Both positions are volunteer and unpaid. You will be helping to  end the killing of the 2277 dogs and cats that are killed at the Oakland Animal Shelter each year. You will also be helping to reduce the cost that taxpayers must bear.

The killing is unnecessary. Cities and counties around the country are drastically ahead of Oakland. San Francisco,  Tompkins County (New York) and Berkeley have made amazing strides; New York City and the state of Utah are in the process of becoming "no kill." Let's help make this happen in Oakland

What DAWs and the City Council Can Do

If you volunteer to be a Director of Animal Welfare (DAW) or a DAW Assistant for your area, you will evaluate the animal situation in your community and take measures to rectify the situation. Every area has different needs; the idea is to solve problems at a grassroots level for your particular community.

As a DAW or DAW Assistant, you may want to explore the following:

          a) Outreach. Identify animal-related issues/needs. Communicate with the people of the area and see what the animal-related needs are.

          b) Make presentations at local council, group and association meetings about progress and/or projects.

          c) Convey information via your Council representative's mailings or through other groups or media outlets.  

          d) Come together with the DAWs from other districts to create joint projects.

            e) Put on "Animal Care Fairs," one day events in which the following are provided: dog training, humane education, free or low cost spay/neuter services and adoption referrals.  These have been successful in the Bay Area in past years.

           f) Ask to place referral information on your Councilmember's website. (i.e. contact information for vets, animal hospitals, low cost spay/neuter clinics, animal services, rescue groups, etc.) or on the websites of other local groups or associations.

           g) Come to monthly DAW meetings and city-wide animal events. 

           h) Come up with creative solutions. Tell other DAWs and the city what they can do to help.  

             i) Encourage the city to become "no kill."

The DAW project is gaining steam in Los Angeles. It can work in Oakland, too. The Los Angeles DAW participation website can be found at www.CharlotteLaws.org  Click on the DAW program link, which appears in the first paragraph. You may even be able to volunteer to be the DAW for an area adjacent to where you live or work if the DAW position is taken in your area. Please contact Charlotte Laws with any questions at (818) 781-5280. We want this eventually to be a statewide project. 

What can the DAW program offer that a centralized plan cannot offer? 

1. DAWs can communicate with the stakeholders better than the city can through local meetings and events.  
2. DAWs are grassroots; they know local needs better than the city does.
3. Participation by Councils and Stakeholders lets the city know people are serious about ending the killing of dogs and cats.
4. It publicizes the problem. The media will be more likely to cover these issues if they see that the local Councils/People are concerned.

Back to Oakland "No Kill" Animal Shelter Outline
Back to Oakland "No Kill" Animal Shelter Proposal
Back to Oakland Humane Officer Information  
Back to OAS Statistics
Back to First Oakland Job Description
Back to Second Oakland Job Description
Back to L.A. Cruelty Task Force Information
Back to Why No Kill?