Great experience with the staff, facility, and of course the animals! You can tell they take the adoption process seriously and great consideration. I'm happy to say we've had a successful adoption of an adorable kitten! read more

Friends For Life - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was looking for a bunny friend for my bunny. Heather said that I couldn't adopt a bunny bc I rehomed puppies I got for my son to keep my bunny safe. The logic just isnt there with her so I guess ill go to a breeder. Best advice if you want an animal from here. LIE LIE LIE on the adoption application bc honesty will get you nothing here. read more

You can't see any animals unless you make an appointment. You also have to fill out an application.

I stopped by for the food bank and was helped by a heavyset woman with short hair, who I think was the director. Anywho, it was a wonderful experience. The reason for the 2 stars is that the location and the inside Looked a bit rundown. read more

I took the time to enter an app online for a specific cat - snickerdoodle- that my daughter fell in love with during several visits to the pet store but never heard back from them. I have heard that they can be difficult to work with. And I don't do unreturned requests. read more

First off it was not completely bad, they seemed pretty nice before I got there. Whoever runs adoptions is crazy and looks at people like she the hottest thing walking and will be rude if she doesn't see things going her way in a conversation. Then I was told by the foster while walking to see the dog which they could've told me all this extra stuff before I made a way to come, got dressed, ate my cereal, ran errands etc. we get there the foster says only one minute before we actually meet him" he's one of the worst puppies we've had. I was shocked like whoa, ok, does he bite? then the guy was saying he pulls on leash and some other things, now I examined this dog's picture a millio0n times who was in fact a small baby puppy (in the pictures) ....I got dog fished!!!! not catfished, dog fished!!! this dog had a graduate degree and knew all you need to know a huge puppy that basically was grown and wanted to run the show. I didn't know whether to run or laugh, so I did both. Please stop lying to potential adopters, that is not cute. read more

I want to start by saying THANK YOU!!! To FFL for helping me out with food for my dog. She had just had puppies and needed an unexpected C-section & spay. The expense putting me a little behind and FFL Really came through for my babies. Not only that I explained to them that I was having issues with the puppy bottles I bought online and they provided one with extra nipples to help me out. You guys are doing amazing work KEEP IT UP read more

Friends For Life - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

As mentioned in reviews from fosters prior to mine, the way this organization treats its volunteers is VASTLY different than any other rescue I've worked with in the past, and NOT in a good way. Bottom line: This shelter will probably be your best friend until they realize they can't abuse the situation for their profit anymore. The shelter's public statements (on their website, on media interviews, etc) indicate that they pay for ALL medical treatment, including emergencies. Contracts they send potential Fosters privately, however, contradict that: Fosters are required to neuter/spay the animal at their own expense plus have the rabies vaccination PRIOR to the animal entering their program. The shelter's foster contract also states that ANY emergency medical care needed will be paid for by the FOSTER. Friends for Life placed the dog's health in significant danger multiple times by either their direct action or inaction, including (but not limited to) prescribing him prescriptions without a physical examination. My own vet stated that this could have had disastrous and possibly fatal results to the dog by prescribing medications that they should not have, based on his history. There are multiple instances of this shelter not taking the dog's safety and well-being into consideration. There is also little communication. I had to make multiple phone calls and send many emails to get any follow-up for anything, and forget it if you think they're going to keep you in the loop regarding your foster dog's applicants' status. What few emails you do receive are snarky and rude. Their over-glorified behavior program is a joke. They like to brag that they have a sophisticated and vibrant behavioral program, but what little help I did receive was sporadic and what little advice the trainers did impart, I could have learned by reading a book like "Beginner Dog Training for Dummies." I could go on and on with other examples of this shelter's failings. On the adoption side, things get even worse. Once you receive any adoption contract from this shelter, please read it carefully. The adoption contract I received stated that Friends For Life had every right to "repossess" the animal if I failed to obey every term in the contract, plus levy me with a $5,000 fine. The contract demanded I take time out of my schedule to attend weekly classes with my dog until THEY deemed MY dog well-behaved enough. So, if I go on vacation and miss a training class, I would be in breach of contract, allowing them to not only take my dog but also force me to pay $5,000. I have been rescuing, fostering, and adopting for almost 20 years, and this is my first (and last) experience with Friends For Life. I'm sure we can mutually agree "good riddance" to each other, but in the end, I wish that they had put the dog's well-being and happiness as high on the priority list that I have. read more

