We adopted our beautiful dog (named Suki, previously known as Courtney) from Copper's Dream Animal Rescue. Our experience with Copper's Rescue was the opposite of the negative one-star reviewers. Instead, here is our experience:
1. We contacted Copper's Rescue about meeting various dogs and received an email within an hour. Our contact was Jennifer.
2. After numerous emails with Jennifer where she responded promptly (usually within an hour and sometimes in real time), Jennifer recommended possible dogs that may be a good match. Ultimately, we met Suki.
3. Suki's foster mom clearly had Suki's best interest in mind, yet still pointed out both Suki's strengths and weaknesses. Her foster mom had some concerns about us (I think she thought we were inexperienced). But, Jennifer only cared that we provide a loving home.
4. Although Suki rocked, her foster mom only had her for one week, so we were worried that Suki may have unknown issues (as strange behavior may later manifest, plus with a 9-year old, we wanted to make sure Suki could handle a rambunctious kid). I asked Jennifer if we could foster-to-adopt . Although this was not her preference, she worked with us and gave us this option. She took a chance on us.
5. We took Suki home the following day and, admittedly, we did not receive her medical documents for another day, but Suki's vaccinations were up to date and she was perfectly healthy. Being anal, we took her to the vet for a wellness check. Vets are not cheap. Our vet bill was over $400 (we picked a vet in our Inner Sunset neighborhood rather than an associated vet listed on Copper's Rescue website). In any event, the $400-plus vet bill was for the wellness checkup, micro-chipping, heart-worm testing (Suki had no heart worms), prophylactic heart worm medication (to ensure no heart worms in the future), and flea/tick medication (note, buy this at Costco--much cheaper). I certainly did not expect Copper's Rescue to cover this costs. I much rather they use their funds to rescue more dogs.
6. Jennifer also let me keep Suki's sleeping crate for a few days, gave me Suki's dog food, and offered advice on how to keep Suki from barking during the day (when we left her in the yard because we were worried she'd go potty in the house). Turns out Suki is an indoor dog when home alone.
7. As for Suki: the best dog. So sweet, so loving, so smart. Not destructive, not mean, not aggressive. She also has the most loving hound-dog eyes ever (although she is mostly lab).
For us, Copper's Rescue was fabulous. I have to say that the complaints about their nonrefundable adoption fee offend me. One look at Copper's website makes it pretty obvious that they save dogs from high-kill shelters. So you're out a few hundred bucks, but look at the number of dogs they rescue and think about the costs in both time and money that commitment requires from the volunteers. I thank Copper's Rescue for saving our Suki. I can't imagine that she could have been sentenced to death at a shelter simply because they had no room. Instead, thanks to Copper's, Suki is sitting at my feet, periodically looking up at me and wagging her tail as I write this review. Keep up the good work Copper's Rescue. You're on our annual donation list. read more