Dogs Day Out

Dog licking the face of a woman sitting outdoorsTake one of our shelter dogs for an afternoon adventure! 

Taking a shelter dog out for the day:

  • Promotes their adoption by meeting new people.
  • Gives them a few hours away to escape the commotion of kennel life.
  • Enriches their senses with new sights and smells.
  • Brings awareness of the shelter and volunteer opportunities.
  • Helps get dogs on walks during peak times.

 

What adventures awaits?

This program is designed for our dogs to not just have an afternoon off from shelter life, but to also get new eyes on them and increase their chances of getting adopted.

We do ask that the dogs are gone for no less than (2) hours, so plan accordingly. But the entire afternoon is even better!

We’ll provide you with a list of dog friendly places, events and things to do with your canine buddy along with all the supplies you’ll be needing. 


*Sign Up | *Sign up Opens June 29, 2025

Got Questions?

In order to take one of our dogs for the day, you do have to be 18+ years old and have a valid state issued driver’s license.

You can definitely bring a friend! Just allow enough time when you arrive for them to complete an online application. And they must be 18+ years.

We have specifically picked dogs that have been overlooked for adoption. We want people to see how good these dogs are outside of the kennel and increase their visibility. Many of the dogs will be between 35lbs. - 50lbs. so please make sure you’re comfortable handling dogs of varying size, strength and temperaments. 

CCAS will provide you with a backpack of the essentials. You will have treats, collapsible water bowl, dog license, harness and seatbelt. You will also receive a list of dog friendly places to take your dog. 

When you check in- please have your state issued license, your cell phone and a water bottle. In the interest of reducing our carbon footprint, we will not be providing bottles of water for you or the dog, but we do have a water station here to fill up your water bottle(s).

Also, please dress comfortably for your day trip. You may or may not get dirty, so save your nice clothes for going out. 

You may bring your own children 10 years and older. Once you arrive, you will sign a waiver on behalf of your children. We do recommend that when riding with children, that an adult (also) sits in the back seat with the dog. 

We do ask that for this, you please leave your sweet pup at home. This day is all about highlighting your shelter dog. 

We will provide you a list of dog friendly establishments/venues for you to take your dog for the day. If there is inclement weather, we may have to cancel your trip.

Yes! You are not allowed to take the dog to a dog park. You are also not allowed to have the dog off leash at any time.

We do ask that if you need to cancel your appointment time with the dog, you do so 24 hours in advance, so if we have a waiting list, someone else has the opportunity to sign up. If we are anticipating inclement weather, we will also do our best to cancel within a reasonable amount of time. 

Here's the Facts

  "Through these initiatives, we’re not only enriching the lives of our shelter dogs but also fostering stronger connections between our organization and the community we serve."
SARAH AGUILAR Director, Santa Barbara County Department of Animal Services

  ...providing much-needed stress relief, socialization, and exercise as well as increasing dogs’ chances of finding a permanent home.
VCA Charities

  ...short-term outings and temporary foster stays made it 5 to 14 times more likely that participating dogs would be adopted.
Dr. Lisa Gunter, Assistant Professor of Animal Welfare and Behavior at Virginia Tech University