Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge: Adoption Hours & Oakland Animal Control
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. (RBARI) is a nonprofit animal shelter at 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436. It helps dogs, cats and small animals find homes, with particular attention to animals requiring medical care, rehabilitation or extra time before adoption.
Adoption meetings are by appointment only, every day of the week. If you need to report a stray, an animal bite or an animal-control complaint in Oakland, use the Borough’s Animal Control route instead of assuming RBARI dispatches officers.
Quick answer: RBARI is a private nonprofit no-kill animal shelter at 2 Shelter Lane in Oakland, NJ. Adoption requires an approved application and scheduled visit. The shelter number is 201-337-5180. For Oakland Borough Animal Control matters, use 201-337-6171, the official Police Desk routing number published in the Borough’s 2026 information.
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge Adoption Hours 2026
RBARI’s official website lists appointment-only visits Monday through Sunday. There is no published daily walk-in adoption window to rely on. Completing the online application is the first step; an approved applicant is then scheduled to meet an animal.
| Day | Adoption access | Visitor guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | Appointment only | Apply online, wait for review and arrange a confirmed meeting. |
| Saturday | Appointment only | Do not treat the weekend as open walk-in hours. |
| Sunday | Appointment only | Visit only after RBARI confirms your appointment. |
How to Adopt From RBARI: Step-by-Step
RBARI uses a matching and screening process rather than an unplanned walk-in adoption. The point is not to pass a test; the shelter wants to understand the home and help the animal succeed once it leaves.
Choose a dog, cat or small animal
Open RBARI’s official Adopt page. Scroll to the dogs, cats or small animals listings. Read each profile carefully before choosing.
Click “Adopt Me” on the animal’s profile
The official pet profiles open the application through Adopets. You may apply for more than one animal if you are uncertain which is the best match.
Create your Adopets account
Use the Sign Up option if you do not have an account. Complete your household and animal-care information. Adopets also provides a Help Center for form support.
Watch for confirmation and screening
RBARI says processing may take up to one week. Staff check references, including veterinarian or landlord references where relevant, and may ask follow-up questions.
Schedule the family meeting
After approval, the shelter arranges a visit. All household adults and children must attend the animal meeting. Resident dogs are required at a dog-adoption meeting; resident cats and smaller pets should remain home.
Complete the adoption if it is a match
If everyone is comfortable and RBARI approves the match, the pet may go home the same day as the meeting. Complete the contract and remaining paperwork as directed.
RBARI Adoption Fees for Dogs, Cats and Small Pets
These are the prices currently published by Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge itself. They include veterinary preparation and care; adoption is not simply payment for an animal.
Puppies
Dogs one year old and younger.
Adult dogs
Dogs older than one year.
Senior dogs
Dogs aged eight years and older.
Kittens
Cats one year old and younger.
Adult cats
Cats older than one year.
Senior cats
Cats aged eight years and older.
Pair and small-animal fees
| Adoption type | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Two cats | $250 |
| Two kittens | $350 |
| Rabbit | $50 |
| Guinea pig, ferret or other listed small animal | $25 |
Check the individual animal’s category and current terms before paying. RBARI states that adoption fees are reinvested in shelter care.
Find Available Dogs, Cats and Small Animals
Dogs
Look for compatibility, activity level, medical needs and temperament. Remember that your resident dog must participate in an approved dog-adoption meeting.
Cats
Ask about personality, other-cat compatibility, indoor adjustment and whether a bonded pair is available.
Small animals
RBARI also lists rabbits and other smaller companions. Consider housing, social needs, diet and long-term veterinary costs before applying.
RBARI Senior-to-Senior Adoption Program
An older dog or cat may be an excellent companion for someone seeking a quieter daily rhythm. RBARI offers a specific program designed to remove some barriers for seniors adopting senior pets.
65 years and older
The published program is intended for adopters aged 65 or older who are matched with eligible older pets.
8 years and older
Eligible senior animals receive extra medical assessment and adoption support under the program.
RBARI says qualifying placements include waived adoption fees, senior bloodwork, dental and other necessary care before adoption, a complimentary starter kit, one week of virtual training and lifetime support.
Ask RBARI whether the animal you are interested in qualifies and which program benefits apply.
Veterinary Care Included With RBARI Adoption
The shelter gives animals veterinary and behavioral support before adoption. Its official adoption page lists the following care in the dog and cat adoption fees.
Dogs
- Veterinary examination
- Spay or neuter
- Rabies, distemper and Bordetella vaccination
- Deworming
- Heartworm testing and prevention
- Flea and tick treatment
- Microchip
Cats
- Veterinary examination
- Spay or neuter
- Rabies and FVRCP vaccination
- Deworming
- Flea and tick treatment
- Microchip
- Retroviral testing
Oakland NJ Animal Control: Different From RBARI
This is the distinction that matters most if you found a roaming dog, witnessed an animal bite or need help with an injured stray. RBARI is a nonprofit rescue and adoption shelter, not Oakland Borough’s animal-control dispatch agency.
Oakland’s 2026 municipal information identifies Tyco Animal Control as the Borough’s contracted Animal Control provider. Animal Control Officers enforce animal-related rules and deal with relevant stray, sick, injured, bite, quarantine and nuisance complaints.
