I didn't adopt a cat here, but I wanted to write a review because my daughter is a girl scout and…read morewe came here for a field trip. What an amazing place that I honestly didn't even know existed! The people working here are so knowledgeable and good to the cats. The girls had the best time playing with the cats as well! They have small rooms to go in where you can hangout with the cats in an enclosed, safe environment. I can definitely tell that the cats here are really loved and cared for! This is such a loving place for these cats. Also, shoutout to ASAP for being so good with the girl scouts who visited them as well!

Amazing experience with adopting my new baby cat. Application filled out and accepted within…read moreminutes, and i found my new family member , so thankful of the sweet lady who was working alone the 28th she made sure we were able to take our baby home .

We adopted our dog from Dawg 15 years ago and it was the best experience for us. They did a…read morewonderful job at working with abandoned or relinquished dogs. We can't thank them enough and would do it again!

DAWG has some really amazing dogs and possibly even more incredible people who work and volunteer…read morethere. The dogs are all treated so well and loved tons by the staff and volunteers. The cute doggies stay in beautiful, very clean areas with comfy blankets and other "creature comforts." As a dog, I think DAWG would be the place to be!... And, when you did have to leave, you would be assured a great home because the staff would check, double-check, and triple-check that the home you were going to was the right one for you!

I love this establishment. The employees are so kind and customer service oriented and you can tell…read morethey really care about the animals. If you're trying to find it on the street, the storefront says "The Little Dog House." They are a grooming business and rescue. When you walk in, all the doggies, rescues and the ones there for grooming, are running around together behind the counter. It makes my heart happy to come here. If you are interested in one of their rescue dogs, you can spend time with them in a secluded area and fill out an application. You can also foster and leave them there during the day for free doggy daycare.

i am looking to adopt and they are very easy and nice to help. I have friends that have adopted…read morethru them and not one has had a negative experienc.

We have adopted two dogs from SBHS. The entire staff is genuinely passionate about what they do…read more The dogs are well cared for: well fed, clean, socialized and they really make a point to get to know each furry friend to help potential adopters know if they are compatible.

While they offer some basic affordable services, their practice to demand a deposit fee in order to…read morebook an appointment is a big scam. It seems reasonable, except that their appointments are so far out in the future, sometimes the issue resolves itself, or, you're forced to seek emergency care via a different route. Either way, you cannot get your deposit back, even if you cancel with over a week's notice. You can't even get credit for future services. It's a huge rip-off.

Their Doggy Day Out program is awesome! You complete the paperwork and get to day foster a sweet…read moredog! The people in the office are friendly and knowledgeable, if you're going to do the Day Out program make sure you're there shortly after opening because it's very popular.

This facility is absolutely incredible. My senior dog Zeus ( 15 year old pit bull) ran away…read moreyesterday and I was alerted by Santa Barbara County Animal Services volunteer Liz Bush this morning that they had him in their care. I received pictures and such kind treatment from the time I was alerted to the time I got To the shelter to pick him up. When I arrived I was greeted by a group of warm staff in the office. Zeus was in my arms 5 minutes upon arriving. Like most, my dogs are my family and my babies. I am so grateful for everyone who took care of him overnight loved on him and made him feel safe. On behalf of my whole family...THANK YOU SB COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES. WE APPRECIATE YOU!!!!

felt very disrespected and judged. asked multiple unessesary questions. and left to wait/dismissed…read moremid conversation to that had nothing to do with the workers helping us. older gray bob cut younger blonde

We got our dog from her 5 years ago,and we are soo thankful for this organization. This is a first…read moredog for our home - and our family is knit even closer together by this previously unwanted canine.

Never even bothered answering my well written, detailed and desperate email for help. We get it…read more You have no space, but you can at least have a rejection form letter acknowledging receipt, extending compassion and regret for not be able to assist and wishing a happier, alternate outcome. No, instead you flat out ignore people who are desperate. People who are trying to do the right thing by trying to get help for animals rather than abandonimg them on the street, then be chastised for being cruel. It is your business to be compassionate and caring and yet you coldly ignore people's cries for help. And you call yourself a rescue. Rescuing what?

Ginny is amazing when it comes to caring for her pets! She gives them all the individual attention…read morethey need. She goes out of her way (literally will drive over a hundred miles) to rescue/help other animals in bad situations. She is very responsible and is highly knowledgeable of all her different species of animals, and provides enough space for them to be their happy little selves. Thank you Ginny for all your hard work!

After losing our beloved Buddy, we felt ready to welcome a new dog into our lives and decided to…read moreadopt through rescue. We came across the cutest puppy named Enzo and promptly submitted our application. Doris was incredibly responsive and helpful, guiding us through the process as we provided proof of our ability to care for a dog at home. We had a wonderful visit with the foster family, and to our surprise, we had Enzo home with us within just three days--much quicker than we had anticipated. Spark Rescue followed up with all the necessary medical, microchip information, and we were thoroughly impressed with everything they had done for our sweet boy. We will be forever grateful to Spark Rescue for making this experience so smooth and positive.

We went to an adoption event to meet the pups to "look" in May. My son fell for an adorable little…read morepuppy which was unexpected and so we began the process of adoption. I had a few questions regarding the process that Doris answered at the event. We went home and filled out the application. Spark Rescue is thorough. There was the application, meeting the pup at the wonderful foster's home which we stayed for quite a long time. Then the foster brought the puppy to our home and checked out our place for puppy safety and made sure our son was comfortable around her (he was a bit nervous at the first meeting) Finally we signed the contract after ensuring there was a quick adjustment to our railing so the puppy couldn't take any leaps from the second story. It is a process but you can tell they want to ensure the dogs to not end up abandoned or given to a neglectful home.

In August of 2024, we went to look at a couple of dogs we liked for their online information…read more Neither seemed to be a good fit in person however. I remember one doggie photo on their website that actually was a bit scary looking, and it turned out that the dog with the 'tough guy' photo was in the kennel right next to one we were investigating. Funny thing was, in person, the tough guy was not even slightly scary, in fact he was as gentle as a lamb. Guess who came home with us? Yeah the one I'd judged incorrectly based on one photo; he is the treasure of our family now, such a good boy. Well, when the following August (2025) rolled around and the shelter had another adoption event, we decided to find a playmate for our boy dog. We looked at a few and settled on one female that obviously did not like being in doggie jail, seems she was a bit mouthy at times which made her unpopular with visiting folks. I saw potential though, and we took her home with us, and as I felt, the light nipping has diminished over time. Though a tad crazy, she is a fun addition to our home and she can actually fly at times in our large backyard. Both dogs have grown quite affectionate with one another over time, and both even get along with our kitty. Overall, VCAS is a great place to find a friend, and give them a loving forever home.

Conflicting review, shared with honesty and heart. I'll…read morestart with the difficult part, which is based on an incident from over 15 years ago. During a family move, my dog got out while staying with relatives and was taken to this shelter by animal control. Unfortunately, we hadn't updated our landline number, so we weren't notified right away. When we finally came looking for her, we were told she would be held for a certain time and that, due to her being a senior, we should come sooner rather than later. Sadly, when my mom and I arrived, she had already been put down. I was much younger and very emotional, and overcrowding was mentioned at the time. While this experience was heartbreaking, I don't hold it against them today. The shelter is now no-kill, and I truly believe in growth and change. I adopted my first dog from here as a puppy and adopted one of my current dogs eight years ago. Both experiences were positive--everyone was kind, helpful, and caring. Customer service has been great, and the staff deserves more recognition for the compassion they show. I definitely recommend adoption and will always believe in this message: don't shop--please adopt