Berkeley Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026

Temporary public closure

City of Berkeley currently says Berkeley Animal Care Services is temporarily closed to the public until further notice following a fire at the shelter.

Animals reported safe

The City notice says all animals are safe and unharmed, and updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Call before visiting

Because public access can change, call 510-981-6600 before visiting, donating items, checking a lost pet or trying to meet an animal.

Official source checked

Last verified: August 12, 2026. Details use City of Berkeley Animal Shelter, Adopt a Pet, Lost & Found Pets, Pet Licenses, Animal Bites, Noise Standards and FoBACS pages.

No fake data added

No fake reviews, no fake ratings, no invented reclaim fees, no unverified staff names and no BreadcrumbList schema inside this Custom HTML.

Service area note

The City says the shelter provides a safe haven for homeless pets from Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont and Emeryville.

If your pet is lost

• Call Berkeley Animal Shelter at 510-981-6600.
• Ask whether your pet has been brought in and how lost-pet checks work during the closure.
• If your animal is not at the shelter, ask to file a lost report.
• Continue checking every 2 or 3 days.
• Check Petharbor.
• Place a lost ad on Nextdoor, Craigslist or similar sites.
• Check nearby shelters such as Oakland Animal Services and Contra Costa County Animal Services.
• Make flyers with a photo and accurate description.
• Notify neighbors.
• For lost cats, search crawl spaces, garages and storage sheds, and call during quiet times.

If you found a pet

• Report the found pet to Animal Services with the most accurate description possible.
• Include species, breed/type, color, size, collar/tag, location found and photos if available.
• Call 510-981-6600 before bringing the animal due to the current public closure notice.
• Keep the found animal separate from your pets and children until you receive guidance.
• Have the animal scanned for a microchip if Animal Services directs you to a safe option.
• Do not privately rehome a found pet before the official lost/found route has a chance to reunite the owner.

Fee waiver possibilities

• Low income: annual income $37,400 or less and pet is spayed/neutered or permanently infertile.
• Senior citizen: 65 or older and pet is spayed/neutered or permanently infertile.
• Adopt a service dog.
• Adopt from the Berkeley Animal Shelter.

Quick dog rules

• Dogs in public areas must be restrained with a leash at least six feet long, or obedience-trained and kept within six feet.
• Dogs in public parks or playgrounds must be on leash.
• Remove your dog’s feces on public property.
• All dogs over four months must be licensed and wear the license.
• You may not have more than four dogs on any one premises.

Animal bite

Call Animal Care Services at 510-981-6600. Seek medical care as needed or call 911 if the injury is serious.

After hours

If an animal-bite incident happens after hours and the Animal Shelter does not answer, the City says to call Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.

Animal noise

Excessive animal noise, including barking dog issues, is referred to Animal Care Services at 510-981-6600.

Wildlife concerns

Berkeley’s wildlife/rodent page routes rodent, insect and wildlife concerns to Alameda County Vector Control, but dead animals and animal bites go to Animal Care Services.

Animal control services

City descriptions include ordinance enforcement, impoundment of stray pets, removal of killed or injured wildlife, and investigation of neglect, cruelty, nuisance and bite cases.

Immediate danger

For urgent public safety, serious injuries or dangerous situations, use 911 first.

Animal Fix Clinic

The City lists Animal Fix Clinic for spay/neuter vouchers at 510-215-9300.

Berkeley residents

Voucher wording on the City shelter page is for Berkeley residents’ dogs and cats. Call first for current eligibility and appointment details.

Ask before you book

Ask what proof of residency, income or pet information is needed before scheduling surgery or voucher use.

Monetary donations

The City says monetary donations can be sent by check made out to the City of Berkeley at 1 Bolivar Dr, Berkeley, CA 94710.

In-kind donations

The City lists towels, sheets, pillowcases and blankets as in-kind donation examples.

Do not send stuffed items

The City says not to send anything stuffed, including stuffed animals, pillows or stuffed comforters.

Volunteer route

Animal shelter volunteer services are listed separately by the City. Use the official volunteer link and current closure updates.

FoBACS support

The City notice points community members who want to help to Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services.

Call before drop-off

Do not leave donations outside. Confirm current accepted items and drop-off method first.

Call first, screenshot pet listing, bring ID, prepare household and ask about closure-time process.

Recent photo, microchip number, collar/tag details, cross streets and quiet-time cat search plan.

Photos, found location/time, safe containment, accurate description and call to Animal Services.

Rabies certificate, application, waiver documents if applicable and correct payment method.