Since 1887, Santa Barbara Humane Society has grown in the heart of the community as a landmark in sheltering pets. This privately supported non-profit institution works primarily in Santa Barbara County as a link between pets in need and their new homes.
Clinic, boarding, training, shelter...these are just some of the many services you can find in the two campuses of Santa Barbara Humane Society. With the capacity to host up to up to 70 cats and more than 100 dogs, they put their 5-acre site to use helping animals recover and prepare to meet you.
If you're looking to adopt or foster a pet from Santa Barbara Humane Society, you could either visit their adoption site and send an email with your contact information to . You can also complete a visitation form available on their website to schedule a visit. You won’t regret it!
Once at the facility, you'll be greeted by an adoption counselor and be minutes away from meeting your new best friend. Your counselor will provide you all the information, tools, and advice needed regarding each pet, including their suitable lifestyle, personal challenges, and favorite toys.
The “Seniors for Seniors” adoption program: This is a special program that offers senior citizens the opportunity to spend their best years with a faithful companion. If you're over 55 years of age, come and look at their cats and dogs 7+ years old. It's the perfect opportunity to find a play mate with just the right amount of energy to keep everyone active active while still enjoying plenty of cuddle time on the sofa.
Adoption fees at Santa Barbara Humane Society are as follows:
Dogs and cats 7+ years in the "Seniors for Seniors" program are $25.
Your adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, a health exam, vaccinations, feline leukemia test, microchipping with registration, a temperament evaluation, deworming for kittens, a cardboard cat carrier, a starter packet of food, and a post-surgical cone if needed.
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.
