Oakland's animal shelter has seen a 40% rise in intakes of dogs and cats since 2019, coinciding with budget cuts that have reduced staffing. New policies allow the shelter to refuse intake from owners claiming they can no longer afford care. Owners are now given 72 hours to reclaim their pets, and certain animals over four months old must be spayed or neutered before acceptance. These changes are meant to align the shelter with state guidelines and address the ongoing housing crisis affecting pet ownership in the region.
The combined number of newly dropped-off dogs and cats at Oakland Animal Services has risen by nearly 40% since 2019, running parallel to staffing reductions.
New rules now allow the shelter to decline intake for animals whose owners can no longer care for them, aligning better with state guidelines.
Pet owners now have 72 hours to claim their animal before it is slated for adoption or transfer, a decrease from the previous week.
The recent spike in intakes is attributed to the region's larger housing crisis, reflecting economic challenges faced by pet owners.
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