We found TBL during our avid search for a reputable rescue. Although the application process is lengthy, it is sooo worth it. They are experts at matching dogs to families. Couldn't have asked for a better experience finding our forever friend. We got our boy Hobi this summer and he's been the best thing to ever happen to us. Can't recommend these guys enough. read more

I had a great experience adopting my boxer/husky mix Zeppelin a year in a half ago! (formerly named Agyness) Some people are thrown off by the process of adopting a dog through the barking lot- you can't just stroll in and bring a dog home- an application, home inspection, and visit are required. I admire and respect the thorough work they take in making sure their dogs are going to safe homes. Too many times I see people make "impulse adoptions" at their local shelter, only to see the animal returned later with bad excuses. Thank you, Barking Lot, for helping me find Zeppelin (Agyness) and giving her a second chance on life! read more

MUST READ to PROTECT YOURSELF from STACY PALMER-ONLY PAY WITH CREDIT CARD. As a animal lover I am really conflicted on publishing this review, because its the poor dogs under the care of Stacy Palmer DBA The Barking Lot (TBL) that will ultimately suffer. After reading this I hope people understand why I am posting my negative review. I have no doubt the dogs that she sells stay for much longer than necessary because many people read her terrible reviews and choose not to purchase from her. While the way the dogs are housed this time of year could be considered deplorable (multiple dogs in the same 100+ degree tiny kennels), I don't want to discourage someone from saving a dog from her care. Following some of my suggestions will help you have a outcome in your favor if things go bad.  I have purchased 2 dogs (one situation did not work out due to her negligence) and after the way she has treated me I feel it necessary to inform the public and  how you should conduct business with her to cover yourself. Purchasing a dog from her can end up being one of the greatest and potentially the most heartbreaking experiences you can experience, which has been my case. Thoroughly read her reviews especially about the dogs she has repossessed. This could happen to your beloved best friend years down the road. I would say hope for the best and plan for the worst. She has a sad 3.2 star rating with dozens of negative reviews. I believe this would be much lower, but others like me feel such pity for the dogs we decline to write a negative reviews. I am filing a court case against Stacy. Please contact me if you were forced to purchase or rent a GPS collar, forced to purchase a regular collar or leash, did not receive a refund on your GPS collar,  are unclear if you purchased your dog or paid a fee which she describes as a donation, boarded your dog with her, or experienced any other questionable behaviors. I originally found out about TBL on a TV news story about dogs rescued from Thailand by Soi (street) Dog Foundation (SDF) and arriving in San Diego. My wife is Thai and I have spent years living in Thailand and experiencing all the street dogs, so I am familiar with the conditions they come from. One day we hope to open our own dog rescue there.  I was so impressed with SDF and all the wonderful work they do I named them as a beneficiary in my Trust. I was even thinking about naming TBL until we experienced several questionable behaviors with the purchase of our first dog Ruby in June 2019. We were able to purchase Ruby because another party had purchased her and she got loose. They did not have the GPS collar on her which is one of "Stacy's Laws" which is grounds for repossession, which also entitles her to resell a dog and double dip. Upon purchasing her Stacy hammered home the importance of wearing the GPS collar at all times. After a week our rental collar stopped working. I repeatedly contacted Stacy requesting a replacement collar and was ignored. It turned out the reason it did not work is Stacy had not paid the bill. After a month I mailed it back expecting a $100 refund. I would have considered giving the amount as a donation, but being ignored about the replacement left a bad taste in my mouth because Stacy's most important law is the GPS collar has to be charged and working at all times for 2 months! No exceptions! She has grounds for repossession if you violate this rule-REMEMBER THIS BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU-READ THE REVIEWS. She will not give you a refund, will resell the dog (she has financial incentive involved), or let you purchase another dog. Finally I told Stacy I would be disputing the charge on my credit card if a refund was not issued and received a check 5 months later! If you have any dealings with her PAY EVERYTHING WITH A CREDIT CARD. DO NOT USE A DEBIT CARD, CHECK, OR CASH! You have charge back rights for over 2 years and if Stacy imposes one of her arbitrary "LAWS" you can win disputing a charge on your credit card. YOU HAVE NO CHARGE BACK RIGHTS WITH A DEBIT CARD. SHE WILL TRY AND MAKE YOU USE A DEBIT CARD - DON'T DO IT. Your only recourse will be small claims court. We also boarded our dog with her for 48 hours after we first got her. We went to pick her up and were shocked to find she was not at the facility and had taken her to another place. We then waited 2.5 hours with my 80 year old mother sitting in the car waiting for her to meet us at a Starbucks. The boarding period had then lapsed past the 48 hour period at that point and she tried to charge me for 3 days. When I called her on it she had that disgusted look she gets as if how dare I question her. I had a uneasy feeling as she handed over Ruby as if she thought of keeping her if I did not pay the extra day, which I did not pay. Review continues: Google Stacy Palmer/Elysa to see rest of review about what happend w/ purchase of our 2nd dog-it went bad. read more

I just adopted a dog from The Barking Lot and it has been a great experience. I am happy to recommend them if you are trying to adopt. Everyone I dealt with was amazing. They obviously love their work and the dogs they place. I've never been happier. Went back and got a second dog. They helped me find the right match and the dogs are perfect together. Please help save a dogs life. Adopt from The Barking Lot. read more

