I hope this review finds anyone who has the misfortune of having to rehome their dog. Forgive the…read morelength (I usually try to be brief), but in a situation that can be so remarkably difficult, I hope some of the level of detail provided will ease some of the pain & nerves. Our dog of four and a half years bit our 15 month old daughter - resulting in a stitch to her head & laceration on her eyelid that has thankfully healed. It wasn't an isolated event - we had a previous scare & a hand full of minor incidents. While our dog by no means was aggressive in nature, his high levels of anxiety mixed with a perpetual need to be in the mix of things proved to be a poor mix for a home w/ an increasingly mobile toddler. We made the decision to rehome our dog - a decision that was both easy to make, while remarkably painful. The obedience trainer that we had used had connected us with NE Paws - and I genuinely can't say enough nice things about them. To say they went "above & beyond" our expectations would be a disservice to the amount of work & empathy that was shown. The foster mother (Lauren) connected w/ us on a video conference call the day we reached out to them - even though she was on vacation seeing her daughter & grandchildren. She was incredibly kind, understanding & patient - as she listened to my wife & I blabber through tears explaining the situation. On that call she committed to staying in constant contact, giving the dog a great transitional home and allowing us to be apart of the adoption process - and she absolutely delivered on each and every front. We dropped our dog off at the foster's home - which honestly seemed more like a dog resort. Plenty of space inside & an enormous fenced in backyard with a ton of space, toys everywhere, a plastic kiddy pool, etc. The foster mother's husband (Gary) proved to be just as kind as Lauren, walking us through all the sorts of things they do w/ the dogs including walks, hikes, trips to the beach, etc. They also discussed their overall approach to fostering - a week of observation before listing the dog, including some boundary-testing so they could get a full understanding of what would and would not be a good home for the dog. Once the dog was listed we could be involved (if we wanted), and they would have no reservations about declining an application if they didn't see it as a fit. We were sent home with a hug & words of encouragement from Lauren, as well an entire box of kleenex that we absolute most certainly needed. We were told to reach out to her w/ as many updates as we needed, and a smiling photo of our dog was sent to us via text even before we were home, shortly followed up by an update on how he had done on his first walk. The week of observation we were sent plenty of photos & text updates. When NE Paws felt they identified a good fit for our dog, Lauren reached out w/ a few follow-up questions she had to make sure it would be an ideal fit. We'd connect with the gentleman who wanted to adopt that week to address any outstanding questions he had. Afterward, Lauren reached out to us to make sure we didn't have any outstanding concerns with the adopter, while relaying to us that she'd made it clear that it'd be important for us to stay in contact w/ him. Re-homing your dog is an awful process. Paws New England can't make it not painful - but it'll be immediately clear that you are in a especially capable and caring hands , and you will be consistently re-validated of that throughout the process.

Highly recommend this rescue! I lost my dog feb 2025 and was…read morelucky to find these bonded pair just a few months later

I had a great experience adopting our kitten here. My wife and I visited one of their adoption…read moreevents and the volunteers/staff there were very helpful in choosing the best kitten for us. The application process was smooth and efficient. Price was reasonable and our kitten received all of his needed vet care, shots, etc before he came home with us. We are extremely pleased with our new family member and the Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley!

Working with Sue and Barbara from the Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley was a wonderful experience. I…read morewas from Tewksbury, MA and now live in Merrimac, MA. Found their website and emailed them and called as I could not fill in the application from my computer. They replied, mentioned and sent a picture of Jolene, a beautiful black/white 2 yr. old tuxedo female cat. Had a meet and greet at the foster moms home and Jolene and I had an instant connection. She was purring, rubbed up against me, talked. It felt as if we had known each other for ever. Jolene was a perfect companion for me and Jolene was mine before I left the home. I picked her up at the Petco store in Plaistow, NH, filled out the paperwork, bought furniture, food, toys and things Jolene would need. She is my baby. What a joy she is. Has checked out every inch of my apartment and has made herself right at home. Very affectionate, follows me everywhere. We get along just fine. I am very thankful to Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley for introducing me to my Jolene. They are the best!

I had heard about One Tail at a Time through a friend at work a little over a year ago. I had…read morepreviously had my family dog for 15 years and about 2 1/2 years after she had passed my friend at work happened to send me a picture of an adorable Shar-Pei mix from One Tail at a Time that needed a home (Meri was her adoption name). While I was not "looking" for a dog, I have always been an avid animal lover and once I saw that picture I couldn't help but look into the rescue more and this puppy !! Needless to say, the staff at One Tail was informative,helpful, and amazing with their animals. Their adoption process is detailed and may take a few days longer than others, but it is due to the fact that they research and make sure each dog goes to a great and well fitting family. I was impressed that when they asked for references they actually followed-up with each one I gave!!! Which to me means not only did I take the time & put my heart into this process but they did as well! Once I received word that my application was accepted they scheduled the pick-up at a local pet-store. When I arrived they had informed me that my pup unfortunately needed to stop by the vet first since she wasn't feeling well that morning. While I was a little sad I had to wait a couple extra hours to get my little puppy home, I was so happy they took the time to make sure she was happy and healthy before sending her home! And they even offered to keep her an extra couple days at no extra cost to make sure she was ALL SET, I did however take her home that afternoon and she has been an amazing addition to my house ever since!! (for the past year :) ) One Tail is a great organization and the volunteers and employees really care about the animals they are placing, it's not just a first-come first-served situation. Great Experience overall and I would recommend (and have) using them for anyone or any family searching for a new furry addition to their home!!