I have worked with the staff at FFL to help foster a sweet older lady cat. They have been nothing but courteous throughout the process. From what I've seen, they care a lot about the animals they're saving and do a job in the community that many of us do not want or are even able to do. I cannot vouch for the adoption program since I have not adopted an animal through the shelter. read more

I adopted my fur baby from this rescue in 2017. During the interview process, they really listened to the type of animal I was looking to adopt and what would fit my lifestyle and home environment. They were very supportive during the application process as well as the first few months after adoption. read more

Negative stars if possible. I just moved to The Heights and my outdoor cat went outside of our community gate. Someone turned her in to Friends for Life. I tracked her down and called to retrieve her. I was called an "animal abuser" for allowing a declawed cat outdoors--and told they will not be returning her to me. Stunned, I said I've had her for 15 years. Katie, the staffer, argued that she's 7-8 years old. She said that she was spayed and adjusting. I exclaimed, "She was spayed 15 years ago! I have her medical records!" I spoke to the executive director who denied that she was spayed but still told me I couldn't have her back because I had her declawed. (I regret it but I can't undo what's been done 15 years ago). My vet was furious and called on my behalf. The executive director flat out LIED to me and claimed my cat did not have surgery. However, the woman who took my cat to this shelter said they required her to get a rabies shot, an exam and get spayed prior to admittance into the program. She said they have the receipt as proof. And sure enough, when I finally got my cat released to me, the poor baby had a shaved tummy with a scar. She's 15 years old!! So who's the animal abuser?! read more

Your application is taking so long because their application department is busy arguing and instigating with people who already said no they aren't interested in following mindless unnecessary stipulations. If these people would have just taken my first "thanks, but no." As a no they could be free of an ADDITIONAL bad reviews, but these are crusaders with a bone to pick even with people who aren't interested in joining them. The interview process was absolutely pointless the interviewer would just cut me off and tell me to answer yes or no. These people make absolutely no effort to build a relationship with potential adopters, but they sure do feel like they get to run your whole life. Avoid this place at all cost I'm afraid one of these weirdos is going to harass us in real life since they of course have all our information. Stay safe and keep away. read more

*WARNING* NOT DISABLE FRIENDLY I've been looking for a German Shepherd to become my service dog. I need a large breed for mobility. I found a puppy on there site I thought would may a good. I was basically told I was not good enough to even meet any of their dogs. read more

A racket. Don Sanders would be so upset if he knew how they treat potential owners. They have a little sorority of employees who feel very powerful. I attempted to adopt an adorable dog that had been there for TWO YEARS. After filling out voluminous paperwork and making several visits to the facility to meet and greet with the dog, then meet with her foster mom and then meet with her behavioralist -- I asked to bring the dog home. I was declined because I was "anxious to get her home". WHAT? She had been through enough and needed a permanent home. I have since talked to numerous potential adopters who were treated similarly. It's not all about the animals... read more

This animal shelter is amazing. Not only are they no-kill, but you can truly see how much they care about animals simply by interacting with them and visiting their location. I had originally just wanted to be a foster parent for cats and kittens, but ended up falling in love with our foster kitten. Needless to say, we ended up adopting her within two short weeks of having her. All throughout the process, the FFL staff was happy to assist us with any questions or concerns we had. I actively emailed Megan and Stephanie many times over the course of pending adoption and not once were they annoyed or frustrated with my questions. While their adoption fees are quite higher than other shelters, I honestly do not mind. Like I said, you can tell how much they care for animals. The adoption fees go towards all the animals they care for....whether it be food, medicine, or anything else they might need! If you do adopt a kitten/puppy that is under 4 months of age, you will be asked to put a $250 deposit down to make sure they are neutered/spayed. Upon showing FFL proof of this, your $250 will be refunded. Adopt, don't shop! read more

