Hello everyone,
Thank you to those who were able to attend the OCEA membership meeting on January 29, 2026. We want to share a recap for members who could not attend and ensure everyone has the same information moving forward.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide background and updates on concerns raised by OC Animal Care staff. Last August, OCEA sent out a general survey, which received limited responses. After visiting the site and speaking directly with employees, it became clear that there were significant concerns that members wanted to escalate. At the request of staff, OCEA created a petition to formally raise these issues.
During the meeting, OCEA reviewed the main themes that have been shared, including safety concerns, potential policy violations, interpersonal workplace issues, and ongoing staffing shortages across programs and units. Members were reassured that these concerns are being raised because the membership asked for action and support.
We discussed the petition process in detail. The petition will remain open until Friday, February 6, 2026. To add your name, check your personal email for a link to the petition. Members who are hesitant to sign due to fear of retaliation can still submit statements or speak directly with OCEA representatives. Anonymous statements are accepted, and OCEA will work with individuals to determine the safest way to escalate concerns while protecting confidentiality whenever possible.
Once the petition closes, the petition and accompanying statements will be provided to Hetal Patel, Director of Employee Relations. No other parties will receive the information unless there is a need to do so later in the process. Some statements have already been shared with member approval.
OCEA also discussed next steps and timelines. Staffing issues and workplace concerns will be given an expected response window of approximately 60–90 days after the petition closes. If adequate progress is not made, OCEA will discuss additional actions with impacted members.
If you are not receiving OCEA emails, need help accessing the petition, or would like to share concerns, please reach out to OCEA directly using your personal email and on your own time.
Your voice matters, and we encourage everyone to participate in whatever way feels safest.
In solidarity,
OCEA
