Don't forget to check out the animals in foster care. The foster parents are happy to share insight on the animals in their care, as well as set up an agreeable meeting time to meet their fosters. Animals in foster are so much more relaxed, they also have more of a routine. Check out the animal's diary to see photos and videos of them to glean more info on their unique personalities. Many dogs have been in play groups at the shelter, so they have information on their unique play style to better know if these dogs will be a good fit for your family read more

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Wednesday, May 13, 2012, I went to this clown show to ask to be a volunteer kitten feeder, a.k.a. "foster mom for bottle babies". I waited more than 2 hours, during which time I overheard alot of discussion like, " well, what do we do? How do we handle this?" Then they gave me dog adoption paperwork instead of cat fostering paperwork. I filled it out and there was MORE waiting. Jeff , the " foster volunteer coordinator, mumbled and fumbled through explaining things ( terrible at it) and asking if I had done it before. I have fostered many times. I finally got the kittens. Two days later, one of them was bloated and had a firm belly. I did my best, following all tips and suggestions, to no avail, to help her potty. I took all 3 kittens back and asked them to potty ALL THREE, but they said the one pottied but the other 2 were fine. So, come Sunday night and the other two were constipated, even though I followed all instructions. The shelter was closed, so, as directed, I took them to Sage Vet Hospital. Sage told me to check the next day with CoCoAnimal Svcs. I waited 2 days, and called the the shelter several times and got really nebulous non answers. It is now Thursday, May 21st, and I had to call 3 times before getting Jeff ( above named).Jeff told me ( after asking me to repeat myself 4 times) that "the kittens were picked up from Sage by the humane society and then given to another foster."I asked him why. No good answer. This didn't sound right, so I called Sage. Sage told me ," That is impossible. The Humane Society never picks up animals here. We don't know where the kittens are." I am worried about the kittens, emotionally and time invested, lost alot of sleep and I am offended to be lied to blatantly. Jeff should be let go. I would really like to know how it is that they cannot track an animal when given a specific i.d. number. I will never donate or use this shelter again. Star rating : 000 read more

My longtime friend 'big cat' passed away a few months ago. My husband asked if I had thought about adopting another. So I started casually looking. Meara, a 1 year old black cat was on the website and I was drawn to her so I went to meet her in person. It was Saturday and it was busy! Sandy was the only one working with cat adoptions that day and she was running! To be clear there were a ton of staff and volunteers, it was just busy. Sandy was friendly about the wait even as some other lady was being hella rude to her, mean people suck. Moving on. I filled out the visitor paperwork and liability release to meet her and looked at other animals while I waited. So many animals need forever homes! All different kinds of dogs and cats and some other animals too! Room after room of dogs, it's not time for 1 more dog at my house just yet but when it is, this is where I will be watching for her. When Cindy got to me she was so sweet and cared so much for all the cats. She knew specifics about Meara, she had obviously spent time with her. I filled out her paperwork and 25$ and an hour and a half later we were on our way home. The animals here have been seen by the vet, have their shots, have been neutered/spayed and have been chipped. If you are considering getting a new pet, or fostering one definitely look here first. I feel like it's the way to go for sure. read more

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I'm very disappointed with my recent experience with Contra Costa County Animal Services regarding a stray cat I brought in for help. The cat (named Frankie, also known as Cheez-Its) was clearly in distress, he appeared to have a rectal prolapse, was covered in feces, had fleas, and showed signs of worms and ongoing diarrhea. I brought him in because he needed urgent medical attention. I was informed the next morning, that he was returned to his owner due to a microchip, but no treatment was provided, only recommendations were given. From what I understand, he did not receive care for parasites, was not cleaned, and did not receive the procedure he likely needs. I understand policies around microchipped animals, but it is deeply concerning that an animal in this condition could be released without receiving basic medical care or intervention. Situations like this raise serious concerns about animal welfare and whether follow-up or enforcement is happening in cases of potential neglect. I hope the shelter can clarify their policies and take stronger action in cases where animals are clearly suffering. Animals like Frankie depend on people to advocate for them. read more

