Want to spend a day at the park with a dog without adopting one right away? Sacramento County is giving people another reason to spend time with shelter dogs through its Barks and Recreation program. People can take an eligible dog from Bradshaw Animal Shelter out for the day, and a new park benefit makes those trips even easier.
Participants can receive free entry to Sacramento County parks while enjoying their outing with a shelter dog. The program gives dogs time outside their kennels while helping people learn what each dog is like away from the shelter.
Barks and Recreation gives shelter dogs a day outside
Barks and Recreation is a dog field trip program run by Bradshaw Animal Shelter in Sacramento County. The county first launched the program in 2024 to give shelter dogs time away from their kennels. Instead of spending the whole day inside the shelter, selected dogs can leave with members of the public for several hours. The trip can include walks, quiet time, visits to suitable public places, or other activities that follow shelter rules. At the end of the outing, participants bring the dog back to the shelter.
The idea is simple. People who enjoy dogs can spend time with one even if they are not ready to adopt. At the same time, the dog gets a chance to experience new sights, smells, people, and places outside the shelter. Sacramento County has described these outings as a way to enrich dogs’ lives and give them a break from kennel life. The trips can also show how a dog behaves in settings that are very different from a shelter, giving staff and possible adopters more useful information about the animal.
A free Sacramento County park pass adds more choices
The newer part of the program connects Barks and Recreation with Sacramento County parks. People taking part can receive a complimentary pass that allows free entry to Sacramento County parks during their outing with the shelter dog. CBS Sacramento reported in July 2026 that the pass can be used at 30 county parks, including the American River Parkway. This gives participants more places to walk, relax, and spend time outdoors with their assigned dog without paying the normal park entry cost for the trip.
The park pass gives each outing more room for simple outdoor activities. Depending on the location and the shelter’s rules, a participant might walk along a trail, sit in a picnic area, explore an open space, or spend time near the water. Bradshaw Animal Shelter staff told CBS Sacramento that county parks offer trails, picnic areas, and other spaces that can work well for these trips. The goal is not to fill every minute with activity. A calm walk or quiet break outside can still give the dog a very different day from one spent inside a kennel.
Taking a shelter dog out starts with an appointment
People cannot simply arrive at the shelter and choose any dog for a park trip. Bradshaw Animal Shelter asks participants to make a meet and greet appointment online. The shelter has a selected group of dogs that can take part in Barks and Recreation. When making an appointment, people are asked to share details such as their comfort level, experience with dogs, and the size of dog they prefer. Staff can then use that information to make a suitable match for the outing.
After the match is made, the participant meets the dog and receives instructions before leaving. The shelter provides important supplies for the trip, so people do not need to bring their own leash or basic gear. Current program information says participants receive a backpack containing a leash, harness, water, and other supplies. Emergency contact information and guidance are also provided. Once everything is ready, the person and dog can begin their trip. The dog must later be returned to Bradshaw Animal Shelter by 4 p.m., according to the shelter’s program rules.
Shelter rules help keep each dog outing safe
Barks and Recreation gives people freedom to enjoy time with a shelter dog, but it also has clear safety rules. Participants cannot take the shelter dog to a dog park. They should also avoid introducing the shelter dog to other dogs in public or bringing it home to meet their own dogs. Bradshaw Animal Shelter says these rules are in place for safety. Staff review a fuller list of instructions during the meet and greet before the participant leaves with the animal.
Children can join an outing, but families need to tell shelter staff ahead of time. This helps staff select a dog that may be a better fit for the group. The shelter also recommends slow and careful introductions when children are involved. These steps matter because every shelter dog has a different background, comfort level, and personality. The outing is meant to give the dog a positive break from the shelter. Following the rules helps participants keep the day calm, controlled, and focused on the needs of the dog they have been matched with.
A simple report card can help people learn about each dog
The adventure does more than give the dog a few hours outside. Participants are also asked to share what they learned about the dog during the trip. CBS Sacramento reported that people fill out a report card describing the dog’s personality and behavior. They may note whether the dog seemed playful, excited, polite, shy, or showed other traits during the outing. These observations can give shelter staff information that can be difficult to collect when a dog spends most of its time in a kennel.
A dog can act differently once it leaves the busy shelter setting. During an outing, people may see how the dog walks, responds to new places, relaxes around people, or handles a quieter outdoor setting. Participants are also encouraged to take photos and send them and notes back to Bradshaw Animal Shelter. Those details can help create a fuller picture of the dog. For someone thinking about adoption, information from a real outing may make it easier to understand whether a dog’s energy level and personality could fit into daily life.
The program can give dogs more chances to be noticed
Bradshaw Animal Shelter was over capacity when CBS Sacramento reported on the expanded park program in July 2026. Shelter staff said they hoped Barks and Recreation could help encourage more adoptions while also giving dogs valuable time outside their kennels. A person does not have to promise to adopt a dog just to participate. Someone can spend a day with an animal, enjoy a park visit, and then return the dog as required. That makes the program an option for people who want animal companionship without making an immediate long-term commitment.
An outing can also introduce a shelter dog to people who would never see it inside the shelter. Photos can show the dog walking outdoors, resting in a park, or spending time with people. Participants can also learn things about the dog’s personality that may help shelter staff describe it more clearly. In some cases, the person taking the dog out may discover that the animal fits well with their lifestyle and decide to learn more about adoption. Even when that does not happen, the dog still receives time outside, and more information about its behavior can be returned to the shelter.
Featured Image: Photo by Margarita Kosior on Unsplash
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