Adoptions

Every day our animal shelter has dozens of dogs and cats waiting for new homes. Our animals are on a first come, first available basis. We do not place holds on any animals for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

These pets were relinquished to our shelter by owners who were unable or unwilling to continue caring for their pet. We also transfer dogs and cats from county shelters after the legally required holding period. By Santa Barbara County ordinance, we are not able to accept lost or stray pets from the public for adoption.

Our goal is to find a good match for both the pet and the adopter. To help you find the most appropriate pet for your household, we ask you to complete a short survey about your home and lifestyle. We also request that as many members of your family meet the pet as possible.

It’s important that your new pet is compatible with all the people and pets in your house, and we do our best to determine the adoptable pet’s ability to adjust to your lifestyle. We evaluate each adoption on a case-by-case basis and may ask you to visit us several times to meet with the dog or cat prior to completing the adoption. Please bring all family members to meet the animal. If you rent, we WILL call your landlord for approval. You must be 21 years or older to adopt an animal at our facility.
COVID-19: While our shelter is not open to casual public visits, Adoption appointments are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY after approved application. During this challenging time, SYVHS/DAWG has maintained pet adoptions through an appointment-based system that allows us to limit foot traffic throughout our buildings and maintain social distance guidelines. Our staff are on location every single day caring for the remaining animals in our care and assisting callers with directing animal intake and advising on adoptions. We are committed to continuing to support our community in every way possible.