I just adopted two of the sweetest, most precious little dogs from Animal Rescue Fund (ARF), and I couldn't be happier! Sharon was so helpful and kind. I spoke with her on the phone several times, and she patiently answered every one of my questions. You can tell she is a fellow animal person, and is doing this job out of love. My daughter and I drove down to Ohio from Wisconsin to pick up our newest family members. A long drive, but absolutely worth it. If you are thinking of buying a pet, please consider adopting. The conditions at puppy mills are so cruel. When I Google searched puppy breeders, I was horrified at the reviews, complaints, and videos of the cages the mothers and fathers are kept in. ARF is a no-kill shelter, so they don't euthanize rescued animals that aren't adopted. The adoption fees you pay are used to care for all the animals waiting for a forever home. I paid $500 each to adopt our two little furry friends, and I couldn't be happier. I wish I could adopt more. One last note: ARF was so much more responsive than some shelters I contacted. (One shelter has had my application for almost a month, and never got back to me.) Sharon was a breath of fresh air after that experience! read more

they do wash down the cages and get the dogs vaccinated and teeth cleaned. We were lied to about the eye health of a dog that we got from them. I was concerned and took the dog to the vet right away. Now the problem is pre-existing because I am a responsible owner and purchase insurance for all of my pets. The owner did a disservice to this dog! The medical care needed for the dog is VERY expensive and now won't be covered by my insurance. I feel that ARF should pay for the surgery. I am going to check about a small claims case. read more

I would advise that adoptors tell the ARF organization to order pain meds for spay and neuter aftercare. Pay for them in addition to the adoption fee. Our little dog didn't receive any pain medication after her spay and we were not aware until we read her medical record. Nor were we offered the option. She is well, and adjusting to life after the puppy mill, slowly. These adult dogs have to be led along with baby steps. Join a puppy mill survivors group. The dogs lives are worth it. read more

THIS PLACE IS A PUPPY MILL! ARF purchases puppies illegally. They purchase from puppy mills all over the US including Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. in 2017 they spent over $30,000 on puppies alone. COUNTLESS people have come forward proving, with vet records, that ARF sold them a sick animal, refused to help with the bills, and denied any wrongdoing. ARF does not vaccinate their animals properly, or regularly. The animals do NOT see a vet upon their arrival. Sick animals are NOT quarantined. Cats are put in wire bottom cages that are incredibly dangerous and uncomfortable for the cats. Puppies are put in filthy plexiglass boxes, even when they are too tall. On many occasions I have seen the dogs head scraping the top of the plexiglass container. The adult dogs are in indoor/outdoor kennels (in a shed) 24/7 without temperature control. In the winter, they freeze, and in the summer, it is so hot and humid that they are not allowed to go on walks (the owners believe the dogs will faint.) They feed the animals table syrup to mask the symptoms of kennel cough. Many animals have been at the shelter for more than 4 years. The adult dogs at the shelter are part of their puppy-selling-business, they are simply the "last puppy that never got adopted." After being at the shelter for so long, many dogs now have aggression, anxiety, and are unsocialized. These animals are being neglected, ANYONE can see that. The funds from both adoptions AND their bingo operation are not properly filtered back into their rescue. read more

See all

I will start off by saying I would give this Animal "Rescue" 0 stars if I could. I went and visited the past week and was confused when I walked in. No one in sight, a worker finally appeared after several minutes from a break room ONLY to yell at me for looking at puppies that had already been sold. I must add these puppies were living in container WITH LIDS ON THEM, I wouldn't even consider big enough for my pet hamster. I asked where the rescued dogs were kept and she just simply pointed at a door. I went through this door very unsure as I had gotten no explanation further of where I could find them exactly. When I opened the door I found myself outside where I say two strange looking animals... appeared to be a llama bred with a deer?????.... very concerning to say the least considered they were fenced in. I then had walk into a separate building to find these "rescued" dogs. Let's just say I wish I had never found them for what I saw was what my nightmares are made of. Multiple SMALL cages of dogs UNSUPERVISED. I met a man there who was feeding these dogs Burger King. Extremely friendly I assumed he was a worker because of how affectionate he was being to the dogs. He then informed us he wasn't a worker and showed up every Saturday to hangout and feed the dogs treats from Burger King. He also told me he tried to adopt a dog who had been there since 2017 and the lady's wouldn't allow him because "he has seizures". BUT SHE LEAVES HIM ALONE UNSUPERVISED WITH THESE HELATH CONDITIONS!!! SICKENING. I then came across a dog who was horrible groomed had open wounds on his side as well as a hurt leg and wasn't walking on it AT ALL. It's toe nails were so long that they were beginning to curl under the dogs paws, I can't imagine that to be too comfortable. Assuming that's why it could hardly walk on its legs. This dog has been there since 2013! If I had to stay in that shelter for more than the 15 minutes I was there let's just say I'd rather be a stray living off the street. It's very unfortunate this shelter doesn't euthanize some of its members. The man informed me he went out and bought the two oldest dogs there nice dog beds to lay on (one of which he tried to adopt was told that he couldn't) and someone had taken them out of the dogs cages and wouldn't let them use them. Pretty ridiculous. These dogs need help. I pray for them. I pray someone comes to shut this place down and give these dogs a true chance at a forever home. THE LIVING CONDITIONS HERE ARE HORRENDOUS!!! UNBELIEVABLE TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. I am outraged and sickened by this. I will be contacting the Animal Humane Society. Justice for these poor dogs. read more

