We came here once about 20 years ago. Wow, has this changed. This is a first rate facility. I saw some negative reviews here and I can't figure out what they were expecting versus what's here. What did they want, red carpet and solid gold bowls? This place is just fine. After a 6-week search, visiting roughly 30 different rescues and shelters ( and meeting about 300 cats ) we went with Cocoa Puff. There was something about his personality that just seemed like such a match for our quiet, retired household. Everything here was clean, I mean REALLY well cleaned; not just the enclosures but the human spaces too. They had good protocol for washing hands before entering the cattery, and all the cats here seemed pretty happy. There was plenty of parking, the staff was knowledgeable and friendly... I can't really think of anything that went even remotely wrong. I have few 10/10 experiences with any business or organization nowadays, but this one was impressive. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - Cocoa Puff - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

I came here after a few years and this place really took off! New buildings, new establishments for the animals here. They really value your time in giving the perfect animal to a home. Customer service here is respectable and super friendly. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - Sign - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

Everyone here is professional and caring. My cat needed dental work and cleaning. Huge thank you for being kind and providing excellent care! Dr Farrer and Ryan took wonderful care of Sebastian. He is recovering comfortably at home. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - Sebastian - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place as routine comes up with reasons why you shouldn't take an animal home. I am a very good pet owner as any of my pets' vets, chiropractors, trainers, massage therapists, etc will testify - (and in fact have testified by the many cards they sent at the end of my various pets very happy lives.) I've also heard from other animal parents this place discourages adoption. Very strange. They also want a lot of money which is just greedy policy since they are funded by wealthy donors already. Just go to the county humane society and find a pet needing love and you will not only rescue a new best friend but have more money to pay for their care afterwards. read more

We adopted our dog from here a little over 7.5 years ago. I would say they mentioned he was 6 months old at adoption and a bloodhound mix, both of which multiple vets/our dog trainer mentioned were prob incorrect (likely ridgeback and German Shepard mix). He was full sized when we got him and didn't grow anymore and started greying about two years in of us owning him. That said their commentary on his temperament was spot on. He was gentle with our kids (5 at the time) and when we had a new baby he was gentle and perfect - he was baby's favorite through to her current age (6). He passed this last weekend and we are forever grateful for the time we had with him. We went back to donate his doggy beds and other things since other dogs could benefit from that and my kids loved visiting the animals. We thought it would be too difficult to see other dogs but it was surprisingly healing. Maybe one day we will try to adopt again but for now we are missing our sweet doggie. read more

I adopted two wonderful tuxedo cats from RCHS years ago and have to say that they do a wonderful job caring for pets who need adoption !

I got the absolute best cat of my dreams with the help of the team here.. and they asked for a reasonable adoption fee and made sure to listen to my specific household needs to assure the right fit.. so grateful for my daughters and I sweet boy. Go save a sweet cat or pup from them! read more

Rancho Coastal was kind and caring about what both my dog and I both were going through. I was so nervous and desperate about my Joe dog being in pain and the staff were very attentive to both of us. Now my Joe dog is going to live longer and no longer in pain. They are doing amazing work. So please donate so they can keep doing what they do. read more

It was very professional and relaxed place for the animals to go I will attend again. My dog was relaxed and I was relaxed with them taking care of my dog. read more

I lost my beautiful dog tula on September 9th it was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life. I needed someone to turn to. Your support. In grief the person who I've been talking to for my grief is Arlana L. Scola, he has helped me with my grief process with my dog I truly appreciate her read more

Chelsea England and her whole team have been the absolute best! They provided exceptional care within an exceptional situation, with ongoing communication, patience, and grace for the elements of care that are difficult. I truly value their work and wish them all the best in whatever they strive for :) read more

I am a senior citizen with 3 dogs. One of them, my Chiweenie ,, Porkchop Lorraine, was in serious pain because of dental issues. I want to thank Collette, and the board at Rancho Coastal Humane Society, for allowing Porkchop Lorraine to get her dental surgery completed. She is 10 years old, with a heart murmur, but has such a lust for life. I believe the difference in her health could give her another 10 years with me. You all are ANGELS on earth!! read more

I was never going to speak up, but after reading some reviews I think I need to. I got an amazing dog from here, but not until I got very angry and threatened to go to a breeder. They HEAVILY discriminate against people that live in apartments. They don't seem to understand that people in apartments might take their dogs more places. My dog Lyla (previously Lyra) walks miles a day and meets new dogs all over our apartment complex. I argue her life is better than a dog that just sits in the same yard, or gets let out in the same back yard all the time. Bottom line they told me things like "maybe you should get an old dog..." Afterwards the calls and emails felt more like a parent checking up on me. So if you are feeling judged, just tell them you are going to a breeder since apparently all the dogs are taken and this stray dog thing isn't an issue any more. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