I love the Barking Lot!! I adopted the best dog in the world about two months ago. Not only did I end up the perfect dog for me and my family, I had a great experience overall. I remember reading some reviews that made me really nervous before going to the Barking Lot to meet the dogs, so I want to share my wonderful experience for anyone considering TBL. First of all: the process. I appreciate the way the Barking Lot's process is designed. You won't make an emotional decision and take home a dog because they are cute. They want to make sure you take home a dog that you are ready for so both you and the dog are happy for the long term. First, you apply on their website, the form takes maybe 15 minutes. Second, they visit your home to make sure you are ready for a dog. Third, you review the dogs on the website and pick out 3 -5 to meet. Finally, you go meet the dogs with your whole family. When you meet them, they bring them out one by one, giving you 20 minutes at least with each dog to walk them, pet them, and play to see if it's a good match. Then, you can decide if you want to take the dog home. I had been stalking TBL's website for months before I actually met some of the dogs on my playdate. The woman assisting us (wish I remembered her name, she was very helpful) met me, my husband, and my in-laws (who we live with) and asked us what we wanted in a dog. I had arranged to meet 5 dogs, but right away, she said 2 of them would not be good fits for our family due to their behavior issues we aren't equipped to deal with. I was a little sad to hear this at first, but eventually very grateful she steered us towards dogs that could live happily with us. We ended up meeting 3 dogs, and took the second one home with us. He was Stirling then, but we renamed him Stanley, and he is the best dog ever. Housebroken, calm, fun loving, affectionate. His vet check up was perfect and he is a very healthy boy. I'm so grateful to TBL for caring for him for the months before we took him home!! A little advice - El Cajon is effing hot, or at least it was the day we were there. We were outside for almost 3 hours with the dogs. The volunteers are busy, so they would disappear and leave us with a dog for a really long time and we didn't have a way to flag anyone down. It is not a quick process (overall a good thing, but hard on a hot day). My husband had to go buy us waters because it was so uncomfortable. Not a huge deal, just be prepared to be out in the sun for a long time. Since adopting Stanley, we've gone to a few TBL events - the Pup Crawl and a K9ers hike - and the volunteers have always been kind, helpful, and clearly passionate about their dogs. read more

The Barking Lot is an impressive dog rescue machine. The volunteers are amazing, and Stacy is a direct, no-nonsense person who has the type of personality necessary to manage such a place. She's not out to win your heart, she's out to re-home animals and give them their best chance and a happy life. For me, the adoption process was a bit bumpy, but it was also during the peak of the shut down when they were receiving an overload of applications. I just kept in mind that they are operating a large, international, all-breed dog rescue facility run essentially on the goodness of volunteers that in the end all have the same goal: re-homing dogs to a place where they will have the best chance to thrive. If you're honest, polite, and persistent, you'll get matched with a four-legged pal that you'll love. read more

I had to fill out a lengthy repetitive questionnaire that honestly made me think twice about the adoption. I had to pause to give myself some breaks from the absurdity of the questions! Not to mention the intention behind the questions, I felt as if the adoption was for an actual Child! I have a home with a yard and the financial stability to provide a rescue a loving and long happy life. The denial email I received was ridiculous! I felt they are really looking to keep their animals rather than find loving homes. Or prefer to make $$$ off their animals! I can tell you that they have no interest in finding a good home for their animals! I don't know the concept behind "their" adoption process. Honestly I believe they have no interest in finding a good home for these animals. Please yelpers proceed with caution! I am looking to have them investigated by animal rights and the city to check if their even legitimate and if they are actually caring for these animals. Very suspicious on the adoption process and questionnaire read more

Great experience with The Barking Lot! We lost our dear girl a year ago and finally felt ready to bring another companion into our lives. We've always had rescues and after reading the reviews, and The Barking Lot website, I had a good idea of what to expect. A home inspection was needed (we've had this with each rescue/different rescue groups). It's standard procedure in the rescue world to ensure a successful adoption. We were able to get the inspection before our appointment time. I highly recommend doing this - there is no "hold" on dogs like at the shelters. We were given an appointment time of 3 p.m. Every member of the household needs to be present to visit the dogs. Plan on being there for two to three hours. You will meet different dogs, take them for a walk and then wait for the next one. We were asked what we were looking for and the volunteers did a great job in bringing us potential companions. I was looking for a Soi dog - dogs rescued from the illegal dog meat trade. We saw three pups during our appointment and the last girl we saw was "the one". The next step was the paperwork which includes going through the adoption contract, which was similar to most other rescues. Soi dogs are considered a high risk and must wear a tracking device for the first two months. A $50. deposit is required for the device. After that, you return the device and will be refunded the deposit. You can not leave without a collar and leash for your companion. You can bring your own or purchase one there. If you happen to be looking for a soi dog, you will need to use a Martingale collar. These collars are designed to keep them from slipping out of their leash and preventing neck injuries. Depending on how many people ahead of you are adopting, it may be a bit of a wait before you go through the entire process. Everything I saw indicated a team of people who truly care about finding the right fit for the dog and person. It's not something you enter into lightly. Shelter dogs don't have this process and often times are "re-homed" because of it. This organization does everything possible to make the adoption a success the first time around. There's nothing more rewarding than providing your companion with their forever home. read more

This organization provided my family with a loving lab mix who is now named Ollie! At first we were supposed to take home a different dog, but they made sure we came home with the dog that we described and that will fit perfectly with our lifestyle, personalities and of course, who gets along with our super playful husky. Now they are both inseparable! Thanks barking lot for this easy and process! read more

