OAKLAND — Oakland Animal Services director Rebecca Katz is resigning from her post mid-June because of her frustration with the city’s lack of support for the department, she said.

“I gave it my best for more than three years, and OAS is in a much better position than when I inherited it, but I simply cannot continue to work at an agency that does not get the resources and support from the City needed to fulfill its mission,” Katz wrote in an email sent to volunteers April 25.

Beyond the letter, Katz has refused to comment on her resignation.

Katz said she submitted her letter of resignation to the city earlier this year, and laid out a list of “modest needs and requirements” for Oakland to provide that would change her mind. Those included hiring people for vacant positions — some of which had been unfilled for more than two and a half years — advocating for more funding and positions in the 2018 mid-cycle budget and getting the police department to “honor their obligations around animal investigations.”

The Animal Services Department was part of the Police Department until 2016, Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan told the East Bay Times, and there were some issues with transferring funds over from the police department to the newly formed animal services department.

“I am happy that the city has finally agreed to expedite the hiring of animal control officers in an effort to keep me, but that alone simply does not demonstrate the kind of commitment needed,” Katz said in the email.

Efforts to reach city officials for comment on Katz’ resignation were unsuccessful.

Katz will remain director until June 15 “to ensure a graceful transition,” she said.

Oakland Animal Services volunteers and supporters spoke at Tuesday’s City Council open forum to tell council members of the department’s dire circumstances. Along with Katz, they said, Oakland Animal Services’ only shelter veterinarian has also recently resigned. The only remaining veterinary technician will be on maternity leave in two months, and the shelter will be left with no veterinary staff, the volunteers said.

“Staffing levels at OAS are below industry standards which are one animal control officer per 18,000 residents — Oakland only has one ACO per 70,000 residents — and 15 minutes of feeding and cleaning care per sheltered animal per day — OAS provides less than 8 minutes per animal per day,” said volunteer Emily Derenthal. “This is no way to serve the public or the animals under OAS care.”

Kaplan said she asked the city administrator’s office for a response regarding the volunteers’ allegations. She said the issues at the Oakland Animal Services are symptomatic of a citywide problem: According to the most recent city job vacancy report, the vacancy rate is 12 percent.

What really concerns Kaplan is that several Oakland Animal Services positions that were budgeted for and funded have not been filled, she said.

“It’s really at a level that’s unacceptable and is at risk of getting worse,” Kaplan said. “Enough positions are vacant that the remaining workforce is not able to get the work done and is at the point of leaving. This absolutely needs to be addressed by June.”