With the addition of the Oakdale Police Department’s latest hire, the Oakdale Animal Shelter will now be open seven days a week.

Oakdale Police Sergeant Joe Johnson said that in March, in collaboration with the City of Riverbank, the department hired part-time animal shelter attendant Alexandra Murphy-Latapie to assist on weekends and during times where relief coverage was needed for full-time employees in case of illness or vacations.

“Between the two cities, money in the budgets made it happen,” said Sergeant Johnson, adding that the Stanislaus County Alliance Worknet also assisted in the hiring process.

Murphy-Lapatie is from Oakdale and was a member of the Oakdale PD Posse.

“She already shows she has a lot of prior experience working with animals,” Sgt. Johnson said. “Having the shelter open seven days a week now will enhance our ability to care for the animals here and get them adopted.”