We adopted a great dog HOUSTON, spent a few hours with Melissa,a great volunteer during the adoption process. she was very knowledgeable ,friendly and efficient. The process and application was quite extensive, for the protection of the adopted dogs.None of the selection process ( of us) was unreasonable . The dog that we adopted was in the Barking Lot care for a year ,which speaks highly of a no kill shelter. read more

We adopted our dog in february this year. The first worker we were in contact with Melissa, was super nice and had great energy and was honest and willing to answer all of our questions. The day of adoption comes to take our baby home and the vibe was nasty. We were met with another worker we never met and her attitude came across as judgey, dismissive, and overall just wanted to get it over with. Our dog was spayed that weekend we got her, and no pain medicine was provided for her. FYI they take the dogs to get spayed in Mexico where it cost a nickel and two dimes, and then turn around and hit you with a fat fee of $600 for the adoption, spay, microchip, and other stuff. We asked questions about the dogs health and mentioned that the other worker told us she has mild dental issues (not a problem at all) we just wanted to get maybe more insight on that. No completely dismissive and straight up lied to our face about our dog having any dental problems and claiming she's completely fine. Come to find in the paper work they provide you, it says she has dental disease. Following that my partner has never owned a pet before so they were just asking basic questions about what to know. She had a rude attitude for every reply and the energy was very off putting for a first dog adoption expirence. Following taking our dog home we find out she's extremely reactive towards other dogs, (totally fine) we email TBL about her reactivity just to see if she had any issues with other dogs when she was at the shelter. No response. that clearly paints the picture that they don't care about you or your dog. They have a long lengthy contract to sign that will completely cover their ass but would screw you over if anything happens. Very shady, we are staying away for our second dog. read more

I'd give zero stars if I could. We went there filled out the application. We spoke to the two ladies working there. It's been over a week and 3 emails sent and still have not heard back. We tried calling the number several times and nothing. The way we were interrogated was weird. I understand asking questions but it felt really judgy over something so small.. hope to find a pup to bring home with us forever but not sure this place is the right one :( read more

Extremely disappointed in the professionalism of this rescue, there are many others out there who will actually be responsive to you and respectful of your time. My husband and I went to visit one of their pups in mid January. The pup was recovering from an infection and had multiple applicants so we were told we could check in both on how the pup was healing and to see whom they had selected as adopters later that week. After multiple emails and calls over the course of three weeks, we were essentially ghosted by everyone on site. I now see the pup has been taken off their website which likely means he has been adopted, which would have been nice to know. It is so sad they handled the situation this way given had they acted professionally, we could have considered adopting a different pup from their rescue. I would not recommend them. read more

I'm so disappointed in TBL. Not only did they ignore my messages explaining the true nature of one of their rescues but they actively deleted comments on their IG account. Super shady, avoid. read more

I was shocked by the poor reviews! I had a flawless experience, and would highly recommend them. Stacy and the others in this volunteer led rescue are amazing. I live in Seattle, and it all went so smoothly. I had a video interview, and was a bit nervous about adopting a dog I had never met in person. But there was something about this particular dog that really drew me in. She was 2, and I was her first home. It turned out really well, and we are best friends. I have nothing but praise for The Barking Lot. read more

The Barking Lot - Her name was "Cloud", now she is "Rosie" - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

Awesome! In short take your time here and you'll love it! Don't know why some people were mad. Sure, it's got dirt outside . It's Ramona. Quit being so fancy . Important part is they're nice and the doggies are fun to pet they made my experience pretty easy ! read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

Not sure what is up with the negative comments here. We found the process to be straightforward and you can tell Stacy really cares about these dogs. It's a shelter so I'm not sure what conditions these people expect. It's better than the humane society! Stacy shared some health issues our little guy had and we agreed to take care of them. We've had our dog for nearly two years and can't imagine life without him. We had a good experience and will always be grateful to TBL for connecting us with our sweet boy! read more