Routine Oakland Animal Control
Call the Oakland Police Desk at 201-337-6171 for routing to Animal Control during work hours.
Emergency public-safety situation
For immediate danger to human life or a serious active emergency in Oakland, call 911.
The Borough information also identifies the Oakland Police Department at 295 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436. That address is not the RBARI shelter address.
Emergency and Important Local Contacts
These numbers serve different roles. Do not assume the nonprofit shelter phone is an after-hours police or animal emergency dispatch number.
Adoptions, shelter inquiries and nonprofit rescue programs
Non-emergency police desk and Animal Control contact route
Threat to life or serious active emergency
Municipal office; not the shelter adoption number
Lost or Found a Pet in Oakland, New Jersey
If your pet is missing, time matters. But it also matters to contact the correct organization: RBARI can offer community resources, while official stray-animal response in the Borough is handled through Oakland’s contracted Animal Control service.
My pet is missing
- Search nearby streets, yards and familiar walking routes safely.
- Call Oakland Police Desk at 201-337-6171 for Animal Control routing and possible impound information.
- Provide your pet’s photograph, description, microchip number and last-seen location.
- Contact your microchip registry and check relevant local shelters.
- Use RBARI’s community resources for additional lost/found support information.
I found an animal
- Note the exact location and visible identification.
- Avoid cornering an animal that is frightened, injured or aggressive.
- Call the Borough’s Animal Control route to determine the proper response.
- Do not leave a found animal outside RBARI without prior agreement.
- For immediate danger to people, call 911.
Pet Surrender and Rehoming Support
A family may need to rehome a pet because of housing, illness, financial strain or a change in circumstances. RBARI supports vulnerable animals and lists surrendering resources, but that does not mean every pet can be accepted immediately.
Review the official resource page
Open RBARI Community Resources and select the surrendering information.
Prepare an accurate pet history
Gather vaccination and medical records and disclose behavior, age, health concerns and current living conditions.
Ask about capacity and next steps
Contact RBARI at 201-337-5180 before bringing the animal. Ask whether the shelter can evaluate your request or suggest responsible alternatives.
Community Care, Spay/Neuter and Volunteering
Low-cost spay/neuter help
RBARI’s community resources include spay/neuter requests and information intended to help reduce unwanted litters. Confirm eligibility and availability directly.
Volunteer
RBARI accepts volunteer interest through its official volunteer system. Roles and training depend on current shelter needs.
Donate or sponsor
RBARI describes medical, senior-animal, adoption and community-support funds. Use official nonprofit donation channels rather than unsolicited payment requests.
Prepare for Your RBARI Appointment
Before the meeting
- Submit the online adoption application
- Wait for application review and an approved appointment
- Have landlord or veterinary references available
- Bring all household members to the meeting
- Bring resident dogs for a dog-adoption meet as directed
Before taking the pet home
- Prepare a secure carrier or leash
- Ask about feeding, medication and medical history
- Understand the adoption contract
- Plan slow introductions to household pets
- Arrange ongoing veterinary care
Map: Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Oakland NJ
2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436. This is the nonprofit shelter location. It is not the Oakland Police or Borough Animal Control office.
Official RBARI and Oakland Resources
These sources support the facts and application steps in this guide. Use them for active animal profiles, application status and government dispatch information.
Related Animal Shelter Guides
If you need a county-operated shelter rather than a nonprofit rescue, read our separate Bergen County Animal Shelter guide. It covers the county’s Teterboro shelter and procedures, which are different from RBARI’s appointment-only adoptions.
The site’s Oakland Animal Services guide concerns Oakland, California, not New Jersey; do not use its contacts for an Oakland Borough emergency.
Ramapo Oakland Animal Shelter: 10 FAQs
1. Where is Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge?
RBARI is at 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, New Jersey 07436.
2. What is the RBARI phone number?
Call 201-337-5180. Adoption application questions can use extension 113 or adoptlove@rbari.org.
3. What are Ramapo-Bergen adoption hours in 2026?
RBARI lists adoption visits as appointment only, Monday through Sunday. Approved applicants schedule their visits; ordinary walk-ins are not advertised.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a dog?
The official RBARI fees are $400 for puppies one year and younger, $350 for adult dogs over one year, and $100 for senior dogs aged eight and older.
5. How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
Kittens are $200, adult cats $150 and senior cats aged eight or older $100. RBARI also lists $250 for two cats and $350 for two kittens.
6. Do I need an approved application before visiting?
Yes. Submit the animal’s application through Adopets. RBARI reviews applications and arranges appointments for approved applicants. Processing may take up to one week.
7. Can RBARI hold a dog or cat for me?
No. RBARI states that animals cannot be held or reserved. Adoption decisions are based on the best fit for the pet.
8. Does RBARI offer discounted senior adoptions?
Yes. Its Senior-to-Senior program supports qualifying adopters aged 65 and older adopting animals aged eight and older, with waived fees and additional care/support benefits.
9. Is RBARI the Oakland NJ Animal Control department?
No. RBARI is a nonprofit shelter. Oakland Borough contracts with Tyco Animal Control, and the Borough directs routine Animal Control contact through the Oakland Police Desk at 201-337-6171.
10. What should I do if I find a stray or injured animal in Oakland?
For routine Animal Control routing, call Oakland Police Desk at 201-337-6171. Avoid handling aggressive or injured wildlife. For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.