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My overall experience with The Barking Lot was really great! The volunteers who work there are extremely nice, informative, love the dogs, and want to find the best fit for the dogs and you. The whole process started when I sent in an application that was very easy to fill out and I appreciate that they asked so many questions because it shows that they care where their dogs will be adopted. Next, my Adoption Coordinator (Shannon) contacted me via email with some questions she had about my application and then we set up a home check. Since I live in the Los Angeles area and the rescue is in San Diego, they were nice enough to do a skype home check that only took about 10 min. Once you are approved and have all the steps in the adoption process figured out they will set up a time for you to come meet the dog(s) you're interested in. My adoption coordinator was extremely responsive to me throughout this whole process and always answered my questions in less than 24hrs. At this point I have been looking at multiple rescues and this by far was one of the best ones I have been in contact with. Since we had already been approved and had a home check my boyfriend and I had the option of taking home a dog the day we went to the rescue, which can only be done during an appointment that you will need to set up in advance. I already had a dog in mind named Essex at the time (now Harper) who after asking Shannon about seemed like a great fit! So we went to go meet her down in San Diego at their facility and did have to wait a few minutes to see the dog, so just plan on being there for about an hour or 2 (which they mention when you set up the appointment). Once the pup came out to greet us I had a feeling she might be the one. I really love how they let you take the dog(s) for a walk around the outside of the facility and let you hang out with them one-on-one to just see how the dog reacts and what their personality might be like around you and your family. After hanging out with the dog, we asked a few more questions about what they did know of her past, etc., and decided she would be a great fit! Once they decide and you decide the dog will be a great fit, it takes about 30 min to finalize the adoption but is well worth the wait for your forever fur baby! Our new dog Harper is the sweetest girl ever and all the info they had on her was accurate. The only negative thing I have to say is that when you adopt they should go over the health history in details - my girl Harper had worms in her fecal that was being treated but came back - but I didn't realize this even though it had a medicine on her medical history because I'm a new dog owner I didn't know what this medicine was treating. Anyways, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this facility and the dogs there all seem to be highly adoptable. read more

The Barking Lot - Harper (previously Essex) - adopted from TBL and she's the best! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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I want to share my disappointment with my experience last Saturday. I arrived late to my appointment due to poor coordination on my end, but did call to leave a voicemail. This was I believe inconsiderate but was the only action on my end I could have possibly done to receive the type of treatment I did. When I walked to the door, the woman was greeting the 11:30 appointment. She did not acknowledge my friend and I. We waited patiently, understanding we were late and when she finally acknowledged us she was abrupt and rude. She did not introduce herself nor ask my name. She was to the point, asking which dog I was there to see. After I explained much of what I had already explained to Kelly in my email and to Kendra during the home check, including my hope to meet a few puppies but with no promise of taking any home as I was just beginning to explore the idea. Despite this hope, I am a qualified candidate as Kelly and Kendra confirmed through the rigorous application process. Not to mention the years of experience and love I have for dogs. Anyone who knows me would support that in a heartbeat. I discussed this with her and also reminded her of the other 3 litters of puppies i had requested to see. I was scolded for not having specified this request, though I had in an email with Kelly the week prior. She was annoyed but left abruptly to check the computer system. She came back to confirm that the request was documented but not fulfilled or scheduled correctly such that the puppies were all at foster homes. She was unkind and unaccommodating and resumed her interrogations. "Puppies grow up you know," might have set me over the edge. I'm a qualified dog lover looking for some puppy therapy and perhaps able to give one of those puppies (and yes eventually a dog) a better life and so much love. I left without meeting any dogs because I felt so unwelcome. I'm so disappointed and felt so disrespected. read more

I adopted a dog from this rescue and was quite impressed with their thorough adoption process. They really do their best to be sure that the dogs will go to a safe and caring home. Also, they have events to make sure that the dogs get enough exercise and interaction with others. A lot of the dogs are fostered by the volunteers as well, so they are able to provide good insight as to how well the dog will adjust to a new home. Thank you to Lara and Ashley and all the volunteers that helped me find the perfect companion :) read more

The Barking Lot - Holyoke, NKA Santo Lobo! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

We have been searching for a while for a new dog buddy for our current dog. We found what seems like a good match on petfinder who is at the Barking Lot. Our current pal was already a rescue who had recovered from surgery so he needed some extra care, so we thought as loving previous-rescue pet owners it would be straightforward in getting to meet a possible new buddy and having two happy dogs. Hit the brakes! We didn't even get approved as "forever home" people?!?! We've both grown up with dogs and love our current guy like a child. Barking Lot's opinion of us was formed from their application and 4 follow-up questions. No home meeting, no calling the reference we gave, not even allowing us to come in. Either they think nobody ever lies on an internet form or we misinterpreted their questions, but they clearly are not diligent in wanting to find good owners since they aren't even willing to meet with them. Good luck to their dogs that they'll hold on to and keep out of happy homes because they won't do their homework. read more

DO NOT PATRON HERE! This is definitely not a place will ever visit again and I have told everyone I know not to go here. Their animals are sweet, but are clearly not very well cared for, the service is probably the worst I've ever received (I see others here have had run ins with Stacy). These people may be well intended but they act like their poop doesn't stink and treat questions about the animals like they arethe dumbest things they ever heard. For example, I asked if one of the dogs was previously abused because it coward when someone walked by us with a broom. I was scoffed at and made to feel like an idiot because of a simple leg image question based on direct observation of the animals behavior. Another thing I noticed upon arrival and departure was that they walk the dogs near other bossiness that have dogs. I watched the dogs bark and carry on some of them so stressed that they clearly should not be walked near such places. Worse I saw the walker allow the dog to deficate on what looks like another places front lawn area without picking the fecal matter up. Last I checked that was a ticket, worse that is rude to those around you. To claim to rescue dogs out of compassion and then to treat the area you are in wthi such disregard makes me seriously question their intentions, worse watching them harass the dogs nearby and scare their own by walking them as close to the other dogs as they can makes me question their competency. So in conclusion, since they are clearly unprofessional, unhygienic, unethical, and incompetent, I recommend rescuing from another place, or from the shelters. At least the shelters aren't demeaning to people looking to adopt. read more

