Christie Kramer-LeVander loves dogs. As a Realtor, she donates a portion of each of her sales to the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. As a director on the board of the Cardiff 101 Chamber of Commerce, she is instrumental in planning the annual—and hugely popular—Dog Days of Summer event. And as the owner of a golden retriever/lab named Bubba, she says that when they go for walks on the Village Park Trail, “for the most part, I don’t know people’s names, but I know the dogs’ names.”

The thing is, Encinitas has many Kramer-LeVanders—people who are crazy about their canines. And these passionate owners have helped turn the city into a kind of paradise for dogs. You can see it in the morning, when dogs and their humans stroll the Highway 101 path or take breakfast on the patio at The Potato Shack Café. You can see it on the streets, as numerous vans and cars belonging to dog sitting services pass by. You can see it at businesses such as Paper Rose Gifts & Moon Mania Doggy Café in Leucadia, where owners can have a cup of tea while their four-legged dining companions can enjoy a cup of “doggy java.” Encinitas is home to Rancho Coastal, a humane society with a devoted group of 200 volunteers and a mission that covers everything from pet adoption to foster care for animals. And the city is also home to P.A.D.Z., a.k.a. People and Dog Zones, a group that lobbies for dog parks.

“There is no doubt Encinitas is dog friendly and dog caring,” says Patty Brooks, spokeswoman for Rancho Coastal. “You get a sense that people really care about their animals and want to do the right thing for them—they don’t just stick their dog in the back yard, they become part of the family.”

So take your four-legged family member out and explore all Encinitas has to offer, with help from the guide below:

Rancho Coastal Humane Society
If Encinitas truly is a dog-friendly community, then Rancho Coastal is the heart of it. There are, of course, pet adoptions (about 55-60 dogs are adopted each month), but there’s so much more: the Second Chance program, in which animals are brought in from other shelters in hopes of finding them a home; a foster care program; shelter for animals coming from homes plagued with domestic violence; dog training and day care services; humane education classes that help teach people how to best care for their pets; and the off-leash Cricket’s Corner park (see “Fun with Fido”). As Brooks says, when it comes to pets, “we can do it all for you.”

Rancho Coastal is located at 389 Requeza St., Encinitas. 753-6413 or www.rchumanesociety.org. Rancho Coastal’s fundraising thrift shop is at 120 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, 753-0970.

Fun with Fido
Since people love to be outdoors in Encinitas, it’s only natural that the same goes for dogs, too. Here are some sites to explore together.

Off-leash areas
Cricket’s Corner
(run by the Rancho Coastal Humane Society), 389 Requeza St.
Open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

Orpheus Park
At Orpheus Avenue and Union Street
Off-leash hours are 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Sun Vista Park
2011 Avenida La Posta (bordering Rancho Santa Fe Road)
Off-leash hours are 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday

View Point Park
At D Street and Cornish Drive
Off-leash hours are 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Village Park Trail
Between Encinitas Boulevard and Mountain Vista Road, east of El Camino Real
Unlimited hours (trail is undeveloped and not entirely fenced in)

For more information on P.A.D.Z., visit www.padz.org.

On-leash areas
Dogs are allowed at all city parks on leashes no longer than 6 feet. Leashed dogs can also go on the city’s trails (Indian Head Canyon, Encinitas Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe Road Area, Lone Jack Road Area and Manchester), as well as the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve trails and the path alongside Coast Highway 101.

Beaches
Dogs are allowed on leashes no longer than 6 feet at Cardiff State Beach. Dogs are not allowed on San Elijo State Beach or any city-run beach.

Party of four (legged friends)
With beautiful weather and plenty of outdoor dining options, you and your dog don’t lack for places to eat together. Just like taking babies or toddlers out to eat, it’s best to come prepared: bring a chew toy, short leash and a water bowl if the restaurant can’t provide one for you.

Honey’s Bistro and Bakery
632 S. Coast Highway 101, 942-5433, www.honeysbakery.signonsandiego.com

Moon Mania Doggy Café
705 N. Vulcan, 436-2855, www.paperrosegifts.com

The Potato Shack Café
120 W. I St., 436-1282, www.potatoshackcafe.com

St. Tropez Bakery and Bistro
947 S. Coast Highway 101, 760-633-0084

Starbucks
947 S. Coast Highway 101, 944-0202, www.starbucks.com

Surfdog’s Java Hut
1126 S. Coast Highway 101. 634-2326

Swami’s Café
1160 S. Coast Highway 101, 944-0612, www.swamis.signonsandiego.com

Dog-gone good times
The dog days of summer are upon us … and no, we’re not referring to the weather. It’s the Dog Days of Summer, the Cardiff 101 Chamber’s major annual event that benefits Rancho Coastal. Kramer-LeVander says the goal is to turn it into “the biggest dog street fair.” One sign that the chamber is nearing that goal: Attendance grew from 250 to 300 people the first year to about 3,000 last year, Kramer-LeVander says. Now in its third year, Dog Days features vendors, canine contests and a kids’ corner.