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This week I applied to adopt a puppy and a cat. They interviewed me. It seemed like everything was going okay. But today they sent me an email telling me that they denied me the adoption because I would take the dog to Mexico when I visit my family. They claim than I would need the records of all the animals that would come into contact with the puppy. But how is this posible?There is no way for anyone to confirm vaccination status or medical records of dogs that would come into contact with their dogs at dog parks, neighborhood, and apartment complexes. It doesn't make sense. Their decision to deny me is unfounded. It makes me feel profiled because I'm Hispanic and would take the puppy with me to visit my family in Mexico. Truly sad. read more

Love the volunteers and everything FFL. We appreciate the thorough adoption process because you know..there are just too many people who shouldn't have kids and pets and ended up with them. We adopted Chase (now Venchi Fudge) a few months ago and couldn't be happier about with the service. From the detailed explanation on puppy behaviors to be expected and training guidance, we found all to be very useful. The puppy kindergarten was extremely helpful and fun for both humans and pups- great way to socialize your pup! Seriously, if you are in the market for a furry friend, please stop by FFL and adopt. Thank you FFL for everything! #adoptdontshop read more

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Employee was rude and slammed the door in our face mid sentence trying to ask about booking an appointment. Will not be returning and will be adopting elsewhere! Extremely unfriendly staff read more

I adopted my sweet Martha from FFL in July. I have to point out how kind and thorough the employees and volunteers were with us. The facility is clean and great too! read more

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My family and I tried to adopt 2 kittens a few months ago. We live in the neighborhood and figured this would be a positive way to support a local foundation. We've donated food and medical supplies in the past. We filled out a lengthy intake form, and then were formally interviewed by a stoic faced woman. Because I checked on the form that the cats would be indoor/outdoor cats the interviewer curtly responded that "this interview was now over" and got up and walked away without further explanation. My husband and child were perplexed. Did we say something wrong?? I checked that box because I figured in the normal lifespan of a cat that they would go outside at some point. We have a beautiful porch and fenced yard for the animals and thought it would be a perfect fit. They were looking for the answer "indoor cat only" but didn't explain this to us or give us a chance to adjust. It felt like as weed out system. But why so harsh? These animals need loving homes. Overall, it is an unwelcoming environment which saddens me because I have such a soft spot for animals. We will be looking for a new shelter to support. read more

Thank you to FFL for recently helping a senior cat whose owner had passed away. The staff was very kind and they immediately starting arranging the medical attention she needed. They let me know her status and even invited me to stop by to visit her! They were very happy to answer any questions I had and the process of getting her into their care was very well organized. Thank you for making such a positive difference in this senior girl's life!!! read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed FFL sooner! Last year when we found a dog Friends for Life really helped us when BARC was going to put him down. We fostered him until he was adopted and FFL provided us with supplies and offered training. We had to go away one weekend and they were very flexible and boarded him. He was adopted after about 4 weeks. After seeing first hand how bad the need is for no kill resources in this city, we decided to do our part and become fosters. FFL gave us everything we needed (food, toys, crate, etc..) and after she was adopted we received a hand written thank you note from the staff. I have to disagree with some other reviewers that they don't care. Everyone I have worked with is 100% committed to the success of these adoptions. They interview all prospective owners and look for a good fit, not just anyone who will take the dog. They even allow you to do a sleepover up to a week just to be sure it's going to work for everyone. It was a rewarding experience and we decided to continue fostering with a new dog. He was extremely shy at first but the volunteer told me how much time they spent just going in to sit with him and then hand feeding him, and then finally he allowed himself to be pet. I will say it again - the volunteers here are awesome. We've only had him about a week but he is seriously the most affectionate dog now. I'm sure he will be adopted in no time and we will continue to foster another dog, and another, and another until we save the world. Or you know, something like that :-) I want to quickly address a comment another reviewer made that going to the humane society is the root. FFL takes dogs that the humane society would kill. It says on their website that 75% of the animals in the program were considered unadoptable. That was the case with the dog we found and fostered (who was basically the sweetest dog ever). So yes, you can go to the humane society and I encourage you to adopt from wherever rather than buy a pet, but it's not the same thing. If you can, I encourage you to become a foster, donate your time as a volunteer, or even do something as small as purchase an item off their Amazon wishlist. FFL is an amazing organization that provides a much needed service to the Houston community. read more

