Featured rescues/shelters
Carivintâs Winery
Solvang
Carivintâs Winery Tasting Room in Solvang, Santa Barbara County, is a serene destination where both pets and children are warmly welcomed.
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Lompoc Animal Shelter
Lompoc
Lompoc Animal Shelter, located in Lompoc, serves the communities of Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast.
Read moreOther rescues/shelters
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.
Read moreSanta Maria Animal Center
Santa Maria
Santa Maria Animal Center, located in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, is a full-service facility catering to the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe and the North County.
Read moreShadow’s Fund
Lompoc
Shadow's Fund, located in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the most vulnerable shelter dogs.
Read moreMore Adventures in Santa Barbara County
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 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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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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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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