Scary Shelter Facts: Oakland Animal Shelters Need Your Help

By Kari Paul

Courtesy Oakland Animal Services
October is a month of dwindling sunlight, changing leaves, and fun fall traditions. It is also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month: an event that could not be coming at a better time for Oakland, California, where city shelters are facing a nearly unprecedented crisis, running out of space and resources to care for an influx of surrendered and stray dogs.

Below, you will find some of the statistics that illustrate just how much need there is in this Bay Area city — and how you can help.

Nearly 5,000 dogs have entered Alameda County shelters in 2023 alone.

The eight shelters that accept dogs in Alameda County where Oakland is located have taken in 4,911 dogs in 2023. That means the county ranks eighth in the state in terms of volume of dogs taken in this year, according to Shelter Animals Count.

219 dogs who entered Alameda County shelters did not make it out this year

Shelters in Alameda County have faced an increase of stray and surrendered dogs this year, leaving them stretched thin for resources and kennel spaces, in some cases forcing them to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize animals. In 2022, Alameda County shelters euthanized 403 dogs and in 2021, 390 were euthanized, according to Shelter Animals Count. The number of dogs euthanized each year underscores the need for fosters and adopters in the Bay Area, particularly for large-breed dogs.

Spotlight on Oakland Animal Services

While there are 10 shelters in Oakland that facilitate adoption — eight of which house dogs — Oakland Animal Services (OAS) is the only open-admission shelter in the area. “Open admission” means the agency accepts all of Oakland’s homeless, injured, orphaned, unwanted, lost, abandoned and mistreated animals, regardless of age, breed, temperament, or medical condition. It also means that OAS is consistently overwhelmed with animals in need of care.

Per its website, OAS adopted out 1,161 dogs in 2022. But as many in the animal rescue world know, the battle is neverending. As of October, Oakland Animal Services once again is facing a “critical situation,”  housing 105 dogs compared to its maximum capacity of 73. That means many of these pups are being held in tight quarters, leading to more stress for the animals and worse outcomes for potential adoptions.

How you can help

Are you based in the Bay Area and ready to welcome one of these pets into your home? You can find your new furry friend on Adopt A Pet now. Not ready to commit long-term? Pet food donations are always in demand, and local organizations are always looking for fosters. Stop by one of the Foster Open House events at Oakland Animal Services to find the best temporary fit for you. And who knows, maybe it will be a foster fail.

*These estimates are based on data from Shelter Animals Count for 2023, through the month of September, except where specified.

Kari Paul is a writer whose work has been published in the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine. She has had an endless march of more than 20 foster kittens, cats, and dogs over the last few years and always cries when they leave.

Best of Adopting a Dog, Helping Pet Adoption |