Friends For Life - Our first foster dog, Hammy, who was going to be put down by BARC. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was able to adopt two older cats from there and a friend said they were a rare breed called Turkish Van or in his homeland Turkey, Van Kedisi, my brother and sister pair are both fixed and very healthy the good part about Friends For Life is they look at the adopter as much as the adoptee to see that any animal adopted there is going to a forever home and will be cared for as much as they have. I recommend if your thinking of adopting to do the "Noah" thing that is get two so if you are not there all the time that they have a playmate, so that your pet is not lonely or destructive when by itself. The other thing about the pair is they like water and I have seen Utube videos of Vans willingly getting in a pool to swim. The other thing is Friend For Life is a no-Kill Shelter that is the best reason if looking for a pet, to look there. read more

I fostered and adopted my Chihuahua, Bebe Butters, from Friends For Life and am forever grateful/greatful for the fun-loving and enriching experience. Friends For Life saves animals and is a No Kill shelter, non-profit organization. They have a volunteer, Lisa, there who is like the Dog Whisperer. She gave me a ton of support along with the founder Salise, since I was a first-time fosterer/adopter and Bebe Butters needed medical care. Friends For Life has a new, contemporary location in the Historic Heights that opened April 4, 2009. Eric and Brooke Summers-Perry created gorgeous and unique architectural designs in the 3,000 square foot center that are state-of-the-art functional. Whimsical art hangs on the gallery walls and proceeds from the paintings are donated to the adoption center. There are some art pieces painted by the shelter animals! They have a non-proft retail storefront with fun toys and pet-related goodies. The cats have a playroom where they watch cat TV, and the dogs have an indoor air-conditioned area reminiscent of a Heights front porch for lounging outdoors and visiting neighbors. 246 West 19th Street Houston, TX 77008 info@adoptfriends4life.com (713) 861-9500 info@adoptfriends4life.org Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays--Noon to 6:00 PM Sundays--Noon to 5:00 PM MOBILE ADOPTION LOCATION PetSmart Adoption Center 2902 S. Shepherd @ Alabama Houston, Texas 77098 (713) 520-7917 Tuesdays - Thursdays--5:00 to 8:00 PM Saturdays and Sundays-- Noon to 5:00 PM Adopt a pet and save a soul! read more

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I've fostered one animal who was successfully adopted, and I'm currently fostering another one from the Friends for Life shelter. The first cat I ever fostered had special needs, and it was so heartwarming to see the shelter do everything in their power to give her the best life possible and to find her a good home. This shelter is so good to their foster parents. They provided me with the cat food, the bowls, the litter box, the litter, toys, nail clippers, medication, everything! All free of charge. At one point I decided to switch my current foster cat's diet to a grain-free, wet food diet that is high in protein because it is healthier for her. However, it's also pricier. I started purchasing it with my own money because I figured they wouldn't have that available at the shelter. However, once I told Megan that I was doing this, she told me that they did have that type of food and that I could have it! Megan also knows that I always use the clumping type of litter, so she made sure to set some aside for me when the donations came in. They are very accommodating. All my emails are responded to very promptly and they're always very nice and polite. I can tell that they genuinely care about their animals. read more

This will be the second time we have tried to adopt from Friends for Life. We have never been denied, but we have always felt othered by their staff, and never actually been given the opportunity to adopt. We have a healthy boxer who is turning two in a few months, and we are interested in getting him a sister. I don't understand why the concept of adopting a rescue has to be so difficult. (A. A dog needs a loving home, B. we have a loving home, therefore 3. we adopt the dog.) It's almost like they enjoy turning people away, because it makes them feel exclusive...? Meanwhile there's animals living in shelters. It's heartbreaking. We don't know what else to do besides look elsewhere for another sister for our furry baby boy. We are certain this is not an isolated event, as this is the SECOND interaction we've had with Friends for Life. I hate saying this, but are we too brown for them? read more

We adopted our pup from FFL. From The very beginning everyone we interacted was so supportive and a pleasure to work with. We have 2 young boys and thought it was time to give them a buddy. We visited other shelters but found the facilities not well kept and all the animals seemed so depressed. But upon entering FFL we immediately noticed the difference. We were greeted warmly and then Gaby showed us the puppies. We picked out 2 we wanted to play with and were led to the back for some one on one play time. Long story short, we have a happy pup at home and are so glad we decided to adopt from a no kill center. Definitely recommend this shelter to anyone looking for your "forever friend" read more