I adopted 2 dogs on Friday and I was told they were really sweet and would be good with my other dogs I had at home. I had brought one of my dogs with me and they were great with him and we came home and they were good with my older blind dog. Things went really bad on Monday morning when one of the dogs attacked my 14 year old blind dog. I had my husband return the dogs immediately. Please do lots of research before adopting! read more

The Barking Lot - My dog was attacked - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

All I can say is ... read the reviews. We 100% agree with the previous concerned pet owner reviews and I will be filing a complaint with the BBB ( there's multiple complaints already filed). To sum it up- the staff is judgmental, Stacey is rude and lacks empathy, the place is disgusting, the dogs smell and appear to be somewhat neglected...I honestly think it's too much for them to handle and there is a hoarding vibe going on. The experience was disappointing. I totally understand the process to adopt, it's lengthy and requires some judgment as the agency gets to know you to determine if a fit. Totally get it. But this place ... no words for the way they made us feel uncomfortable. I have since adopted through Woofs and Wags Dog Rescue - they are amazing! What a difference. read more

They really care about their dogs here and know them very well, and know everything about rescuing dogs. The dogs have a big place to play, have lots of treats, and are treated as best as they can given the circumstances. They take their time making sure it's a good fit, and are in no rush to send you home with one. I highly recommend rescuing a pup from here! I had an amazing experience. They're doing the best they can read more

We had an incredible experience at the Barking Lot! Everyone on the team was communicative and helpful, and it's clear they truly care about matching each pup to their perfect home. When the first dog we "met" online wasn't the right match, the volunteers immediately recommended a pup for our family that we instantly fell in love with. Our new adopted girl is incredible and the perfect fit for us! She's affectionate, gentle, up for adventures AND couch potato-ing, and even scruffy :) There are lots of steps from submitting your application to adoption, but like others have mentioned, I see this as a HUGE positive. Every step ensures the dog is going to the right home for them, for the best life possible (they even "cat-tested" our dog before we adopted her, since we also have a cat). When we took our new lady home, we were incredibly confident in our decision and are overjoyed with our sweet new family member! read more

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Worst rescue I have ever been to. They keep dogs in kennels outside in the sun with no shade, stacked on top of each other. Myself and friends have had HORRIBLE experiences with this rescue, including adopting a dog who attacked other dogs in the home, and then shaming us for bringing her back and refusing a refund. Do not give your money to these greedy people, and someone please help these dogs. read more

My boy Sam came to me 4 months ago from The Barking Lot, and it is hard for me to find words for the joy he has brought to this house. He wasn't an easy dog at first...abused and highly fearful. Stacy watched us interact in the meet and greet area and said, "I think you can do this." Best decision to believe her. TBL is a boots on the ground, get it done place full of animals getting their last chance. I see on this site (and most other adoption sites) some reviews written by people who feel personally slighted because they weren't chosen to adopt or communicated with as efficiently or sweetly as they'd like. I understand it is a roller-coaster experience trying to adopt. I like to assume the folks showing up every day to run these places are the actual experts. I also read reviews by people annoyed at the fees. Go see how hard these folks work, many as volunteers, just to keep these animals fed and housed and you'll want to give them more. Good luck, everyone, finding your next friend. read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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The worst shelter I've ever been to. Stacy Parmer is an evil, evil person who only cares about money. She has zero empathy. I had to return a dog because they sold her to me unhealthy, lied about it, and then I couldn't afford the vet bills. I was absolutely devastated and all she cared about was snatching my dog away from me and coldly making me feel bad for having to return her. They only care about getting rid of the dogs and making money, not about actually finding them a good home. The conditions of the shelter are horrifying and makes me sick for the dogs having to live there. read more

We adopted our baby girl Penny from this rescue. It's way out in the boonies of Ramona but was worth

