About a month ago, I went to Joybound People & Pets to adopt a kitten, and I had such a wonderful experience. Everyone was so kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the whole process. I was looking for a baby kitten, and thankfully I found exactly the little cat I was hoping for. The adoption process was easy and smooth, and you can really tell how much the staff cares about the animals. The cats are very well treated, and the conditions they are kept in are excellent. Everything was clean, organized, and the animals looked healthy, happy, and loved. Thank you to everyone at Joybound People & Pets for all the care and dedication you give to these animals. I truly recommend this adoption center! read more

My best friend lost her mom to cancer a few weeks ago. My friend lives out of state- so I have been assisting her locally. Her mom adopted the sweetest chihuahua from Arf back in 2021, the fur baby went blind about a year ago. So we were really concerned about how she would settle in a new environment, and we're trying to rehome the dog I went to Joybound a few weeks ago to ask if there was any chance they take back their animals in these circumstances. The woman at the welcome desk was so helpful explaining yes they do. She walked me thru the process to fill out the forms online They got back to my friend promptly to setup an appointment for a behavior assessment and vet evaluation. We had our appointment yesterday at 2. We arrived a half hour early so we wouldn't be rushed , and to help Lily stay as calm as possible. Everyone we encountered was delightful and so kind. No judgements- Lily came alive with tail wags and enthusiasm to be back at such a supportive rescue group. She was just basking in the attention and love. She passed her behavior test with flying colors. We were told she most likely will be going to a foster home first for a few weeks before she's available for adoption. We were told we can follow her online with her name, and see when she becomes available and she won't be on the website anymore once she finds her next loving home. Thank you Joybound for standing behind your animals and supporting families We also did not have to pay a surrender fee. We were encouraged to take our time and enjoy complementary coffee or tea, also offered a box of tissues We were already pulling out of the parking lot before our scheduled appointment time Can't think you enough for your kindness all around this hard experience read more

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I had multiple excellent experiences with Joybound in several different atmospheres. I first discovered them when they held a pet vaccination clinic in Antioch. I had two new kittens that I took in as a foster, but of course my family and I fell in love with them and kept them. At this event I got both of their first kitten shots, rabies shot, microchips, flea medicines and some cat food all for free!! Everyone was so nice and although there was a lot of people there taking advantage of the free services, they communicated effectively and everything was organized and not chaotic. I joined their mailing list and found out about their next event in Richmond. The kittens and I went down there to get their second kitten shots and cat food, for free! I got on the waiting list for low cost spay and neuter clinic. Friendly staff, nicely organized. I was suprised when I got the call from them for the neutering appts quicker than expected! Brought both kittens down, everything went well, again for free!! Today my husband, our daughter and I went down to their free pets stocking decorating event. Met with smiles, super cute room filled with stockings and puff paint pens on the tables. They had cookies and hot apple cider. All for free. We decorated stockings for the kittens and our other cat, it was a lot of fun and they had a good turnout! While our stockings dried, we walked around a bit and found they had a boutique! We made Christmas donations for both cat and dog items that they matched! And we got our large dog some Christmas Jammie's on clearance for $5. Boutique was well priced, my husband got a Joybound hat! So onto the animas they had there! First we passed the cats. All of them cuddling in super nice beds, they had nice toys, scratch pads, colorful wallpaper in their individual rooms, information sheets on each door for each pet. The dogs had the same, nice fuzzy beds, toys, little slots to give them treats down this tube. So cute!! I typically can't look at shelter pets because I feel so bad for them. These animas all looked happy and very well taken care of! There was staff walking around regularly checking in on people since they had adoption available. I asked a few questions they were able to answer no problem! They seemed very caring and committed to the animals and putting their best foot forward in helping the get homes. Building super clean, staff super nice, animas all cozy. Overall, we have a great opinion of Joybound with all these diverse experiences we've had with them. The people are so nice and welcoming. We're so grateful for them and the help they provided my kittens, saved us a ton of money!!! And for all they do, thank you!!!!!! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Babies ready to get fixed! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

They have a passion for animals that is unrivaled. Their facility is clean and they care for all the animals as if they were family. I was so lucky to be able to adopt a little dog after fostering her. She is so well behaved and has no odd vices or negative behaviors. I strongly recommend adopting from Joybound instead of buying from a breeder! read more

Joybound People & Pets - This is my adopted family member from Joybound - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

The staff at Joybound are wonderful! From being welcomed at the front desk, to meeting potential adoptees, and the overall adoption process was great. We found our girl or maybe she found us and we couldn't be happier. read more