Friends For Life - Puppy love - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

Thanks f4l for giving me the chance to meet my baby she was named Scrabble but Im calling heI June now. read more

Friends For Life - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Our new kittens Holly (the calico, formerly Angelica) and Frida (the black kitten, formerly Clara) are doing well in their new home with us! My husband and I decided to adopt after my beloved childhood cat of 21 years passed away this summer. After we adopted Holly, we took FFL's recommendation to adopt a second kitten so they could grow and learn from one another. We are happy to report that our lives have changed in so many wonderful ways since Holly and Frida joined our home. We have two rambunctious and sweet little kittens who always greet us as soon as we get home and keep us entertained with their playfulness. While Holly is more independent and has established herself as the big sister, Frida is a lap cat who loves to purr and snuggle. They love to take long snoozes together after chasing each other around the apartment for hours. We love getting to know them more every single day as they make us laugh and melt our hearts. FFL made the process of adoption so fun and easy; we were able to take our time making sure the kittens were a perfect fit for us (and us for them), all our questions were answered, and we never felt rushed. FFL staff members were able to tell us about their stories before arriving at the rescue and answer medical questions we had. We learned that both had been fostered before the adoption; while we don't know the families who fostered Holly and Frida, we're forever grateful for the amazing care they received in their first formative months that count so much in a kitten's development. Our kittens wouldn't be the way they are without such compassionate care from the very beginning. When interacting with the kittens at FFL, we could tell these two were ours almost immediately. Both Holly and Frida definitely chose us, and we're so glad they did. read more

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My sweet 13 year old cat died and we were all so sad. After some time we were ready to open our home to another cat in need of a family. Our four year old cat, Leia, was lonely and missing her friend. So we went to Friends For Life. We first laid eyes on Alice when I was standing in the room looking at all of the beautiful cats. I felt something on my feet and there she was. She rubbed against my leg and then sat down on me feet and stayed there for some time. We learned that Alice and her three kittens had been found and taken to BARC. FFL brought Alice and her kittens to FFL to give them care and to give them a chance for a new home. Alice was spayed not long after her arrival, and we learned that her kittens were adopted very quickly. FFL has very good veterinarians and continued to check on her while she was in their care. Soon after we met Alice and said we wanted her, she developed ringworm on her nose and an upper respiratory infection. FFL wanted to care for her before we brought her home. Alice was treated for her issues and FFL made sure I was educated about the process Alice needed to go through. She was examined multiple times after she was all clear before we were able to bring her home. My family and Leia never developed any ringworm and she has been 100% clear of any more URI's and ringworm ever since. They were diligent and caring and Alice was in great shape when we finally got her. Our veterinarian made a point to say during her first exam just how beautiful her coat was and that she could tell that FFL had taken exceptional care of her. She purred through the whole exam and the vet had to quiet her to be able to hear her heart and listen to her lungs! That also told me that Alice was handled and loved well at FFL. She's still that way at the vet Now, Alice is home and has made friends with all of us and very quickly relaxed. This all just makes me so happy. She and Leia are still figuring out their relationship most days, but Alice is persistent to groom Leia and try to snuggle with her. She flops belly up in front of Leia all if the time to try to woo her. Leia obliges sometimes and they play tag almost every day. I highly recommend Friends For Life if you're looking to adopt. Their care, both medically and emotionally, is exceptional towards the animals there, and their care for us as prospective adopters was wonderful. They really know the animals and love them like their own. Alice transitioned so well from our sleep over to a full-time family member. Thank you so much, Friends For Life! read more

