I'm very impressed with this volunteer-run rescue organization for senior dogs. It's a great group…read moreof people uniting under shared passion/mission while doing a ton of work and having fun doing it. What a treat to see this in action, it's really inspiring! The dogs are deserving of all of it, being an often-overlooked population in shelters, and I see their transformations due to volunteer efforts.

We did not know of Lionel's until a few days ago. We had exchanged several communications with…read moreFrosted Faces and almost volunteered. Another great organization. My wife and I discovered and saved a small dog on freeway 5. San Diego. It turned out to be on its way to Lionel's who routinely travels to Orange County to save senior dogs. The Transporter broke protocol and lost the dog and she was in the freeway. Lots of well meaning folks tried to help but unless you have animal training your instincts may tell you to do the wrong thing. My wife taught me about these things and we attained the dog. The owner of the rescue provided the necessary documentation to show the dog's transfer ownership and spoke with my wife. We met her and after two days settling the sweet dog, she went on her way to reunite with her mates. She does not have a new home yet but with a great personality like hers and rescues like ours and Lionel's she'll have a bright future with mates and loving little dog stewards! Thanks Laura! Lionel's it is for a great senior dog!

I will sing their praises to anyone who listens! I adopted the very sweetest baby girl-formerly…read moreMadonna, now Bree- three weeks ago. It was love at first sight!!! Where do I start with the excellent care and customer service?! One of the many things I loved is that most of the dogs in their care are in foster homes. So there is so much time, training and attention to each pup that you simply can't get with a shelter. Breezy was mostly potty trained, had time around other dogs to learn how to behave, and so much was known about her behaviors and care. I just adored her amazing foster Mommy, Alex! She let us come to her home and spend an hour meeting both puppies (it was originally between her and her brother, Elvis, who is also a doll!!! Someone PLEASE scoop up that cutie!). I came with a list of questions and she answered every last one in detail and was so patient. I'm forever grateful for the wonderful love and care Alex put into my beautiful girl before I got her. From the application process to the actual adoption it was roughly a week and a half. I was surprised at how fast they were able to move and pleasantly so. I was contacted via email and text at all different parts of the adoption process by various volunteers- Joelle, Deborah, Jen, Alex and Breana are a few of the wonderful women I spoke to, but there was so many more involved. Each and every individual was knowledgeable on Breezy's care and her life before The Animal Pad. However short lived that was. Bree came spayed, had her first round of shots and was even microchipped! Which was a huge selling point for me. You know how expensive those all are out of pocket?!! It's worth every last penny of the $500+ I paid to know she was well cared for before I got her! She's the most loving and easy baby I've ever had! They even came and picked up the old things I had from my former soul baby, Adonis. It was heartbreaking to let the last reminders of him go. But I met some of the kindest humans in the process- Jen and her hubby. With an empathetic ear and even a hug I was left with a sense of comfort in that difficult moment. Knowing Adonis's things will go to good use is far more valuable than any monetary value I may have gotten for any of it. They were happily surprised at all that I was sending and came to me to scoop it all up! The Animal Pad is a rescue full of animal people who do this because it nourishes the soul! Not for profit! They do not discriminate if you live in an apartment, have had a bad experience where you have to return a former adoptee, are actively planning a family or any other reason that I'd been denied from two other rescues. I'd begun to lose hope in finding a new baby to love, until Animal Pad. Now I have the very best fit and I see clearly I simply wasn't meant to have any other puppers aside from Bree! We were meant for each other and she is deeply adored!! THANK YOU to everyone at The Animal Pad!!! You are one of the good ones and I'll continue to sing your praises to all that'll listen! I'm forever grateful to each and every one of you!

I would not recommend adopting from The Animal Pad based on my experience…read more I recently adopted an older dog from them, and it became clear very quickly that some of his medical needs had not been adequately addressed. His medications had not been given consistently, and serious dental issues were left untreated. Since adopting him, I've had to constantly push just to get action taken on problems that should have been addressed much earlier. This past week, his gums became infected, likely related to his ongoing dental problems. It has been one medical issue after another, and what makes this so frustrating is that I believe many of these problems could have been prevented or better managed with consistent care. I understand that rescues rely heavily on fosters and have limited resources. But when you take responsibility for an older dog with significant medical needs, that responsibility includes making sure medications are given consistently, necessary veterinary and dental care is provided, and medical problems are followed up on. I'm exhausted from having to fight for this dog to receive the care he needs. Had his medical needs been managed properly and consistently, I believe his quality of life could have been significantly better.