One time visit for spay. Everyone was helpful and friendly, my dog felt safe. Vickie answered all my questions before I spoke with the vet. My dog is healing well. However the medication for sedation is not working? My dog was still very active and wanted to play all the time which was hard. The location is hard to find. The GPS led me to the back side of the building. I wouldn't even found them if it were not because of the little tiny temporary sign (removal like those you see for open houses, however this one was white so I did not see it the first time) they had on the road. I suggest adding that information when sending instructions so patients can locate the place easily. read more

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How do leave negative reviews for this place? The most unorganized place that I have ever encountered. It's hard for them to respond to you. They give you wrong information and waste your time like it's the business. How is my tax money going to support this place? read more

The cat I adopted was terminally ill. I brought her home, but she wasn't eating and was failing to thrive. I called the shelter the next morning, and they brushed me off. I should not have listened to them. They told me not to worry. I should've gone straight to the vet. But it wouldn't have mattered because the cat had an incurable illness that they hadn't screened for. They sent me a $25 refund check, but it was returned by the bank. It is VERY TRAUMATIC to start to bond with a little kitty who is dying as soon as you get it. Shame on Contra Costa Animal Services for twisting a knife in my heart. There are plenty of places to adopt furry friends in need of a home. Contra Costa Animal Services is NOT one that I recommend. I am very disappointed in them. read more

Three weeks ago I had a seizure in my home and the fire department took me to the hospital and my two dogs one which was a service animal here. I just got released two days ago to find they adopted out both my dogs. I have spent over 8,000 on my dogs and they are both micro chipped, current vaccinations, and each had their own health insurance plans. This is truly upsetting. I have no family and they were my only family. read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

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Helpful, animal loving staff and volunteers. you can browse their dogs and cats available for adoption on their website.

A senior dog was found abandoned. They named him Austin. He was blind, deaf, and does not have teeth. In less than 2 weeks, he was put on the euthanasia list. I belong to 2 groups on FB that were trying to help pull him out. I reached out to them via email on a Sunday because they are closed Sundays-Mondays. I tried calling but could not get a live person on the phone. I wanted to foster. Someone did respond to me on a Monday to tell me that he cannot be fostered or adopted out. He is eligible for rescue only. Me and a few others were in touch w/ a few rescue organizations and offered to foster until all is settled. A day later, he was pulled out and will be living freely and safely for the rest of his golden years. I'm thankful we have a strong community to be able to help him, but other dogs get killed daily - even puppies and healthy and thriving dogs. They are not given a chance. Some are not even listed or on the adoption floor to be seen. I do believe that a shelter is safer for all strays than being on the streets, but euthanizing animals and not doing all that you can to help save them bothers me so much. I have 4 indoor cats and yet I just signed up to foster at my local animal shelter. If you can help just one animal whether it'd be short-term or long-term foster, you can save their life and help them decompress and trust humans. read more

They try their best but overcrowding cause animals to be euthanized. But the volunteers and workers really care. I've rescued 2 dogs at different times and just recently adopted a cat. Please support them with funding they truly need it,the animals need every penny. read more

The answering service is a good intro. It dumps you back on the main menu to speak to a clerk and tells you how many people are ahead of you if you are lucky. Called them several times without actually being connected. Finally gave up and just opted to have them call me back. Am now waiting for them to call me back at 1:00pm. . . . They called me back about 15 to 20 minutes later. And was on the line for about 10 to 15 minutes. It was very informing. And I do appreciate their support thought it was somewhat draining to speak to them about it. Might have to call them back again about the same issue. . . . TBD (2025) read more

Absolutely wonderful! All of the individuals working here are so imbued with love and care, attention to the smallest detail, for the cats and kittens in their care. I have never been as impressed as I am with how they run the shelter. I was allowed, with my husband, to stay as long as we needed to be with all the kittens in their special space. These kittens have the best forms of entertainment - heated cushions, lots of play objects, couches, water fountains, food delivered appropriately, grooming and clean up fastidiously handled with care. And, because all the kittens get to interact with each other it brings out the very best in their character, with plenty of human interaction. We adopted a kitten at ten weeks old. He is now about 6 months. He is the best. He loves our 2 year old cat and now with the introduction of a puppy they have great play time together. Thanks to all of you!!! read more