I have had two wonderful experiences with Joybound. I adopted my first dog about four months ago. Despite trying everything and having help from the behaviorist and the wallflower class, the little dog was just not a good fit for our family and I had to rehome her back to Joybound. They were wonderful about taking her back and helping me through the grieving process. Shout out to Ursula and Mitch for their patience and kindness. Last week, I adopted our new dog Fairy Lily . She is a perfect fit. I really didn't want a puppy, but it doesn't matter what you want when it's time for you to add to your family. It just happens! My only disappointment is that they didn't take a picture of me and Fairy Lily to post on Instagram. They didn't do it either time so it must be because I'm old and ugly because I sure noticed that they post a lot of pictures and for me not to have my picture. Either time is kind of suspect but I'll get over it ha ha I highly recommend Joybound and also their training classes. We took the basic manners and wallflower class with Shelly with our first dog and it was so helpful. I look forward to doing it with Fairy Lily once she has all her shots. I want to give a shout out to one of their counselors named Eric. He did not help me with the adoption process, but he was the first contact that I made over the couple weeks that I was coming in looking for a second dog and when I was in the process of adopting Fairy Lily, he saw us and came over and was just really friendly and kind. Thank you, Joybound for completing my family and fulfilling my dream of having two dogs! read more

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I've gotten my kitten from here, and she's so sweet. She's playful and likes cuddles. I've had her for about a month now and she's doing great! read more

Joybound People & Pets - My cat, named Mochi - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Drove through Joybound on way to their thrift store. Massive complex where it is evident that animals are treated with love and care, and the thrift store was awesome. All volunteer staffed the store is large, organized and lots of great finds read more

I got a cat from Joybound - a senior cat that was not very friendly but "called to me". After four visits she purred and accepted petting, so we took her home! I love that they continue to ask about our pet, and value our feedback. This service was free to me as a veteran, and I'm proud to support their "Pets to Vets" outreach. read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

service was great all the groomers was super nice to my dog Bruno. Highly recommend and forsure looking forward to coming back !!

Great service when I found my cat Mary, they gave me some information about her and the little animal book about what cats and dogs and different animals what is dangerous for them and once you picked out your pet they they give you some information once you're done signing everything they let you spend some time with your pets gain some trust 5 star! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I rescued my Bella here. This place is amazing and gives you the necessary time to spend with the animal that is critical, so you're able to monitor their behavior to see if they're going to be a good match for you. Bella was awesome and she's been the best 20 pound dog that I've ever rescued. I have zero regrets in the world. They made the process simple, easy and enjoyable and the adoption fee was 2-3x less than other rescue groups in the area. Thanks Joybound! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Dr Jill is the best. Kind, gentle and understanding. I would and I will recommend her in the future. She made a terrible day more manageable for us and we are so grateful for that. Thanks Jill:) read more

Wonderful experience adopting our pet. After losing our pet two years ago, we were ready to adopt. Thank you Joybound! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

The staff is kind and friendly. I appreciate the caring way they treat the dogs. And, my granddog looks fabulous!

Well-run shelter with great caregivers. We adopted our 3-month old puppy from Joybound, and they made the process easy with plenty of post-adoption support. Highly recommended! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Finn the puppy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

My two kids and I adopted a dog from Joybound People & Pets in Walnut Creek, CA in June 2025. Their facility is AMAZING!!! So are their Staff members. After our first visit, we decided not to even visit other shelters, because we were so impressed. The dog we adopted was very well cared for at Joybound and it could not have been a better experience. I highly recommend visiting Joybound first, if you are going to adopt a pet!! read more

What an incredible facility and team! The grounds, kennels and general facility are super clean (doesn't smell like urine or poop!), and everyone I met was kind, friendly and helpful. We picked up our forever furry friend from them, and couldn't be happier! The follow up and help after picking him up has been incredible too! They pick up dogs from kill lists to give them more time (the case with my new furry friend) - so please consider this rescue if you're looking for a dog so they can continue to save more kill list dogs. How much & what do you get? $150 covered my 18month dog, he'd been spayed, fully vaccinated AND microchipped! I cannot recommend this rescue enough! read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

We adopted a dog named Pedro. Joybound made sure that they were able to check him out and provides all the information before they send the dog home. I would recommend this place as they really care for all furbabies. Employees are very friendly and accommodating too. If only I could adopt all of them so they can help more dogs from LA too. read more

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Really appreciate the patience Andrea took to ensure we were matched with the right cat for our family! Kittens get adopted SO FAST - but I'm glad she gave us multiple options before we made a final decision. Paperwork was very straightforward and we were able to take a kitty home immediately. Each cat has their own private enclosure, and the facility was clean and well maintained! Here is our little love bug, who stole our hearts because she was making biscuits while she walked (we named her Biscuit because of this)! read more