My boyfriend and I had been looking to adopt a dog for a while, when we finally found one that we fell in love with on the Barking Lot website. We filled out the very detailed application, completed and passed our home check, and had an appointment to meet with the dog over the weekend. I informed Shannon, our adoption coordinator, that we were available at a much earlier time, but Saturday was the only opening they had. She emails me 3 days before we are supposed to meet the dog, telling me the dog has been adopted. She never once mentioned that someone else had an appointment to meet her before us. Again, my boyfriend and I would have gone to the shelter ASAP if given the chance. After informing her how heartbroken we were over this and wishing she had let us know that we were not first in line to meet her, she was very passive aggressive and claimed that she is "sorry that their service model doesn't work for us". Very rude and had no empathy at all. Of course most shelters are first come first serve. However, every shelter I have been in contact with informed us if a dog had appointments with other families prior to our appointment. That is truly the least you can do as an organization. The dogs they have in their care are absolutely precious, but please consider what kind of organization you are supporting. Good luck! read more

Just got this adorable little fox from TBL! They are amazing and so thorough with their adoption process. House checks etc. before the adoption day, and on the day off Stacy walked me through the contract to make sure I understood every point. They care about their dogs and will not adopt out a dog to someone that doesn't seem like a a fit I'm so happy to get to know my little Lumi (Previously Pirol) read more

The Barking Lot - Pirol (now Lumi) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

We had a wonderful adoption experience! The entire team was super helpful. Their flexibility and desire to match pets with forever homes really shines! read more

Appointment only. Home visit pre-check required. Prices vary based on dog. They do a thankless job and give their lives to these dogs- they are better humans than I am for sure. Can they get frustrated and short sometimes? Of course. Who doesn't? They aren't there to make a profit. They do it for love. Can they be a bit manipulative with the process and pricing? Yes but they want every dog to have a home and they need to pay the bills. Just be patient and you will NOT regret it. We had to walk and try out 2 of their choice of dogs before we were allowed to see the one we came to see. It took over 2 hours and my kids were so hungry while waiting. We had an 11:00am appt and never imagined it would take so long. We were flustered when they kept bringing dogs out for other families that arrived after us. I was also surprised at paying a pure-breed price for a mixed rescue. They don't tell you pricing until you've fallen in love with your dog and commit to adtwas not a 5* service for humans but that's because its a 5* service for the dogs they rescue. In the end, I paid a premium for an adorable lab retreiver mix puppy which helps them with the cost of care for dogs needing surgery, blind dogs and dogs missing legs. At first I couldn't leave a review because we were so overwhelmed by the process, but I decided on 5* because the volunteers give so much to the dogs- you just can't complain if they don't have anything left for humans. They don't have the funds like the Humane Society or larger rescues, but they do an amazing job finding homes for these sweet animals that would be killed at other facilities. read more

The Barking Lot - Happy puppy! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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There's a lot of people with a lot of emotional reviews. I guess dogs bring that out. For me, we were able to adopt an outstanding dog for a reasonable price for vet fees and shots and whatnot. Not to crap on the people who have had a bad time, but for my family it could not have gone better. My biggest problem is that my dog wants to lick my hands when I need to work from home. read more

The description of OSLO is 80% false. He is not great with people....once he becomes comfortable and protective of his space and his people. He bit me. He bit my Mom. He bit a friend of ours. He tried to bite/snipped at 2 neighbors and he pinned down another dog....during the 8 weeks that he was with us!!! I would NOT trust Stacy, as she is clearly okay with omitting vital information about the needs of dogs that are there to be adopted. If they would just change Oslo's NEEDS to be adopted by someone who is looking for a loving, sweet, companion of a pup who is very protective and will guard their property......someone who has an area that they can put him in when they have visitors....and then bring him back out when the visitors leave. I am certain that he would totally thrive in the right environment/setting/situation, but the description that The Barking Lot is insisting on keeping in his profile is making him not get adopted by the right person/family! He has been RETURNED 3+ times after being adopted....because they are not being truthful! read more

I did not have a good experience with my adoption coordinator Lara. She wasn't really helpful and would take days to reply back to me. The dogs I was interested in were apparently already getting adopted or are "special pups" and she saw them as not a good fit for me. I don't know how you can assume that of someone over email but okay. She just kept shooting me down and was not offering to help find another dog that might interest me. To say the least, I won't be using barking lot. Humane society was much more helpful and apparently a lot cheaper. This one star is specifically for my adoption coordinator. read more

