Please support significant reform efforts about the publicly funded and poorly performing Oakland Animal Shelter. Recently, the shelter has been facing increasing allegations of inadequate and questionable inhumane sheltering practices.
1) The sheltering arm of animal services should be under the control of the City Administrator’s office and not the Oakland Police Department, effective immediately.
2) The shelter needs to be staffed adequately and appropriately with the following positions continually:
-A “Director” with specified training in reducing euthanasia rates and high ethical standards with regard to companion animal welfare;
-A “Shelter Manager” to coordinate effective communication efforts among volunteers and workers
-A “Rescue Coordinator” who will work to release animals from the Oakland sheltering system into appropriate rescue care.
3) The shelter should evaluate the temperaments of animals using a standardized, evidence-based, and transparent process. All evaluators should have adequate training in applied animal behavior and learning theory. Animals deemed “aggressive” should be re-tested on another day with another skilled evaluator before being euthanized.
4) An advisory committee (a sheltering standard) should be established to review OAS practices periodically. The board of this committee should be designated with public input and not solely under the control of the Oakland City Council or Mayor.
5) The shelter should have a qualified veterinary professional on site during all hours of operation to ensure that no animal is suffering and in need of medical attention. Euthanasia should only be performed by this staffed professional as they have the legal authority to administer the drugs used in this procedure.
6) There should be unwavering, dedicated funding for the shelter and a fundraising advisory group should be utilized and chosen by the people, not by the city council.