Unfortunately this is a situation of good people with good intentions, but extremely poor organization and professional skills. I volunteered to foster a 4 week old puppy who was in need of extra care (given its young age), and was told that there was already an adopter lined up- the puppy would be adoptable at 8 weeks of age. Being an experienced foster parent, I thought this would be a piece of cake- give puppy a little TLC and training, and then at 8 weeks, she would be off to her forever home. Not quite. The Barking Lot failed to keep in touch with the potential adopters, failed to do a home check, and failed to schedule spay and shots for the puppy. Basically the puppy was 'out of sight, out of mind'. It was like pulling teeth to get any information from TBL. Eventually TBL actually disapproved the original adopter - and we were back to square 1 (puppy now at age 10 weeks). I wound up giving the puppy back to TBL- which broke my heart- but I felt that so long as she was in a foster home, she was not on their radar, and would not be adopted. This rescue can do wonderful things- saving dogs that otherwise would be looked over, but they are disorganized, has extremely poor communication between members and seems overwhelmed by the number of dogs they have taken on. Hopefully they will become more organized in the future and can be more successful in their mission. If someone were looking to adopt an animal, I would not suggest going through TBL, try the county shelter or humane society, or a more well run rescue. read more

Listen to your gut! The moment we walked up there were numerous families outside waiting with dogs and no sign of volunteers. Arriving on time for a 330 appointment, we waited almost 15 minutes before even being asked what we were there for. The smell of the place was stomach-turning, old dog urine that burnt your nose, and this was the office, not even the kennels! After having a home visit and meeting one of the foster pups, we quickly decided the dog we met was a perfect fit! Every volunteer dog walker commented how comfortable the dog was with us. After being told there were many adoptions before us and we had to wait 30 mins... No problem! After 2 hours of sitting outside, we were called in to sign the papers. Once inside, the woman running the show, Stacy, started questioning us and asking all these weird questions about why we wanted this dog. It became clear very quickly that no matter the answer we gave she was not going to let us to adopt this dog. She even tried to push off other dogs on us, after we already bonded with this dog! The other volunteer in the office just sat there looking as shocked and sad for us as we felt. This was a very heart breaking and difficult situation. We had no option but to leave without the dog we fell in love with. Our advice is do your homework. Take the negative reviews to heart! If you walk in the place, trust your eyes, ears and nose. This place resembles more of a puppy mill than a loving rescue. read more

I RESCUED my puppy from this "rescue" recently. I understand they are trying to do the best they can with the resources they have and have the best intentions for these dogs, but my experience the day I went was awful. The first thing you notice when you walk into this place is the stench! This place is filthy and the lady that was "helping" us that day was just mopping up urine with a dirty mop and bleach while on the phone the entire time. We thought we would have a room to meet with our new puppy but she didn't let us past the cramped space up front. After interacting with our puppy for more than two hours we told her we were ready and she snaps at us and says. "it's me who decides!" She was rude to my family to the point she was insulting us by saying we don't know what it takes to care for a dog... we have owned dogs from puppy to the end of their lives and treat them better than people. She also acted very concerned for the amount of exercise she would be getting. My pop and I are both runners and planned on running with her when her bones are ready for it, but that didn't seem like enough for her. These dogs get "walked" there everyday and by that I mean in the 15 minutes that we saw a volunteer arrive and walk dogs she had taken about 8 dogs on a "walk" one at a time. Lady, let me assure you our pup will get more exercise than she's getting here. She also told us we need to socialize her which I agree with. However she told us she was a very well socialized dog... Our pup was a nervous nelly when we took her on walks and when people approached her. That lady honestly thinks being in that environment and seeing people come in and out of that place is being well socialized... It's not! When she agreed we would be taking her home we asked what her feeding schedule was like and she informed us that she eats twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. We then asked if she had eaten that day and she informed us that she had not because it had been "too hectic" that day....EXCUSE ME?!? It was past 3pm when we left with our new family member. These dogs should be your main priority!!! As soon as I got home with my puppy I had to bathe her because she smelled so bad! When we pet her we lifted what I'm hoping was dirt, but probably the residue of dried up bleach and urine. I wish the best for all the rescue dogs there and if you can afford $450 for a pet adoption, rescue as many as you can! This was just my experience, but I'm glad with the end result because we ended up with the most perfect family member. She is the most well mannered dog, excelling in her puppy obedience school, and is spoiled by every member of our family. She now approaches dogs at the park with confidence and loves to be around people! read more

I found this group quite unhelpful and pretentious. The majority are borderline hoarders that do not want to release the dogs to would-be adopting families. They make it quite difficult for you to adopt, they charge in upwards of $300 to $500 and are slow to respond to your messages, if at all. So by the time they get back to you, the dog you were interested in is no longer available or so they say..! If you're interested in adopting a dog, go to one of our County Animal Shelters http://www.sddac.com/adoptions.asp. They are not overzealous hoarders, patient and educational and not a profit center. read more

I'm changing my review from 3 stars to 1 because I received an email from the owner and am even more disappointed. The email stated "We had previously treated her for demodex" (mites), the thing is...no treatment was listed on her medical sheet, since her vaccines were also all out of date I don't believe that she was actually treated, and IF she had been treated then she should not have still had the mites. Poor pup. I've also spent nearly $1,000.00 in vet bills within the last month, I honestly feel The Barking Lot should at least cover the costs of treatment for the mites since they admit that they knew about it but did not properly treat her. When I adopted Ginger, I was told by the staff (as a disclaimer) that she was adopted and returned within a week, but only because the lady could not "handle" her. I knew she was high energy, so I assumed it was an older lady looking for a lap dog. Now, I can safely assume it was because of the medical costs and that Ginger is territorial and barks/nips at men. I am working with a trainer, highly recommend John with Sit, Stay, Come Dog Training. Like I said in my last review, I had a MUCH better experience with Second Chance Dog Rescue and highly recommend them to anyone looking to adopt a dog. They take better care of the dogs and all the medical is up to date and if there are any known medical conditions they will pay the costs even if you adopt the dog before the scheduled medical treatment can be done (my dog that I adopted from them needed dental surgery). read more