Friends For Life - Alice - Animal Shelters Near Me - Houston, Texas

EDIT: Changed to 1 star. These conmen deserve nothing but scrutiny for their horrid attitudes and questionable actions. This is the worst shelter experience I've had yet, but that wasn't how it was at first. I was prescribed an ESA by my psychiatrist in early September, so I searched for Siamese cats since I've had one before. Keep in mind, I am a college student who lives on-campus, so this wasn't exactly the easiest task for me. I went to MANY rescues, and all of them had the same response - "you can't care for a cat in a dorm, moving is stressful for cats, and you might abandon the cat if you realize it's too difficult to care for etc, you're denied". It was extremely discouraging, and I nearly turned to buying a cat instead several times. By the way, I only have 11 hours of classes per week, so it's not like I didn't have enough time to spend caring for a cat. I would NEVER leave a cat alone overnight or longer than 4 hours at a time. I also do a good job keeping the cat's box/living space clean, play with the cat, feed/water it adequately, and provide it entertainment, so to be treated like an ignorant child by all of these rescues was incredibly frustrating. After a while I finally stumbled upon FFL and emailed them an application. I was surprised to find that they had accepted me! The lady who communicated with me via-email was also understanding and responded quickly. I went in for my interview 2 weeks ago, and the adoption counselor who conducted it was also very accepting and understanding of my situation. They approved me, and I played with some of the kittens before leaving. The facility is clean and the cat rooms didn't smell at all. On last Thursday (9/29) I returned to FFL after hearing about an adult lynx-point Siamese cat named Lucy. She was cute & friendly, so I figured she was the perfect ESA for me. I took her back to my dorm on a sleepover, excited to see what she had to offer. Also, a friendly volunteer helped me build my carrier, which I appreciate & dedicate the only star of this review to. Except things went completely south. She was a nice cat, yes, but since the first day I took her in, she had been showing symptoms of a respiratory infection. She was coughing, sneezing, wheezing, being lethargic, ignoring treats/food, and she had sick-looking eyes. After her symptoms didn't improve, I took her back to FFL to be checked on. Good GOD was I not prepared for the sh*tstorm I didn't even know I was about to enter. I brought Lucy back to the shelter, and along with the front desk staff seeming apathetic, the wellness manager just rushed Lucy off into the back room without saying much. I stood there and stared at the Siamese kittens they had, unable to play lest they catch Lucy's sickness. The WM comes back with a bottle of medicine and explained to me that Lucy had ALREADY BEEN TREATED BEFORE for this SAME SICKNESS. She told me that since the symptoms have returned, it's likely that the sickness is a chronic thing and not just a one-time illness. I was understandably upset, I mean, seriously - these people just tried to adopt me a SICK ANIMAL without even telling me so from the start. That's some shady behavior right there... I should've known when they refused to show me Lucy's medical records until I finalized the adoption. I asked for an adoption counselor because I wasn't interested in Lucy anymore after they had done that to me, and I wanted one of the Siamese kittens instead. Lo and behold, said counselor starts accusing me of being an ignorant pet owner, saying stuff about how I should expect animals to get sick every once in a while. Of COURSE I know that. The issue is that 1) y'all hid things from me, and 2) she's not just sick one time, she's chronically ill. As a student I simply don't have the time to care for a chronically ill animal, I have to deal with that enough being a chronically ill /person/! At this point the counselor became belligerent, trying to play mind games with me, asking me things such as "well if you can't care for a chronically ill animal, what makes you think you can care for a kitten? kittens require many trips to the vet for shots and have weaker immune systems than adults. you don't sound financially sound enough for a kitten.". I told her, again, money isn't the issue, my time/transportation is. She still didn't seem to get it. My mom, an experienced vet tech, defends me and explains my situation further. The counselor then gets SHOCKINGLY condescending towards her, and says "well if you're a vet tech then why don't you know these things?". SO unprofessional. I couldn't believe it. I ended up leaving Lucy because I just can't deal with a chronically ill animal. I nearly left crying because of how bad they made me, a disabled person just looking for an ESA, feel. Most of these people are liars, disrespectful, uncaring, & do shady business. You're better off going to a different shelter unless you like being upset and treated like crap. read more

These people are absolutely insane and make it impossible to adopt a pet. I rent my home and they want to call my landlord. LIKE WHAT??? I adopted a 10 year old yorkie that had been abused and he is thriving in my care. I agreed to an at home interview but do I have to give up a child as well in order to adopt a pet? I get there are bad people out there but if you are willing to let people come to your home, that should be a good indication that you will take care of the animal. Luckily, there are a lot of other animals who need a home. Stay away from this place. read more