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I am such a fan of Joybound! We had our 6 month old puppy spayed here and it was an all around great experience. They were friendly and took her as soon as I arrived, and then told me to come back after 4pm. When she got back to us, we had a couple concerns and called them at least 2 or 3 times. They responded quickly and were very thorough. So far, about a month later, she is doing great! They also microchipped her and clipped her nails for free!! We were ready to pay over $100 for microchipping, thank goodness we waited! You can't beat the price here, and I'd definitely say the service as well. read more

Yes this place is amazing, people working there are very compassionate and very helpful when adopting . Grooming is great as well as their training classes. Highly recommended you check out adopting animals from there. Even their front desk people were great & helpful. read more

Great service options for veterans and civilians who need cost friendly veterinarian services. My previous dog had her annual exams here, along with heart worm and flea/tick medicines. read more

I'm truly shocked at the lack of help I've received from Joybound. My elderly mother had adopted a cat from them. My mom has unfortunately been in the hospital and now care homes for many months and most likely will not be returning home. Her cat is a sweet cat and great companion to her but has always been very shy and timid. She hides anytime anyone else comes into the house even though my mom had tried very hard to make her comfortable around other people. Since she was adopted from Joybound and they claim that they will always help with their pets that have been adopted, I reached out to them for help. I feel so bad for my mom's cat. She's alone in the house. My brother and I go in and feed her and take care of her litter box but we cannot get her to come out. She needs to be caught and put in a foster situation where she can be made to feel comfortable and then hopefully be adopted to someone who would treat her like my mom did. Joybound said they could NOT help and then told me to call animal control and have her sent to the pound!!! That is disgraceful coming from an organization that claims they care about animals. My brother and I cannot take her. I have cats that are not friendly and my brother has dogs that don't like cats. My mom's cat needs someone to just be her person and show her love and help her heal from losing my mom. Joybound should have been the ones to help with that but the only "help" they offered was to have her sent to the pound to most likely be euthanized. read more

I just tried to donate 20 bath towels from an AlrB&B to wash and dry animals with but was directed to drop them off at a thrift store in Concord for them to resell. Once at the Thrift Store they threw most of the towels into the trash because they could not resell them in the store, so the animals got no benefit from my donation. Very disappointed with Joybound for not putting animals first and trying to make money off donations. read more

HANNAH! She/they were just amazing. I had my VERY excited 3 y/o and although it was busy and overstimulating , Hannah was very patient with us. Not only patient but was knowledgeable and more than helpful when explaining various topics and all questions that we had. Hannah seemed to be very honest and knowledgeable. They genuinely seem to care and enjoy the work that they do. Overall pleased with Hannah and Joybound as a whole. I hope Hannah can see this review or if the owner could recognize Hannah for their efforts Sly family & Tara Hills the cat read more

Joybound People & Pets - Tara hills - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Abbie is amazing. She worked with a friend from OLS sanctuary and is highly knowledgeable about animals. She's straight to the point but gives great knowledge and support regarding dogs, cats, and livestock. She may give you a good laugh. I've adopted a dog and have sent friends to adopt because of her. If you come to adopt, please ask for Abbie. She is one of a handful from any shelter to advocate and help re-think what's truly best for you, and or your family. read more

My family and I are very happy to have adopted a kitten. at JOYBOUND and the help and assistance of Adriana the lady who assisted us and with the language was excellent and the best. Thank you Joybound and Adriana from: 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 read more

Joybound People & Pets - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I was very impressed with the Joybound facility and that it is a tony La Russo startup. The organization is top rate , friendly , informative , lovely kind employees that cater not only to the animals to be adopted but to the people they screen for adoption . I am thrilled that they look out for the animals make sure that the new parents understand the process of caring for a very scared and anxious animal my experience was top notch as I adopted one of the pups that was abandoned in Calistoga my "dash" is a beautiful sweet loving 4 yr old pup he was well taken care of during his short stay at the facility . I was given food , instructions in a nice folder , discount flyers , and a free grooming if I wanted for my pet post adoption along with a certificate for veterinary services to be obtained post two weeks after adoption which is a $250 coupon. The vca hospital called me the next day to set up an appt and I was truly impressed how the organization has everything put into place . I highly recommend this facility it is a gem and I am forever grateful to them for allowing me to obtain my "dash" as he is thriving and is our love bug . Thank you Joybound for caring for our abandoned animals and doing such a great professional job . I am truly impressed. sincerely Deanna Stauffer , RN CNN read more

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We came here in the hopes of adopting a doodle. Unfortunately a line had formed for the dog we went to look at at 9am, and it was adopted out before we could meet it. Nonetheless, we were highly impressed by all of the following: * They don't discriminate against those of us who aren't rich enough to own own a house with a yard. This is a huge breath of fresh air. * They clearly know and care a lot about their dogs with a vet visit, vaccinations, and neutering/spaying already finished before they even list the dog. * Adoption prices are very affordable. It's worth noting that if the dog/breed you're looking at is in high demand you'll have to show up very early to have a chance at adopting it. Three people had already lined up at 9am for a chance to meet the puppy we came to look on the very first day that it was available (their doors open at noon). This is simply the downside of a first-come first-served basis, and is definitely worth it given that it makes adoption of uncommon breeds available to those of more modest means. read more

