The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors composed of volunteers from the community who are dedicated to animal welfare. Donations to the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group directly benefit the animals living in our community and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
As with most charities, the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society in partnership with Dog Adoption and Welfare Group cannot continue to operate on operational income alone and relies on financial support from fundraising events and donations from the community to keep our doors open. We appreciate your support.
History of Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society
The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was established in the early 1970s as an informal group of dedicated men and women who were concerned about the care and protection of animals in their local community. In the early years they served as independent individuals without an official entity or organization. Their objective was to rescue lost and unwanted animals and to find homes for them. This was largely accomplished with little or no outside financial support and by using their own homes to care for pets while they networked throughout the community to find homes for as many as possible. They served without any thought of personal gain or reward, motivated simply by their shared love of animals and a desire to serve their dependent friends and their community.
Recognizing the overpopulation of dogs and cats needed proactive solutions, they began picking up pets from Valley residents once a week and making the 100 mile round trip to the Santa Barbara Humane Society facility to have the animals spayed and neutered. The following day, they repeated the 100 mile drive to pick them up and return them to their homes. Later, they found a local veterinarian, in Los Olivos, to do the surgery, but these dedicated ladies continued to pick the animals up and return them to their owners.
By 1979 they had reached the point where they were able to establish a formal organization, and a non-profit corporation was formed in December of that year. They hoped this entity would provide continuity to carry out their mission and enable them to obtain financial support from the community. The Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was founded in 1979 and is the oldest animal welfare organization in northern Santa Barbara County.
Operating as the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, Inc., a private, non-profit California corporation, they continued their established method of using their own homes as havens to house and care for local pets and making regular trips to pick up and deliver animals for their spay and neuter program.
In 1984, the volunteers mounted a fund raising effort and, with the generosity of two major donors, a parcel of industrial land was purchased in Buellton. The following year they completed construction of a 3,805 square foot building debt-free. This building continues to this day as the home of our small organization that had such humble beginnings in the homes of its directors and their friends.
The facility was expanded in 1998 adding an isolation and recovery area, in 1999 with the addition of a mobile caretaker’s residence, and again in 2002 with the addition of 10 dog kennels. The facility has grown to total of 27 dog kennels and 14 cat cages, along with an outside covered area for cats. In addition to the kennels and cat cages, the shelter has a fully equipped veterinarian surgery and isolation rooms.
Mission and Vision
The Mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society is to serve our community by providing and promoting humane, compassionate, and conscientious care of companion animals and preventing their overpopulation, and to further the prevention of cruelty to animals and the enforcement of the laws of the State of California pertaining to the prevention of cruelty to animals.
The Vision of the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society is to be the companion animal resource in the Santa Ynez Valley by:
• Providing people with the information and resources they need to raise happy, healthy, safe and socialized companion animals.
• Providing our community with information and resources to successfully control the population of and improve the lives of feral and domestic animals
• Providing companion animals with the chance for a brighter future.
Adoption Policy
Please visit our available animals’ pages to see the list of our adoptable animals. This page is in real time through a direct link with our shelter database so check back often. Keep in mind that you may see an animal listed that is already in the adoption process, so please have a few possible options if the animal you have chosen is no longer available at the time of your visit. We try to update the website to include a description of each pet, but if you have any questions, we encourage you to email us or give us a call. We recommend that you fill out an online application prior to visiting us during our normal business hours. If you just stop by to visit us during our adoption hours, we will do our best to accommodate you but may ask you to wait in the lobby or set you up for a later time or date.
All potential adopters sign in when getting to our facility:
Dog meetings take place outdoors, with an Adoption Counselor bringing the dog out to meet you. Time is spent reviewing the dog’s profile, including behavioral and medical information, and determining if it is the right fit for the pet and the family. We do not allow the public to free walk in the kennels.
Cat adopters will check in at the front desk and be shown our different cat areas to free roam. If you are interested in adopting anyone, you may come to the desk to get a staff member who can go over with you the adoption process.
Note, if a pet already has an adoption appointment reserved, you may not be able to view him/her. Adoptions are processed every business day, appointments take priority then on first come, first served with approved application.
https://syvhumane.org/adoptions/available-dogs/
Testimonials
No testimonials submitted

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters By Specialization In Santa Maria
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Santa Maria
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Santa Maria
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Huntington Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Modesto, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salinas, CA
Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners.
Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature.
David is based in Salem, MA.
Read more