We adopted a 2 year old kitty from Hopalong at Woodland Pet in Bon Air Center. We had just recently…read moresaid goodbye to our beloved cat who was 20 years old and had been the best companion for us. We weren't looking to get a new kitty so soon, but Dharma was in the back of the store and she was very sweet. They let us play with her and our dog was with us, so we took turns being near Dharma and allowing our dog (who loves our cats) to see her from a distance. All went well. We learned that she had been in the store for a while and had a rough life before she was taken to the shelter. Fast forward to today--she cuddles with my husband who has been very ill and she is his best friend. She learned how to win over the resident cat (with lots of time and some help), and she and our Husky and best friends. She's earned the nickname Drama because she's very good at getting into mischief. The support information from Hopalong was useful. We've had cats our entire lives and still each cat is unique. Having resources at hand is great! The people at Woodland Pet were very helpful in vetting us to make certain that we would be a good, safe home for Dharma and that she would be happy with us. They sent us home with supplies and toys. Because of their continued interest, our dog and I go back to show them photos of Drama earning her nickname.

What a great experience with Marin Humane + Hopalong. My partner and I lost our pug earlier this…read moreyear in January. We adopted her from the shelter when she was two and she lived all the way to fifteen. She was everything to us. After she passed, we waited a while before feeling ready to adopt again. In the meantime, I followed a ton of Bay Area rescue groups on Instagram and checked the Petfinder app regularly. We knew we were drawn to flat-faced breeds, but the most important thing was finding a dog that could get along with our two cats. We actually found a Frenchie through another rescue and even went to meet him at an adoption event. Unfortunately, his foster parent said he didn't do well with other dogs and probably not with cats either. That was a dealbreaker for us. About a month later, during the week of July 4, I came across Sally Sitwell (now renamed Winnie) on Petfinder. Her profile mentioned that she was good with cats, and she sounded perfect for us. I applied right away but didn't hear back for a few days, so I was worried she might have already been adopted. But I totally understood since it was a holiday week and I'm sure they received a ton of applications. Eventually, I got an email from Ruthie, a volunteer, to schedule a 1:1 phone interview. She was really warm and easy to talk to. She explained that she usually handles phone interviews for people interested in brachycephalic breeds since she has experience with them. I shared our story about our late pug and everything we went through with her including surgeries, seizures, and IVDD, and Ruthie could tell we were familiar with the breed's needs. She planned to coordinate a meeting with us, the dog, and the foster parent, but she was going to be out of town. So she looped in Alex from Hopalong and Francesca, the foster mom, so we could set something up directly. We coordinated a visit to meet Winnie at Hopalong in Oakland. I really appreciated how flexible and communicative everyone was. It felt like everyone genuinely wanted the best for this dog. When I first met Francesca and Winnie, I lit up. Winnie was even more adorable in person and so much smaller than I expected. Francesca was such a kind person. She already had a Frenchie and cats, so you could tell she really loves animals. She walked us through all of Winnie's little quirks and her daily routine. A few minutes later my partner arrived and I ran out to get him. I told him right away, "You're going to love her, she's so adorable." The moment he walked in and saw her, he was smiling ear to ear. We ended up spending about 30 minutes with Francesca, chatting and also sharing more about ourselves so she'd feel reassured that Winnie would be going to a loving home. Toward the end of our visit, Alex, the program manager, came out to meet us. She was super bubbly and also a Frenchie owner. We let her know we were all in and wanted to move forward with the adoption. We asked if we could pick Winnie up the next day since we had a bunch of supplies being delivered like her crate, food, and bowls. Francesca was so accommodating and let us come to her house the next day to get her. The whole experience was amazing. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. There were no awkward moments and we felt supported from start to finish. I would recommend this rescue to anyone. Now Winnie is completely spoiled. We originally planned to have her sleep in her crate but that lasted exactly one night. She's now in the bed with us. She's been to the dog park, joined us on restaurant patios, come to work with me, and even had a few spa days. After hearing about her rough start to life, being used for breeding and then dropped off at the Hayward animal shelter, we knew we wanted to give her the best life possible. She is truly the sweetest, most loving dog we could have asked for. We're so grateful to everyone at Marin Humane + Hopalong for bringing her into our lives.

