Rancho Coastal Humane Society promotes pet friendly businesses

ENCINITAS — Ever wonder what businesses allow you to take Fido along when you are out running errands around town? Now the Rancho Coastal Humane Society website posts an online list of Pet Alliance Club businesses that welcome pets.
The list also includes pet-friendly businesses that provide animal services and support animal causes. The fees businesses pay to be listed on the website helps support the Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
So far about two dozen businesses are signed up. “They really are excited that they will now have a structured way to show their support of needy animals in our community,” Nick Winfrey, community liaison director for Rancho Coastal Humane Society, said.
“We are initially starting with coastal cities, all the way east to Escondido,” Simran Noon, spokesperson for Rancho Coastal Humane Society, said. “Eventually we’ll include all of San Diego, countywide, as we grow. We saw that there was the need out there for an online service like this.”
Leaping Lotus in Solana Beach is one business that is already signed up as a Pet Alliance Club member. “We’ve always been pet-friendly,” Cindy Cruz, executive director at Leaping Lotus, said. “Sometimes we’ll have 12 to 15 dogs in the store. It’s amazing how well-behaved they are.”
The website will help locals and visitors find pet friendly businesses. “The primary objective is to allow those people coming to the San Diego area an easy and immediate way to identify those merchants who either welcome pets or support those that do,” Jim Silveria, CEO for Rancho Coastal Humane Society, said.
The types of businesses vary. “They are restaurants with pet-friendly patios, a bakery that sells dog biscuits, and a real estate office that donates proceeds to pet organizations,” Noon said.
The online list will also alert pet owners to pet-friendly events sponsored by local businesses.
While the list guarantees that the businesses are pet-friendly, it is still the responsibility of pet owners to make sure their pets are on a leash and well-behaved. Pets that have a difficult time with other animals are best left at home, Noon said.
For a list of pet friendly businesses or to find out how to sign up your business to be a member of the Pet Alliance Club, see www.rchumanesociety.org. Proceeds from the program benefit the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, a nonprofit organization.