Adoption Process

To complete an adoption, please bring the following:

1. Identification: A valid driver’s license, California ID card, or other photo identification (you must be at least 18 years old to adopt a pet).
2. Payment: Adoption fees can be paid by credit card or cash. We do not accept checks.
3. Adoption Questionnaire: Please try to download, print, and fill out our questionnaire before you arrive. If that is not possible, you can fill it out when you visit.
4. Optional: Please bring any dogs that already live with your. Shelter staff can help introduce your current dog/s to your potential new dog. Please do not bring your cat/s. We are not able to introduce cats to other cats or dogs.

Dog Questionnaire | Cuestionario para Perros or Cat Questionnaire | Cuestionario para Gatos

Every adopted animal from East Bay SPCA comes with:

• Spay/Neuter
• Initial vaccines
• Microchip & registration
• Roundworm and flea treatment
• Cardboard carrier (for cats only)
• Temporary leash and collar (for dogs only)
• Discounted dog training classes

• Dog: $175
• Puppy (under 6 months): $300
• Club Second Chance Dog: $90
• Cat: $125
• Kitten (under 6 months): $200
• Pair of Kittens: $300
• Club Second Chance Cat: $60

Waived-fee promotions are one of the ways we help more animals find loving homes. These special adoption opportunities may be offered to spotlight pets who need additional visibility, participate in special adoption events, or help connect more families with loving companions. All adopters go through the same adoption process regardless of the fee, and every animal is equally deserving of a loving home.

In addition to occasional reduced or waived-fee promotions, the following adoption discounts are available to prospective adopters year-round.

• Club Second Chance: This program helps highlight senior animals and animals with special needs. Eligible pets have reduced adoption fees.
• Long-Term Animals: For animals who have spent more than two months in our care, it’s important to get them in their homes soon so they can decompress from their longer-than-average stay. These pets have waived adoption fees.
• Bonded Animals: The quality of life for a bonded pair is highly dependent on companions remaining together. Adopt one animal, and their bonded companion will have a waived adoption fee.
• Seniors for Seniors: This program seeks to increase older animals’ chances of finding a new home while also improving the health and quality of life of senior citizens. Adoption fees for senior pets ages 7 years and above are waived for adopters ages 65 years and above.
• Military Veterans: Our Veterans Adoption Program aims to pair veterans of the United States Armed Forces with adoptable animals. We waive adoption fees for military veterans who show their driver’s license or ID card with the “VETERAN” designation on it at the time of adoption. Waived fees can apply to one pet, a bonded pair, or a double kitten adoption. This offer may be redeemed once every six months per eligible veteran.
• Pawspice: Our Pawspice Adoption Program aims to find loving homes faster for animals with complex or terminal medical conditions who still have a high quality of life. Thanks to our generous donors, adoption fees are waived for Pawspice animals, and the animal can receive medical care (for known conditions) at our Theodore B. Travers Family Veterinary Clinic in Oakland for the remainder of their lives.

• We operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
• We do not take holds by phone or email.
• If the pet still requires spay or neuter surgery, we may place a short-term adoption hold only after a member of the household has visited the animal in person. The cost for this hold is $25 or $50. If a hold results in an adoption, the $25.00 hold fee ($50 for puppies and kittens) will be applied to the adoption fee.
• If the hold does not result in adoption, the hold fee is non-refundable.
• We do not have waitlists for animals on hold, and we do not contact interested parties if a hold is released and an animal becomes available again. Check our adoption list frequently for updates, as it may be updated several times a day.