Santa Barbara County Animal Services has expanded its operating hours across all three shelter locations starting Tuesday, Oct. 17. The move is designed to provide greater accessibility to the community, ensuring people have more time to visit, adopt, and make use of shelter services.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelters in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and Lompoc will offer extended hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The shelters will be closed on Mondays and holidays to ensure staff and animals receive essential care.
The additional hours are designed to accommodate the varying schedules of residents, ultimately leading to increased adoptions and improved welfare for local animals in need.
“The extension of our operating hours is a significant step towards achieving our mission of finding loving homes for animals in need,” said Sarah Aguilar, Animal Services director.
“We believe these changes will make our shelters more accessible to the community and enable us to provide more comprehensive services to our beloved pets and their families,” she said.
The new opening hours will offer a range of walk-in services, including:
Pet Registration and License Renewal: Ensure your pet is properly registered and compliant with local regulations.
Free Microchips: Safeguard pets by providing them with a secure and traceable identification.
Adoptions: Find your perfect companion among the many loving animals awaiting forever homes.
Foster Matchmaking: Become a foster parent and help animals in need, or find a temporary home for your pet.
Pet Pantry: Access donated resources to support your pet’s needs.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services is also offering more opportunities for community members to get involved, support the shelter’s mission, and contribute to the welfare of animals in the community by attending a volunteer orientation at 3 p.m. on the following dates:
Santa Maria: Friday, Oct. 20 or Monday, Oct. 23
Lompoc: Thursday, Oct. 19
Santa Barbara: Wednesdays, Oct. 8 or Oct. 25
For more about Santa Barbara County Animal Services, visit www.sbcanimalservices.org.