Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore turned the keys to the Alameda Animal Shelter over to FAAS Executive Director Mim Carlson and FAAS Board President Nancy Bianchi in a ceremony in front of the shelter on Jan. 4.
FAAS officially took responsibility for the shelter on Jan. 1, capping a nine-month campaign to save the shelter when the City of Alameda proposed closing it for budgetary reasons last spring.
Also attending the event were City Manager John Russo and Police Chief Mike Noonan who were instrumental in arranging for FAAS to take over the shelter in a public-private partnership defined by a 15-year lease between the city and FAAS.
“We’re fortunate that the shelter was so well managed by the Alameda Police Department,” Mim said. “We’re taking over a well-organized operation that has served the city well. We have a lot of ideas to make it even better.”
Shelter expands operating hours
One of the first changes announced by the new FAAS management is extended operating hours. The shelter is now open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday to make it easier for people with weekday jobs to come to the shelter to get pet licenses and adopt pets.
Volunteer Manager Named
Cindy Shelby has been hired as the Volunteer Manager for FAAS. She previously served as Volunteer Manager at the East Bay SPCA Oakland/Dublin and Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society where she also helped plan events to raise funds and awareness. Cindy donated her time to coordinate volunteers and plan events during our successful campaign to save the shelter last year.
"I am looking forward to working with current and new shelter volunteers,” she says. “We are planning the volunteer program now and by Feb. 1 we will be notifying everyone who is interested about the next steps toward becoming a FAAS volunteer. We appreciate everyone's patience during this transition."
Events calendar
January 14: The Jon Rubin Group plays blues, folk and Celtic with a pinch of classical and jazz at 7 p.m. at High Street Station, 1303 High St. at Encinal. The $10 admission to the concert benefits FAAS.
February 13: Mojito Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Angela’s Bistro & Bar, 2301 Central Ave. All tips for celebrity bartender John Russo, Alameda’s City Manager, go to FAAS.
