterinary clinic staff as quickly as he had the firefighters. Everyone was pulling for the pup‘s survival despite the fact that Remy had multiple gunshot wounds, including his front leg, pelvis, and back. Vet staff even shared nights fostering little Remy while he stabilized, and everyone’s efforts paid off: He was eventually ready for transfer to Oakland Animal Services, where he has been since May 27th, enough time to once again became a favorite of staff and volunteers alike.
Despite all of the effort behind Remy’s recovery since the shooting, the pup isn’t totally in the clear. One of the bullets that struck Remy’s legs damaged a growth plate in his front leg, causing that bone to stop growing even as the others around it continued. The result is that one of Remy’s front legs has bowed significantly, and he will need surgery to correct the condition. Oakland Animal Shelter’s nonprofit foundation, Friends of Oakland Animal Services, has begun gathering donations to fund the surgery, which will be performed by a local veterinary specialist. Several local vets regularly perform such intricate procedures for Oakland Animal Shelter’s needy animals at a discounted cost.
With any luck–and Remy seems to have a lot of it–this affable little pit bull will soon be meeting his firefighter friends on a much happier occasion. Maybe his next ride in a fire engine will be just for fun.
Donations for Remy’s surgery and other animals like him can be made HERE or sent to Friends of the Oakland Animal Shelter, 1101 29th Ave. Oakland, CA 94601. Here are some photos of Remy today!
These gorgeous photos are courtesy of Sara Atkins Photography.
