We want to share this letter from the Board of Directors of the Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) to the Board of the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) regarding the recent shooting of cats at Shoreline Park. Upon learning of the incident, Oakland Animal Services (OAS), along with sister municipal shelters in the cities bordering EBRPD, requested that EBRPD allow the shelters, or local rescue organizations, to humanely trap and relocate cats as needed. EBRPD agreed, along with temporarily suspending shooting cats in their parks.
Take Action to Save Cats:
The EBRPD Board of Directors will be holding a meeting on December 15–your comments on this policy change are needed! Please encourage the Board of Directors to permanently end the shooting of feral and abandoned cats and opt for humane removal and relocation. With the broad network of local organizations offering to assist EBRPD in protecting cats, birds, and all sensitive wildlife by humanely relocating cats, there can be no instance where the killing of cats could ever be justified.
- Via email to Yolande Barial Knight, Clerk of the Board, at ybarial@ebparks.org. Email must contain in the subject line “public comments – not on the agenda”. It is preferred that these written comments be submitted by Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:00 pm.
- Via voicemail at (510) 544-2016. The caller must start the message by stating “public comments – not on the agenda” followed by their name and place of residence, followed by their comments. It is preferred that these voicemail comments be submitted by Monday, December 14, 2020 at 3:00 pm.
- Live via zoom. If you would like to make a live public comment during the meeting this option is available through the virtual meeting platform: https://zoom.us/j/96030696171
*Note that this virtual meeting platform link will let you into the virtual meeting for the purpose of providing a public comment. If you do not intend to make a public comment please use the YouTube link at: https://youtu.be/wrgapHr_Jtg to observe the meeting. It is preferred that those requesting to speak during the meeting contact the Clerk of the Board at ybarial@ebparks.org by 3:00 pm on Monday, December 14, 2020 via email or voicemail (510) 544-2016 to provide name and the subject of the public comment or item to be addressed.
And if you haven’t already, please sign the change.org petition that was created asking the EBRPD to stop shooting cats.
Thanks to everyone who reached out to advocate for a humane policy. OAS is currently assisting with relocation of cats from Shoreline Park. Please email to help!
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To: The Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Parks District
Colin Coffey
Ellen Corbett
Elizabeth Echols
Beverly Lane
Dee Rosario
Dennis Waespi
Ayn Wieskamp
We, the Board of Directors of the Friends of Oakland Animal Services, were horrified to learn that the East Bay Regional Park District has been shooting feral and abandoned cats. While we agree that fragile ecosystems must be protected, this violent lethal method is not effective or humane.
From recent reports, we are aware that local animal organizations and shelters, including Oakland Animal Services, have requested a meeting with the District General Manager to assist with humane trapping and relocation of cats that endanger these ecosystems. We encourage park leaders to take these offers of partnership and work together to tackle this problem.
Additionally, to you the Board of Directors, we are asking that the District:
- commit to permanently discontinue this inhumane practice of shooting feral and abandoned cats;
- reach out to the community, experts at local shelters, and animal welfare organizations for assistance in humane removal and relocation, now and in the future;
- install signage at park entrances and key locations to discourage the abandonment of cats and other pets, and include contact information for local shelters and resources.
If we can assist with any of these requests, including paying for signage, please contact us at .
Friends of Oakland Animal Services Board of Directors:
Lindsay Dadko
Emily Derenthal
Emily Fox
Erin Patch
Ken Robinson
Trish Roque
Yvonne Tsang
