Success Stories

Oakland Animal Services is celebrating Home for the Holidays with $25 adoption fees on all pets—dogs, cats and rabbits—all December long. Adopters can also select a special holiday gift donated by Pet Food Express to bring home for their new family member.

“With so many people taking time off from work and school, December can be a great time to adopt and get a new pet acclimated to your home and family,” explains shelter director Rebecca Katz. “Of course, we always encourage people to recognize that a pet is a commitment and one that they should make with thought and careful consideration.”

Families on the fence about adopting a large dog can also “rent to own” through the shelter’s large dog foster program. Foster families provide temporary love and housing for a large dog, and can decide to adopt over the next six weeks. Individuals interested in more information about the large dog foster program should visit http://www.palseastbay.org/oas-foster.html

“Promotions like Home for the Holidays are a wonderful way to encourage more adoptions,” explains Katz. “Families will find that whether they are looking for a puppy, cat, rabbit or even guinea pig, we have a wide variety of wonderful and friendly animals at OAS just waiting to go home this December.  Every animal is a wonderful gift and deserves to be cherished as a beloved family member.”

Olinge Lotane-Makalani is one of the newest faces at Oakland Animal Services. Olinge has both a strong passion for animals and serving his community, which led him to his new job as an animal control officer. He is a San Francisco native who’s had dogs all his life. Olinge studied fire science at CCSF and Merritt College.

Oakland Animal Services adopted out 41 cats and 64 dogs over two days during the sixth annual Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days. During the nation’s largest fee-waived pet adoption event, sponsored by Maddie’s Fund, over 5000 dogs and cats found homes.

Thanks to our amazing staff, volunteers, and community members who joined us for the event. And thanks to Maddie for making it possible.

Is California’s severe drought behind the uptick in abandoned kittens?

We may never know the true reason. But what we do know is that Oakland Animal Services is experiencing more than a 30% increase in abandoned, underaged kittens at the shelter this year compared to the same time last year.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Is-drought-behind-uptick-in-abandoned-kittens-6241683.php

http://abc7news.com/pets/photos-kittens-up-for-adoption-at-oakland-shelter/696135/

If you would like to help, consider making a donation.

If you are interested in fostering a litter of kittens, please email volunteer@feralchange.org

What’s the best way to appreciate a black cat? Adopt one! All black and black & white cats are only $10 to adopt throughout the month of November.

Our Pack is a nonprofit rescue, education, and training organization whose mission is to promote compassion and kindness toward pit bulls and chihuahuas. This group has been a wonderful partner to OAS by educating the public through their Pit Bull 101 and Chihuahua 101 classes at the shelter and by fostering pit bulls from OAS (including one of our favorite dogs, Diamond). Our Pack has also helped OAS in evaluating dogs from dog-fighting cases. Here is a photo of one young and friendly OAS dog who was fostered by Our Pack, who soon found her a new home.

Thanks, Our Pack!

Many OAS volunteers were sad to see a black lab mix named Horatio still at the shelter after the annual Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days event. He was such a good, sweet boy, but was just overlooked during the busy weekend. Fortunately, Horatio—now named Buster—found his new family just a few days later. Steve, Sally, and their daughter stopped by OAS during the Maddie’s event looking for a new family member and friend for their dog Sweetpea. But none of the pooches they met seemed to click with Sweetpea. The family returned a few days later and introduced Sweetpea to Buster—and it was love at first sight! Buster and Sweetpea are now great friends. According to Buster’s new family, “He barks at himself in the mirror, and drags Sweetpea outside by the collar when he wants to play with her (which is constantly). He’s a riot, the kind of dog you dream about having.”

Twelve-year-old Mina wrote this about Buster: