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Ever wonder how our pets find their way to adoption through Berkeley Humane? In a sense, Berkeley Humane’s adoptable animals are a special, curated selection of animals that we believe would be a great fit in the right home. We focus our attention on relieving overcrowding at other shelters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each week Berkeley Humane staff collaborates with these shelters in a process called “intake” to identify adoptable pets as well as injured animals who might thrive under our excellent medical care. 1. Intake step one is to visit a partner shelter .  There, we discuss how Berkeley Humane can help them with potential overcrowding and whether any of their animals would be a good fit for us. Occasionally a Berkeley Humane veterinarian offers expert medical advice to help us determine which animals might benefit from our excellent on-site vet care — for instance, our new radiograph helps us diagnose injuries that other shelters might not be equipped to discover....

There's no set timeline to true love!  Sometimes you're ready for a new pet — but don't find the right animal right away. And sometimes an animal is suitable for adoption but doesn't meet the right adopters.  Carina Alia Earl ‎ knows all about waiting for stars to align. She got in touch with us on Facebook to tell us how happy she and Molly the cat are together: Lazy afternoon with my little lady from Berkeley Humane. Love my Molly (formerly known as Hyacinth) who was waiting for a home for almost a year. Don't overlook the black kitties. You might be missing out on the greatest love of your life. Thank you for letting us know that Molly's wait for a home was worth it! She looks so cozy in your arms. Looking for your stars to align? Come visit us this weekend!   We're also gearing up for Bark (and Meow) Around the Block , our exciting annual block party, where we hope to find homes for even more animals (and not just dogs and cats!). We'll welcome ov...

Guest post by Nancy Frensley, CPDT,CAP2, CNWI, CGC Evaluator, Senior Behavior and Training Manager, Berkeley Humane One of first things adopters from Berkeley Humane want to do is take their dogs to a dog park. It’s easy to assume that all dogs both want to play with other dogs and have the right temperament and social skills to do so. However, everyone will benefit by considering a few things before beginning this particular adventure. Pixie and Cinnamon chase a friend. Photo by Pär Winzell. Until puppies reach maturity, between the ages of eighteen months and two years, most of them enjoy playing with other dogs. Good dog play can teach young dogs valuable lessons. Play enhances bite inhibition, develops communication skills, and maintains friendly responses to other dogs. As they mature, most dogs become less universal in their desire to play. Even though some parts of each puppy’s play style are inherited, each of them goes through distinct developmental periods during the first tw...

While treats, toys, and fuzzy blankets might not be at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of canine needs, there's no denying that it can be fun and rewarding to spoil our pets.  When adopter Yue Lin got in touch with us on our Facebook page , she showed us an adorable new way to honor her Berkeley Humane-adopted dogs:   Riley and Cameron are both from Berkeley Humane and recently got their own pillows:)  We had some questions about these awesome crafts, and Yue obliged us: Dear Berkeley Humane, I got the pillows at Crafty Wonderland on a recent trip to Portland. They are made locally by an artist. Well, I just couldn't resist:). Thanks again for all you guys do! Riley and Cameron are the stars of our home. Here they are on a typical day:) That's a special pair of dogs that deserves a special set of pillows, Yue! Thank you for this glimpse of the happy life you share with Riley and Cameron. Looking for your own dog to spoil? From puppies to adults, we have a variety of ...