Now is a great time to adopt a big dog.

Oakland Animal Services, the city’s shelter for dogs, cats, and other animals, announced Friday that it cannot take in any more large dogs because it has exceeded its capacity.

As a result, OAS is looking to quickly find new homes for many of its plus-sized pups.

Oakland Animal Services

1101 29th Avenue

Open Sat. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment needed.

On Friday, the shelter announced it is waiving all adoption fees for dogs that weigh over 25 pounds on Aug. 1 and 2.

That means dogs like Tony, a charming 54-pound husky who “enjoys leaning into pets and scritches, often pressing his head against your legs to soak up attention,” or Rosalia, a 57-pound doberman pinscher who “loves going on walks and may happily prance along while sniffing and keeping an eye out for squirrels,” could be yours.

The ability to waive fees was made possible by a generous donor, OAS officials said.

“We had a dedicated member of our foster community who loves big dogs call us up and pledge to cover these costs for the weekend,” said OAS Director Joe DeVries. “We are so thankful for their support and are looking to get these wonderful animals into loving homes. Every large dog who leaves the shelter creates a space for the dogs still coming in.”

All OAS dogs have been spayed or neutered, have all their vaccinations and microchips, and just need a stable, loving home, and maybe a bit of training.

One adorable dog that absolutely deserves adoption is Herman. According to OAS, Herman came to them in 2025 after his owner was hospitalized and could no longer care for him. The shelter was full, so they sent Herman to Miranda’s Rescue in Humboldt County, where they thought he’d be cared for.

Miranda’s Rescue was raided by sheriff’s deputies in May, and mass graves were exhumed, exposing the remains of dogs allegedly killed for financial gain. The rescue’s owner is currently being criminally investigated and sued in civil court over allegations of animal cruelty and fraud.

Herman survived and returned to Oakland earlier this year, but he still needs to find a new home, according to information on OAS’s website.

At age 10, Herman, who is 50 pounds, is “a low-drama buddy who’s always up for a walk or a nap on the couch,” according to OAS.

All of OAS’s adoptable dogs can be viewed on the organization’s website.

Herman is a good boy. Credit: Courtesy of Oakland Animal Services

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