NBC's 12th annual Clear the Shelters runs through August 31, and a long list of Bay Area shelters are waiving or slashing adoption fees. Here's where the free ones are, weekend by weekend — and the fine print before you fall in love.

If you've been telling yourself you'll adopt "someday," this is the month the math tips in your favor. NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48 and NBC Sports are running the 12th annual Clear the Shelters through August 31, and dozens of Bay Area shelters have waived or reduced adoption fees for the run. NBC keeps the full participating list — with addresses and event dates — at nbcbayarea.com/clear-the-shelters.

The move here is knowing which shelters mean free and which mean cheaper. Fully waiving fees right now: Oakland Animal Services (adoption includes microchip, spay/neuter and first vaccines), Berkeley Animal Care Services (they throw in a leash and collar), Berkeley-East Bay Humane, Antioch Animal Services (all animals), Marin Humane in Novato, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in SF, Pets In Need in Redwood City, and the House Rabbit Society in Richmond. Reducing, not eliminating: East Bay SPCA, SF Animal Care & Control, SF SPCA (its "Name Your Price" runs all month) and Napa County (50% off in-house all August).

This weekend (Sat, Aug 8): Aunt Anna's Reptile Rescue at Petco, 1150 Concord Ave, Concord, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; NorCal Sled Dog Rescue at Calicraft Brewing, 2700 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek, 12:30–3:30 p.m.

Sat, Aug 15 is the big one: Oakland Animal Services pops up at Pet Food Express Piedmont (3868 Piedmont Ave, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.), and Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in Burlingame waives fees on every animal all day for its crescendo event. Aug 29–30 is Berkeley Humane's Bark (& Meow) Around the Block, 2700 Ninth St, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The fine print that saves a headache: "free" usually still means you pay county licensing and, at some shelters, training fees — Peninsula Humane says so outright. Bring ID, and for dogs, know your landlord's pet policy before you're standing at the counter.

If you've only got two hours today, go to the Walnut Creek brewery event — dogs, a patio and zero pressure — then sleep on it. The shelters aren't going anywhere until the 31st, and the best free-adoption push is still two weeks out.