For several weeks, I visited two kittens at this shelter multiple times and even brought my family to meet them. I completed three adoption applications, clearly expressed my intent to adopt, and spoke directly with staff. Because the kittens were shy and stressed, I explained that if no one adopted them and the shelter decided to release them back into an outdoor colony, they should contact me first. I was assured they would. On Saturday, I visited again just before closing, saw the kittens, submitted another application, and repeated my request: "If nobody adopts them by next week, please call me -- I will adopt them." The shelter was closed Sunday and Monday. Then, first thing Tuesday morning, the kittens were released to the colony without any notification or call. When I went in to ask what happened, no one took responsibility. I was given several excuses, including that the staff were "too busy" to make phone calls. Regardless, their responsibility is to care for animals and help them find homes -- and in this case, they failed to do so. These kittens, instead of going to a loving home, were put back outside due to poor communication and lack of organization. They were failed by the very people meant to protect them. Additionally, during my visits, the enclosures often smelled strongly, and the litter boxes were not properly cleaned. For an organization dedicated to animal welfare, this level of care and cleanliness is unacceptable. This entire experience was deeply upsetting and profoundly disappointing. read more

I came across a photo of a cocker spaniel mix named "Bonnie ". She was at the Martinez Animal Shelter.. had the money on Tuesday to get her. But my boyfriend wouldn't give me a ride to the Animal Shelter. When I looked for her photo that Wednesday. Bonnie was already adopted. I was so upset that I cried all that day and night. Bonnie looked exactly like my dog. I had 15yrs (he was a rescue dog) This coming June 19th will be a year since he passed away. I MISS HIM SO VERY MUCH. read more

I love what they are doing to help our animals. I love the doctors here. I have two awesome dogs from here. The issue I have is how rude the staff is. Some of the are sweet but then there's others - receptionist and volunteers- with major attitudes. I want to foster and be more active with giving back to the shelter and donate more but I don't want to be around their attitudes. They're also neutering boy dogs before puberty which isn't good for their health. I get they want to control the population but that's one reason i wont adopt a male from there read more

Krissy was beyond amazing. She has helped bless my family in many ways. She was very kind and generous. Went above and beyond. Thank you again. Also the other staff were so kind. My toddler was becoming fussy and they were so empathetic and understanding. They even gave my daughter a coloring book. I am so grateful for the staff read more

I had a terrible experience at this facility today with Michelle one of the "adoption specialists". We were out in the yard with the dog Max who we came to see and the volunteer dog handler who was very kind to us. Michelle comes out telling us to hurry up and decide because someone else is waiting. I asked for 2 more minutes. She said yes then proceeds to scold and talk down to the gentleman who was out there with us for whatever reason. Then comes back yelling at me saying I've been there for 30 minutes and to hurry up and decide I said I just have a couple more questions. Shes said "NO we went over this! We have strict rules you have 15 minutes and you've been here 30 is it yes or no?" I said "fine it's no! You never told me I had 15 minutes!" She says it's strict rules what do you think you get special treatment??? I said no but u never told me it was 15 minutes! At this point she's practically in my face as I'm walking to my car then my son started cryjng as did I in my car due to that traumatic experience. I have never been so poorly treated by a stranger. While I understand now there is allegedly a 15 minute rule I was NEVER told that. I'm glad Max was adopted by the lady who was waiting but if that's the way the Michelle treats not only me and the staff that is absolutely not okay. If she was simply willing to not yell at me and answer my other question I would have proceeded forward but being put under that type of pressure by being shouted at while making this type of decision is completely uncalled for. read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

Can get low cost vaccinations at this location. Also pet adoptions. You can also make donations like pet food, blankets, etc.

