Other local services
Santa Barbara Animal Shelter
Goleta
Santa Barbara Animal Shelter, a full-service shelter serving the city of Goleta and the South County (excluding Carpinteria), is a beacon of hope for animals in need on the Central Coast.
Read moreSanta Barbara County
Goleta
Santa Barbara County Animal Services is the sole open admissions shelter in Santa Barbara County, boasting shelters in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara.
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Central Coast nesting season: a dog owner’s calendar
Month-by-month guide to Central Coast beach closures for snowy plover nesting, plus dog-friendly beaches that stay open March through September.
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Santa Barbara with your dog: what locals keep quiet
Santa Barbara's dog-friendly secret isn't on the downtown wharf: it's in the foothills, the canyons, and a beach the locals still call Hendry's. Here's where we actually go on a Central Coast weekend.
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Dog-friendly Santa Barbara: guide to the American Riviera
Santa Barbara runs deep on dog-friendly options. From the off-leash sand at Arroyo Burro Beach to Douglas Family Preserve blufftops, Funk Zone wine tasting, and patio dining citywide, we map the best spots to bring your dog.
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Dog-friendly patios in California: Your spring outdoor dining guide
Spring in California means one thing for dog owners: patio season is officially open. California legalized dogs on restaurant patios in 2014, and since then the dining scene for pup parents has only grown. Our statewide guide to dog-friendly outdoor…
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Dog-friendly spring camping on California’s Central Coast
Why spring is the sweet spot for Central Coast camping If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to load up the car, leash the dog, and head for the coast, this is it. Spring on California’s Central Coast is…
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California’s best coastal dog-friendly towns
From Mendocino's Victorian headlands to Laguna Beach's gallery-lined streets, California's best coastal towns have quietly reshaped themselves around four-legged visitors. Expect water bowls at storefronts, treats at hotel check-in and patios where dogs are the guests of honor.
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