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America's First Adoptable Dog Cafe Has Found A Permanent Home In L.A. �?� ☕�?
Somebody needs a latte (via Facebook)
Finally, you can spend time cuddling with pups while sipping a pourover coffee with the arrival of the country's first dog cafe here in L.A.
The Dog Cafe, a laid-back coffee shop where you can visit with adoptable dogs, recently opened its doors and will host an official grand opening on April 7. The cafe is owned by Sarah Wolfgang, who hosted a "pup-up" version last January, and will feature rescue dogs from South L.A. Animal Shelter and other local organizations, according to Eater LA. The new permanent home is located in a strip mall on Virgil Ave. near Silver Lake Blvd., at the nexus of East Hollywood, Silver Lake and Koreatown. You'll be able to order espresso drinks and pourovers—made with beans from Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., of course—and then visit with the dogs in an adjacent space (for health and safety reasons). They'll also offer iced tea and lemonade, though no food at this point.
The mission of cafe "is to revolutionize dog adoption by reinventing the way people connect with rescues who need homes," according to their website. "The Dog Cafe offers a comfortable and fun space for humans and dogs to hang out with each other, far from the cold, often scary environment of overcrowded shelters, which can provoke fear and aggression in perfectly adoptable pups."
In addition to offering a chance to spend time with dogs that you can adopt, the cafe also provides the chance for people who are unable to adopt or have pets to spend some quality time with some furry friends. You can also volunteer to foster a dog during the hours that the cafe is closed if you're not yet ready or able to make the full commitment.
To help cover some of the costs of the operation, there is a $10 entry fee, but that will include one complimentary beverage and all the snuggling you can handle.
Knowing how popular the pop up cat cafe was back in 2014 and how many lined up for "pup-up" of The Dog Cafe, you can expect the place to get busy.
Admission to The Dog Cafe is currently on a first-come-first-served basis, but they do plan on adding reservations soon, so keep an eye out for those.
The Dog Cafe is located at 240 N. Virgil, Unit 13, Los Angeles, (213) 810-2872. Hours during the soft opening are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday (closed Easter Sunday).
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