I had a really positive experience adopting my new fur-baby from The Barking Lot. It is a "lengthier" adoption process since you need to fill out an application, answer an additional questionnaire, have a virtual home inspection, etc. but they do this to ensure the animal's environment is a great one. From the beginning, Robin was really responsive to my emails and in setting up my play-date. She was able to sufficiently answer all of my questions and provide more background information on the dogs I was interested in seeing. On the day of my visit, Stacy was also really helpful in the process as well. She was really kind and all of the dogs seemed to love her whenever she walked up to them (a good sign; not sure why she's receiving such negative reviews below for not taking care of the animals). I encourage you to check out the great animals at The Barking Lot :) There are many great pets here looking for a new, loving home to thrive in. Don't let a negative review here discourage you from potentially homing a new companion who deserves another shot at living in a home. read more

The Barking Lot is a wonderful rescue. They have a thorough application process to ensure their pups find the perfect forever home. Their application includes an online form that asks detailed questions about your experience with dogs, then they do a home check, then the meet and greets to help you find your best match. Their adoption coordinators are nice and quick to respond. I had a great experience adopting my dog from them. read more

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I got my dog Niko from the Barking lot 2 years ago. When I got him he was nervous of all of his surroundings but seemed to trust his handlers. I can never express how happy I am the Barking Lot took him and gave him a chance at a new life. Those who are visiting please remember they are a rescue and they work for the animals. The donations go to the animals not to decorating the office or making it more "comfortable". It may not be the most fancy place but they do their best for the animals which is what matters. read more

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I adopted my Lily bug (formerly Stefani) from The Barking Lot on 3/17. The application process was very thorough which I appreciated because it lets you know they care where the dogs end up. I heard from the adoption coordinator, Shannon, the next day to help me set up my house check before I went to meet the dogs at my appointment. She then put me in touch with Elise who was able to work with me and come out to my house EARLY Saturday morning so the house check would be done before my visit. I showed up on Sunday to meet the puppies and did have to wait about an hour past my appointment time to meet the puppies. I didn't have a problem with that because it's a volunteer organization doing their best to make sure everyone gets enough time to meet and adopt their new family members. They bathed all the puppies then brought them in for me to meet. I fell in love with the quiet little runt in the back who was SOOOO calm and absolutely adorable. She melted into my arms and that was that, she came home with me. I read a lot of reviews on here and I want to make a few comments about all the negativity. I think people REALLY need to understand that this is a rescue organization who is using unpaid volunteers to help run everything and give these poor people a break! If you are not patient enough to wait to meet the dogs, want to complain about their processes for adoption, or want to complain about the adoption fee then you may want to reconsider getting a dog in the first place. They cost money throughout their entire lives, let someone take them who really wants them. Anyway, I'm thrilled with my little girl! Thank you Barking Lot! read more

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5 Stars isn't enough. Doing my homework before I adopted my new 4-legged family member, I grew skeptical of this shelter because of some of the reviews on this site. These couldn't be more unjust in my experiences. A lot of the complaints found were based on The Barking Lot being unfair or denying people adoption. To those in a similar position I was, I urge you to take these reviews with a grain of salt. A thorough and just application process is never a bad thing when it comes to putting the life of an animal in someone's responsibility. They are nothing but kind-hearted people who dedicate their time to making sure these 4-legged friends go to good forever homes and they deserve all of the credit in the world for the time and hard work they dedicate, asking for nothing in return. To the staff at The Barking Lot, I thank you for all that you do and the love that you show each animal you take under your care. You guys are absolute rockstars. P.S. Bronn (formerly Cliff) says hello read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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Adoption process, good. They make you leave a $100 deposit for a tracker, then after a month you take it or send it back for your money back. I returned it and have yet to see my money. It's been about 1 and a half months since I have returned it. The person answering my questions says the director should've sent it, but that she is so busy that maybe she didn't send it yet? That's not my problem. You guys are more focused on getting money by sending dogs off then you are about taking care of your customers whom you owe money to. I keep getting the run around and it is getting old. I'll update my review once this issue is resolved. Update: the person I'm speaking to basically said, "I hope you have enough money feed your dog, since you're asking us for $100 back so often." As well as saying "you are "incredibly anxious" to get my money back. Just stay away. They are so unprofessional. They're focused on just getting money more than anything else. The dog we have also has issues that they didn't list, but we won't go into that. I'd recommend going elsewhere. There are many other places that are 500x better read more