We adopted our first dog here, unexpectedly with no expectations. We were only browsing around didn't humane society starting at Oceanside, Carlsbad and ended up at RCHS. Rancho has many dogs available for adoption. We came in and browsed around. Overlooked our soon to be dog because she was just so hairy and we couldn't really see passed the long curly hair. We wanted another dog but after an interview and our application they said we were not a good fit for our first choice due to separation anxiety. They did however gave us alternatives for other dogs. We browsed around again for their suggestions and saw the white curly hair dog. Second in line and they told us they'll call us the next morning if the first person does not want her. And somehow we got so lucky that the first person didn't want her and ended up with our new loving maltipoo dog. I like that the process is a bit strict- they don't let you adopt any dog. You have to match with the dog. Which shows me that they really care about making the dog happy. I'm glad that they do that. They also provide follow up calls and emails and suggestions after the adoption. They help you integrate into each other's lives. One thing they can improve is telling you about what you should do after you adopt. First thing they should tell you is get your dog on flea meds, and get all her shots updated. We learned the hard way and delayed those until 3 weeks and suffer some unwanted circumstances. We are happy with RCHS! We adopted our first dog. We're totally in love! And will come for our second dog once we buy a house! read more

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I wanted to love Rancho coastal Humane Society, but I had a very mix experienced overall. They are going through a lot of construction, so I was impressed by the way they had everything organized, from the temporary front office to where the animals are kept. The people in the front office were extremely kind, Sharing stories and their love of animals while I waited a very long time to meet with a counselor about the dog I saw online. I sat down for a full interview with two people, therefore almost an hour and a half going back-and-forth about situational questions. I made the mistake of saying my dog Was crate trained 10 years ago, and they were not happy with that. I also used the word "alpha" and the counselors shut me down and said that word is outdated. I understand Dog training techniques change over the years and I am absolutely willing to follow what is recommended - but I think my use of that word and the way the counselors looked at each other is what turned them off immediately about me as a adoptee. We went back-and-forth with situational questions, asking me what I would do in different circumstances, And I felt completely judged, as if I was a bad dog owner. I've had dogs my whole life, volunteered at numerous animal shelters, taking care of dogs for years, and was ultimately told that I wasn't allowed to even meet the dog I was interested in because he wouldn't be a good fit. I was told no other dogs would be a good match, and I left after a full two hours without even seeing an actual dog. Here's where I respect what they're doing - they care very deeply about the animals and provide training and support throughout the adoption process to ensure if forever home. That is fantastic, I do believe that they are potentiallypreventing forever homes, due to their extreme process and somewhat overprotective, judgmental behaviors. They also offer an animal assisted therapy program, which is something I work closely with and wanted to get involved with through my work. I called, emailed, and as told every time that either no one was available to talk to me about it, or my emails went unread. As I said I really really wanted to love this organization but it left a sour taste in my mouth. read more

I've wanted a dog for a while. It's so hard to find the right dog. I went here just to look at dogs and met the most precious animal. I decided to do a meet and greet and an interview. They provided me with medical records and a full background on the dog. Then we went through with the interview to find the perfect match. Luckily it was the dog I was eyeing. A week later adopted him and it's been the best days of my life. He is absolutely perfect. Thank you for helping me find pine (now Marty) and his funny behavior and snuggles read more

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We found ourselves in a sad lonely house after our dog we had for almost 17 years had to be put to sleep. His sister also had to be put to sleep 2 years earlier. She was also over 16 years old and had been with us since we rescued her when she was 2. Sadly I have to agree with a lot of the other ratings I have read. We live in a house, not an apartment. We own, not rent. I have had dogs for most of my life, including difficult breeds. The first time we went through there we found a very sweet dog that called us to his cage and just wanted to love on us. He was classified as "Orange" which is in the middle of their difficulty scale. According to their legend of colors, that means he would be timid and take some time to warm up to you. That is definitely not what we saw with him. During the interview process, we were told that he has severe anxiety and will only tolerate a few of the staff members and tries to attack most others. They said he was climbing the walls and trying to bite his way out of the kennel causing bloody jaws. They then told us that none of their dogs would work for us. Not even the ones classified as "yellow", which their legend says is perfect for the first time pet owner. Everything worked out for us because we adopted a beautiful "giant puppy" this last weekend from another rescue business. I feel really bad for the dogs at Rancho Coastal because they are missing out on a lot of potential new homes where they could be properly loved. read more

