Free Adoptions!

This just in from Oakland Animal Services:

Free Fur All Adoptathon!

Adopt an animal for free on June 12 or 13 and make $500 for the shelter

Join us for a real “Free Fur All” when Oakland Animal Services hosts the Maddie’s Fund event “Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon” on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13. That weekend, Maddie’s Fund will cover all adoption costs for both dogs and cats. Better yet, for each successful OAS adoption at the event, Maddie’s Fund will donate $500 to OAS!

Special extended hours for the “Free Fur All” will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

“We’re preparing a large group of staff and volunteers for the two days to help as many people as possible find a dog or cat companion,” OAS Director Megan Webb explained. There will be a wide variety of cats and dogs available to adopt, including kittens, puppies, and small dogs.

“This is such an exciting opportunity—people not only get a wonderful animal companion for free but also make it possible for OAS to get $500 when they adopt,” Webb stated. “And then we’ll use these donations to improve the quality of life of animals at the shelter.”

Webb pointed out that the regular OAS adoption guidelines will apply that weekend. And, although animals cannot be adopted free in advance of the event—and no animals can be put on “hold”—OAS encourages potential adopters to visit the shelter beforehand for prescreening, to ensure they qualify for an adoption.

“Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon” is the inspiration of Maddie’s Fund, a foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft, founder, Dave Duffield, and his wife, Cheryl. As stated on the website, the goal of the foundation, named in memory of the Duffield family’s miniature Schnauzer, Maddie, is to create a “no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed loving homes.” With the weekend’s event, Maddie’s Fund also hopes to spotlight the many groups whose efforts save countless dogs and cats each year.

Where and how do you even get a dog Part 2?

The other way one gets a dog is when the boyfriend decides to volunteer at the animal shelter, finds a puppy that he is totally in love with and way calmer than your first dog, and sends you pictures of her via the iphone. Damn you technology. Welcome home Barksdale. (By the way, this luscious green lawn does not belong to her. She lives in a condo without a backyard. YUP.)

Where and how do you even get a dog?

There is a lot of debate about where the "right" place is to get a dog. I have nothing against purchasing a dog from a pet store or a breeder. It's just that if I had an extra $500 to $1,000 laying around, J. crew or Marc Jacobs would've come home with me, not Ender.

We got Ender from the Oakland Animal Shelter. (I know people give Oakland a lot of crap for many things, but their website is so utterly awesome that I frequently visit to "window shop." Check them out at www.oaklandanimalservices.org)

The first time we went to the shelter, it was more window shopping than anything else. We met Ender the second time we went to the shelter. He was the only dog not jumping at the door and not barking. He was however, covered in his own shit. Not letting that deter us, we opted to spend some "one on one" time with Ender.

The shelter lets you spend "one on one" time with dogs you may be interested in adopting. It's awkward as hell. It's like when your parents introduce you to their friend's kids and then expect you guys to be best friends, while they watch you like a hawk making sure you're not punching the kid in the kidneys when they look away.

We actually adopted Ender the third time we went back to the shelter. Little did we know that the lack of jumping and barking was just a little facade to lure us in and take him home. That little monster.