I have to admit Something!!!…read more I Love Dawgs !!! I think the Oakland SPCA does a Great job of Caring for Animals especially Dawgs !!! Every time I Visit the Dawgs they Seem Very Clean , Healthy and Happy!!!! Lately I been visiting more often!! My Sister is a Big time Dawg Person!!! She lost her Puppy to Old Age 3 Months ago!! She called me up recently and said she was coming to get me!!! We rolled to the SPCA !!! She had seen a Litter of French Bullies /Chihuahua Puppies on their Website!!! We got there before they Opened!! We were the first ones in !!! We visited the Puppies and a Merle Puppy chose my Sister and I !!! So we went to the Puppy Playroom With the Merle and had a Ball with her . The Puppy was so Cute she licked my face then fell asleep in my arms!! My Sister adopted her and named her Killua !!! This is a Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!! I Keep My Pimp Hand Strong!!! Number 34 of the Top 50 most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025!!!!

Super impressed with the vet clinic at the EAST BAY SPCA. Last week saw a Great doctor/dentist who…read moregave thorough explanation of her diagnosis. Vet tech also great at keeping me informed as to progress, details, and expedited blood test, too. Today, i Just dropped off fec. sample to reception and Marina not only expedited, but remembered my name and my cat Onyx's name, too!! Sheesh, I can't remember what I had for breakfast! And she must see dozens of people per day. She also explained exactly when test results come back, costs for services VERY CLEARLY all while managing batch of others in waiting area. Altogether a very well-run clinic with top notch professionals in all departments.

I recently started fostering a bunny for OAS and they are really wonderful. The folks working and…read morevolunteering there care so much about animals and put a lot of effort in to getting them in to foster homes and adopted. For example they have instagram pages for the senior dogs and the rabbits to help promote them more. Please consider fostering or adopting from OAS! And please know that the crisis of animals in needs is not the fault of rescues and shelters, it's the fault of breeders and buyers who keep exploiting animals for profit. As the saying goes "don't breed or buy, while shelter animals die" Separately from fostering, I do mutual aid with some unhoused folks and their dogs. One friends dog who I had gotten spayed ended up getting hit by a car and thankfully OAS received her body and was able to contact us so that her guardian could have closure and we could honor her life properly. It's not an easy job that OAS is doing, but they are saving lives in an ongoing crisis of abused and unwanted animals.

UPDATE as of 2/4/25…read more Keea's Test Results came back from the lab in New York. " Very Strong Positive " for Bartonella aka Cat Scratch Disease. Bartonella in Cats Transmission: Spread among cats primarily by the cat flea (Ctenocephalides Felis). Symptoms: Most infected cats show no signs of illness, acting as carriers. In rare cases, they may experience temporary fever, lethargy, or swollen lymph nodes, particularly if stressed or immunocompromised. It is CONTAGIOUS and they must be kept away from other animals and for humans you must not let them scratch you. Cat Scratch Fever (Disease) in Humans Symptoms: Develops 1-3 weeks after a scratch or bite, typically causing a small, red bump at the site, followed by swollen, tender lymph nodes, fever, headache, and fatigue. Severity: Usually mild and self-limiting in healthy people, though it can cause serious complications (heart or neurological issues) in those with weak immune systems. Bartonella can also cause severe, chronic inflammation in cats leading to eye issues and, in some cases, blindness, as well as neurological symptoms which would explain Keea's eye issues and the fact she has trouble using back legs. Hopefully whoever adopted Gramps (who was in the same room as her) will see this. TREATMENT - 5 weeks of Doxycycline. The cat must initially be treated for 4 weeks and if they test negative after 4 weeks be treated that extra 5th week as a safety precaution. Again if you have other pets, children etc PLEASE keep away. Protect yourself and wear gloves if the cat is a risk of scratching you when medicating. Also if you see the white third eyelid this means the cat is dehydrated and must be given IV Fluid's immediately.

A Disneyland for cat lovers and cats. A beautiful space with the best volunteers and workers one…read morecould imagine. Only warning is you might fall in love - I know I did. You are important. Yes, you the reader of this right now. You are important to the successful operation of this cat cafe. An important part of this cafe is to socialize the cats with visitors so they become more friendly. Friendly cats get adopted. I found a friendly cat. He came right to the door to sniff me. Then as I entered from one door he was guided to his little stool - very obedient - so well trained I was in awe. His more shy brother always in the background - he would protect him and check me out first to make sure I was ok. The little guy had only interest in my - none of his toys. I gently got closer with some affectionate love pats and scratches. It is a love story of him and his brother and what landed them here. I fell in love with how they were so bonded and took care of each other. My heart melted as they snuggled up together in their little box as I left. If you are curious they are two brothers by the name of some sweet frozen desserts. A cute bonded pair that I spent all my time with there. There are so many other great ones here. I was blown away with the variety of colors and good movie star looks they had. I will be back.

