Mounted unit has two vacancies, cash contributions sought
By Alicia Wittmeyer, The Oakland Tribune
Oakland, Calif. -- Following the retirement of two of its veteran members, the Oakland Police Department is looking to hire someone who’s friendly, doesn’t scare easily and doesn’t pull when tied up.
Pindar, 20, and Dante, 14, members of the force for two and four years, respectively, were put out to pasture in a Fairfield retirement home just two weeks ago, leaving the Oakland Police Department Mounted Unit with a hole on the force about two horses wide.
Although one of them has since been replaced with a donated horse, the donor horse was ridden on pavement without shoes, which damaged its hooves, said Oakland police Officer Kathy Mendez, a member of the mounted unit. And Mendez’s horse may have to be retired soon because of a ligament injury in its back legs.
“The worst-case scenario: We’ll end up with one horse,” Mendez said.
When filled, the mounted unit has four horses, with two full-time riders and two part-time riders. But being a member of the Oakland Police Department -- riding around two hours a day, greeting community members -- can tire horses out. The animals usually stay with the department for about 2 to 3 years before retirement, said unit member Chris Saunders.
The department, already short on funds, is trying to raise money to purchase a new horse, which can cost $2,000 to $3,000, Mendez
said. The department is not looking for another donor horse, she said, because they often have been mistreated, and sometimes exhibit physical or mental problems.
The department has set up donation boxes in the Montclair neighborhood, and is planning other fundraising activities in the near future, she said.