I had an extremely frustrating experience with All Aboard Animal Rescue after fostering Humpty for…read morethree weeks and then trying to adopt him.
I have fostered four dogs before him, so I am familiar with fostering and rescue expectations. I work from home, and Humpty was outside of his kennel most of the day. He went on daily walks, trips to the lake, outings, met other dogs, and was regularly exposed to new environments.
Humpty is also a very timid dog. When I first got him, he was so nervous he struggled to even walk on hardwood floors. Over three weeks, he came out of his shell tremendously. So when I returned him and they later used the fact that he appeared fearful as evidence that he had not been properly socialized, I found that incredibly unfair. He had just been removed from the home and routine he had spent weeks getting comfortable with and was likely confused and overwhelmed.
My adoption application was initially denied because of a misunderstanding with my lease. I worked with my landlord to clarify it, and they confirmed Humpty could be approved. After that, I was told other applicants might still be considered a "better fit."
Then I was accused of potentially impersonating an All Aboard employee when obtaining my roommate's cat's veterinary records. That is not true. I called the vet because the rescue had repeatedly requested the records, gave the cat's information, and asked for them to be sent over. I never claimed to work for All Aboard. The vet's call records or transcripts should be able to verify exactly what I said.
After I disputed that accusation, I was then told the "primary reason" I could not adopt Humpty was supposedly that he had not been properly cared for, trained, or socialized while with me. That completely contradicts my experience caring for him.
What frustrated me most was how the reasons kept changing: veterinary records, then the lease, then other applicants, then the impersonation accusation, then claims about his care.
But the part I still cannot believe is what happened at the end.
After I expressed frustration with this entire process, adoption coordinator Aly Echanove sent me CSU mental-health and suicide-prevention resources and told me not to contact the rescue again.
Nothing I said indicated that I was suicidal or in crisis. I was frustrated and upset about losing a dog I had cared for and bonded with. Sending a crisis line in response to a customer or foster expressing frustration is, in my opinion, wildly inappropriate, dismissive, and unprofessional.
I was not even planning to leave a detailed public review until that happened.
I genuinely think All Aboard Animal Rescue should seriously review Aly Echanove's conduct and whether she should continue handling foster and adoption communications. The way this interaction was handled--especially the decision to send suicide-prevention resources in response to criticism--was completely unacceptable to me.
I have screenshots documenting the entire process. I genuinely loved Humpty and hope he ends up in a great home, but this was easily the worst experience I have had with an animal rescue, and I would not foster through this organization again.
