Oakland Animal Welfare

Although conditions have improved modestly since the allegations of animal abuse and neglect at the Oakland Animal Shelter were revealed by a whistle-blower in early 2004, the welfare of animals and customer service have suffered greatly overall while under the control of the Police Department. Despite these modest changes, a former supervisor at the shelter, ReShan McClarty, who was disciplined for alleged animal abuse, has now been re-hired as an Animal Control Officer1 where he will have frequent, direct contact with animals. WE, the undersigned, ASK THAT YOU PERMANENTLY REMOVE THIS INDIVIDUAL FROM OAKLAND ANIMAL SERVICES.

Given this disaster, and now the resignation of a newly hired, qualified director after only months on the job, it is clear that Oakland Animal Services needs permanent, structural change. We ask that the City of Oakland follow in the footsteps of other jurisdictions (San Francisco, Detroit, Berkeley, Marin) to REMOVE OAKLAND ANIMAL SERVICES (I.E., THE OAKLAND CITY ANIMAL SHELTER) FROM THE OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT and ESTABLISH it as A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT.

We also ask that you would ESTABLISH AN ANIMAL WELFARE COMMISSION to monitor the conditions at Animal Services and provide transparency so the community may regain their trust in this valuable public resource.
Oakland Animal Services has had A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WHILE UNDER POLICE CONTROL. Non-police management structures are used in both San Francisco and Berkeley both of which adhere to a more progressive approach to animal services, which is reflected in their lower euthanasia rates and better customer service. In 2004, Oakland euthanized over 2,000 animals over 50\% of incoming animals. San Francisco and Berkeley had much lower euthanasia rates, with approximately 25\% and 10\% of all animals being euthanized (respectively).

The Oakland Animal Shelter needs the permanent structural change of establishment as its own department.

REASONS FOR REMOVING ANIMAL SERVICES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Oakland Animal Services and the Animal Shelter are providing substandard service under the administration of the Police Department. There are numerous ongoing complaints about slow response times to animal issues and about the care and health of the animals in the shelter.

Oakland Animal Services will never be a priority in the Police Department when it is competing for money, resources, and attention in a city trying to resolve issues with violent crime, theft and traffic safety. Dont make the Chief of Police choose between animals and people.

Oaklands Police Dispatch Center should focus on human emergency calls not calls to pick up strays and dead animals.

Under police direction, there have been very few animal cruelty investigations in the past year.

Under police command, Animal Services emphasis will always be on code enforcement and leash laws rather than on addressing the acute animal overpopulation issue.

Removing Oakland Animal Services from the Police Department will change the culture and eliminate the police code-of-silence that necessitated a whistle-blower to bring the abusive conditions at the Shelter into the open.

Empower the new Director of Oakland Animal Services (OAS) and OAS staff by allowing them to carry out their mission in a civilian setting working with an emphasis on customer-service and long-term solutions. Communicating through the chain-of-command dilutes messages to the community.

Oakland Animal Services needs more transparency and citizen oversight than is possible under the current structure.

If Oakland Animal Control Officers are concerned about their safety when going out into the field, they can call the OPD to request a police officer accompany them. This is done in other cities with civilian-run shelters (e.g., San Francisco, Detroit, Berkeley, Marin, East Palo Alto) and is a cost-effective use of police services.

Separating Oakland Animal Services can be agreed upon now and implemented as funding becomes available. This transition period can be gradual and will allow for a new Director to help shape the reformed OAS.




1 Eric Kurhi, Ex-head of Animal Services begins new job. contracostatimes.com 16 June 2006.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/alameda_county/oakland_berkeley/14833795.htm?source=rss&channel=cctimes_oakland_berkeley