GENERAL
The Dog Cafe is half coffee shop, half dog rescue! Our dog lounge is an open space for guests to interact, play, and cuddle with rescue dogs, while enjoying some coffee, tea, or lemonade. All our dogs are available for adoption. While some guests come looking to adopt, some come just to hang out and relax with the pups. Both are welcome!
At this time, we only offer beverages.
Unfortunately, we cannot have guests bring in any dogs. Because we have lots of dogs of different ages, sizes, and personalities, it can take some time to introduce a new pup to the group dynamic.
All our dogs come from local city shelters! Once we get them from a shelter, they are with us until they are adopted.
There is a $15/per person/per hour fee. We are a non-profit and all proceeds go towards helping our dogs. Many of them have medical needs that can be expensive. We want to make sure we are able to provide the best care possible for all our pups. Thank you for your support!
We are happy to accept new or gently used dog supplies and bedding. These, as well as monetary donations can be dropped off in person. We also have an amazon wishlist (link below). We are forever grateful for the support of our guests.
We are not authorized to take in any dogs directly. All our dogs come from a shelter and need to be processed there first. If you have no other options, please call LA Animal Services for assistance: 888-452-7381.
Our #1 goal is to give abandoned dogs a chance to find the best homes possible. We focus on rescuing dogs who have been at the shelter the longest due to health or behavioral issues and are at the highest risk of being euthanized. While L.A. shelters are doing some great things to save animals, the full capacity of them makes them difficult environments for dogs to be happy. By spending time at The Dog Cafe, our dogs experience positive socialization (both with dogs and humans), playtime and affection, and are put on the right path to a forever home. In short, no, the dogs don’t work for us – we work for them! We are a nonprofit, which means all the money we make through entrance and adoption fees goes right back into the dogs!
We’re so happy to hear that people around the U.S. are interested in joining the movement to provide more open environments for dog adoption to take place. Every city has different laws pertaining to how food, beverages and animals can co-exist, and what we are doing is very specific to what was mandated by the city of Los Angeles. We recommend first approaching your local government representative to find out what is possible in your town. Beyond that, it helps to create relationships with local shelters and rescue groups, as well as pet-related businesses in the area. Once you have your plan in place, it’s essential to have a team behind you who are passionate about animal care and knowledgeable about dog behavior. Oh, and be sure to stock up on lint rollers!
VISITING
We definitely recommend making a reservation, because there is a limited number of spots available. We also take walkins, depending on space, but there is no guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate.
Unless they have been appointed by a judge to be your legal guardian, they cannot. We require the legal guardian to sign the liability waiver for any minor as well as be in the lounge with them at all times. Thank you for understanding.
We require one adult (18+) per minor. That means, in this scenario, we would require you to bring in a second adult. No exceptions. Thank you for understanding.
Everyone over the age of 18 must provide proof of identification (birthday, photo, and legal name). If you do not have your ID with you, a photo of the ID is acceptable!
There is free one-hour parking in a lot underneath the cafe! On weekends, the hour limit does not apply.
If you have a reservation, we will save your spot! While we cannot extend the time, you will still be able to go in for however long is left in your session. If you miss it completely, we can move your reservation to the next hour, providing there is space.
*please note, if you arrive after 6:15pm, certain drinks may no longer be available*
ADOPTIONS
We don’t do any same-day adoptions. If you come in and fall in love with a pup, you can fill out our online application (same applies for fostering). From there, an adoption coordinator will get back to you to schedule a phone interview and home inspection (through skype/facetime). We make sure the dog finds the best possible home, and as such, applications are not first come first serve. Part of our adoption process is coming in to meet the pups! Reservations can be made HERE! Adoption fees include dogs spay / neuter costs, microchipping as well as vaccinations up to adoption date. Thank you!
The fee can range anywhere from $200-$600, depending on the dog. The adoption coordinator will discuss the specific price with you after the application has been submitted.