Animal Rescue Fund - Dog in cage since 2013, open wounds, hurt back leg - Animal Shelters Near Me - Amelia, Ohio

See all

One of the dirtiest shelters I've ever been to. Staff very unfriendly and rude. Highly uneducated staff as well. We're not able to answer questions and give proper information. For the cost of what they charge for adoption fees I would think that they could put a little bit of that money back into the facility and a care animals. I can only feel sorry for these animals as I will not be returning to this location. Should consider a new staff and management. Very poorly run. read more

I never post reviews, but I feel the need in this case. We all know that getting any animal is a crap shoot, especially from a rescue or shelter, because, chances are, they've had a pretty challenging life and are likely to have some issues. I adopted Andy, a miniature poodle, from this rescue, and fell in love with him, despite the $400 NON REFUNDABLE adoption fee (more expensive than many breeders in the area, and only included first round of shots, or a crate), and despite the fact that THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NO BACKGROUND CHECK ON ME. I mean NONE. Like "oh he I love this dog" and "ok here you go even though you might be a hoarder or you might hurt this sweet dog - we don't care! Where's our money??" He was so well behaved for his first ride home. Until that first night. And then every time he is out of sight. I have come to find, even when I'm three feet away, he SCREAMS for affection and attention. This dog has severe separation anxiety, to the point that he cannot be left alone long enough for me to pee or take a shower. I know now that this puppy was taken far too early from his mother, and I find it fishy that he is a purebred mini poodle. They also had an entire room dedicated to litters, whole litters, of puppies. Where would they get these pups?? There was also a Maltese/yorkie mix for sale there, a very expensive designer dog, also "8 weeks." I smell something funky. Non refundable adoption fee of $400, whole room of litters of DESIGNER puppies, absolutely NO background check or call to my vet...I smell puppy mill weirdness. I can't prove anything, but all I can say is this organization seems concerned with one thing - MONEY. Think very hard and long about adopting from these money grubbers. Sincerely, A puppy owner with a lot of work to do. read more

So glad we found this wonder pet rescue facility. The staff is very knowledgable and helpful. We found our new best friend! read more

See all

I I'm looking for a dog small dog Maybe maybe medium I had my dog for 17 years he won the Maltipoo I got a new yard sale and he thought about a year ago and I'm looking for another stop asking me dog not so maybe so little but what does have to say read more

Animal Rescue Fund - My name is Linda Phipps - Animal Shelters Near Me - Amelia, Ohio

The rudest people I have ever encountered. I came in to adopt a dog and they yelled at me for "petting the cats without asking" when I didn't even come close to letting any cat. Who talks to a 25 year old women like that? Awful experience read more

Sharon and Peggy should be investigated. A.) They breed their own dogs at home in addition to operating a rescue. B.) They sell those home-bred dogs as rescue puppies. C.) They refused to call me back when I asked them about where they got puppies from and whether or not they breed dogs on the side. D.) They have family members and ARF board members post good reviews on google and yelp so that they look like they sell "healthy puppies." READ ALL THE REVIEWS! These dogs are not in good hands. My Story: I attempted to adopt "Jane" from ARF in December after finding her on petfinder a month prior. I was told by both Peggy and Sharon that Jane is apparently a puppy from a litter and was the "last to be adopted" She has been at ARF since she was 2 months old and turned 2 YEARS old in February. Despite being there for so long, the last current weight they had on her was when she was 4 months old. She was also 7 months past due on her rabies shots. I ended up going with a different rescue that had a track record of paying attention to the animals in their care... Will somebody please go in there with a Gopro and BUST THESE PEOPLE? read more