We had a very poor experience here which surprised me because as a long standing rescue organization I thought they would handle their adoptions better. We saw a dog we wanted to adopt and sent in a survey. Many things about this dog were not shared on their site. We were so excited to adopt Hoot that we showed up taking time out of our work day an hour before they even opened. We met with Abby a 20 something counselor. We told us this dog was found running wild in el centro and was not domesticated at all climbing out of her enclosure 3x. This would have been good information to put on their site. We met the dog and she was cute and we instantly loved her. She ran over to us but probably because she had been a wild dog for all of her short life she really was more interested in the other dogs walking by. When Abby put her away she came out and said that we had to foster first?? This was shared with us as an option but not an absolute until we had spent 2 hours at this place. We initially said ok but then after signing a foster agreement that had more rules than catholic school we decided not to take her. This broke our hearts. We are middle aged successful people that have raised many dogs as well as 3 children successfully so being told we couldn't walk this dog without a trainer coming to the house who was younger than our children was disturbing. We then called this morning and gave our feedback to Rachel who seemed dismissive. We apologized and truly wanted to share valuable feedback. We are seeking a new dog elsewhere after this experience We hope someone in charge reads this as the experience we had as dog people was not good. read more

Went there to adopt a pet and was told that none of the 20+ dogs were a good fit for my home after spending a couple of hours there and a lengthy interview. I feel for the pups. Some have been there for several months. read more

I came here a few times, and I found this puppy I fell in LOVE with. I came here everyday for her until she could be released. They really do take care of the animals and care that they go to a really good home. The interview process can be intense for some, they do ask for additional paperwork if you are a renter, and all parties have to be there when you plan on adopting. I was really nervous regarding the bad reviews, I saw some where rejected for a animal, someone came in a few minutes late and their best friend got adopted, etc. I came here at 2am for my puppy. First in line. Researched and followed up with the office regarding her health and her overall well being. Folks, you got to understand that these dogs have a history, and the last thing the shelter wants is to send the dog to another bad home. The interview is more of a lot of general questions about yourself and how your able to take care of these dogs. Some counselors can see through the bullshit. My pup is soooo much to handle, I will come back for another rescue, but next is definitely a older dog read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - My lil bear!!! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

More runaround than the DMV. Staff could care less about your time. They seem to get more joy from NOT adopting dogs than adopting. Loved this place years ago. Still great for the animals. But they treat prospective adopters like dirt, albeit with a dismissive fake friendliness. If you want to waste a day and leave with no pet or even a sense that your effort is even valued, this is the place. I adopted a dog in 2009 and it was great. But the new attitude and weird dog psychobabble cultish behavior is really disgusting. I almost felt like maybe they already had an inside person for the dog. It was like they wanted to go through the motions but make sure to find a reason to reject, almost like a power trip. Help animals, but donate to nicer people. read more

I foster dogs for RCHS. Loving, kind, and so helpful and supportive to foster families and adoptees. My own last dog was from here. Love adopting senior dogs. read more

My husband & I get home Monday from a short vacation, We check the site & see 2 kittens we are interested in but the web site says adoptions ONLY Friday-Monday 11-2, so we wait....& wait....I call yesterday to see if the 2 kittens are still there and I am told yes. My husband & I set the alarm clock to get ready & drive down from Oceanside. We get there at 10:30 & a lady comes out to get pre adoption forms - which I had already filled out, she looks at us & says OH - those 2 kittens are gone....WHAT??? Is it because we are seniors? Is it because my husband is a Disabled Vet? Or maybe because I am a disabled senior, either way this totally sucks....Treat people as you would want to be treated !!!! AND NO Handicapped parking - anywhere !! read more

I'm only giving two stars for the puppies. I've grown up with adopting dogs and have never felt an interviewer so judgmental. It was beyond ridiculous because I don't have a yard. I felt like my boyfriend and I were rejected like some kind of trashy people because we live in an apartment. I live in a damn good neighborhood with tons of parks around. I am a tax professional, almost a CPA, boyfriend is also a professional in the tech industry. We've both loved and taken care of dogs but were quickly judged as not a good fit. First off, I don't need your condescending advice about getting a dog when I have a house. You can love a dog in an apartment just fine! Trying to adopt here is a huge waste of time unless you're some kind of dog whisperer with a backyard. Seriously, these people are kooks. They'd rather let them sit outside all day than to have them in a spacious apartment with tons of love and parks. I'll decide whether or not I'm a fit when I at least meet the dog.. what a joke. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society is the best. As a volunteer there I am continually struck by how well well they take care of their animals. Just yesterday they started one of their rescue dogs (Denali) on a journey to a new life with an operation on her leg. Poor thing arrived there pregnant with 2 lame rear legs. One foot was missing the other was so mangled she was walking on the top of her foot. After delivering and successfully mothering her pups, it was her turn. Yesterday's surgery should allow one of her back legs to function almost normally. When that heals and she's done with physical therapy, they will fit her for a prosthetic on the other leg. I'm am honored to be a volunteer there. If you need a pet, please try them first. If you have any extra towels or blankets, they can always be put to good use. If you have any unwanted clothes or household items, take them to their thrift shop in Solano Beach. If you have some free time, volunteer to sit with their dogs, cats, or rabbits and give them some loving. And, of course, if you have some extra cash or something they could use in a raffle, please donate. read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - Denali after her surgery to fix her mangled rear leg. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