First off let me say my respect for Animal Shelters declined horrendously after my experience with this shelter. I adopted a dog over a month ago. But unfortunately my older dog has been attacking him cause he keeps nipping at her face. Also he tried to bite me twice and also my husband. I was desperate for help so I turned to the shelter I got him from. Upon my arrival I had my friends puppy in my arms and the first thing this lady did was bark at me about not having a leash on a 12 week old puppy.. I said I'm not setting her down and the lady said it doesnt matter u have to have one on her. Mind you I didn't want to put a leash that had been on a potentially sick dog but she did it anyways. Then I started to tell her why I was there and she says " well did you bring your older dog to the meet and greet.?" I said no because she's not dog friendly in situations like that ... plus I don't want her getting kennel cough. And the lady goes " well maybe you shouldn't have adopted then " lol wowwwww On tip of this the dog was going crazy trying to lunge at people, barking etc. You could literally see he had issues. I get to the window and the girl that helped me was glad to say that I had passed the window of being able to drop him back off. I stated I'll even pay the surrender fee but that wasn't good enough. I then asked about humane euthanasia and she said " we don't put down a dog just because you don't want it" mind you she was looking at my friends puppy totally insinuating that it was my puppy and I was just dumping the dog back off at shelter. I left there in tears . Thank God I found a shelter to help me . I would not recommend this place for adoptions. They are extremely rude, and have zero empathy when the dog they adopted to you had major issues. read more

I cannot state enough how pleased my family and I have been with the loving help we received from Elaine Ruth along with Dr. Adams and other staff at Animal Services. Elaine Ruth went above and beyond helping us adopt and care for our adoptive cats Salem and Lloyd and her warmth and professionalism made our experiences at the facility so pleasurable. What an asset she truly is to humanity and to Animal Services. Dr. Adams also spent a good 15-20 minutes with us helping us regarding a health concern we had regarding one of our cats. She thoroughly and extensively explained all options possible regarding helping facilitate the best methods to use to ensure our cat's health in regards to specific digestive issues the cat currently had. So far, our cat is doing very well approximately one week later. I only wish we could get this kind of care from our own doctors and hospitals who care for humans. Elaine and her associates along with Dr. Adams truly are wonderful people dedicated to the animals they selfishly and passionately care for. Thank you to all of you! read more

I adopted eight year old Farley (I like to call him Fartley because I think I'm funny). This guy lived on the streets and had been at the shelter for 5 months. I had to put my sweet Mr. Big down after 14 years together and my heart was broken. Judith assisted me and Farley and I found each other. I adopted Big from ARF but he came from the Martinez shelter. Farley was a $25.00 adoption fee. I donated what it would have cost to adopt him from ARF. I received a sweet letter from the shelter thanking me for my donation. Things were rough in the beginning. This poor guy had battle scars and it took time for him to realize he is safe. The shelter was beyond helpful when I called them. Farley has been with me for three month. He is a sweet, spicy, bouncy boy! If you are looking to adopt a pet...please adopt from MAS. These babies deserve a happy home. read more

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I had an incredible experience at the shelter. Sophia helped me who is a cat-whisperer and is so knowledgeable about kittens. It was so streamlined and efficient. I am so excited to start a new forever home with my newly adopted kitten. Thank you to all the staff at this animal shelter for dedicating your time to help animals in need, it is a tough job that requires incredible patience, compassion, and an incredible work ethic. Only improvement needed: stricter screening to prevent unfit caretakers. Let's protect our animals! read more

We had a horrible experience at this shelter that left my our family sad and frustrated. We went down to the shelter on a Tuesday afternoon to see a bunny they had for adoption. The "bunny lady" was not onsite, but we were able to see the bunny and complete all the application paperwork. The "bunny lady" got back to us several days later and we started the process to adopt. We watched all the videos she provided, purchased the recommended supplies and food, got the cage all set-up, and established care with an exotic veterinarian clinic before our final sit down discussion. On the day of our last meeting we received a text message, not a call, from the "bunny lady" saying she adopted our bunny to someone else. She offered us other bunnies from different shelters that we could look at another time. When we asked why this happened she said they do not hold pets for anyone. There was no remorse. To say my family was upset is an understatement. We did everything that was asked of us, and at no point were we told they were accepting several applications. We would of understood had that been disclosed from the start. I would never attempt to adopt from the shelter again, nor will I recommend this shelter to my extended family or friends. I hope this review helps others that are considering adoption from this shelter. There are several others in the area that are far better options. read more

