Feb 17, 7pm, Town Hall Meeting on Oakland Animal Shelter

PRESS RELEASE
Ignacio De La Fuente
President of the Oakland City Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lupe Valdez, City Council Leg. Analyst

January 27, 2005 Phone: (510) 238-7052 or Cell: 710-1994

DE LA FUENTE TO HOLD TOWN HALL FORUM ON HIRING NEW OAKLAND ANIMAL SHELTER DIRECTOR

Oakland, CA (January 27, 2005) - Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente announced today that he will be holding a special Town Hall Meeting with City Administrator Deborah Edgerly on hiring a new Director of the City of Oakland's Animal Shelter. The Town Hall Forum on the New Animal Shelter Director will take place in the City Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall on Thursday, February 17, 2005 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

De La Fuente is calling this Town Hall Forum in response to citizen concerns raised about disturbing past practices at the Oakland Animal Shelter. He states, "I have received very troubling reports of animal cruelty, questionable euthanasia practices, disrespect of pet owner rights, and a lack of accountability at the Oakland Animal Shelter. The current hiring process for a new Shelter Director presents an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns and to tell our City Administrator about the type of leader she should hire. We want citizens to share their vision of how this Shelter should be run effectively, respectfully and humanely."

For more information about the Town Hall Forum on the New Animal Shelter Director, please call De La Fuente's office at (510) 238-7052 or 238-7005.