Really great people! My dog had run away from home and I couldn't find him. Right as I was about to go door to door and see if anyone had seen my dog, I got a call from here saying that someone found my dog and they had turned him in. Of course I immediately head over and profusely thanked the caller. I got there and found my dog there in good hands. The family that found him waited until I got there and the employees were so kind. They thanked me for keeping his microchip information updated and even gave me some recommendations on better collars and care for my dog after I asked them. Everyone was so friendly and I was so happy that they were available to help me find my dog! A+ service and very ethical people! read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - At the human society - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This place is great if you want to adopt a pet! I've been looking around everywhere around San Diego to adopt a dog. Most of the places were full of chihuahuas and pit bulls, which was definitely not the kind of dog we were looking for. But RCHS had a lot of different kinds of dogs for us to choose from. Go to RCHS if you want a pet rabbit, cat, or dog. The staff is very nice and supporting. The dogs are well taken care of. There's always a volunteer playing with the dogs. Our puppy, Kiwi, was 300 dollars for adoption but older dogs are around 200 I believe. Cats and rabbits are more cheaper to adopt. If you want a pet, go to RCHS! Don't run to the pet store. Mixed dogs are always cuter :) read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - My puppy KIWI! Adopted her when she was 6 months old - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

I can see WHY people want to give stars to animal shelters, but I have been here for OVER and hour to just see a cat for adoption. My cat died last week of cancer and he had the best loving home. His brother is sad and needs a playmate. I came here looking to give an animal a home, and I get wanting to ask people questions and find a good fit but 90 min after asking to see a cat. Filling out form only to be told that they won't give an animal to anyone I get but they would rather euthanize an animal than adopt them out is crazy. Just so sad read more

Very clean and well taken care of. The staff are friendly and takes their interviews seriously to give these animals a forever home. I don't blame their strict interviews, it's best for the animals. read more

While I totally agree that the people can definitely be more friendly, I think they are doing a really fine job for the animals when it comes to taking care of the animals' physical health and mental health. I agree that they can be a bit too overprotective and it can turn away a lot of people. The people are definitely not the charm of this place. But here's why I think people should still give this place a shot: 1. It's about the animals. I know the people here can be unpleasant but it doesn't mean the animals don't deserve your consideration anymore because of it. So if anything, at least take a look and give it a try, for the animals. 2. The animals are taken care of really well. I've been to quite a few shelters in San Diego. This is by far, the best shelter I've seen among them. There are very good ones but.... 3. It's a no-kill shelter. Many of the shelters I've been to are not no-kill shelters. Whatever these people at RCHS are doing, they're doing something right. 4. They are very thorough and do find dogs good homes. They take the time to interview you and match you with a dog. Most shelters only require an application and a phone call from the home owner, let you pick the cutest thing you see and send you home. The next days, weeks, months, everyone in the house is upset because your dog had become a fur covered monster. I imagine RCHS has been more successful with finding dogs that will forever be a part of the family because of their efforts of matching owners with pets that are most compatible. It just makes sense. In summary, though it could be a big pain in the butt to deal with some folks, the really important thing here is giving a dog or a cat a home and becoming a part of your life. Those people you find disagreeable you would not have to see again unless you decide to open up your home to another pet (hopefully). I am in no way associated with RCHS but I've been here a few times to look at their pets for adoption. Like many others, I wasn't allowed to pet a single dog or cat without having to fill out an application first then talking to a counselor or whatever. I watched from the outside of the cages even though I've donated quite a few blankets to them over the years. read more

This is a smaller facility than others we saw the same day. You just never know what you are going to find, and when, so this place was on our list as we were working our way up the coast from San Diego. We did not find the right animal here, so there was no application process and counseling like some of the other reviewers found to be offensive, but the animals all seem well cared for. And the staff were friendly and helpful. Even though we came at closing time, they did not rush us. That was appreciated. read more