We searched for over 6 months to find just the perfect dog. We found our Freya through One Tail at…read morea Time and everything went so smoothly from there on. I was SO impressed with everything from the application process through bringing her home but I am most grateful for the thoughtful placement. We really did search and search. We needed the perfect dog who would love our kids but also not drive our blind pug crazy. The descriptions of Freya and thoughtful back and forth when I started the application process described her so clearly and perfectly. She really is the best dog and the best fit for our family and now four years later I am still so grateful to this organization for their help to bring our girl home. Thank you thank you thank you from one very happy and grateful family.

I can't thank the SARL folks enough for introducing us to the newest member of our family!…read more I'm disgusted when I read the other reviews and can only sumize those people have never adopted from a shelter before. No this shelter isn't shiny and brand new like other shelters but they offer a safe home to a lot of animals, even those from other parts of the country who would be put down otherwise. All shelter animals come with various types of viruses and URI's, it's just the nature of adopting an animal and people need to understand that. The staff at SARL were kind and compassionate with us when we went in looking for a new member for our family after we recently lost one. After taking with us for at least an hour they introduced us to a shy and scared little guy who had recently been rescued from a pitbull fighting farm down in Florida. SARL took he and his sister in to avoid them being put down due toa lack of room at local shelters in the area. They knew he needed a quiet, loving, and patient home that would allow him the time he needed to get comfortable and feel safe. They felt we would be a good match for him. It's now over a year later and we can't imagine our lives without him and he's blossomed into a happy, confident, and social young man. The bottom line is these people protect animals and try to match them with the right family before letting them be adopted, unlike other shelters who are just concerned with reducing their numbers and don't really care who's adopting these animals. We continue to make regular donations to SARL and would/will adopt the next family member from here when we are able.

This shelter is very prejudiced with age and health. You could tell by their reaction they wouldn't…read morelet us adopt a dog. She came out and said you're limping You won't be able to walk the dog. She asked me what was wrong with my leg which is none of her business and I said it's only temporary I can still walk. She was not nice at all and she kept saying she had other applicants. You could tell she didn't want us to have the dog because of our age. Then she said her computers were down and she couldn't do anything anyways but she didn't have any consideration calling us when she knew it was a half hour 45 minute drive to her location.

I was looking on Petfinder one day, trying to find the perfect cat for me. I saw him, a fluffy gray…read morekitty named Jullian. I went to Petsmart in Salem, NH so that I could see him. When I saw him, I knew he was the right cat for me. We filled out an adoption application online, and after emailing someone who worked there, we were approved and told that we could go pick him up. Everyone was friendly, and you can tell they care about finding cats good homes. I donated $10 to help the other cats, and took my new baby home. Within minutes he warmed up to everyone and was letting us pet him. He's very vocal, and a very loving cat. I would recommend Feline Friends to anyone looking for the purrfect cat for them.

I adopted many cats from them and they are awesome. The volunteers are awesome too! They made me…read morefeel very comfortable and explained everything to me prior to adoption.

Beware of this rescue. They provide false information and fail to disclose information adopters…read moreneed to decide if they can take on a dog's challenges (was not told during lengthy approval and interview process prior to adoption finalization that dog was flight risk, destructive chewer, gets car sick, cannot be in a crate, etc.) Then they refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes. Instead they are defensive and disrespectful to the adopter. They do not even respectfully disagree, rather they gaslight adopters who have become victims of their negligence. They set the dog and adopter up for failure and have zero accountability, creating trauma all around in their wake. This is a warning that if you want to be treated with respect and equality and receive a transparent adoption process, this is not the rescue for you. Stay away. Don't let what happened to my family happen to you. There are many caring, responsible adoption groups in New England. Harveys Hope is not trustworthy.