Amazing organization that took in a stray dog that I found roaming around in the middle of the street. They immediately cared for him, gave him shots and items for me to foster him for a couple days. The little pup is happy and healthy and it's all thanks to Friends for Life. I would highly recommend them if you're a trustworthy adopter looking for a forever pet. read more

Last year, I came to Houston for a house-hunting trip. We had 48 hours. We stayed with my brothers-in-law at their place in the Heights. I went out early on a cold, rainy Saturday morning for a run. As I returned to their block, past a row of derelict houses, I saw a skinny, scared brindle-colored boxer mix that began to tentatively follow me. She would get close, then get nervous and back away. She looked pathetic and cold in the rain. I went back to the house, put on a jacket, and my wife and I went to look for her, armed with turkey cold cuts. We spotted her near the derelict houses, got out of the car, and tried to coax her toward us. It was then that a loud, middle-aged man saw us and began shouting, "Y'all get that dog outa here. She nuttin' but trouble!" He didn't have to tell us twice. She shrunk away from him and into our backseat. We fed her and kept her in the garage, while we were out trying to find a place to live when we were to move a few weeks later. Meanwhile I searched Yelp for no kill shelters in the area. No one had room for her. We couldn't keep her, as we had a flight to catch in a few hours. It began to look like the pound might be her only option. We gave it one last try, and brought her down to Friends for Life. They were at capacity, but we wouldn't take no for an answer. I put them in a tight spot. My wife cried, I bargained. I told them I'd return in a month when we had a house with a yard and I'd foster dogs for them. We made a donation, they kept the dog. We bought a house with a yard. I put in an application and within a few weeks we had our first foster dog. But we were still curious to find out what happened to that little rescue. It turns out her name is now Egypt and she lives with a lovely family. Her new owner is an artist with a young daughter -- she and Egypt are inseparable. I don't know if there is a moral to the story or what. But I do know that Friends for Life is staffed with dedicated volunteers, fosterers, and animal lovers, who are committed to the no-kill concept. They take in animals needing a second chance, and find them the right people who need them in their lives just as much. The animals leave their foster homes ready for life in a family environment. Egypt was not euthanized. She found her loving forever home. Same goes for countless other animal friends. Friends for Life does a beautiful thing for the world. read more

Have you been here? Yes: Skip to the last paragraph (or read on anyway). No: Continue on to next question. Oh. Well, you've heard about it and/or followed them on the Facebook then, yes? Yes: Skip to the last paragraph, unless you don't follow them on Facebook, then start following them on Facebook (their previous and current media gurus post cute pictures of happy cats and dogs and their new friends), then continue skipping...to the bottom of the page, moron. No: Continue on to the next paragraph. Friends for Life (FFL) is an amazing organization. That's to put it simply. They rescue dogs and cats (FFL is a no kill shelter) and find foster or adoptive care for the animals. Actively. Well, the cats have their own communal rooms at the shelter, but the dogs live in foster homes. The dogs are brought by the shelter on the weekends, but really I'm more interested in the cats. At most shelters, they are an afterthought. The poor dears live in cages, in a giant "cat room." Talk about second class citizens! At FFL, they live in communal rooms. They're separated by age and such, and they're free to roam around lots of cat cubby holes built into the wall, in the centers of rooms. Everywhere. Free, mostly. What really impressed me beyond this feature is that there was a Feline Leukemia room. How freaking cool is that?! Their last few days, weeks, months aren't spent locked away from the world. You can go in and sit with them, pet them, talk to them, play with them, if Fiona Apple stopped by, she'd probably sing to them. (She postponed her current tour because her older dog is deathly ill, and she wanted to sing to him as he died.) Beyond offering foster and adoptive services, they also offer assistance and education on dealing with and changing difficult pet behavioral issues. They also offer a pet food and supply bank for people in temporary difficult situations. It seems their main goal is to help keep pets in homes and off the streets and out of shelters. The new facility is pretty amazing. It doesn't smell like a animal shelter and it's very open and airy. Here's why: It is built to circulate in outside air fifteen times an hour. Each space (animal and human) receives direct sunlight. There is also a state of the art wet vac cleaning system. So, what are you going to do now? Adopt? Foster? Volunteer? Stop by? Donate cash http://www.adoptfriends4life.org/how-to-help/donate or in-kind gifts http://www.adoptfriends4life.org/how-to-help/wish-list ? Adopt? read more