I am just writing to give my personal experience here. I pursued adopting a pup from this rescue. The adoption process is extremely tedious. They act like you are adopting their own first born child. I was a little apprehensive over this process but it was not preventing me from moving forward. I just figured at least they care... VS not caring and just sending the dog home with anyone. Once I finally got a response back after 3 days of waiting to set up a play date (which was AFTER I had already gotten a call and set up a time to do a home check, yes a home check, to make sure you're not a puppy mill and the dog has a place to put their water and food) I had yet to even have a chance to meet the dog yet to see if she was a good fit but they were ready to come to my home, which I thought was an improper order for their "process". Anyways, we came to meet our potentially future family member and when we walked in the front door the smell was ATROCIOUS!! my son couldnt even stay inside because it was making him sick to his stomach. I just want to say that I am an in no sense exaggerating. There was so much barking, not that barking is a problem but it sounded like there was a thousand dogs there. It seemed so unsanitary and I know that with a place like this- a smell is expected with this many animals. It just made me very uneasy about the conditions that this little angel was living in. I didn't want to give her back! I felt like I was the one leaving her in a puppy mill. After we had completely fallen in love with her, come to find out I was under the impression the dog was $250 to adopt (which was my own fault, I just assumed since she just had puppies @ a year old and she was a mutt, not a pure bread something) but she was $400!! $400 for a dog that needs a home? $400 for a rescue? I was trying to do good by not buying from a pet store or a breeder and this is the fee that is expected to rescue a dog? maybe I'm just new to the "rescue" game but I thought that was asinine. Unless your shooting dollar bills from every orifice or your totally naive, this fee is ridiculous. Again, just my opinion. I will say I do understand they don't have a vet on hand, but I have read their other reviews on yelp as well and it seems to be the trend that they are sending pups to their new homes with parasites due to unlivable conditions. So they are obviously not utilizing this money towards vet visits or cleaning the facility. Anyways, I hope the baby we were trying to adopt finds a rich family to jump through firey hoops to get her. I couldnt bring myself to pay that with out golden plated papers to tell me she was a mutt lol They probably would have a better turnover rate and not have so many animals to feed, house etc... (i.e. what they need such a high adoptions fee for) if they reduced their fees to a reasonable amount. Anyways to make a long story longer... the only positive I did see was when I went to the facility for the play date there was what looked like about 4 different volunteers or employees just outside alone walking numerous dogs one at a time around the block and down the street, which is a big area and that I would say was the only plus I saw with this whole experience. Sorry so much to read, this is just the type of review I would like to read or know about prior to dealing with anyone I'm looking to do business with. GOOD LUCK!! :) read more

The dog I adopted from these people had a serious, life threatening medical condition. 24 hours after I brought him home we were in the animal emergency room at 2 am undergoing tests. He was having trouble urinating and it turned out he had a total blockage from a bladder stone that would have killed him without emergency surgery. So, I spent $4000 to save this little dog's life. I emailed and then called The Barking Lot in tears and begged them to get back to me with any health history, information or anything that could help. I also asked them if they could share in the costs of the surgery he needed. After 3 days they asked me for his medical records and thanked me for taking care of the dog and then ignored me and my further pleas for help. I am grateful that I adopted him because I'm sure he wouldn't have survived without the emergency surgery and I'm not confident they would have even noticed he was in such distress. He will be my buddy for the rest of his life and I'm so glad to have him healthy and well. But I can't believe a "rescue" organization would be this unfeeling and uncaring about helping someone who saved one of their animals. Nor do they feel bad they passed such a sick dog onto someone who was trying to do a good thing. If you decide to adopt a pet from these people be sure to get a complete vet evaluation before you sign away your rights. They really don't care. read more

Thank you so much to Stacy and Nancy and everyone at The Barking Lot for helping us find our new puppy, Rally. The selfless work these volunteers do to save dogs from the awful, and totally unnecessary fate of the shelters is astounding to me. The interview and application process is very thorough, but not at all unreasonable. It is very clear that the volunteers have the best interest of the dog at heart. Every question we asked was met with an immediate and detailed answer. It is very clear that they care. Be aware, the 1-star reviews on this profile are from people who were denied during the application process. I happen to know that one of those reviews is from a person who has blown through 4 other dogs and has either SOLD, given away, or lost 3 of them. Her current dog is not spayed. That is not responsible pet ownership and The Barking Lot has the responsibility to deny that individual. Some people can be completely clueless. read more

We have tried twice now to adopt a dog through this organization and have been denied twice because we wouldn't bring our cats to the play date versus them bringing the dog to our house. If you can do home inspections, it boggles my mind why they couldn't bring the dog at the same time. Instead, we are expected to bring 2 cats to an unknown environment and see how they get along with a strange animal. Makes perfect sense :-/ I would assume our situation is not the normal and here we are in a big house with wonderful yards and a loving family to add a new member, and they can't make an exception.....so they lose $300 and placing a dog in a loving home. Very sad. read more

I would put no stars if I could. I worked in rescue for 6 years, I am not against dog breeders, but when there are dogs in need I don't see why you would go to a breeder first. I moved into my roommate's house in May, and fell in love with their foster puppy, Leroy. A few weeks ago I had decided that I was going to pursue adopting Leroy, I filled out the adoption application, which was easy and a fairly quick process. Jessica had emailed me back within a few minutes, saying that she isn't going to adopt Leroy to me because his breed was not allowed where we live. Now you'd think that they would know that before they allowed my roommates to foster him at our house? I also have had an incident in the past where my dog had been stolen from the person that was supposed to be watching him, since I worked rescue before I had decided to mention that because I would expect honestly from someone adopting my pups. They didn't get back to me for almost two weeks after I elaborated the situation, called and emailed my landlord, and gotten a letter of recommendation from both my roommates, and today Jessica finally got back to me saying: "Hi Katarina, Upon further review of your application responses against our adoption criteria and philosophy, we won't be moving forward with the adoption process. I would encourage you to visit the local shelter, as they have different adoption criteria than we do. There are many wonderful dogs at the shelter awaiting a permanent home. If you adopt from them, that is one less that needs to be saved from death row. Jessica" I find this email interesting because they contacted my roommates last Friday letting them know that they were "setting up a playdate with Leroy and I." Which I had never gotten a call or email about. This "adoption organization" is so far from organized, I will never go through them again, I will also do what I can to let people know their disorganization, and hostility of their employees. read more