I've donated here not too long ago. They really are doing something special here. The ppl are great…read moreto talk to and they make great bags for those who are in need. You need school stuff, they have it, you're looking for a job? They have clothes for that, men and women. You are treated with dignity here the only thing you have to do is just ask.

I was really excited to donate to Sharia's Closet. I completely believe in their mission and would…read moremuch rather support a local organization doing community work than a place like Goodwill that upells donations for profit. Because of this, I brought in a large donation: six large trash bags of clothes and two grocery bags of shoes and additional clothes, all in excellent, ready-to-wear condition. Unfortunately, the experience when I arrived was disheartening. When I arrived it was unclear where to leave my donations since there were multiple tents set up. They didn't acknowledge me as I was standing there waiting for them to put their phones down. They were entirely focused on taking photos for Instagram. When they finally acknowledged me, I kindly asked for assistance and they very rudely just pointed toward a shopping cart and told me to use that and continued yapping about posting on social media. Mind you, they were just standing there on their phones since I arrived. I needed help lifting the heavy bags since I am petite. It felt dismissive and disrespectful. I left feeling really bummed that this was the "community support" I was met with after going out of my way (from Chula Vista) to bring good quality items. I still have a lot more clothes to donate, but based on this experience, I'll be looking for another organization that is willing to lend a hand when asked instead of being extremely rude and dismissive.

Heart of Gold is a great place to adopt a dog. We adopted our little dog Bonnie in October 2025…read more Very healthy and loving dog. We are very happy with her and love her very much. Thank you Jessica for bringing her into our lives.

I found my precious pup, Poppy, (formerly Pepper), on Heart of Golds website after my 14.5 year old…read morefur baby passed away. I spent months looking at Pet Finder trying to find my new baby and was so elated to find this rescue organization. I found many sweet pets ready for adoption however, when it came to dealing with an organizations manager, most came up short and were only in it for the money. I am forever grateful to Jessica and Co., for the wonderful care they took with Poppy and how strenuous their vetting of me was to ensure that I was the right parent for her. We are very much a match made in heaven right down to sharing the same hair color! I will continue to let people know that this is, by far, the very BEST rescue organization in Southern California!

Promising Futures Inc. stands as a beacon of hope and commitment in the realm of developmental…read moredisabilities services, addressing the critical gaps in support for individuals who are often overlooked or underserved in our community. This organization's unwavering dedication to those with severe communication and behavior issues sets it apart, aiming to transform lives that are at risk of state hospitalization, repeated failure, idleness, lack of progress in skill development, and even abuse. As the Executive Director, I feel it is important that the community is aware that the heart of Promising Futures' mission lies in creating a supportive environment that not only addresses the unique needs of this population but also fosters measurable success and individual independence. By providing day program and residential services, Promising Futures is not only addressing immediate needs but also challenging societal norms that dictate limitations on certain segments of the population. I am proud to share that we specialize in Autism and Behavior Management which showcases a nuanced understanding of the complexities associated with developmental disabilities. Promising Futures believes in Active Treatment and learning for its clients, setting a precedent for the incorporation of evidence-based practices in the field. The commitment to developing quality individualized day treatment vocational programs and residential services further underlines the organization's dedication to tailoring support to the unique challenges each individual faces. Promising Futures does not only aim to meet the immediate needs of its clients but also envisions a long-term impact on the broader community. The aspiration to develop a continuum of day services for those whose needs are not adequately met speaks to the organization's foresight and commitment to improving standards and practices in San Diego County and beyond, and I am proud to be part of it. Whether you want to give back by joining our team, or finding placement for your child, Promising Futures, is beyond the standards.

Our son has been with promising Futures for a year and a half now and we couldn't be more pleased…read morewith how he has matured. He is always treated with respect and dignity, and the residential and day programs are great. My husband and I can now rest easy knowing that our son is in a safe and caring home and is able to attend a day program to continue his growth.