Unfortunately I had a similar experience as the other poster. My wife and I went through a very…read morelengthy approval process and by the end I was told that I could not get the dog I initially applied for, because they don't like to put females with other females and we had already had a 6 year old female rescue. (We found out later that they let another adopter get a female from the same litter even though they had an older female dog...). They suggested a different puppy from the same litter, and we decided to still go through with the adoption. What they did not tell me was how anxious and fearful this dog is. Since the first day we got him, he has been extremely fearful of other people. We thought it was just stress from the transport and HH told us to give him a few weeks to get used to his new environment and then get a behavioral assessment done. Even after a few weeks, he never really settled in, and our first trainer was unable to help us with socialization. We had a behavioral assessment performed and were told that this dog's fear and anxiety are pretty well ingrained in him, that this was his disposition, and that he was most likely like this before he was transported up here and that he was going to be this way forever. Over the next few months, we did everything we were told to help him get more comfortable, but life was just a struggle for us. We couldn't take him on walks, go to parks, trails, or our normal hiking spots. He is a huge flight risk and has escaped multiple times and made me fall or sprained my shoulder several times when he gets spooked and tries to run away at full speed while I'm still holding the leash. I fear that he will run out into traffic because it's happened on more than one occasion. We live by a middle school, and his fear of children means he can never relax in our backyard, either. Since then, we went through 4 different trainers, but none were skilled with handling dogs with his level of anxiety. After several months of doing everything in our power to get him the help he needs, I realized that it wasn't going to work out and that rehoming him would be best for both us and him. He was living in constant fear every single day and despite our best efforts, we couldn't help him. I reached out to Harvey's Hope, detailing our struggles and how we didn't know what to do anymore. Their response was "We are so sorry to hear that [your dog] is having a hard time adjusting" and they pointed me to a trainer that was located over an hour away from us in a different state. I just wish that someone at Harvey's Hope had communicated to us about his fear and anxiety. He was already 4 months old when we got him so they had to know he was very anxious before putting him up for adoption. They should really be performing behavioral assessments on the dogs and passing that information to potential adopters. I would be more than happy to pay a higher adoption fee if this information was provided to me. I will never adopt another dog without meeting it first and it's a shame because when I applied for my older rescue 8 years ago, the rescue org told me everything they could about her. She was shipped from across the country but I knew what to expect and how to handle her. I have always believed that people should "adopt, not shop" and always told people that rescuing was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, my story is a warning about how things could go very wrong with adoption, especially with the wrong organization. Maybe their dogs would be less likely to be adopted if they were honest about the challenges you could face, but it's pretty cruel to put an already disadvantaged dog in a family when it might not work out and then that poor dog has to go through the traumatic experience of being rehomed. I can not recommend this rescue to anyone and if you do still want to adopt, there are many great rescues in New England where you can go and meet a dog in person and decide if their personality would be a good fit for you and your family. A good rescue organization will tell you about the dog and help you prepare for a dog if it's going to be a challenge. The goal should be to get more people to adopt, not blindside adoptees and set them up for failure. Please learn from my mistakes and tread carefully when looking for a rescue.

This is a fantastic shelter for dobermans. My last 3 dobes were adopted from here and I can't say…read moreenough good about the place. Its immaculate, and the dogs are well cared for. Fantastic group of people who love these dogs! Keep up the great work!!

This is the absolute best shelter and rescue that I know of. If something happened to me, I would…read morewant my Dobermans sent here immediately for their loving care and placement. Awesome group of people.

Everything that I have ever price checked from WoofMeow is generally on par with the big chain…read morestores. But their sales are phenomenal! My dog loves bully sticks, and on one trip here to get bird seed, the 12" sticks were only $1, when they typically retail for $8+! It's definitely worth browsing the sections for animals you have, as there's always something on sale for a great price. The bird section is amazing, and this is one of the few stores around that carries dove food, which is a major plus! The cages for most birds are smaller than they should be, but not by much, which is fairly understandable, since they are supposed to be temporary. Although, I doubt they move their expensive birds fast enough for the small cages to be acceptable for them, so I think that's an area for improvement. I have never seen any employees mishandle any animals, in the hours I have spent here overall. I also have not seen any round bird cages offered for sale, which is incredibly responsible! The fish section, which is usually my favorite in any other store, is honestly a bit disappointing. I haven't spoken to a single employee who seems to really understand anything about fish (I asked for guppies, an incredibly standard fish, and got a blank stare), and the selection is very standard. There are a few beautiful tanks with plants I asked about purchasing, only to be told that they are not for sale, and no live plants are carried or could be ordered. It's so disappointing to see a plant you've been looking for, only to be told it isn't for sale, and can't be ordered. Overall, the store is great for bird supplies and for the occasional items on sale, but the employees (aside from the managers) rarely know much about the specifics of keeping animals. The selection of items for most species is great, although they have nothing but the most standard gear for fish. If you're looking for something for birds, dogs, or cats, they probably have it, but you're better off elsewhere for fish supplies. I personally haven't been here since I started owning reptiles, and I haven't spent much time in the rodent section, so I cannot comment on those. Worth a look around if you need something specific, but if you're looking to browse for a unique species or decoration for an aquarium, you're better off elsewhere.

At Woof Meow, you can expect the best customer service, whether you're shopping for a new pet or…read moresupplies. Their fantastic fish store features a wide variety of healthy, vibrant fish, including colorful tropicals, hardy freshwater, and stunning plant options. The store also offers a carefully curated assortment of the best dog foods, catering to different breeds and dietary needs. Everything at Woof Meow is top-notch, from the clean, well-organized shelves to the high-quality merchandise. But the most remarkable aspect of the store is their employees: a team of knowledgeable, friendly staff members who are always ready to assist. They're genuinely passionate about animals and customer care, creating a welcoming environment where every visitor feels valued and well-informed.