We spent $500 adopting a puppy born at their facility. Immediately after adopting we learn that the dog has both Giardia and Mange. Our cat became infected with mange, and several dogs our puppy came into contact with needed to be treated with antibiotics to avoid infection. I fail to see how a shelter that is using its $500 adoption fees to care for future dogs would allow a dog born at their facility to contract two infectious diseases. read more

What a great organization. We adopted our sweet baby boy, Howie (Formerly Foxboro). The process was thorough but easy. They were helpful in introducing Howie to our other two dogs. I would recommend TBL to anyone looking to save a life and find a love of their life! read more

We recently adopted Hippo (fka Batali, the food network puppies). My husband and I live in New York but have family in San Diego so when we were ready to get our second dog we looked at rescues in New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles. The application is standard to all rescues and they allow for a Skype home check. Our volunteer coordinator was Shannon and mediated all of the necessary checks prior to our arrival. We made sure to follow up and ask if the puppies we had our hearts set on meeting were not yet adopted (some were, as its first come first adopt). Because it's volunteer run I made sure to be on top of communicating which dogs I really wanted to see. They are volunteer run so everyone there has a full time job and "works" at this rescue out of the goodness of their hearts. Sometimes emails aren't going to be answered right away, sometimes there will be miscommunications about your dogs of choice status. Every day that I was at TBL there were so many people there wanting to adopt dogs. It made me so happy to see but I also realized that my volunteer coordinator must be getting tons of emails daily from the other potential adopters. They have so many wonderful dogs and puppies coming in almost every week, you'll find one you love! I've been to TBL three times and on different weeks ( there were new puppies and dogs at the rescue every time I came). The first time I came Hippo had to leave immediately to go to see an orthopedic surgeon for his dislocated hip, so we got to spend only 5 min with him. Since we didn't get enough time with him we came in a second time, this time to ask more about his hip and needed surgery ( which we discovered during our first visit). I ended up delaying my flight back to NY to stay for Hippos surgery, have him recover a couple days, and then fly back to NY with me. My volunteer coordinator checked in to see how his kennel cough and post-op recovery was going a couple days after adoption. We love Hippo and are so glad that we waited to bring him home! TBL seemed to have the most wide range of types of dogs than other rescues, more puppies, and I can tell the workers there genuinely care for each dog ( know most of them by name and their temperament). The workers were honest about each dogs temperament and interactions with other dogs. They allowed us to take the time we needed to watch each dog alone, in a group setting with their litter, and with our current dog. We appreciated this because it was the most important priority that this new puppy be accepted by our current dog and have a good temperament. So thankful to TBL, the workers who love into these dogs, and the care they gave little Hippo thru his multiple health issues! Side note: I think many people found it disturbing that the owner gets upset when you walk into the office area or knock on the door ( according to the reviews). Behind the office wall are several dogs that are needing socialization and so if you walk in or knock all the dogs will start barking, jumping, and/or get excited. With different levels of socialization happening it's hard to control all the dogs (this is very understandable to me). If you wait outside a volunteer will most likely come out from the side fence with someone else's dog so you can just let them know at that point you're here for your appt. They have nonstop appts booked each meet and greet day so you won't be waiting long. They should probably put up a big sign on the door stating this so that if you still end up knocking, you were already warned once! read more

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My boyfriend and I adopted Wall-E (formerly Cruise) from The Barking Lot about two weeks ago. We saw his picture online and sent in an application. I was quickly contacted by a volunteer who arranged a home visit. Everything went smoothly and a couple days later we went to visit the shelter. Don't get me wrong, it was a little hectic there - lots of people outside visiting with dogs and the front desk seemed pretty slammed! I took this as a good sign, though - it seemed like they really wanted you to spend quality time with your potential new pet, take him/her on a walk, etc. We probably spent at least an hour with Wall-E, if not more. The adoption paperwork and payment didn't take longer than 30 minutes, then we were on our way! Wall-E was just as described by The Barking Lot volunteers - super mellow, friendly toward people, and an all around well-balanced dog. The Barking Lot provided an awesome referral to a wonderful training group - Pawtopia - who is working with us on Wall-E's leash training. They also referred me to Bodhi Animal Hospital for a free check-up - also very pleased the service there. Since adopting Wall-E, we've received follow up emails from our adoption coordinator checking in to see how he's doing. All the folks at The Barking Lot seem to genuinely care about the well-being of their dogs. They won't adopt a dog out unless the fit is right on both sides of the equation. read more

The Barking Lot is an amazing volunteer operated shelter, but since they are private, volunteer operated, and a non-kill shelter just remind yourself to be patient. I've volunteered at a shelter before and it's a lot more than walking the dogs and glittery rainbows. Trust me when I say 99% of the bad reviews are from people who are impatient and/or dislike rejection. I'm a 22 year old veteran and student who wanted to adopt an active medium sized younger dog. I filled out the lengthy application and scheduled a home visit (I respect that they care so much about where the pups go). The return of emails were expeditious and I was in constant communication with my adoption consultant, Lara. On the day of my adoption I found out the dog I planned on adopting had already found his new home, but I still went just to play with some pups and see what happens. The first dog I met was Daisy (previously named halo). I met a few other dogs after her, but I pretty much knew from our first walk that she was the one! She's fun, active yet calm in the house, and easy to train. She's the perfect dog for a first time dog owner! I know TBL seems extensive and is more expensive than the county shelter, but they don't euthanize and they really care about matching each dog with the best possible environment. Either way, thank you if you end up rescuing, but I highly recommend supporting this organization! read more

