Best cat and dog adoption locations in Santa Barbara
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Overview
If you want a furry addition to your family, there are plenty of locations around Santa Barbara where you can get your new pet. And if you’re not adopting, you can also volunteer or donate. Here are some of the best adoption locations to check out in Santa Barbara.
Connect with an online vet in Santa Barbara
Services
Cat Therapy’s mission is to save cats facing euthanasia and homelessness. In partnership with Stray Cat Alliance, a rescue organization, they foster and socialize cats to prepare cats for their forever home. If you live in California, be sure to visit their Cat Café, California’s first and only cat café. There you can hang out with their cat rescues, adopt cats, and buy merchandise. If you aren’t from Cali, you can also shop from a wide range of merchandise on their website. All purchases go back to funding Cat Therapy’s mission.
2. Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter
Services
BUNS is an independent nonprofit that works to rehome bunnies and guinea pigs. They also have education initiatives on how to care for guinea pigs and rabbits. If you want to adopt, you will be counseled by a BUNS volunteer to make sure that a rabbit is the right pet for you. BUNS will also help you find the rabbit that will perfectly fit your family. You will be given ongoing information on rabbit care. Other than adopting, there are lots of ways to support BUNS. You can volunteer, donate, and buy hay on their front porch.
3. ASAP Animal Shelter Assistance Program
Services
ASAP Cats has been helping the cats of Santa Barbara County since 1989. They have sheltered lost cats, reunited cats with their owners, and rehomed stray cats in the community. Whether they’re a kitten, adult, or senior cat, every cat gets a fighting chance at ASAP Cats. Other than adopting, you can support ASAP cats by donating and volunteering. Also consider hiring one of their working cats, which are semi-social and unsocial cats who can get rid of mice and pests for you.
4. RESQCats
Services
RESQCATS is a non-profit cat sanctuary founded in 1997. Its founder and president, Jeffyn Telson, operates it on the philosophy that every life is precious and worth saving. RESQCATS is an all-volunteer organization, and 100% of donations go to the rescue. Strays are given medical attention, socialized, and rehomed. Those that cannot be rehomed live out their lives in RESQCAT’s 1,500 sq. ft. cat sanctuary plus a large outdoor area. To support RESQCATS, you can adopt, foster, and volunteer.
5. Cold Noses, Warm Hearts
Services
Cold Noses, Warm Hearts Dog Rescue is a non-profit organization that rehomes dogs from high-kill shelters and rehabilitates sick pets. They have a 100% spay and neuter policy, which reduces the overpopulation of stray dogs. Cold Noses, Warm Hearts partners with other rescue groups in the area and provides facilities, treatments, and shots to ensure that other rescue dogs are taken care of.
Getting a furry friend in Santa Barbara
If you want to get a new pet, there are lots of shelters you can check out in Santa Barbara. These shelters have many different cats, dogs, and small animals that are a great addition to your family. Adopting from a shelter is much cheaper than buying from a store, too. And once you get your pet, it’s time to contact a veterinarian. Book a virtual vet appointment through Vetster to connect with a vet right in the comfort of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Pets who are feral and elderly are less likely to be adopted from shelters, whether they’re cats or dogs. But when it comes to cats, a widely popular myth is that black cats are less likely to be adopted. According to Animals, an international, peer-reviewed veterinary journal, black cats only fare slightly worse than felines of other colors in adoption and euthanasia outcomes, especially when compared to grey cats. However, black cats make up the largest population of cats being admitted to rescues, and therefore are more likely to be euthanized.
- Adoption fees can vary wildly even within a rescue itself. For example, a shelter can charge three times as much for older cats compared to kittens. On average, you can expect adoption fees to be around $50 to $200. Other fees to consider are the initial costs of getting a pet. These include an initial vet visit and pet supplies, like food and bedding.
- Rehoming any pet is a stressful endeavor, both for you and your pet. However, some pets are easier to rehome than others. When adopting a pet, always ask the shelter about any behavioral issues you may encounter. But if you are up for the challenge, consider adopting a cat that may be hard to rehome. Cats with behavioral issues are less likely to be adopted and have a higher chance of being euthanized.