I saw a cat on-line that I was interested in. I had criteria. I wanted a cat, not a kitten, about 3+ years old. I wanted a female. I wanted a cat that would allow me to pick it up. After going to a few other shelter facilities, I arrived here. I went through the number process and was finally able to see the cat from my on-line search. A very nice lady took me into a room where 4 cats were being housed. The room was nice. It was large and had a bench I could sit on. All the cats were roaming around. One cat, Bella, immediately came up and wanted to be petted. She was very friendly and allowed me to pick her up easily. The cat I came to see finally came over to greet me. She also allowed me to pick her up but she was not as friendly. Bella really knew how to sell herself. There was no question, I adopted Bella. As my friend said, she chose me. Bella is now Chloe and has settled in nicely. I found my experience at Contra Costa Animal services to be easy, straight forward, and pleasant. read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

The rabbit adoption team at CCAS does a phenomenal job! Thanks to the 2 CCAS rabbit adoption counselors that worked with me, they helped me find my perfect house rabbit companion. They prepared me with an abundance of information about house rabbit care, diet, and vet care. They're very knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers. They worked hard to fully prepare me and make me feel supported through the adoption process. They even offer complimentary grooming and follow ups post adoption. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a house rabbit. I've never had a better adoption experience! Thanks CCAS rabbit team for all that you do. read more

Came here last Saturday in the morning to meet dogs to foster/adopt after seeing a NextDoor post and completely fell in love with one. The volunteers that day were exceptional and were just really great over all, going above and beyond. Super sweet and really telling me about the dog. Came back yesterday (Wednesday) to have my dogs do a meet and greet to make sure they were compatible and recieved the worst treatment. My mom and I came during the afternoon; we drove all the way from Novato and I had just gotten off work. Waited outside for the dog to be brought to the play pen but was instead met with a volunteer, trying to talk to me out of adopting him in a very condescending manner. Started with talking me out seeing the dog saying things like "were in our 70s, its hot..." and I replied saying we came all the way from Marin. This is when I started getting the attitude. Many comments such as "Do you even think?" and "You already have 3 dogs, isn't that enough? Why do you need more?" were made. Mom came out as I was extremely frustrated with how this volunteer was treating me and was getting emotional and went back to the car, and she received the same. The volunteer was completely grilling us and just didn't want us to see the dog. In the end, the other volunteers did bring the dog out but kept talking her out of it. We went home and will never be coming back. I just cant get my mind around the fact that this was by a volunteer at a dog rescue and she was refusing to let us to bring another dog into our lives. We love our 3 dogs so much and they are extremely spoiled, and we have room for 1 more. read more

Volunteers don't have customer service . Came here looking to adopt a cat . Do you think a volunteer came to us one time or at least greeted us ? Nope. We stood there - looking at the window; going back and forth. They just talk amongst themselves. You should train them to come up to people and talk about the importance of adopting and offer a tour. We walked out of there and are going to go elsewhere read more