The Barking Lot - Enjoying the views! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

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I had a great experience with The Barking Lot! They are thorough, take great care of their dogs and work hard to ensure you adopt a dog that matches your lifestyle! We don't live in the San Diego area, but were able to conduct a virtual home tour with one of the adoption coordinators. It was quick and simple. The application was thorough, but we were contacted shortly after submitting it and were able to set up a visit within a week. When we arrived for our appointment, I was impressed with how well the coordinators knew the dogs. We were looking for an athletic dog, but also one mature enough to be left alone for most of the day while m wife and I are at work. We were immediately matched up with Dakota (formerly Stone) - he was absolutely the perfect dog for us! On our initial check-up, the veterinarian remarked how thorough the medical paperwork was. He was caught up on all his shots and flea prevention. It made our lives a lot easier. Thank you! read more

My husband and I had a great experience with The Barking Lot. The volunteers are committed to finding safe, loving homes for all their dogs. Communication was clear, concise, and constant. I would adopt from this shelter again! read more

The Barking Lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

I have been adopting rescue dogs for many, many years. The Barking Lot is a privately-funded rescue dedicated to saving dogs from high kill situations. For them it is all about the dogs, which I understand and applaud. Granted, their facility is not like the fancy SD Humane Society shelter, but from my experiences, most rescues with kennels are not. I recently adopted a "boxer/pug" mix who is about 10 months old from The Barking Lot. She is rescued from Mexico, found in a trash heap covered in fleas and mange, injured and starving when she was about 3 months old. I had my vet do a thorough exam with x-rays and lab work to check for everything the day after picking her up. She is fine and is such a joy. I was looking for a dog like her and found her here. Contrary to some comments made here, the application form that The Barking Lot uses is quite similar to several rescue organizations out there now. Most have some kind of return dog policy agreement in their contract. Yes, they have a penalty clause if you decide you don't want your dog anymore, but I have seen the effects on dogs when they are dumped at some high kill shelter. Patience is a key part of getting through their screening process, just as it is in having a new dog. The volunteers there are great. Experienced dog owners should not be surprised or dissuaded by the process, and new owners should be glad of it, because the rescue wants you to have the best chance of successful adoption with their dogs. read more

We've had our pup for a little over 3 months now and couldn't be happier with him! The barking lot was a great rescue to work with, we were able to meet a few different dogs before deciding on Toby who was one of their soi dogs from Thailand. They made the whole process super easy and I could tell that the dogs they had their were well cared for. Would recommend anyone looking for a rescue (and really if you're looking for a dog please have them be a rescue!) to check out the barking lot! read more

Thank you barking lot for providing me with my best friend Mac a 2 year old husky german shepard mix. I am a current volunteer at TBL and this place takes amazing care of their pups. They rescue from local kill shelters (they are non-kill) and save lots of doggies lives. The people that volunteer here are incredible and we can always use more help! Yes the application process is a little more thorough than other places but it is because Stacey the owner and all the volunteers really love these dogs. We want them to have a good fit for a home after all these dogs have been through they deserve it. read more

The Barking Lot is a great place to go if you would like to be a part of saving a dog's life and making them a part (aka the boss) of your family. Our family just adopted the most adorable Westie Mix and she is one of the best things that could have happened to us. I have absolutely no regrets. However, the reason that they did not get a full 5 stars... Potential adopters should be aware of a few thing before they go. If you are a serious dog lover, this really should not deter you. Just prepare you. Pro's: The adoption coordinator that I worked with via email, as well as the person that came to our home for the inspection were both exceptionally professional to work with. The volunteer that helped coordinate our adoption (I wish I had caught her name) was awesome! You can clearly see that all of these people love these animals. Note (not really a Con): Don't get your heart set on "the one" that you see online. They may or may not be available for adoption. Reasons could be that they were on medication, or were even spoken for and adopted in an appointment earlier in the day. Our home inspector encouraged us to be open-minded, and I am glad we did. At the end of the day, the priority is on the dog finding a happy, healthy home. Us humans are secondary in this situation (which a true dog lover already knows). Con: 1 - This is my primary issue with the whole experience, the other items I will list below are mostly noise: While they encourage you to get your new best friend checked out by a vet soon after adoption, and while they do not take on any liability as far as potential health issues (no health guarantee), in our situation, I think that it was just plain unprofessional that a known condition was not mentioned. Our little Daisy (formerly Bristol) came home with a severe case of Kennel Cough. She hardly slept for the first night (which means I did not either) because of the severity of the cough (that I did not notice during the meeting process). I spent a good part of the night researching ways to help alleviate kennel cough (prior to that vet trip) and one of the suggestions that I came across multiple times was to use a humidifier. Hmmm, so when we visited The Barking Lot earlier in the day, it occurred to me how strange it was that they had been using a humidifier in their facility on such a warm afternoon, so much so that it was uncomfortable. Ahhhh... I am pretty darn sure that somebody knew that all of the dogs had been exposed to this very contagious condition. While it would not have scared me away (the mother of three boys, aka germ-balls), I really would have appreciated a little heads up, a suggestion for a humidifier if necessary, maybe even an informative handout so that I wasn't caught so off guard. 2 - You will spend very little time inside the facility on your "playdate." Most of it is spent in the front of their location, on the stairs and sidewalk. This did not really bother me, though it was not what I had expected. I cannot imagine how they handle rainy days. The part that you need to be prepared for is if bringing your whole family also means bringing small children, make sure that they use the restroom right before you go. While we had an appointment, it took us about 40 minutes to even be introduced to the first dog, and after meeting two more and settling on our charming little angel, the entire process took over 3 hours. As is always the case with my kids, they had "to go." I did not personally see the restroom, but when your teenage and 7 year old BOYS comment about how gross the bathroom was... Just make sure they "go" first. 3 - As part of the "contract" that you must agree to, there is a stipulation that you will have to pay $1,000 penalty if you give away your dog. However, you can return him or her back to The Barking Lot, for $100 "donation." While I have no intention of doing either, I was taken back when I saw the agreement. I think that full disclosure of the adoption agreement should be posted on the website. Again, not an issue for true dog lovers, right? But, I would have liked to have known that prior to the moment of adoption. read more