I would just like to say that the Barking Lot and all of its volunteers are truly amazing. They want the best lives for all of their rescues and take the appropriate measures to do so. I adopted Sofi (formerly Kasalong) from them in January and have been so happy ever since. I live in LA so, although a volunteer wasn't able to come and have a physical home visit, they accommodated through facetime. This went smoothly and then my roommate and I drove down to meet Sofi to see if it was a good fit. I immediately knew we were meant to be together and was ready to complete all the necessary steps to adopt her. Having only one volunteer available, we waited for a few hours while other families were completing their adoption paperwork but this was not an issue (great dogs are going to great homes and great people are adding a new member to their family). After paying the adoption fee and getting all the necessary medical records, we were given a huge goody bag and took our first family picture. Returning the GPS tracker and receiving the deposit back was simple. However, I mayyyy have sent it in too soon. Stacy warns you that Soi dogs have a tendency to get out and she was RIGHT. Poor little Sofi got out one day in West Hollywood and I was completely devasted. With all of the people in WeHo and Stacy's help, I was able to get my girl back! These people care about their dogs immensely, even months and months (and definitely years) after they've been in their forever homes. I sincerely appreciate the work the Barking Lot puts in. #adoptdontshop read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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THE BARKING LOT is NOT your tax dollars at work. they are self-supported. the staff is awesome even if the facilities are a bit scruffy. the process is surprisingly through even requiring adopters to sign over the right for THE BARKING LOT to claim your dog if they're picked up as a stray or surrendered to another shelter. the application is thorough to the point of being burdensome but that's their process. it is in the best interests of the dogs and NOT custom fit to my convenience. even had a home check so they could feel comfortable that the dog would be safe (fenced yard) and well cared for. i'm okay with that. love our "new" dog. she is a great fit with our pack. read more

The Barking Lot - LUNA - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

We had a great experience with the Barking Lot! The entire process was very quick (about one week from first contact to adoption) and they were incredibly responsive to any questions we had. They are a non profit organization that runs solely off volunteers so it is important to be patient and understanding of this factor. Our sweet boy Boheme has made such an amazing impact on our lives already and that is truly priceless. They come to your home prior to meeting any pups to make sure it will be a safe environment, which led me to believe they were very serious about ensuring the dogs go home to a good place and that they are not just trying to get rid of them. The staff was very friendly and thorough when explaining the process/answering questions. I did an extensive amount of research on places where we could adopt in San Diego and I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to rescue a dog in need. Thank you Barking Lot for giving us a loving and healthy new family member. We cannot thank you enough. read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

I got my little girl Dottie (formerly Donna) just about 3 weeks ago and couldn't have gotten any luckier!! As a lot of people say, the application is a bit long but they're just trying to place dogs with the right owners and look out for them. The scheduling of your appointment to walk and see different dogs may seem like a pain as opposed to just popping in like some shelters to see/walk dogs but I'm sure that'd be way too overwhelming and chaotic on the staff. Having your slot to see dogs was nice so whoever your adoption coordinator is and keep bringing out different dogs for you to walk and see if it's a match, I think I was there for about 4 hours seeing different dogs when Tammy said she just flew in the previous night from Peru with a few dogs and 2 sounded like they were a match for me! Any shelter/rescue dog you adopt is great and all the dogs at TBH deserve a loving home! After our first vet visit the only test/shot I had to get for Dottie was a heartworm shot and the vet said she was all good to go! read more

