We were able to start fostering a chow after having lost our JRT a couple months ago. I've never had a big dog before let alone a chow. I've been so amazingly impressed with Cheryl and her rescue!!! I got more goodies than needed to take Miro home, tons of support and I can text anytime with questions and she answers almost immediately! Our house was definitely missing a dog and Cheryl has made this easy. Can't recommend fostering with them enough...amazingly positive experience! read more

Chows Plus - Here's our little "big" guy! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Sheryl really cares about the animals that she is rescuing and placing... She also has a team of helpers assisting with rescues, clearly all these people are deserving of recognition..! read more

Someone from the rescue emailed me to complain about this review and included personal attacks to boot - how professional. They told me large dogs can never thrive in apartments and that they DO know dogs. And what have I done for dogs in need lately, anyway? Making blanket statements shows me they DO NOT know dogs. Any dog can thrive in any apartment with the right person, let alone a docile chow. period. An Australian shepherd can do well in an apartment with doggie day care, marathon runners/hikers etc. This makes me think they don't ensure their dogs are walked so I question the quality of the rest of the care they give. Many rescues say outright they require a fenced yard - fine. I disagree with you but at least I didn't waste my time filling out an application. It's just plain rude not to disclose this on your website/application/pet-finder etc. Again, it's not like there aren't chows in kill shelters - there are. I don't understand the position this (and many other) rescue groups take that they would rather see a dog die than go to an apartment. read more

Rude, unprofessional, and non-responsive. Don't spend time waiting to hear back on your application or relying on their website. (Apparently it's a Facebook-centered rescue group.) Definitely look into other organizations! read more

One thing is for sure, Cheryl does have the dogs best interests at heart. I noticed people complaining about non responsiveness but most rescues have volunteer staff only and they have a jobs and families to take care of as well as everything else. I suggest that you follow up with a phone call and leave a message if you haven't hear back from this, or any other rescue. Sometimes 10 applications come in for one dog. Be kind, and if they don't think you are right for the dog, go somewhere else. They speak for the dog and no one else is so be glad that at lease the dog has someone on their side. read more

This is the best rescue place I have ever been to. Cheryl is amazing, always there to give advice and always vets the dogs before adopting them out.. I would highly recommend her to anyone. read more

I saw that my review was a few years old so I wanted to do an update. I am still a foster mom for this agency. Cheryl continues to amaze me with her caring heart and soul. You know when someone cares about animals and Cheryl is definitely a person who cares deeply about dogs and other animals. I have seen some agencies that will only rescue a certain breed of dog. Cheryl is willing to rescue as many dogs as she can, regardless of the size, or breed. Thank you Cheryl for all you do. read more

I adopted my boy "Tank" from Chows Plus. I am amazed how well taken care of these puppies are cared for. He was potty trained, vac, neuter , & micro chipped for such a small fee. I continue to stay in touch with Cheryl by sending pics & updates of my boy. Also at Christmas time I donate food, toys, treats & dog beds. This is my way of saying Thank you because I believe you need to let people(the staff,Cheryl,volunteers & Dr's) know that there work is appreciated, so that they will continue their hard work. Thank you so much read more

Cheryl is a rude, angry, and judgmental person, who will harass you if you end up needing to re-home your dog, despite there being a clause in the contract you signed that says you are allowed to "return the dog to rescue if you are no longer able to keep or your situation changes and dog becomes a burden." read more

I have to say this has been the best experience I have ever had in adopting a dog. Cheryl was so helpful, caring, and so professional!!! She made the process go so easy. I just love my chow!! Everyone please use Cheryl when needing a dog because she is so amazing and loves what she does. All my friends have gotten their dogs from her!! read more

