Skip to main content Skip to site search
City of Berkeley

Top Bar

  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • Rent Board
  • School District
City of Berkeley
  • City
    Services
    • Explore city services, report issues online, pay parking tickets

      More about city services

      • Report & Pay
      • Parking
      • Trash & Recycling
      • Getting Around
      • Event Permits & Rentals
      • Livable Neighborhoods
      • Streets, Sidewalks, Sewers, and Utilities
      • Birth & Death Certificates
      • Domestic Partnership
      • Community GIS Portal
      • Current Service Notices
      Report Issues online
      pay parking ticket
      residential parking permits
  • Community &
    Recreation
    • Explore news and events, adopt a pet, visit a city park or pool

      MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY & RECREATION

      • Events
      • News
      • Parks & Recreation
      • Seniors
      • Volunteering
      • Animal Care Services
      • Civic Arts
      • Waterfront
      • Affordable Housing in Berkeley
      • Community Services
      adopt a pet
      visit adventure playground
      reserve swim session
  • Safety &
    Health
    • Get vaccinated for COVID-19, report a crime, access homeless services

      MORE ABOUT SAFETY & HEALTH

      • COVID-19
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Fire
      • Public Health
      • Police
      • Police Accountability
      • Mental Health
      • Homeless Services
      covid vaccines
      covid testing
      covid data
  • Construction &
    Development
    • Apply for a permit, schedule an inspection, research zoning policies

      MORE ABOUT Construction & Development

      • Permits & Design Parameters
      • Seismic Safety
      • Green Building
      • Land Use & Development
      permit service center
      schedule inspection
      look up zoning
  • Doing
    Business
    • Apply for a business license, get business assistance, find bid & proposal opportunities

      MORE ABOUT Doing Business

      • Economic Development
      • Operating in Berkeley
      • Working with the City
      apply for business license
      get business assistance
      bid to work with the city
  • Your
    Government
    • Attend a City Council or commission meeting, apply for jobs, look up City holidays

      MORE ABOUT Your Government

      • About Us
      • Boards & Commissions
      • City Council
      • Elections
      • Financial Information
      • Jobs
      • Our Work
      • Public Records
      • City Holidays
      • Lobbyist Registration
      • City Audits
      apply for a job
      city council meetings
      boards & commissions
  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • Rent Board
  • School District

You are here

  • Home
  • Community & Recreation
  • Animal Care Services
  • Adopt a Pet
Share Print

Adopt a Pet

Give an animal in need a new home by adopting from the City of Berkeley’s Animal Shelter.

To adopt a pet, visit the Berkeley Animal Shelter during business hours. You may want to check online first to see what animals are currently adoptable. You can view our adoptable animals at the Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services website.

Adoption fees

Animal type Adoption fee
Dogs $125.00
Cats $100.00
Rabbits $25.00
Birds $25.00
Exotics $25.00
Rodents $10.00

60/6/60 program

If you’re sixty or over, and you adopt an animal who is 6 or over, you’ll get a 60% discount on the adoption fee.

Adoption process

Our adoption process is designed to ensure the best match for both you and your new pet.

In order to adopt a pet from the Berkeley Animal Shelter, you must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Show proof that you can have a pet where you live (for example, a copy of your lease stating that pets are allowed, or proof of home ownership, such as a mortgage statement)

To get started with the adoption process:

  • If you are adopting a dog, everyone in the household should come meet the dog
  • If you are adopting a dog and already have a dog(s), please bring them to meet the dog you want to adopt
  • During your visit, you will fill out a simple adoption application which will help us advise and prepare you for your new pet
  • We offer home adoption counseling visits for any of our dogs and may require it for some dogs

If more than one person wants to adopt an animal on the morning it becomes available, we enter the names of qualified adopters into a random drawing.  Please note, the adopter must be physically present at the shelter, and be deemed a fit home for adoption. If you are coming from out of town to adopt a specific animal, we suggest calling the shelter first to confirm that the animal is still available for adoption.

All cats and dogs adopted from the shelter will be neutered or spayed, vaccinated and microchipped before going home as your new pet.  If the animal is spayed or neutered at the time of adoption, it can leave the same day.  If the animal is not yet spayed or neutered, you can pick up your new pet the day after surgery.

In this section
Animal Care Services
  • Adopt a Pet
  • Pet Licenses
  • Lost & Found Pets
  • Animal Shelter

News

Kitten at Berkeley Animal Services

Our animal shelter has more kittens. One might be perfect for you.

Berkeley Civic Center building

Pet survey: Share your experience of lost or found pets

More News
Animal Care Services
Email: animalservices@cityofberkeley.info
Phone: (510) 981-6600

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Connect with us online, by phone, or in person.

Footer Top

Report Online (510) 981-2489 Visit
City of Berkeley
2180 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Footer Social

Footer Right

  • Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Get alerted about emergencies

Footer

  • Departments
  • Permits
  • Records Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Footer Bottom

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Policy
  • Website Feedback
 

Translation Disclaimer

© 2023 City of Berkeley All rights reserved.