This year, an incredible 1,402 cats, 1,324 dogs, and 82 rabbits have been adopted from Oakland Animal Services (OAS)! The adoption program at OAS is run by FOAS-funded staff Vivian Chu and Elsa Ramos, with the support of a team of amazing dedicated volunteers.
What does the day in the life of the adoption coordinators look like?
On days when the shelter is open to the public for walk-in adoptions (Thursdays to Sundays), the day is filled with preparing and setting up before the shelter opens, making sure volunteers have the information they need for that day, working with the public on matchmaking (matching adopters with adoptable pets), meet-and-greets, adoption counseling, and processing adoption paperwork. Of course, we can’t leave out the very exciting step of taking adoption photos and seeing adopters go home with their new furry family member.
The adoption coordinators are also constantly working to improve the adoption process. For example, earlier this year, Vivian created an adoption form that is fillable online, making the process much simpler and quicker for potential adopters to submit the form, thereby speeding up the process of getting an adoptable animal into a home.
Additionally, the adoption team organizes frequent off-site events, called PupUps, at local businesses such as breweries and pet stores, to connect with the community and showcase adoptable dogs and kittens. The dog PupUp program started to pick up momentum in early 2022 when Vivian was a dog volunteer and she took the lead in organizing these events. What started out as one PupUp event per month has now grown into almost weekly PupUps with multiple events per month, primarily during the Spring, Summer, and early Fall.
OAS also participates in larger adoption events in conjunction with other animal shelters, including the annual adoption event at the Oakland Zoo. These events usually take many weeks of preparation by the adoption team and volunteers.
These PupUps and events are listed on the event calendar on the OAS website.
There is much to do beyond adoption days and events. The adoption team fields many calls and emails, including helping to connect potential adopters interested in adopting foster animals who are housed outside the shelter in foster homes.
Why two adoption coordinators?
While Vivian and Elsa work closely together as a team and have many shared responsibilities, one key difference in their roles is that Elsa is focused on improving access to adoptions and services for people whose first language is Spanish.
One adoption coordinator position (Vivian’s) is fully funded by FOAS which is only possible thanks to your support. The other adoption coordinator position (Elsa’s) is funded by a generous grant from California for All Animals.
Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Program Manager at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, shares the inspiration for California for All Animals’ More People and Pets Together grants:
“The California for All Animals program launched the “More Pets and People Together” grant cycle in support of initiatives that keep pets in their homes and communities. By funding projects focused on accessible veterinary care, intake prevention services, and return-to-home processes, we aimed to enable California animal shelters to ensure that families and their beloved pets can stay together despite the hardships that can lead to pet surrenders. This commitment also included promoting trap-neuter-return programs and barrier-free foster and adoption processes that allow animals to stay within their communities.
We recognize the importance of equitable, responsive and inclusive practices, especially in a diverse state like California, where approximately 40% of residents identify as Latine and many speak languages other than English. A couple ways we encouraged animal shelters to invite in Latine community members were through translating materials and hiring bilingual employees with the goal of eliminating barriers to services and enhancing relationships.
We commend Oakland Animal Services for their proactive investment in hiring a bilingual team member who will strengthen outreach and engagement with non-English speakers—creating a positive impact for the organization, the community members and the pets of Oakland.”
We are deeply grateful to California for All Animals for their generous support, which includes over $500,000 in grants since 2022. These funds have helped fund spay/neuter programs for community and shelter animals, provided urgent veterinary care for pets in need, and currently funds a two-year grant for a bilingual adoption coordinator. Huge thanks to California for All Animals for helping us make a difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them!
It truly takes a village and we are so grateful for all the support we have received to make the adoption program possible!
