You’ve been hearing from us for over a year now about how desperately overcrowded we are with large dogs at Oakland Animal Services. As the City of Oakland’s open admission shelter, we don’t say “no” to incoming dogs. In 2022, we took in an average of 238 dogs per month. We sounded the alarm in early 2023, when we saw that monthly average spike to 302 dogs per month. Still, despite that daunting increase, we also saw this community rally, resulting in a nearly 30% increase in adoptions and 40% increase in dogs in foster homes, all while the euthanasia rate was at its lowest ever.
So far in 2024, we are seeing another big spike in intake and are now at an average of 349 dogs per month. New dogs come in every day, so even though we’re getting dogs out of the shelter, those kennels fill right back up. We do not want to be forced to euthanize for space, but that is the reality that we are facing if we can’t get more dogs adopted.
We are not giving up on these dogs and need your help to save them!
– This week, from March 13th through 17th, we are pulling out all the stops to get our large dog population down below our shelter capacity.
– We are adding an extra day of adoptions, and extending adoption hours every day so that we can get as many large dogs adopted as possible!
– On Thursday March 14th we will have a special midnight madness event, where we’ll be at the shelter from noon till midnight adopting dogs! Adoption fees for all big dogs will be waived.
We’ll keep you posted every day on how we’re doing in getting down under our capacity. Instead of setting a goal for the number of dogs adopted, we will track a goal of the number of big dogs in the shelter, showing every day the progress we’re making towards getting our shelter population in check.
We will be doing everything we can to find dogs new homes, and we need you to help, too! Come adopt a dog, and if you can’t adopt yourself, help us to spread the word in your networks and communities. We have all types of adoptable pups, including easy going dogs that will be fantastic for first-time adopters, pups who are looking for a more dog-experienced home, pups that will be great with families, pups that would love to have a pack of their own, pups who are happier to be solo dogs, puppies, adults, and seniors. You name it, our matchmakers will find the right dog for you! With over 100 dogs available, we’re sure to make a match.
Oakland Animal Services is located right off the 880 freeway in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. We’re about ½ mile from Fruitvale BART, near AC Transit bus lines 20, 21, and 62, and we have a parking lot right in front of the shelter.