The Barking Lot - Daisy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Ramona, California

Just wanted to express my sincere admiration for everyone at the Barking Lot. After filling out the application on-line it was only a day or two when I was contacted and an appointment was set up for a visit that Sunday. After and virtual home visit with Stephanie on-line Saturday I drove out for my visit on Sunday. Stacie explained how they wanted me to spend time with as many dogs as I wanted and she answered all my questions. She was very patient and I spent time with several dogs until I settled on adopting Randy. I could not be happier with the experience and urge anyone who is thinking about adopting to check them out first. read more

I love our new dog, but I would be careful. You won't talk to a live person until your home inspection, and then in Santee. No one will confirm whether the dog you want is still available. Stacy didn't want to sell the dog to us- because I challenged her on the web site pricing (she wanted 50 more than the maximum price on the site). We were there, so what can you do? Dog also had medical problems, worms, etc. You also sign a contract that is $ non refundable, and if you relinquish the dog to anyone (friend or the pound) you owe her another thousand bucks. I didnt mind paying more, but where exactly does all that money go? (average price per dog 375 x 50 dogs per month= 18750/month). Helen Woodward is a spotless shelter and less money. No attitude either! read more

Great canine rescue organization that provides integrity behind their mission and compassion to both the dog and new family. I judge that the volunteer staff has a high level of integrity from my experience of having a home visit before getting an appointment to meet a potential new family member. The staff member was thorough and polite. The day of our meet and greet with the rescue dog could have been messy. Another family crashed our appointment with the dog by stopping by claiming to have had an appointment which turned out to be untrue. The staff member handled the situation graciously and told them that they were honoring their process of appointments. In other words, the staff member could have had them meet the dog after us or show them another dog. Having this other family leave gave us the time and safe space to see if the dog and us could bond with us and our other dog. We had over 2 hours to visit with "Henry," our new family member, and let him get to know us and trust us. If the other family was allowed to stay, it would have bern stressful for all individuals. We love Henry and we are so lucky to have him. Thank you to the Barking Lot and its partners in China and Thailand! Also, the Barking Lot has a clear process that ensure the dog is the main priority from safety to having a long, peaceful life. They had us sign a contract and we had a good discussion about Henry's personality and his life events that make him an escape artist. Simply, the staff know their dogs and are invested with their success, as well as the new parents. We were given as long as we needed to be certain that we were right for Henry and he was good for us. read more

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I read the good and bad reviews and can honestly say my experience was a great one. We filled out the long application and within one day were contacted by a volunteer to set up a home visit. Another volunteer came to our home and was helpful with some suggestions. Then we made an appointment to see Sheeba. I was emailed that we should pick more than one puppy to visit, and even though I wasn't interested in any other puppy, it was a good idea. We met Sheeba and it was love on my part, but my husband took a little convincing. Stacy suggested a few other puppies based on our criteria. Clearly Stacy has been in and around dogs for a long time and had a good presence with them, as they respond to her obediently. They did not for me. The problem for us, is that we were dog sitting my friends 2 trouble maker puggles and did not want to bring our new puppy into that environment. Opposite of some negative reviews, Stacy was trying to have us take Sheeba home that day. We did not and as the days passed my heart grew fonder. It was frustrating not being able to call and talk to a live person, but I pestered the heck out of the volunteers about wanting to adopt her. The earliest appointment available was in 5 days and she wrote me Sheeba could be adopted between that time. I peppered her with more emails that we got someone else to take my friends dogs and to notify me of cancelations. Left 2 messages for Stacy. As fate would have it, they contacted me to adopt her. Sheeba spent her first night cuddling in my arms. I run a law office and it's by appointment only and if I didn't do that, I wouldn't get any work done. Yes, if you are a phone person, not being able to talk to a live person is frustrating, but the volunteers were good at returning my emails. Thank you Barking Lot for rescuing Sheeba so she could brighten out lives with her love! read more

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The Barking Lot is an amazing rescue organization. Stacy and her team of dedicated volunteers do incredible work helping dogs in unfortunate circumstances. I have now adopted two dogs from The Barking Lot and they will always be my first choice when looking to add a new fur baby to our family. Even if they are a nearly two hour drive away. I adopted my first dog Chap in 2011 when he was three. The process went smoothly and he was the center of our lives until we had to say goodbye this past May. He developed spinal disease common to his breed and age. While still heartbroken, my daughter and I knew there was another dog out there that we could help. I completed the online application, received a response the next day from Lara, scheduled a FaceTime home visit with Eloise, then scheduled an appointment to view dogs. This was all completed within days and the viewing appointment was pushed out to accommodate my schedule, not theirs. I had provided a list of potential dogs of most every shape, size and breed but always said I trust the volunteers with helping us find our match. We met Stacy and she patiently coordinated our meeting several dogs. After four or five introductions, we met Bodee fka Argonite. He was smaller than I was planning but he instantly and completely won our hearts over. They gave him a quick bath before we took him home, provided excellent vet records and followed up to make sure it was still a good fit. It is and we are all very happy. The Barking Lot is very straightforward with their process. Take the time to read about it and follow it - not that hard. It's seems those who have left negative reviews have not taken the time to research the process. And, if you can't put a little effort into the adoption then don't bother. These dogs have already suffered significant trauma and The Barking Lot is taking every step they can to ensure no future problems. Thank you Stacy, Lara, and Elise! read more