There’s a New Animal Control Officer on the Block!

Alameda welcomes ACO Emily Crum, FAAS celebrates new Medical Director and bids farewell to CEO

It’s no secret that Alamedans love animals. When our pets or local wildlife are lost or in danger, we post notices around town and on social media, and we tag “ACO Alaina” for help. That’s Alaina Onesko, who was our sole Animal Control Officer (ACO) until the beginning of this month. She handled everything from rescuing stray pets to saving a young Cooper’s Hawk who was stuck in tree sap. Now ACO Alaina has some help.

“Send some PAWsitive vibes as we welcome APD ’s newest Animal Control Officer,” the Alameda Police Department announced on Facebook earlier this month. ”ACO Crum is ready to patrol our island to keep our furry, feathered, and scaled friends safe and happy. Welcome to the team!”

ACO Emily Crum is no stranger to animals. She grew up on a family farm.

“I grew up with all different kinds of animals, from cats to llamas,” ACO Emily Crum told the Alameda Post . “I have worked for animal control for the past five years in the Sonoma County area. I’m very excited to be here in Alameda. Everyone has been so friendly, and I’m happy to have someone like Officer Onesko as a mentor!”

New Medical Director at FAAS

And speaking of more help, FAAS ( Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter ) now has a new Medical Director.

“We are beyond thrilled to announce that Katherine Mills, DVM, has joined the FAAS team as our Medical Director,” FAAS CEO John Lipp told the Post . “In this expanded role, Dr. Mills will oversee all veterinary medical care for shelter animals, community clinics offered through our Healthy Pets, Healthy People program, and services at the Animal Medical Services & Training Campus set to open at the end of December.”

A graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Mills was Chief of Shelter Medicine at Contra Costa County Animal Services before coming to FAAS.

“I find it extremely rewarding to help lost, stray, and homeless pets,” Mills said. “If they are sick or injured, helping them get back to health, and seeing them reunite with an owner, or find a forever home, and knowing you played a part in getting them to that point is so rewarding.”

She also strongly believes in maintaining high quality protocols for animal care in the shelter to ensure that pets stay healthy during their time there, she noted.

Mills calls the new FAAS Animal Medical Services & Training (FAMST) Campus “visionary” and said that preparing for its launch in a few months will be a top priority.

Lipp noted that Mills has a few pets, all of them rescues from shelters and “special needs” animals with medical issues. “Those pets couldn’t be in better hands,” he said. “And neither could we!”

John Lipp to retire as FAAS CEO

Alameda owes a huge debt of gratitude to John Lipp, who has inspired and overseen the care of our stray, abandoned, and injured animals with a degree of compassion and ingenuity rarely seen in a public animal shelter. He has now announced his decision to retire as Executive Director/CEO of FAAS effective June 30, 2025, in consideration of medical issues (Parkinson’s), after a lengthy career in the nonprofit sector.

“Over the next 10 months I will be working closely with the board of directors as we plan for the future and identify the next leader who will have the honor of stewarding FAAS forward,” Lipp said.

“Serving as the Executive Director/CEO of FAAS has truly been a dream job, a wonderful way to end a 35+ year career in the nonprofit and public sectors that allowed me to follow my heart, dream big, and build an organization our community—the animals and the people who love them—deserve. While a part of me desperately wants to continue on, my body and mind remind daily that it’s now time for the next chapter, and to focus on my own health and healing.”

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