News

The Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) held their second annual bad art fundraiser and raised over $17K for the animals of Oakland! Talent was not guaranteed for these pet portraits but there was plenty of creativity and fun. FOAS received over 400 requests for portraits, some from as far as New York and the UK, with over 70 artists volunteering their time and talent, or lack thereof :-).

Thank you to all the artists who contributed, the volunteers who coordinated the efforts, and to all the donors for their support. We hope you are enjoying your portraits.

Below are the majority of this year’s unique pet portraits:

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”2″ display=”basic_thumbnail”]Participating artists: Ann Barnett, Claire Beitcher, Colleen Bell, Tuli Bennett-Bose and roommates, Sarah Bhaskaran, Bailey Bonds, Maggie Bradshaw, Julianne Chai, Mary Cochran, Genevieve Contraux, Jeff Cortez, Jen Cowitz, Mike Cunniff, Danya Darrington, Kate Dobbins, Evelyn Dykstra and Richard Olmsted, Sylvia Fajen, Laine Fast, Mika Fisher, Rachael Fishman, Lila Fortner, Susan Furukawa, Serina Garst, Llana Giovara, Carolyn Gregg, Peter Grube, Kieran Guckian, Delphina Han, Clare Marie Hart-Slattery, Christina Heller, Devin Jacobsen, Hannah Jo, Shannon Juhnke, Karen Keith, Erin Kripke, Julia LaChica, Nancy Larsen, Fred LeBlanc, Sue Levin, Wenny Lo, Pat Luchak, Ana McCormick, Morgan McGuire, Tom McGuire, Kelda McKinney, Meghan McLean, Catie Nagel, Suhasiny Naik, Tran Nguyen, Celena Peet, Justin Pelkowski, Hector Perez and Family, Rachel Perloff, Nora Potts, Leanne Rinne, Kristen Roberts, Trish Roque, Tucker Russell, Janet Shaver, Judy Smith, Megan Sullivan, Jack Vu, Dave Waclo, Steve Wakefield, Jen Whitney and daughter, Suzanne Yee, Rachel Zak and Family, Jennifer Zhou

Picture courtesy of Oakland Wiki

[Quick links to letters of support from: FOAS and Shelter Directors]

Things are looking up for East Bay cats! You might recall the outcry this past December when it came to light that the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) was routinely shooting cats living in the parks, many presumably abandoned there by their owners. Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS), along with a coalition of the East Bay’s municipal shelters, including Oakland Animal Services (OAS), joined many others in decrying this cruel practice and offering support with humane alternatives.

On Thursday, February 25, the EBRPD Natural Resources Committee will hold a meeting during which they will recommend a new policy regarding free-roaming cats, emphasizing work with local municipal shelters, including Oakland Animal Services, to humanely trap and remove cats from sensitive habitats and education measures to prevent abandonment of cats at regional parks.

FOAS has sent a letter of support of this draft policy, along with OAS and the coalition of East Bay Animal Agencies. You can read the full text of their letters below.

FOAS Letter of Support

Subject: FOAS supports EBRPD draft policy on free-roaming cats and abandoned pets

To: The Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District

Colin Coffey
Ellen Corbett
Elizabeth Echols
Beverly Lane
Dee Rosario
Dennis Waespi
Ayn Wieskamp

We, the Board of the Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS), are writing in support of the EBRPD draft policy to be considered at the February 25 committee meeting regarding free-roaming cats and abandoned pets on park property. In the letter we sent in December we asked that EBRPD commit to ending lethal removal, collaborate with experts at local shelters and animal organizations, and educate the public to discourage the abandonment of pets on park property.

While lethal removal has not been banned, we are encouraged that the emphasis of the proposed policy is on preventing the need to use lethal methods through a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy. We are heartened to learn that the Park District has been collaborating with local municipal shelters, including Oakland Animal Services, and that these partnerships will be incorporated into operating agreements for long-term management. We are also pleased that EBRPD proposes to commit resources to educate the public on pet abandonment through enhanced signage, informational campaigns, and community outreach.

FOAS continues to offer a collaborative partnership to enable the EBRPD to adhere to humane policies regarding free-roaming cats and abandoned pets.

To this end, please contact us any time: 

Friends of Oakland Animal Services Board of Directors:

Lindsay Dadko
Emily Derenthal
Emily Fox
Erin Patch
Ken Robinson
Trish Roque
Yvonne Tsang

East Bay Shelters’ Letter of Support

Note: this letter is in PDF and is 3 pages long. The letter may be downloaded here.

Funding monthly pop-up vet clinics and providing critical care for beloved cats and dogs of unhoused Oaklanders

For immediate release

Contact: Lisa Franzetta, Friends of Oakland Animal Services,

Puppies were brought to the pilot pop-up vet clinic at one of the city’s temporary low-barrier housing sites.

OAKLAND—The harsh winter weather and the dangers of COVID-19 are making the challenges of homelessness in Oakland even more dire—but thanks to a $60,000 grant to Friends of Oakland Animal Services from PetSmart Charities, a little relief is on the way this Sunday, January 17, for the pets of unhoused Oaklanders. Funded by this grant, a veterinary team from Oakland Animal Services will be treating pets at one of the City of Oakland’s temporary, low-barrier housing sites for people experiencing homelessness. Resident pets who may have never before been to a veterinarian will get free onsite treatments for straightforward conditions like skin allergies and ear infections; animals requiring more extensive care for issues like mass removals or amputations will be scheduled for treatment at OAS the upcoming week, all at no cost to their guardian.

Little Abner with a fishhook in his mouth.

What does access to care mean for Oakland’s pets living with guardians experiencing homelessness? At the team’s pilot pop-up event in late November 2020, Little Abner, a 10-month-old terrier mix, arrived with a fishhook in his mouth—an unfortunate souvenir of a walk taken near the marina with his owner the previous night. Abner’s owner heard through word of mouth about the free medical treatments being provided and brought him right over. Abner was taken to OAS so he could be sedated and the fishhook painlessly removed. He was reunited with his grateful guardian a few hours later.

“It’s estimated that 25% of unsheltered people are living with animals—and for many, the companionship of an animal may be the only family they have,” says Oakland Animal Services Director Ann Dunn. “This generous grant means that OAS will be able to help unhoused Oakland residents and their pets at locations that are accessible and designed for their support. We’re grateful that PetSmart Charities shares our commitment to equitable care that helps keep our city’s pets safe and healthy, with the people who love them.”

“The power of pets is transformative, and is magnified during difficult times,” said Kate Atema, senior manager, grants initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “We are proud to support Oakland Animal Services in keeping Oakland area pets and people together by reducing barriers to accessible veterinary care. This event will be a great benefit to both pets and pet parents in need.”

High-resolution photos available upon request.

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Oakland Animal Services is Oakland’s only “open admissions” shelter, accepting all of Oakland’s homeless, injured, orphaned, unwanted, lost, abandoned and mistreated animals. With the assistance of dedicated volunteers and the support of nonprofit Friends of Oakland Animal Services, OAS saves the lives of thousands of animals every year.

 About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year.  PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission Each year millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting nearly $430 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

The 2020 Friends of Oakland Animal Services Year in Review is now available!

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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! 

—

December 11, 2020

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