Responses to ODOG Newsletter  from Shelter Volunteers July 2009

In response to this posting, I feel the need to speak up.  The "hold" 

is mandatory for all dogs brought to the shelter - not a stay of execution as you've made it sound.  After five days, the dog is then released and available to be temperament tested, health checked, and, when all checks out, put up for adoption.  Yes, the Oakland shelter is 

not "no-kill."   But they try very very hard, with very limited 

resources, to place all adoptable (in temperament, age, and health) dogs.

The five day hold is a state requirement so that when your dog shows up lost at the shelter, you can feel reassured that it will be held and cared for for a minimum of five days and not released to someone else.

I am a volunteer there and I strongly urge you to come to the shelter and see what it's like.  The volunteers and staff there are some of the most committed group of animal advocates I've met.  Spreading rumors about "time running out" does nothing to serve anyone's cause - it generates a hysteria and spreads an old image that we are working so hard to counter.  I really do like to think we are all on the same team - wanting the best for our city's animals.

That said, your best bet in helping this dog is to record her ACR number (on the slip they gave you at OAS), and when you call, ask specifically the results of her temp test.  NOTHING will be done before her "disposition date."  No health or temperament testing, no releasing to anyone other than her owner, no euthanizing.  Calling before a disposition date will not do a whole lot more than tax our already very taxed animal control officers into answering phones when they could be helping the public find lost dogs, assisting in adoptions, and the like.  After her disposition date, you will know more.  Calling with a "I'm calling about the ridgeback pit" will do very little other than generate frustration - do you know how many dogs are brought to us, daily?  The ACR number is the best way to track them, every dog there has one, and their records are all in the computer.

Saying "she has two days left" does nothing other than to generate hysteria, build an "us against them" mentality, and serve to make us 

all feel very powerless.   I understand you are scared for her well 

being.  Please know that the staff at the shelter feels for that dog just as strongly as you do.  I've witnessed it firsthand.

I urge you to look at http://www.oaklandsanimals.org to see some of 

the amazing things that have been happening at the Oakland shelter.  

Better yet, consider volunteering.

Best,

Sarah

This is from Pat

Why do you say she has only two days there? I volunteer at the shelter and really doubt that a dog who's not vicious would be put down that quickly.

Please let your readers know that dogs brought to Oakland Animal Services are NOT automatically killed after their 5-day holding period.  The animals are held for 5 days, after which time they become the property of the City of Oakland.  Most dogs are then evaluated and if deemed adoptable, they are then available for adoption.  Thousands of animals are adopted out of the Oakland city shelter every year.

Please don't paint the Oakland animal shelter in such a bad light.  They take very good care of the animals in their charge with the help of over 150 volunteers.  They get every dog out of their kennel every day, and as many dogs as possible, based on volunteers available, get walked every day.

Please spread the word that more volunteers are needed all the time.

Visit www.oaklandanimalservices.org to see what a great place it is, what a great need it serves, and to sign up for volunteer training.

Susan Canale

Volunteer

Oakland Animal Services