How to Adopt

Jump to: Adoption Hours | Adopt an Animal In Foster | Adoption Requirements | Adoption Fees | Adopt a Working Cat

**We are currently offering reduced adoption fees! See adoption fees here.**

Our goal is to help you find the right pet who matches your lifestyle and needs, bringing you lifelong companionship.

Adoption Hours

No appointment needed! Walk-up adoption hours at the shelter are:

• Thursdays:12-7 pm
• Fridays: 12 – 3 PM
• Saturdays: 12 – 3 PM
• Sundays 12 – 3 PM

Please note that visitors may not walk through the shelter on your own to browse all animals. Instead, when you arrive, you will first speak with a staff member or volunteer who will help determine which specific adoptable pet(s) may a good fit before meeting those specific animals.

Important information about our on-site adoption process:

• All visitors must complete an adoption questionnaire/matchmaking form which you can fill out when you arrive. This helps us to match you with a suitable pet. If you have previously completed the form or submitted one online, you will still need to bring your completed hardcopy with you, or fill out the form again. You may print out a hardcopy of the form here for Cats, Rabbits/Guinea Pigs, Other. For dogs, you’ll complete the questionnaire when you arrive.  
• To browse adoptable animals, click here. This is updated frequently so we encourage you to check the website before your visit.
• Animals listed as “In Foster” are generally not at the shelter, unless noted in their profile as attending an upcoming adoption day. For animals currently in foster, please read Adopt a Pet who is in a Foster Home below. To inquire about a adopting a dog in foster, please complete this questionnaire online. (Cuestionario de adopción en español).
• Some animals may be available for adoption by appointment only. These are animals who tend to get overwhelmed by too many visitors. If an animal is designated as “by appointment only”, this will be listed on their website profile.
• Due to our limited resources and staffing, adoption visits are limited to 15 minutes when there are other people waiting
• You must meet all adoption requirements.

Before adopting a new pet, please review our  cat/kitten resources, dog/puppy resources, or rabbit resources to ensure you are prepared to add a pet to your household.

Adopting a Pet who is in a Foster Home

Some of our adoptable animals are in foster homes. This means that they are not currently residing at the shelter. This is indicated by a ribbon that says “In Foster” on their profile.

If you are interested in adopting an animal who is in a foster home, please use the following online forms:

Adopt a Dog in a foster home: Submit an online adoption questionnaire here. (Cuestionario de adopción en español)

Adopt a Rabbit in a foster home : Email rabbits@oaklandsanimals.org with a completed Rabbit Adoption Questionnaire.

Adopt a Cat in a foster home: Email adoption@oaklandsanimals.org with a completed Cat Adoption Questionnaire.

While we try our best to get back to you via our online process, sometimes it takes several days to get back to every inquiry.

Please note:

• We review adoption questionnaires in the order in which we receive them. We typically contact one potential adopter at a time. After we have contacted you and had a conversation, and it seems the pet may be a good fit, we will schedule an appointment for you to meet the pet in-person. If things do not work out, or if we do not hear back, we move on to the next potential adopter.
• If we have not contacted you to confirm an appointment, the pet you are interested in may get adopted during open adoption hours or at an adoption event.
• Visitors at open adoption hours or events are helped in the order of arrival, regardless of whether you have submitted an online adoption questionnaire.

Before submitting your questionnaire, please check that you are allowed to have a pet where you live. This may include confirming with your landlord, renter’s insurance, home insurance, etc. on any restrictions on breed, size, number of pets, etc.

You must meet all adoption requirements listed below.

Adopt a Working Cat

Are you interested in adopting an outdoor working cat? Learn more about how to apply for a working cat here.