I adopted Eton from RCHS approximately three weeks ago. He's a 1.5-2 YO lab/hound mix. The process was simple and smooth. Eton had just arrived at the shelter so they wouldn't allow me to see the pup until after he received his appropriate medical treatments and behavior assessment. I was given a thorough interview both the day i first saw him and the day i was able to interact with him. I was given the full behavioral assessment which stated he was high energy and required a lot of attention (i actually have found that to be positively inaccurate in some regards!) At all times, the staff was super friendly. Maybe one lady who seemed to be the manager, and I'd probably be a little stressed out myself with doing the same thing day in/day out and dealing with a ton of people and pets. But it wasn't rude just not as friendly as the others. I was given all of his paperwork and licenses. I'm a single owner who's active and Eton has been perfect with me. He's a runner and has meshed perfectly with my physical activities. Luckily i was first on the list to see him and first out, and he's been a great addition to my life! Thanks RCHS for the service. read more

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I would say is the BEST shelter in North County. Staff is engaged and interested. Our long time companion passed this past week so I wanted to see the animals. As always the dogs are kept in very good places. When I arrived all were out excercising. They definately have a high level of care. When my now 19 year old was in middle school she did a volunteer program here for her community service hours. They do a lot for the community and are just a great overall program. I think just based on the right after the holiday time they didnt have a lot of dogs that fit my criteria. Unfortunately I dont have the emotional ability to have an elder dog after just losing a dog but a lot of mature dogs here. Some really great pets. thanks again to this site - again they are what I would call the "pick of the litter" in shelters read more

(This review is only for the dog park) Behind the Humane Society there's a large fenced area that's a dog park. Every time we've been here there have been a dozen or so dogs to play with. The ground is partially grassy, partially dirt, but since it's been overcast and misty in the mornings, it was a bit muddy. There's also a watering station, but many of the dogs think it's for washing their feet, not drinking! Chairs and a portopooper for the people. The freeway is just behind the trees, so it's a little loud, and the dogs do a lot of running around chasing each other in packs, so it can be sort of chaotic, but all in all it's a pretty nice place to socialize. read more

Nice selection of dogs with pretty strict rules, I must say. It's not a bad thing, it's a good thing. (insert cheesy DDP smile) I came here wanting to adopt another dog. Which I never got too =( cause I needed to bring my kids to see how the dog would react to kids. I remember his name too, Marshmellow. He was the coolest dog and almost reminded me of my current dog I have. Place gets A+ for how clean it is and they don't have any crazy scary dogs there, which in my books is always great. I'll continue to come here to hopefully adopt another pet =) Thanks for your friendly service. read more

Nicely managed humane society. These dogs need a loving families to take home! read more

Rancho Coastal Humane Society - This cute shih Tzu needs a home - Animal Shelters Near Me - Encinitas, California

Rancho Coastal Humane Society is outstanding as far as animal care is concerned. The cats are all spayed/nurtured prior to leaving the property. I volunteered years ago for 10 years with the cats. Samaria pictured is one I adopted. The cattery was always kept clean . We all love animals . That is why we do what we do. The first thing I noticed was my best friend Patty's intuition; when I met Sonia the receptionist; that was it. Patty was right on . They did have a great cat for me and his name was Merlin. I adopted him that day. Merlin lived for 17 and a half years. In spite of his polysystic kidney stones ; I made sure he made it. I loved that cat and Rancho Coastal Humane Society. read more

Very engaging staff - so much more an experience than I thought I'd be walking into with my aged doggy ... so nice to know of a resource like this in north county read more

I am a very experienced dog parent. I went to adopt a puppy I had been watching for three weeks until he became available. My male dog had recently died due to cancer. I was denied because I work fulltime and don't stay home all day. I have only adopted young dogs from rescues and shelters and all had issues that I helped them overcome. My vet and my dog's foster mom would vouch for me. I know what a puppy needs and you are getting yourself into when you adopt a puppy. If you're single, don't bother to try adopting from here. You will be rejected read more

Had my eyes on on a dog to adopt for 4 weeks. Called RCHS and intrigued my interest. Went through the application & "interview" process and and in the interim the dog was adopted. To my surprise, the dog was given up for adoption again this past week on Monday. I immediately called and expressed interest again. Was told to come in and see the dog and adopt if interested. Arrived today and was interrogated with 45 minutes of questions between two people. Literally 5 minutes after what I wanted to call the interrogation, the guy came back and said "sorry, he's been adopted". What a waste of time. read more