I recently lost my cat after 15 years and have been considering adoption. I found this awesome…read moreplace and decided to check it out. Cat Town's Mission "At Cat Town, our mission is cats. Together, we save the lives of at-risk cats, find them loving homes, and advocate for a future where every cat is valued." The site has a lot of good information about the program, It's history and adoption and foster processes. You can visit the cat Café for 50 minutes with a small entry fee by reserving a space online as well. Lindsey went over the do's and don'ts before taking us inside. The set up is really nice with plenty of toys, food/water bowls and litter boxes. There is a separate area with cats in studios. The color coded signs let you know if you can walk in and visit, if you need to ask a team member or if it's just not a good time for a visit. I enjoyed my time here and met some cute furry friends. Belle answered all of my questions and all staff was super pleasant, I'll be filling out an adoption inquiry soon. The way to enter Cat town is through the souvenir Café next-door. You can grab a coffee, tea or other beverage and a pastry to enjoy before entering the Cat play area or after as there are tables and chairs.

Underdog was incredible. The whole process, from start to finish, felt incredibly considerate and…read morecaring. In our case, we have two kids, and really wanted to make sure the dog was a good match before we introduced them. That model isn't a great fit for shelters where they (understandably) want the whole family to meet the dog, and won't place a hold to let grownups prescreen first. Not so with Underdog! We completed our initial form, had an email exchange, and then a video call, just grownups. There was no rush, and absolutely no pressure - such a wonderful difference from what we'd experienced elsewhere. Once we felt like this was a good fit, we included the kids. Our foster was incredible. She was responsive, caring, kind, and compassionate, and it totally opened our eyes to how this process can go when it is handled so skillfully. Moreover, she gave us a fabulous download of information, all super actionable and helpful. We came home with healthy, realistic expectations, and tons of tools and resources to get us started. All this is to say, thanks to Underdog, we got connected with our pup - and our family is completely in love.

Underdog needs to improve with communication,follow through,they gave me a timeline on when they…read more would contact me about a pet I applied for and gave me no response on pet availability.I felt disappointed about not being able to adopt the pet I wanted.I applied fifteen days ago and heard nothing.This rescue is only about how much they can profit on their so called rescues,don't waste your time contacting them.

My triend and I had an impromptu Taco Bell picnic at Crown Beach when this adorable little pup…read moreappeared. Rather, someone was trying to find him a home. He was part of a surprise litter. She knew just what to do and off we went to FAAS! His temporary name is Bell Grande. This is the most chill little puppy! Calm, quiet and always willing to accept a snuggle! FAAS said to bring Bell Grande in so they could begin the process of finding him a fur-ever home!!! Please help them help him!

***This review is ONLY for their South Shore Center satellite location for "Cat Adoptions"***…read more This place can hardly be called an animal shelter. It's literally 2 employees/volunteers and a "cat experience" center. There were supposedly 10 cats in the whole facility but only 2 were visible while the rest were either napping or scared and cowering away. With the 2 that were visible, one was cowering and hissing in the corner of her cage and the other was laying on top of their cage, only allowing to be touched by an extendable cat scratcher. It was an open space configuration and it was made for the cats to have freedom to roam around. But I didn't mind that, I actually enjoyed the "immersive cat motel" style...if it'd had worked. What I did mind was the way this facility was run. There was a secretary, and a volunteer who couldn't care less about the people coming in to see the cats. With the cat that I did use the scratcher on, I made the mistake of moving my hand closer to try and let it smell my scent, but it SWIPED and SCRATCHED me right away in a hissy fit. The volunteer was then so nonchalant while blood was profusely running down my hand, giving me an "I told you so" attitude. All she said was that the cat didn't like to be petted, but failed to disclose the fact that the cat would swipe at you even if your hand was at any close proximity within a foot of it. She said those cats have been there for several months to nearly half a year. I'm thinking in my mind: "Wow, you've had them here for so long and you just let them run amok and do and act however they want, exactly the same way since the day they've arrived, rather than spending time to rehabilitate them so that they can tolerate/enjoy human interaction and actually be adoptable cats?" I actually did ask her "how do you expect to adopt them out if they can't even tolerate human touch"? All she replied with was "Well, ideally they'd warm up to you, but if not, then you'll just have to adopt them and never touch/hold them". The worst part was that there were no warning signs posted anywhere and also that they allowed a cat that swipes at people to literally roam freely outside its cage. What if there were children around? This was literally the most insane "animal shelter" I've ever been to and after my first visit, I definitely will NOT be coming back until they figure out how to run an animal shelter because these people have absolutely no freaking clue what they're doing. This is at most, an animal "sanctuary" and have no plans to help their animals adapt to human interaction and become adoptable pets. I would stay away. PS: The attached photo was updated 3/5/26 and was about 2 weeks after visiting. Permanent scars from the cat swipes.