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On 1/26 my neighbor and I went to visit the barking lot and it was disgusting. All the puppies smelled terrible and the whole shelter smelled terrible. Although we saw those conditions, she decided to rescue one of those pups. Not even 24 hours later we have found out she purchased a sick puppy through this shelter. By 1/27 her nose was running and by 1/28 her legs had swollen, she wouldn't walk, eat or play. She had extended breathing and was extremely lethargic. On the 29th she rushed her to the vet, while I called the shelter to let them know of the issues(they never returned my call). At the vet, they found a large tick under her armpit causing her legs to swell up and causing her to not be able to walk, they did a PCR test, blood tests and X-rays resulting in her spending over $2500 on the puppy in the first 3 days of owning her. On 2/2 the PCR test came back to find out the 11 week old puppy has Microplasma bacteria an illness not over contagious to other pets, but also humans. Due to her financial deficits in this process, she had decided she needed to return the puppy to the shelter because the contract stated if she was to rehome the puppy it must be back to them. Within 3 hours of returning the pup, Stacy had already posted the poor baby back on her website with an application linked to fill out an application to adopt her. It takes 1-3 months for a pup to recover from this illness. Not to mention, she won't refund a single dollar. Not the $600 for the puppy, nor the $1500 medical bill. Selling a sick puppy that she stated was healthy, and continue to state on puppy finder is healthy is completely unethical and should be frowned upon. I will never visit this business again, They take advantage and for it to be a nonprofit and sell puppies you don't know the background of for $650 is completely beyond me. This shelter should be ashamed of themselves for the way they treat their clients and animals read more

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To be honest, we were discouraged with all the bad reviews and were not sure what to expect. I still went only, found a dog we liked, and we quickly received an email regarding our request to meet the dog. I asked if my husband and I can do the first play date before bringing our kids, and they were ok with it. We were able to make an appointment to bring the kids the next day and had a home visit before the first play date. Everything went smooth and were able to bring our girl that same day! I highly recommend to go through the process, be patient, and not get discouraged with the bad reviews you read here. Every situation is different and I do feel they truly mean the best for these animals. read more

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We found The Barking Lot after being rejected by another rescue after a lengthy application process without explanation and overall had a great experience. Is there a long questionnaire to fill out before they'll talk to you? Yes, but rather than be inconvenienced I appreciate that volunteers and staff seem to be genuinely interested in where they might be sending their dogs and looking out for their best interests. Do you have to then spend a long time going back and forth via email with an adoption counselor? Yes, but again, I think that's in the best interests of the dog, and my counselor was able to provide helpful insight as to who on my family's list of favorites might or might not work for us and why - communication is a good thing. Do you have to make time for video chat interviews with another employee who'll want to see your home and ensure it's a good place for pets, then do more video chats to see how the dogs interact with their handlers and one another before you're allowed to visit? Again yes, but if you can't make time for your dog before you adopt I'd worry about how much time you have to devote to acclimating her to your home. Does the actual in-person adoption process also take a long time? You bet. Plan on spending a few hours outside the shelter, meeting one dog at a time, taking walks, playing, spending 20 minutes or so to see if you're a good fit. We did this with three different dogs before we settled on someone to bring home, then we had to wait some more while he was introduced to cats to make sure he'd get along with our other furry family members, then more while all of the paperwork was being done. Don't come into your appointment on an empty stomach or in a rush, plan on some waiting, and don't plan on deciding who you're going to spend the next 5-15 years of your life with in two minutes. Do private adoption agencies charge a lot more money than the county shelter? Sure, but you've got to understand that they're paying their own way rather than getting government funding - you can save money adopting elsewhere, but if a few hundred dollars is make-it-or-break-it when it comes to adopting a pet I've got a surprise for you about how much food, vets, toys, and the inevitable property damage that's going to result while you're training your new pet is going to set you back. All in all, the adoption experience at The Barking Lot was exactly what I expected, and just what our family needed, and even though the dog we really had our hearts set on was gone by the time we got an appointment, we've been happy to welcome a different big, friendly, slobbering oaf into the family. I'm kind of surprised that the negative reviews here all seem to touch on things that, in my eye, are signs that this agency is professional and well-run - they thoroughly screen prospective clients, they make enough money to sustain their operation, they insist on basic care and standards of life for their animals both during and after the adoption process. 5/5 would adopt here again. read more