Love our local rescue RTF in San Diego!! Can't say enough positive things about them as they…read moreconsistently pull amazing dogs from several shelters at risk of euthanasia. They are such responsible and compassionate individuals, training and helping with rehabilitation with some of the dogs instead of just simply boarding many dogs like some rescues do. However, they way they succeed is also directly based on how many loving fosters they have. Consider fostering, donating, and/ or volunteering with them... You won't regret it! Big thanks to Jennie who is a literal SAINT by rescuing dogs from municipal shelters and so easy to communicate with! Jennie and her crew work so hard and this does not go unnoticed :) we greatly appreciate you

Jennie is very kind, supportive, and truly cares for the dogs. She facilitated us fostering to…read moreadopt a dog from another rescue. Answered all of our questions and followed up to provide more detailed information even after the adoption was completed. PS: Shout out to her foster family A & I who met us for meet and greet. They were so kind and told us all about their experiences with the dog to help us feel comfortable fostering our future dog

As one rescue to another, we know firsthand how much work, dedication, and heart goes into saving…read moreanimals, and Amazing Strays is a rescue we are truly grateful to support. This team works tirelessly to save dogs in need and give them the second chances they deserve. Rescue is not easy, and it takes an incredible amount of time, commitment, resources, fosters, volunteers, and compassion to keep showing up for animals who have been abandoned or overlooked. We believe rescues should support one another because we are all working toward the same goal: saving lives and giving dogs a better future. Amazing Strays is doing exactly that, and we have so much respect for the work they continue to do. We are grateful to have another rescue in our community that cares so deeply about these animals. We highly recommend supporting Amazing Strays, whether through fostering, volunteering, donating, adopting, or simply sharing their dogs and helping get them seen. From one rescue to another, thank you for everything you do for the dogs who need you most. Keep going--you are making a difference!

I have worked with about 5 different animal rescues over the last 9 years and none are perfect…read more Most are volunteer run entirely. We are a foster home for kitties and pups and we have had a great experience with Amazing Strays. They are very organized and well run. They clearly care deeply about making the best fit for their animals. I would absolutely recommend them to adoptees as you will be getting an animal that has been well vetted for health, behavior, and personality! And for potential fosters they give you tons of support each step of the way. I read a couple of the reviewers were mad when they could not adopt a pup from Amazing Strays. It's not first come first serve, and this organization does try to find the best fit for each animal. I can imagine it being disappointing if you think you have a great home and you are not chosen for a certain animal. Overall keep in mind that you are working with volunteers and please be kind!

100 stars to this incredible, caring and compassionate team of volunteers! My heart was set on…read moreadopting a rescue, and I am so glad I discovered Second Chance. It's easy to see from the many different fur-babies on the Second Chance website--different sizes, ages, colors, breeds and needs--that these dedicated folks are committed to their mission of saving and re-homing homeless dogs. My overall experience with Second Chance was excellent. Staff responded quickly to my application for a particular pup, and I very much appreciated their responsiveness and encouragement when I was too late applying for a few different doggies. When I expressed interest in a couple of dogs that were still awaiting a loving home, Second Chance quickly put me in touch with the foster moms so I could learn more about those particular dogs. The foster moms were amazing. They were very patient with me and generous with their time in answering all my questions. By working with Second Chance, I found exactly the right fur-baby for me. It's not just my little Izzy who has been given a second chance at a wonderful life. Izzy, thanks to Second Chance, has given the same chance to me.

The most amazing group of volunteers. 100% volunteers. I've adopted from Second Chance Dog Rescue 4…read moretimes since 2013. I will continue to adopt from this organization that rescues dogs around SoCal shelters and TJ. My favorite adoption was Roscoe, a 10 yo diabetic min pin chi. I was happy to take on his medical needs and give him the best last days of his life. Never asked the rescue for a dime because they had already done their best for him. These volunteers put their own money and time while working with donations and the adoption fees. It's all 100 % done in the name of dogs. They are truly doing God's work. Saving lives is what the Lord does. And we as humans can help by adopting, fostering, donating, and volunteering. Thank you Second Chance Dog Rescue