Adoption Requirements for all animals:

• You must be 18 years of age or older
• All children in your household who are 12 years and under must be present to meet the pet you are adopting
• Bring your photo ID, for example a valid California driver’s license or other official photo identification such as a valid passport
• Bring a form of payment (cash, check, Visa, Mastercard – note that credit cards are not accepted at offsite adoption events). Adopters must pay the fees the same day as the adoption. Spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchip are included in the adoption fee. Dogs may require a separate licensing fee.
• Confirm, verbally, that you are allowed to have a pet where you live. You should check with your landlord, renter’s insurance, home insurance, etc. on any restrictions on number of pets, size, breed, etc.
• Never have had any cruelty convictions, animal control violations or broken any adoption contracts in the past
• Agree to and sign the “Statement of Adopter” on the adoption questionnaire which includes a waiver of liability
• No holds – we cannot hold animals for any reason. For example:
  • If you do not move forward with adoption after meeting an animal, another person may ask to meet the animal and the animal may be adopted by them
  • If you do not meet these adoption requirements, we cannot hold the animal while you meet the requirements
  • If you adopt, you should be prepared to take your new companion home with you on the same day as we cannot hold the animal for you at the shelter
• Dog adoptions – additional requirements:
  • We do not require you to bring your resident dog to the shelter for a dog/dog introduction with the dog you are adopting, except in the following situations:
    • If the dog you are adopting is a small dog (under 25 lb), or if you have a small resident dog (under 25 lb), you will be required to bring your resident dog(s) to the shelter for a dog/dog introduction if there is more than a 25 lb difference between your resident dog and the dog you are adopting.(For example, if the dog you are adopting is 50 lb and your resident dog is 20 lb (or vice versa), the difference in weight between the two dogs is 30 lb and therefore a dog/dog introduction at the shelter is required).
    • On occasion, there may be situations where we believe it would be in your best interest and/or the best interest of the dogs to do a supervised dog/dog introduction at the shelter. In these situations, a dog/dog introduction at the shelter may be required before you adopt the dog, at the discretion of shelter staff.(For example, your dog has a history of getting along with only certain dogs, AND the dog you are adopting has not demonstrated strong social skills with other dogs).
  • You may request to do a dog/dog introduction at the shelter even if it is not required. Please note that due to limited staff and volunteer capacity, this may or may not be possible on the day that you bring your dog to the shelter. (Please also see the “No holds” description above).
  • If you bring your dog to the shelter to do a dog/dog introduction with the dog you are adopting, be sure to bring an additional person with you to stay with your dog either in your vehicle, or somewhere nearby outside the shelter. Due to the number of dogs at the shelter, your dog may not be brought into the shelter until you are ready to adopt a dog, at which time shelter staff and/or volunteers will conduct a dog/dog introduction.
  • Review the resources here on how to introduce your newly adopted dog to your resident dog(s) at home.
  • Be aware of the Oakland and State Laws about dog ownership
• Rabbit adoptions – additional requirements:
  • If you have already have a rabbit at home, we require a rabbit-to-rabbit introduction. Please email rabbits@oaklandsanimals.org to inquire about scheduling a meet
• All animals, including rabbits, must be spayed or neutered. If the pet you are interested in adopting is not yet spayed/neutered, a staff member or volunteer will discuss next steps with you. Note that you may be asked to return on a specific date to pick up the animal after their spay/neuter surgery.

Adoption Fees

 We are currently offering reduced adoption fees!

• Dog/puppy: $20 ($17 licensing fee required if adopter resides in Oakland)
• Cat/kitten: $20
  • A pair of cats/kittens: $20
• Rabbit: $20
  • A pair of rabbits: $20
• Guinea pigs: $10
  • A pair of guinea pigs: $10
• Pigeon: $10
  • A pair of pigeons: $10

• Dog/puppy: $150 (plus $15 licensing fee if adopter resides in Oakland)
• Cat/kitten: $75
  • Two bonded cats/kittens: $75
• Rabbit: $40
  • Two bonded rabbits: $40
• Guinea pigs: $15
  • Two bonded guinea pigs: $15
• Pigeon: $10
  • Two pigeons: $10