After dealing with some crazy individuals at some rescue organizations, I was discouraged with the process of pet adoption. I saw my sweet little girl on the Barking Lot website. I immediately submitted my application and went through the home inspection and then made an appointment to meet her. I made the drive down from Orange County and while I was waiting, I saw 3 lovely dogs get adopted and off to their new homes. Then it was my turn and there she was, my little girl and it was love at first sight!! We immediately clicked and Shannon the adoption coordinator saw that we are a good match, so I'm am now the proud pet parent of a lovely little fur baby. Thank you to Shannon and The Barking Lot for taking in all these beautiful dogs and giving them a new chance at life and loving homes. They are truly angels for doing what they do and making my pet adoption a good exoerience. read more

The Barking Lot - My adorable little girl. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

Pros: Barking Lot is rescuing animals and doing good work. Cons: They need more help so that the shelter can be cleaned and the dogs can be groomed. We loved our beautiful Boy but unfortunately we brought him back because it was a bad fit for our situation. If you would like a companion dog who adores being on the go with you, please check out Puddles. He's smart and amazing. And taking him back was made easier because he adores Stacy and gave her kisses and wags. He was happy to go see his old buddies as well. I feel like we gave him a wee vacation, exposed him to new sights, sounds and people. I'm sure we could have found him a great home with friends or relatives but it is not the policy. Check him out. We miss him. read more

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Unfortunately I did not have the greatest experience attempting to adopt from The Barking Lot. It took more than three weeks and over 22 back-and-forth email correspondences to get an appointment scheduled to see some of the dogs. By the time we had something scheduled we already had lost to the original dog we wanted, and three other that we liked. They all had been adopted give then lack of response (I am fully aware of current situation and the overwhelming number of applications the shelter may be getting) but a lot of it could have been resolved and answered in a quick phone call. Finally, after getting something scheduled, we were told we would receive a call at 3pm - we were told to be patient, as they may be a little late, which is totally understandable. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, even 20 minutes is alright! We received the call TWO hours later, at that point we were already soured by the lengthy experience. We realized it was not worth spending more time coordinating with the fine people at The Barking Lot. We are ultimately sad that a good dog lost out to a great home, due to the lack of timeliness, and response from this shelter. Would not recommend. read more

This place is not what it seems. We filled out all required paperwork. Up front about our schedule and home. It took awhile to hear back from them. But then we got an email that we could schedule an appointment to meet two puppies from the same litter. We emailed back when we were available from the days and times they indicated. That was on Thursday evening and we responded that same evening. We got an email Sunday morning that we were scheduled to meet them in a few hours. When we showed up we were only greeted with one of the two we were told about. Nonetheless we fell in love with the one we did meet. We hung out with her for quiet sometime. We paid our adoption fee of $550.00, received the puppy's paperwork and a gift bag. We spoke to one of the volunteers who told us we could pick up our puppy that following Tuesday after being spayed. She said everything looked perfect. Then she asked if we had our home visit, which we hadn't. That was scheduled for Tuesday morning on the Monday before. We went out the next few days and prepped for her arrival, about $500.00+. I did the home visit, answered all the same questions again and before I hung up with the volunteer she was congratulating us on our adoption. My boyfriend made sure to take time off work so we could pick her up. (Losing 2 hours of pay in the process.) We received a congratulations email and them shortly thereafter another email that said they were NOT going to allow us to adopt. They indicated it was because of our schedules. Which had not been an issue in the process at anytime. We were advised that we could still adopt but they would only allow us to adopt a puppy 6 months or older. There was no discussion and trying to reach ANYONE proves very difficult. When we finally heard from the owner she was very patronizing. Essentially they pulled a "bait and switch". We were there for a cute puppy we instantly bonded with, only to be told we couldn't have that one but they'd give us an older one. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS PLACE!!!! There are plenty of other places that need adoptees. read more

The Barking Lot - Our adoption picture that THEY took of us! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California