Review 1400! Back in 2004, I was in my early 20s, living a fairly carefree life, and I thought it was about time as any to adopt a pet. My roommate and I went to the Martinez Animal Shelter and were promptly wooed by a 10-month old ginger cat I named Stella. She was the best, cutest, most snuggly cat ever. We pretty much grew up together and, needless to say, I was devastated when we had to say goodbye in the fall of 2018. Jac C and I had discussed getting two kittens when the time came, although we certainly wish we had more time with Stella Kitty. A few weeks after she passed away, I admitted to my honey that I had been looking at shelter pets online. Apparently, he had been doing the same and we decided to just "go look" that afternoon, knowing full well we would be bringing two kittens home with us. Upon arrival, I told them we were interested in checking out kittens for possible adoption. It was like they put out a silent alert because next thing we knew we were whisked up by a kind and knowledgeable volunteer. While there were a plethora of kittens to meet (fortunately/unfortunately?), we kept returning to a 3.5-month old extroverted black floof and his brother-from-another-mother, a 3-month old, blind ginger cat. We were already planning on indoor only and with the volunteers/staff guidance, we felt confident bringing a special needs pet home. On November 30, we celebrated one whole year since Magellan (now Sirius Black Cat) and Red (now Alastor Mad-Eye Moody Cat) adopted us. They both love each other a whole lot and so do we. If you are thinking about adopting a kitten, just do it. While you're at it, adopt two! If you are unable to adopt a pet at this time, consider making a donation to support all of the animals who are here waiting patiently for their forever homes. ((The post-adoption communication is what keeps my review at four stars. We received adoption confirmation e-mails with explicit instructions to contact them if we had any questions. I e-mailed twice and never heard back. While I am well aware that non-profit/public agencies often have overwhelming workloads, maybe don't encourage communication unless someone will actually be able to respond.)) read more

I have been here numerous times asking for help with stray moms with kittens in my neighborhood. They refuse to take in healthy moms with kittens. I am on waiting list to spay two females that is 5 months behind! Referred to 10 nonprofits with Zero Resources. Today I was told to just put them all outside my home to fend for themselves or pay for services from a private vet. Is this a county organization with no humane answers? I feel as frustrated and abandoned as a stray cat read more

These people are straight up animal murderers. We were having windows replaced at our house and our cat got out during the day and picked up by animal control. He was chipped so we got a call. I went to pick him up at this 'shelter', but the woman refused to even let me see him because I have a different last name than my wife. Imagine, for a moment, trying to prove that you're married to the woman registered on the chip to a government worker with a massive chip on her shoulder. Same address on my ID, didn't matter to her. My wife is a school teacher and isn't available to just pick up her cell phone during the day. I mean, clearly I was trying to kidnap this cat according to this employee! I leave. My wife calls first thing the next morning. "Oh we're sorry - your cat is dead." These people murdered our cat out of spite, God as my witness. read more

I went to the shelter today for help with the puppy that has been biting us, and the lady behind the counter threatened that she was going to have me arrested by her animal control service officer because I wouldn't give her the address of where the puppy was. She was rude, combative, and tried to place her authority over me. No wonder why they are a kill shelter! Their own staff are not friendly at all to community people. Don't go there with questions or ask for help! They will threaten to take your animal and arrest you. read more

I came here because I've been wanting to adopt a dog into my household with 2 cats for awhile now. First impression - beautiful, clean facility. The staff member that called my number was helpful with finding a dog that fits my criteria. From the get-go I told her I have 2 cats. Then it goes downhill from there... I really wanted to meet Maple. She seemed like a very sweet girl and a great match for me from what the staffs were telling me from her history, field trips and walks. After all the great stories, the staffs found every excuse and even ignored my request when it came to meeting Maple. I was told that there is no one available to take the dog out (although there were dog walkers working and the couple that came after me took a dog out just minutes before and 2 staff sitting in the same office on their phones)... that she is dog reactive... that she is very energetic... that there are other dogs (Seniors) to see (mind you I was not interested in) Why tell me all these great things about Maple to stomp on my hopes of even meeting her?? I understood that she is dog reactive but the dog walkers mentioned she paid absolutely no attention to the stray cats around the area. Dog reactive is NOT cat reactive or aggressive. Give these shelter pets a better chance to find their forever homes, turning people down like this and ignoring our requests diminishes their chance of finding a home. Do your jobs and try harder for these animals! I am very upset and disappointed with my experience here. read more

Proceed with caution if you are considering fostering here. It is an under staffed, overworked shelter. It felt like they just wanted to push out the animals onto anyone without preparation, education, or care. We did not have any background on the kittens, and we were given supplies that were not suitable for their age. If you want to keep long time fosters, do better. It was honestly a horrible experience for first time fosters, even though we watched all the videos we were told to watch and spent our own money trying to keep the kittens alive. We did not have an emergency number to call, and they lacked communication. Sadly, the three kittens that we put our heart into all died within 6 days, and we never even got all our foster papers signed. read more

