News

We’re adding some extra fun to our dog adoption process on Saturday, February 10th! If you’re feeling lucky, our matchmakers will find a canine blind date for you! You’ll still fill out our regular matchmaking form, but we’ll also give you a special “blind date dealbreakers” form that will help our matchmakers find your love! Instead of sharing pictures first, we’ll bring out your “date” sight unseen and we’ll see if love really is blind!

(For those who want to go through our typical matchmaking process where we share photos or you can meet a dog in our parking lot, we’ll still be doing that, too!)

I want to share that I have resigned my position as Oakland Animal Services (OAS) Director. My end date is not certain as I am committed to staying until a new director is hired.

This was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make. I have such a deep love for OAS, and for Oakland. Ultimately, I realized I no longer have the energy that’s needed to lead OAS and want to make room for someone else to carry on this important work. When a new director is hired, I look forward to supporting them in any way I can.

I understand that my departure creates uncertainty about potential changes in direction for OAS or possible setbacks to what we have worked so hard to achieve. I have absolute confidence in Mayor Sheng Thao and City Administrator Jestin Johnson to choose a director for OAS who will continue to focus on animal lifesaving and serving the people of Oakland who most need our support. I have no doubt the positive momentum of OAS will continue.

It’s been 15 years since I first came to OAS as a volunteer. I never imagined then that I would go on to found Cat Town, in support of OAS, and then become OAS Director. It has been such an honor to be in this role and to work among such a determined and passionate team of staff and volunteers. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together. I’ve also been so heartened to see the growing number of people in this community who have stepped up to adopt or foster animals or otherwise support this lifesaving work.

It’s been a gift to play a small role in the continuing evolution of OAS. While I am ending this role, my commitment to OAS will continue!

With gratitude,

Ann Dunn

DOUBLE your impact for Oakland’s neediest animals thanks to generous animal lovers who are providing a $75,000 match through the end of December!

Oakland Animal Services set a new record this year, taking in over 7,000 animals while maintaining a live-release rate of over 90%. As intake continues to rise, Oakland’s animals need your support now more than ever.

Your gift funds life-saving work to ensure each animal can get the compassionate support they need for a second chance.

Please make your tax-deductible gift today!

Throughout 2023, you’ve heard from me as OAS faced a crisis with an influx of big dogs surpassing our capacity. I’ve shared the challenges of housing dogs in half kennels and contemplating euthanasia for adoptable dogs due to space constraints.

Being transparent about our situation made me a bit nervous, knowing some might misunderstand our efforts or think we didn’t care enough. The love and compassion from this community, along with the support through adoptions, volunteering, fostering, and donations to Friends of Oakland Animal Services, have truly heartened me.

While the work is always challenging, this year presented an unprecedented spike in intake. From January to November 2023, we took in 3,312 dogs, averaging ten dogs daily. That’s 749 more dogs than in 2022, a 23% increase in just one year. Truly daunting.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of OAS volunteers, dog adoptions have grown from 355 in 2019 and 925 in 2022 to 1,325 this year. Since the introduction of the foster program for big dogs in June 2020, the numbers have surged, with 1,000 dogs or more expected in foster by year-end.

As of today, despite the surge in intake, our euthanasia rate for dogs, at 5.3%, is the lowest in OAS history. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the ongoing outpouring of support.

Earlier this year, we launched a page on our website and a Facebook page to highlight adoptable dogs at the highest risk for euthanasia, providing specific details for those interested. Dogs listed as “priority” face extreme stress or have adoption barriers, like chronic medical conditions. Dogs with deadlines would be euthanized if not adopted, fostered, or transferred by a set date. While heartbreaking, we’ve euthanized only five dogs with deadlines, a minor miracle given the massive intake spike.

In times of crisis, our big dog shelter population was around 100, exceeding the capacity of 73. As of now, we have 65 big dogs in the shelter, and although we remain full with an average of ten dogs coming in daily, we are not in crisis. Additionally, 101 dogs are in foster homes, providing a more relaxed environment than a stressful shelter. While these dogs still need permanent homes, this program is a game-changer.

Last week, we posted four dogs with deadlines — Ruefuss, Liv, Obi, and Zaki. They remain priority dogs (and urgently need to leave the shelter!), but for now, we’ve removed the deadline since we have a bit more space. This is what is possible when this community of staff, volunteers, fosters, FOAS supporters and advocates unite to help animals in need.

As animals continue to come in daily, our situation may change by the time you read this. We anticipate a spike in intake before year-end, typical around the holidays. Your help is still needed, but let’s take this moment to reflect on all that this community has achieved for dogs in need.

Thank you!

-Ann

We have a match! By donating this month, you can make TWICE the impact for Oakland’s neediest animals thanks to a generous donor who is providing a $50,000 Giving Tuesday match.

Your Giving Tuesday donation will support life-saving programs at the shelter to ensure each animal receives the care they deserve to get a chance to find a home, health, and happiness.

Oakland Animal Services is Oakland’s only open-admissions shelter, meaning every animal — homeless, orphaned, injured, unwanted, lost, abandoned, and mistreated — is welcomed.

Last year the shelter took in over 6,300 animals. Intake numbers continue to climb, and OAS needs your support now more than ever.

Please make your tax-deductible gift today!

Our new limited-release Friends of Oakland Animal Services design is now available for one week only! These fabulous tarot card inspired tees come in a variety of styles with $8 from each sale going directly to FOAS to support the life-saving work at OAS.

Purchase your shirts now at www.float.org/foas!

For the month of October, Oakland Animal Services (OAS) is partnering with Adopt a Pet for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. OAS is one of four shelters nationally that Adopt A Pet is working with and to celebrate, adoption fees are being waived for the entire month. (Dog license fees of $17 still apply for Oakland residents). There will also be a fun event on October 28 (stay tuned for details).

Additionally, adoptions fees for cats will be waived! The shelter is currently housing more cats than ever before and to encourage adoptions, fees for cats will be waived for the rest of the month.

OAS will continue to screen all adopters to ensure that the pet and adopter(s) are appropriately matched. You can learn more about the adoption process here.

The shelter is over capacity with bunnies and more are coming in everyday! If you or anyone you know is interested in fostering, please contact rabbits@oaklandsanimals.org.