I came to the Berkeley Humane Society after being told they were providing a free health clinic on…read moreSaturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7. This included free spay and neuter services with advanced sign-up. The staff and volunteers were absolutely amazing--so kind, organized, and genuinely helpful throughout the entire experience. One of the sponsors was Tony LaRussa and LaRussa Rescue, along with other rescue organizations. Tony and his wife were there during our visit, taking time to chat with people and personally thanking everyone for coming, which was incredibly touching. I've been wanting to visit this shelter for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally had the opportunity. The dedication and compassion of everyone here truly shows. An amazing place filled with amazing people.

Phenomenal Shelter!!!…read more My partner and I started off fostering dogs and ultimately foster failed. We worked closely with Ian who was phenomenal, supportive and so responsive. They gave us all the supplies (food, toys, advice, leashes, etc.) we needed to give our foster pooches what they needed. We fostered a sweet girl for nearly 4 months until she found her forever home, which was difficult for us but so rewarding to be a part of her journey to a home and family who could give her everything she needed. We fostered a bit more and ultimately foster-failed and have had our boy Rickey (formerly Kona) for nearly a year! Rickey has been the most perfect pooch we could've asked for. I am so appreciative of Berkeley Humane, Ian, and the whole team. Cannot recommend this shelter enough! Foster and/or adopt from Berkeley!!

Everything that you would hope from a rescue for dogs. Everyone is passionate about saving dogs and…read moregiving them their best.

I am upset that they will not consider Home Rescues. They wrote me bask and said that they mostly…read moretake rescue dogs from shelters that are being euthanized. I am being displaced due to a Domestic Violence event, which I won in court. I cannot find a desent place that will allow dogs. This entire situation breaks my heart.

Reply to owner: You are so rude. Rude people like you should not be allowed to run any…read moreorganization because your communication skills are so terrible. It's better my dogs were overweight, well-loved and spoiled with food unlike those unfortunate dogs that are neglected, malnourished and starved. My dogs were up-to date on all annual exams and NOT unhealthy. I ended up taking them to Miranda's rescue in Fortuna. Just an FYI to those in desperate circumstances and need to place their pets in legitimate rescue. Contact any other location except this one. To the owner, you also have a bad reputation on Nextdoor and other Platforms for your feisty attitude. Try to learn compassion or change the field you are in. When you move out of your long term house and can't take your dogs to circumstances out of your control -- DO NOT REACH OUT TO BAD RAP. They will not try to help you.

I ruv, ruv, ruv this organization!…read more As dog lovers, we were aware that pitties had a bad reputation, but didn't think too much about it. We know that most dogs are good unless mistreated. Then we fell in love with and adopted our Mei Mei from the Alameda County shelter. She's a blue nose pit mix. And we learned how truly feared these lovable beasts are. Mei Mei loves everyone: children, adults, little dogs, big dogs. She's been a super foster sister to numerous rescue dogs from Dusty Paws Rescue, and is a cuddle bunny and kissing alarm clock to my two young girls. So it's always startling to see the terror in the eyes of some people on meeting her. And the hotel rules at some pet-friendly hotels ("No pits or pit mixes"). Someone told me about Bad Rap, and I started following them. Their mission is to change the overwhelming misconceptions about these dogs. They do this in lots of important ways. - Offering free spay, neutering and vaccinations to pit owners who can't afford it - Running a shelter/foster program and socializing dogs so they can be cherished family members - Teaching the importance of training and responsible dog ownership, which is relevant regardless of breed - Providing free training classes - Evangelizing pittie lovableness with a great website, Facebook presence, and adorable calendars Yesterday, we attended their open house in Berkeley, "Fool in Love". We got to see their classes in action, check out the spay/neuter van, meet many amazing volunteers, and get tons of slobbery dog kisses from adoptable blockheads. Keep it up, Bad Rap. I'm with you.