I paid for my dog's license TWICE last year. TWICE. Once in January and again in August after I got another notice that his license needed to be updated. Unfortunately for me, Contra Costa County Animal Services failed to let me know that my dog's rabies vaccination expired in August, so when it came time to renew his DG permit and license this year, I told them I had already paid for it TWICE - January and August of 2021. Both payments were $27 each and I even sent them screenshots of receipts and bank statements. Well today they finally informed me that his rabies vaccination was expired (his shots were done there at the shelter and I insisted they look it up because I hadn't gotten a notice about the expiration, so I didn't know if they had expired or not) and because everything was due by 1/3/22, I was officially late today, so now I need to pay a $120 late fee. WTF? Every year, it's the same thing with this shelter. They don't give notices on time or don't send anything at all, then YOU get stuck paying late fees that are caused by their incompetence. Contra Costa County Animal Services is a joke. It's probably the worst county run system in CCC. read more

My family went in together to meet a cat we saw on the website a couple weeks ago. Tim, a volunteer, was telling us about this cat and listening about the senior dog we already have at home. Tim described the cat we wanted honestly and that cat was not a great fit for our home. The first cat Tim suggested to us was not the color we were looking for, but we fell in love with this cat. We adopted Jack, now "Jack Muffins, Private Investigator". The nicest cat, as several staff and volunteers pointed out. Jack gets along with my dog and they're already sharing toys. Jack likes to make bunkers out of my dogs pee pads and is so playful with the kids. The shelter prepared us very well for Jack's health history too, with meds and special diet instructions that work great for Jack. Our handsome special boy. read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - Jack Muffins, PI - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

We were able to adopt a lost microchipped cat that had an owner looking for it. We had her for a week and loved her a lot when at our first vet visit come to find out if the shelter had bothered to scan the microchip they would have reunited the kitty with the owner. The owner was never called about their kitty. When we went and confronted the front desk at the shelter, they claimed the chip was never registered. How was it my private vet was able to find the owners info in two minutes while you had the cat for two weeks and the chip never worked for you? When I wanted to file an official complaint, I was told we would have to refund our adoption fee and then charge the owner $300 for boarding (when they never contacted her in the first place!), only after that could we file a complaint. However much it was our legal right to keep the kitty, we couldn't do that as it was clear the kitty and owner loved each other a lot. I would be very wary of anyone who wants to adopt from this shelter. Try Community Cares 4 Cats. read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

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DISCLAIMER: this post contains content that describes scenes of transphobia. Read with care that this content is sensitive in nature. None of this is meant to shock or dissuade you from going to the Martinez Animal Hospital, rather inform you of a situation me and my friend experienced this weekend. MEETING THE CATS: was a wonderful experience!! They had us speak with volunteers about possible cat matches, their details, health, history, and personalities. We then filled out a quick form, took less than a minute to read and fill out, in regards to interacting with the cats at the shelter. The volunteers, especially Mary, were very knowledgeable about the cats and were firm but friendly coaches in how to approach and interact with the cats. They were super supportive throughout the entire process and gave words of affirmations in regards to every cat they interacted with, seeing the unique qualities in each cat. THE TRANS-ACTION: They insisted it wasn't because he was trans, which would obviously be illegal so it makes sense they claimed it wasn't because he's trans. Instead, they blamed in on the fact that his debit card still had his dead name and his driver's license has his current name. They said if he was "responsible," he would have changed his name across every platform. They don't understand how long of a process it takes to get your name changed on every platform, and they obviously didn't care if the card was ACTUALLY stolen because they never reported it or anything. We have been coming to this animal shelter for years now and never faced this issue in the past. When I told the workers this, they said the previous workers must not have been doing their job correctly to have missed this kind of thing. They then accused him, my friend, of having stolen his aunt's credit card or having committed IDENTIFY FRAUD?!?! Super rude accusations, all by this one person with short hair and glasses who was working behind the counter. They were helping a trainee that day who has long eye lashes and blonde hair. I felt bad for the trainee because they had to just listen to this person go on and on about how my friend wasn't "doing this the right way." When I said that I could pay for my friend and that he could venmo me later, they said, "Well he isn't even here, he can't get the cat anymore." I said, "He's in the parking lot." They asked, "Why?" I said, "Crying!" They LAUGHED and asked, "Why is he even crying?" I got aggravated by this and raised my voice to say, "This is a frustrating situation!" to which they of course continued to condescend me about how he wasn't prepared to even own a cat. I demanded what next steps we needed to take to continue the process, which they finally decided to give us instructional next steps. My friend is an experienced cat owner and I was ready to defend him to the end. They said to get my friend and come back so we could complete the transaction, which I did and we came home with Tiny Dancer. ‍ That whole experience took TWO HOURS: in the past we were in and out in under an hour, but that day we faced misunderstandings and lectures that doubled our time there. I was left shaking and on the brink of tears when another staff member, from the veterinarian care team, came up to us to explain the procedure for administering medications to our old guy. I couldn't be happier with our match, but the discrimination we faced along the way left me reeling with disbelief. I wish we were treated with more sensitivity and kindly educated through the process from the beginning. We still got the cat, but the damage had been done. ‍FOR ANY TRANS FOLKS OR FOLKS WITH COMPLICATED NAMES: try to pay in cash. It'll save you the hassle of facing underhanded bigotry. read more