Full Disclosure: I'm an unpaid volunteer at Friends for Life. Yet the reason I chose to volunteer here is because I can't stop talking about all the great things this non-profit adoption center does. True "no kill" shelters haven't caught on as quickly here in Houston as in, say, Austin, but FFL has set the bar pretty high. Nearly 75% of the dogs they place in forever homes were deemed "unadoptable" by other area shelters, but with enough care, training, and patience, they've crafted these lovely animals into great companion dogs. Oh, right-- they help cats get adopted too! Recently, I adopted my own first dog from FFL. Axel is an amazing animal that I saw week after week, and spent hours working with. To think that this friendly, bright, well-behaved dog might have been put down... well, it breaks my heart. I'm super lucky that I get to be his forever owner.-- and there are plenty of other great animals that could be that for you. So, stop by, see the cats, see the dogs (weekends only), and support a great cause and a great non-profit. read more

Seriously, as good as it gets! We decided to add a new dog to our family. We have husband (with a disability), wife (me, I love any dog), kids 6 and 7 (who are afraid of some dogs) and an old lady dog (who wanted anew buddy but wasn't too sure). After lots of research, we decided to go through FFL. I have to tell you, this is the BEST adoption experience we had. They are truly the best rescue org I can imagine. Reasons why they were great: 1) Dogs are fostered so you know alot about them, they are kept in good homes and loved and work on manners and socialization. 2) You can have "sleep overs" for a week with dogs you like so you can make the perfect match 3) The dogs all have great vet care and if they are found with health problems at the first vet visit after you adopt, FFL will provide the treatment. They want to place healthy pets! 4) The workers and volunteers are super nice and dedicated 5) If you have special family issues, like we did, they will bend over backwards to help you find the perfect placement. 6) super clean! 7) very inviting facility 8) Lots of help and programs to help you with your pet so you can keep them 9) Staff that knows what they are talking about and want to teach and help! 10) so many many many things We adopted our dog from FFL and we feel just blessed to have found them. She is a great match for our family and, instead of stressing over the new addition (common with adoptions from humane society or other sites that you have only a couple minutes to decide), we are enjoying every minute. To folks that are upset when they can't take in a stray...its a rough situation. They are very limited in what they can do and their needs list is long. Its great you want to help!!! But it might take an offer of fostering, etc to be able to join the system. It isn't perfect, but its a big step. read more

I'd give 0 stars if I could. I applied to adopt from FFL after reading positive things online and let this review be a sign to never use these extremely unprofessional people. Firstly I was accused of lying on my application, which I did not. After I provided them with sufficient proof they doubled back and then told me I was accepted, but only on a technicality and not because I was actually a good candidate. I never received an apology for this. Then, despite me mentioning multiple times I was interested in a specific kitten, I was told days later that I wouldn't be allowed that kitten as someone else was interested in her as well. I was told to concede my first choice to them even though the kitten I wanted showed available for adoption at the time I submitted my application, during my phone interview/processing, right up until it was time for the sleepover. I also asked multiple times if I would be allowed 2 kittens, as they are currently running a 2-for-1 promotion on kittens and I was interested in siblings, and despite talking to 3 different people none of them could tell me a solid yes/no. I was treated absolutely horrible by these employees and I will ensure that every single person I know that even considers adoption knows never to get near this place. 0/5 read more

I had the honor of working with Friends for Life founder Salise Shuttlesworth and her team at George R. Brown during Hurricane Harvey. Because of them, thousands of beloved pets were able to evacuate with their families and find shelter in a facility that wasn't initially prepared to care for animals. This act alone represents F4L's significant dedication to animals, but I've come to know the organization and Salise even better over the past few years while visiting the shelter and speaking with volunteers. I would trust them completely if ever seeking to adopt a pet! read more

First, I must advise that I am a volunteer at Friends For Life, therefore I am biased. I love this organization and love what they do for the animals. Everyone is super friendly and they love what they do. It really resonates in every aspect of the shelter. The new location is state of the art and the animals are well taken care of. There are so many LOVER cats that I just want to take home with me but I am all full up on pets (I have 4 pets!) All and all just a great place to rescue. plus it is a NO KILL shelter :) read more