Dog Adoption and Dog Rescue --- Santa Barbara, California

Our Mission Statement
"The mission of K-9 Placement and Assistance League, Inc. (K-9 PALS) is to promote adoptions, provide humane care, act as advocate for the dogs of the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter, and to strive to eliminate the euthanasia of shelter dogs for reasons other than serious health or behavior problems".

History and Accomplishments
K-9 PALS is the all volunteer non-profit organization working on behalf of the dogs of the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter.

The organization was incorporated in December of 2001 and received tax exempt status in July 2002. Our volunteers provide nearly 10,000 hours of service annually at the shelter and in the community, which is equivalent to almost 5 full time employees.

K-9 PALS provides high quality daily care for shelter dogs that include exercising, training, and socializing dogs, bathing dogs, counseling for prospecive adopters, assessing dog behavior, cleaning and maintaining exercise yards and work areas. Volunteers organize and participate in fundraising events and off-site adoption awareness events.

K-9 PALS also provides medical care, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic treatments, and surgical care that would otherwise not be available for the shelter dogs.

The Board of Directors of K-9 PALS is comprised of a group of people that have been volunteers at the Santa Barbara Shelter many years going back as far as 1991.

The County Shelter takes in an average of 1,500 stray and abandoned dogs per year. Owner relinquished dogs may be taken only under special circumstances. With our help, the Shelter will return more than 60% of the dogs to their owners and find homes for most of the others.

Come to the shelter at 5473 Overpass Road to view all the dogs available for adoption. Hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 to 4:45
Saturday: 10 to 4

Fill out an application for the dog of interest.

A screening/counseling process ensures that you and the dog are a perfect match.

Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life! What is the difference between adopting a dog or puppy versus getting dogs for sale or puppies for sale from a dog breeder? When someone is breeding puppies, they are creating new dogs who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog or puppy and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale from a puppy breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs who must find homes. So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog or adopt a puppy at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.

K-9 PALS at the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter

Santa Barbara, California