Other dog-centric events are sprinkled throughout the year. The Encinitas Pet Health Expo, usually held at City Hall the first weekend of June, features information booths plus the chance to update rabies shots and dog licenses with the County Department of Animal Services. And Animal House, Rancho Coastal’s signature event, is slated for October 11.

Dog Days of Summer
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 9
Parking lot of Headline Graphics, 131 Aberdeen Drive, and along Aberdeen, Cardiff. 436-0431 or www.cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com.

Pup pampering
Since you’re taking your dog out and about, you want him to look his best. After getting his coat and nails done, pick up a crystal collar or fetching outfit—several grooming businesses also sell dog accessories.

Dog in Suds
382 N. El Camino Real, 943-0653

Fur Reel
1114 N. Coast Highway 101, 944-7009

Grateful Dog
802 North Coast Highway 101, 943-9663

Grooming Tails Pet Salon
2013 San Elijo Ave., 230-6354

Paper Rose Gifts
705 N. Vulcan, 436-2855, www.paperrosegifts.com

Pet Nutrition Center
123 N. El Camino Real, Ste. G, 436-1226, www.pncpets.net/PNC.htm

Pet People
260 N. El Camino Real, 633-4663, www.petpeople.com

Petco
154 Encinitas Blvd., 632-6600, www.petco.com

Petsmart
1034 N. El Camino Real, 436-1220 , www.petsmart.com

Spawtique
760.815.0562, www.spawtiquegrooming.com

Pet care
So we can’t spend all our time with our dogs, even though we’d probably like to. There are many businesses that offer boarding, pet sitting (at home, at a facility or as a mobile program) and dog walking services. The Humane Society of the United States offers several guidelines when searching out prospective caretakers for your canine. For sitters, ask about insurance coverage and training, association with a vet and services they provide, among other topics; you should also see how they interact with your dog before making a final decision. When checking out kennels, the national society advises dog owners to visit the facility and ask to see the areas your dog would stay in—making sure they are clean, well-lit and temperature controlled. Be sure to ask about special services, because several local facilities also offer grooming and training; for instance, Holiday Pet Hotel offers a “spa menu” of animal massage, whirlpool baths, skin and coat treatments, and more.

Alcala Pet Care
1273 Crest Drive, 436-6619, www.alcalapetcare.com

The Animal Keeper
155 Saxony Road, 753-9366, www.theanimalkeeper.com

Camp 4 Dogs
P.O. Box 235362, 214-6085, www.camp4dogs.com

Four Paws Play Ranch
1883 Verano Brisa Drive, 752-4407, www.fourpawsplay.com

Holiday Pet Hotel
551 Union St., 753-6754, www.holidaypethotel.com

Home Sweet Home Professional Pet Staff
585-8501 or homeswthome4pets@cs.com

Kanine Kare
1985 Olivenhain Road, 753-5203

San Elijo Dog Walkers
703-2204, sanelijodogwalker@yahoo.com, www.sanelijodogwalkers.com

Ready, get vet, go
As the advocate for your dog, it’s your responsibility to find a vet who can work with you to keep your pet in optimum health. The American Veterinary Medical Association Web site (www.avma.org) has a guide to selecting a vet, as well as other online brochures.

All Pets Animal Hospital
285 N. El Camino Real, Suite 105
634-2022, allpetsanimal.com

Banfield the Pet Hospital
1034 N. El Camino Real, 436-1013
www.banfield.net

Cardiff Animal Hospital
2159 San Elijo Ave., 436-3215
www.cardiffanimalhospital.com

The Drake Center For Veterinary Care
195 N. El Camino Real, 753-9393
www.thedrakecenter.com

Encinitas Village Veterinary Clinic
119 N. El Camino Real, #B, 436-1080

Santa Fe Animal Clinic
301 Santa Fe Drive, 753-6512

VCA North Coast Animal Hospital
414 Encinitas Blvd., 632-1072
www.vcanorthcoast.com