I run a rescue network for chow and chow mixes so I work with many rescues, both breed specific, as well as all breed and senior rescues. I have worked with Cheryl and Chows Plus many times before since she saves so many purebred, mixes as well as other breeds. I just happened to see some of these older reviews and felt it important to reply to some of negative comments that seem like general attacks with little factual or no specific information at all. Therefore, while I do not know the particulars of those people or the situation, I think the following may provide some insight how any good rescue works. First and foremost, the rescue has to understandably screen adopters to try to insure a home and dog will be suitable with one another, with the goal of the home being forever. Not every dog or applicant may be a good fit for a number of reasons though. The particular dog may be more dominant, not good with other pets, not suitable around certain people or ages, and because of some or all of these factors, may not be safe to place in a multi housing situation where the dog does not do well around strangers they might have to pass. In many cases, landlords commonly do not allow chows, particularly purebred chows, so for reasons like this, a home that does not rent is more likely to have less risk that than those that do. Particularly for renters living in apartments, any dog, chow or not, may result in complaints from nearby neighbors (if in an apartment), and lack of access to a yard can be problematic. Also, even if a current landlord allows your dog, the next landlord may not. Therefor, I am not sure why someone would not understand this or be offended that a rescue might want to adopt to a home that comes without such risks or likely potential problems. I many times have to explain this to people too. In other cases, the adopter, regardless if they own or rent, may just not have enough experience with a dog that may have some behavior issues. Or, there may be other pets in a home that present a risk. Sometimes, people do not like to hear these legitimate reasons though, and may take them as offensive when they are not meant to be. The rescue is simply looking at each applicant and situation and considers both the safety of both the dog and people and other pets around it, as well as the likelihood whether a home will be a forever home. Chows and even mixes who are adoptable tend to be in high demand, and many times, there are multiple applications. Just because a rescue selects someone else other than you, or tells you something that you may not want to hear, but is in the best interest of the dog, that does not make them rude, nor are probably intending to be be condescending or derogatory. Cheryl and other rescues are likely just trying to be honest and upfront. Cheryl is also basically a one person rescue, she does it all mostly on her own. She volunteers her time like most small rescues do. She does not have a staff to reply to every email or application unfortunately, and because people can take offense by hearing they may not be qualified, sometimes rescues are reluctant to even reply for this very reason that people take offense. As to people posting negative comments on reviews with no specifics at all, I think that is actually very unfair to Chows Plus or any rescue. Someone alluded to Cheryl not helping adopters with behavior issues yet gave no example of the problem. They or someone mentioned bullying, personal attacks, one even said she was in big trouble, yet none of these people or negative reviews gave any factual or specific information to substantiate or explain these negative claims. As to the person who claimed a dog was turned over within hours of neuter and that shelters do not do that, that person is misinformed. It is common in almost every shelter I have ever worked with, that dogs are released same day shortly after spay or neuter surgery. And of course, with any rescue dog, especially if they have come from a shelter, yes, there are a lot of unknowns how a dog will act in a home. As to my own experience working with Cheryl and other rescues, there have been times when well intended and good homes just do not work out. I have also see homes that on paper or before seemed good, but then the adopter was unwilling to spend time working with a dog like they promised to beforehand. So, that can be upsetting for any rescue. A rescue may understandably ask the adopter to give more time to see if the home and dog will work out. If not, Cheryl always takes her dogs back. However, people need to realize that most small rescues like Chows Plus do not have some large facility where they just board dogs. So, in such case as someone needs to return, a rescue may need some time to make arrangements to either find a new foster, home or boarding place. I hope this is somehow helpful to anyone considering adopting a rescue dog and or working with Cheryl and Chows Plus. read more

I personally viewed emails to and from the business to a customer. This business verbally degraded the customer due to opposing opinions. I am disappointed in the harsh remarks, unprofessional interaction, and overall ignorant generalized statements about dogs, specifically chows, by the business. Don't adopt from Chow Plus unless you're ready for harassment and incorrect information about animals. read more

My dog was turned over so fast so many times even within hours of having his neutering surgery. Even the shelter doesn't do that. No foster home or rescue had kept him long enough to pass on the fact that he was a chewer a jumper a pee'er and a poo'er and a constant barker.No one knew much about him. I had I knew I would not have taken him.It was fair to me or the dog.I know they have to turn over the dogs fast since there are so many but this makes no sense.How do they know if it is a good fit or no. This dog wasn't not a good fit for me and my disable husband.None of this makes sense they aren't doing right by the dogs if they have to go from one home to another. I was told in an email he was a lover not a barker.He is a lover but boy oh boy a constant barker. Had I known this we would not have taken him.So many other recuses do not charge a fee.and provide good information about the pet you are adopting. the advice I got was to gate him in my kitchen, not a very smart idea for many reasons and very unsanitary. read more

They must not need homes for their dogs, as they don't bother to respond to email inquiries. Sad too, as the dogs I was inquiring about are still up on their list of those who need a home. I guess it's best I know now, as I am out of the area and wouldn't want to make the trek for not. :( read more