Adopted my sweet dog from A.R.F., I had to wait a few days to get her because she was still too young but they did do a background check. I had to spend one-on-one time with her to make sure "we was a good fit" and I paid the $75 adoption fee which included a bag of higher end dog food. Her name was Chloe but I renamed her Daisy. I was told she was a mix Yorkie, untrue. It doesn't matter because I didn't adopt her for her breed, I adopted her because she was awesome. She was covered in the worst amount of fleas when I picked her up, she was jumpy and shy but that has changed. The place wasn't the best but Daisy was what I wanted. I had to sign forms stating I would have her spayed within a month and they would follow up. I had her spayed, they never followed up. I planned to spay her regardless of their terms. If I ever add another member to the family I would go here again because it wasn't that bad and rescuing a pet is always great. read more

DID NOT DISCLOSE! They were not honest when they adopted a puppy out that was very ill. I will never recommend this place to anyone. Peggy, the director, has never returned one single phone call from me. I have left 5 messages. Buyer beware, we are now 1500.00 dollars in the hole saving this puppies life. The puppy has Coccidia which comes from the mother. The puppy never acted like a puppy from day one. Adopted on a Thursday , hospitalized on Saturday morning during an emergency visit. One brother also had it and had to be seen at a vet. If they couldn't see this puppy was very ill then they have no business running this one. Please heed the warning and do not adopt from here. read more

I purchased a cat from ARF at Pet smart in Eastgate in March, 2018. On the papers they said he was 2 y.o. and he had a horrible odor. I asked if they could clean him up said they had no facilities for that. I purchased dry shampoo and took him home. He is a very affectionate cat loves to be petted. Took him to the vet 3 days after getting him. Vet said the odor was from his teeth and they were all rotten and had to be pulled. Made an appt. with my vet for that. Vet also said he was not 2 y.o. he was 5 or 6 y.o. The vet at ARF is not very compentent she should have noticed the teeth odor, he had it for awhile did not start overnight. Also, UCAN, where he was neutered should have picked up on the teeth odor when they neutered him. You did not have to be close to sell the odor. I Also called ARF and asked the President to return my call, I called 3-4 times to date she has not returned my calls. I would not recommend It ARF for adoption of an animal, there are lots of honest no-kill shelters in the area. Nancy Herrin read more

Just a reminder, Do not adopt from here! They Do NOT disclose when an animal is sick. They will NOT return any of your calls or even try to make it right. They owe my daughter about 1500.00 and will NOT pay it. Also, the adoption fee of 500.00 is too expensive, which only includes a couple of vaccines. Please do NOT do business here. read more

I adopted the cutest pure bred Pomeranian puppy from ARF. For those of you that don't know, some breeders rely on ARF to rehome their retired breeding dogs. In exchange, they occasionally "donate" a litter of pure bred puppies for ARF to sell to provide the $ for expenses to run the facility and rehome the adult dogs they've given up to ARF. This is why they have litters of "designer" puppies. They are not from mills they are health tested and responsibly bred. You can ask anyone that works there where the puppies come from and they are happy to provide the information. Also, the price is not bad whatsoever. 450 for a pure bred on a spay/neuter contract compared to a pet store pricing of 850$ and above for the same breed. I would highly recommend ARF for a new puppy over pet stores. read more

My experience with "ARF" has been awful. Aside from being treated very poorly by the front desk lady they sold me a VERY sick dog for $350. I have now spent almost $700 in trying to cure our pet of a nasty parasite that almost killed him. I think that ARF should stand by the animals that they adopt out if they are unhealthy. I have contacted them 4 times with no response and that is VERY frustrating. read more

Called to inquire about two shih tzu pups. Was informed by Kathleen that both pups had been adopted. However, I was then told to call back that two havanese pups would be available on the following Wednesday, 6/8/16. According to the A.R.F. website the adoption fee is a small donation. I called A.R.F. on 6/7/16 to inquire about the havanese pups. I was informed by the employee on the phone that the pups were in. I called later that day to make sure that the pups were still available. I was told by the staff person that they had one havanese pup remaining. On 6/8/16 at approximately 3:30 my family member arrived at A.R.F after driving for 45 minutes to reach the facility. Before completing the adoption paperwork, he was told that instead of the posted small donation fee listed on the site. That the pup cost $500.00. I asked to speak with Peggy the manager. I was told that Peggy would not be in until Sunday. I don't know why A.R.F would post a small donation fee on the website. I noticed a prior posting on yelp dated 6/6/15. At that time the person paid $75.00 for a dog. Why would A.R.F. post a small donation on their website and then try to charge someone $500.00 . Was the $500.00 fee based upon the fact that my brother was clothed in corporate attire. Or was it because of his skin color. Is this a case of class or race discrimination? Clearly these greedy dishonest people are running a scam. read more