What a wonderful group of people here at this shelter! My hat (if I were to ever wear one) goes off to these hard working individuals. This was my first pet I ever picked out from the shelter, and I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful, friendly and easy going all the employees and volunteers were to make my experiance picking out my pet kitty a positive one. I know I've said this already, but please support your local shelters. There have so many displaced animals, especially in our lacking economy that there are tons of kitties needing homes. My little guy, known as Boots for now, got dumped off here because he family was moving and he was left behind. He's a little skiddish still, but I think he just needs a little bit more convincing that he's got a permanent home now. Thank you again to the employees and volunteers here at CCCAS, I can tell that you all truely care about your jobs and the wonderful work that you all do! read more

Contra Costa Animal Services - My "Boots" :) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Martinez, California

I don't usually review bad businesses but will this time. If I could give a negative 20 or more I would. To summarize the below. They did absolutely nothing to help rehome a very special dog with needs from an elderly couple that does not have the needs to spend on helping him because it was over the 30 days since he was adopted. We wanted to give him the best chance possible and it took way more than 30 days to figure out him and his issues. This is absolutely disgusting to me. My retired parents wanted to adopt a dog they could take everywhere with them especially since they are out and about all the time. They adopted a dog that was previously returned. They were not told why he was returned which is fine. He was also not neutered yet at the time and he is about 1.5 years old. They received a neuter date of 30 days out. He also had kennel cough which our family vet helped take care of. This is where the problem comes in. We saw that he had behavioral issues but wanted to give him the best chance possible. We hoped that it would get better after he was neutered and after we got him some training. We have 2 five year old cats one of which is special needs. We understood it would take some time for them to get used to each other. We were very dedicated to this little pup and once he was neutered we took him to 2 different trainers. Turns out he is terrified of humans and dogs and basically everything and needs a lot of help. My parents don't have the monetary recourses to spend thousands on his training. He must have gone through something awful before us. Because of this my parents can't take him anywhere because he is terrified and barks at everything so he is just stuck at home alone all day. He also freaks out when people come to the house which is often. I reached out to the shelter explaining the situation and to get help with finding a better fit for him. They basically said it's past the 30 days in the adoption contract figure it out. Mind you there was no way we could have evaluated him in just 30 days as we really wanted to give him the best chance possible. I was appalled that they wouldn't help rehome a pup that was adopted there by an elderly couple. I am actually ashamed at them. Obviously we love this little guy but wanted to find a home where he would be happier and/or find someone that had experience with such a special pup. I would never ever recommend them as a place to adopt from. I can't explain enough how disgusted and disappointed I am with their responses for help. read more