We adopted a 10 week old puppy and she is perfect for us. I highly recommend Joybound if you are looking to adopt a pet. The staff was wonderful and the process easy. They do all they can to assist in a smooth transition to your pets new home. The dogs come spayed or neutered with first shots. They sent us home with food, free first check up, and more. They truly care about a successful adoption. We love her! Thank you. read more

While Joybound Pets boasts a friendly staff and excellent care for animals, I was disappointed by the limited availability of cats for adoption. Additionally, their adoption fees, ranging from $200-250 for cats, seem relatively high compared to other shelters. However, they do include food and a veterinary examination certificate, which is a plus.And they provide parking for bikes and cars!!! read more

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Being that I'm new to the area this was my first time visiting ARF and the minute I came through the doors I was blown away by how kind and knowledgeable the staff were. I ended up adopting this handsome little guy at 4 months old who's doing amazing & is almost 1 year old now. read more

Joybound People & Pets - Puppy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

This cause has long been on my radar, going back way into the 1990's. Sports is my hobby, going back to the days when my uncles introduced me to them. It didn't matter whether baseball, basketball, or football, when there was a game on, I was engrossed. This non-profit organization is the passion of Tony La Russa and his family. My friends attended his annual fundraising events that featured current and retired baseball players in perpetuating vision of finding homes and care for animals in need. I finally attended an event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds as my favorite baseball player would be attending and signing autographs. Like a wide eyed kid, I was finally able to meet one of my childhood heroes (#39 of the 'We Are Family' Pirates). Besides this opportunity, he also held auctions of various sports memorabilia from all of the other major sports and entertainment celebrities to fund the expansion of his cause. I bought several items in these auctions which I treasure to this day. Back to the now, in mid January, after a hiatus in doing this event for nearly twenty years, he held an event at the ballroom of the Hilton Ballroom to help repair the roof on their building. My East Bay collectible fan friend told me about this on the Monday before the event. Reading the schedule and lineup of stars who participated, I juggled my schedule to spend a half day here. I have some older items that I'd hoped to get autographed for many years. This lineup says it all (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=GKeo6EsJgD2xufCovvpYaA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). Besides meeting up with said friend, I also seized the opportunity to visit my other neighborhood friend and catch up with him. In recent years, Tony and his family hosted concerts instead the sports events to continue the support for the foundation. It obviously has grown exponentially from what it was thirty years ago. Back to the cause, ARF has long served the Bay Area, primarily east side, in rescuing mainly dogs and cats from unfortunate situations whether man made or not. Thank you, Barry, for helping me during those auction years. Glad to meet your wife, but hopefully you next time. Thank you, Tony, family, and staff, for supporting this noble cause in the Bay Area. Take a bow in making our community a better place! read more

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Last year I went to the Walnut Creek facility with a friend, the minute we walked in you could tell that the kennels needed to be cleaned, one person at the desk, not really interested in us, so I wasn't impressed at all, hopefully they have stepped up and done and should do a whole lot better read more

We adopted our cat from Arf. After having been to many shelters I really appreciated how this shelter proceeds and we got such a sweet cat. Here are issues I encountered at other shelters that made my experience at Arf the more pleasant. Arf does not discriminate. Because I have little kids, I had been told at another shelter that I have my hands full therefore I am not a good candidate for adoption. Arf helped us choose a cat who would fit our family with little kids best. Arf reserves 3 animals for you to meet which makes the process less stressful. At another shelter, by the time I had met the first kitten I was interested in, the other ones were already adopted. At Arf I had 1 hour and a half to meet the 3 cats I was interested in and decide in peace. We had adopted a dog from another shelter who was supposedly good with little kids but the dog had a strong fear of strangers and food protectiveness which made him dangerous. The issues with this dog were know by that other shelter and had not been disclosed to us. The dog attacked our youngest unprovoked and we had to return him. At Arf our cat was described as very sweet and she truly is! Finally I really appreciated to receive a medical assessment and medical history of our cat which was not always available at other shelters. read more

Joybound People & Pets - Our new cat - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Our ARF experience started with an enthusiastic welcome when we entered. After a minimal wait, a volunteer shared a detailed history of the dog we wanted to meet and then took us outside for the meeting. After the meeting, he gave us time to talk. Once we had made our decision, we were quickly assisted by an employee with the adoption paperwork and then taken to the boutique where another employee made sure we had the supplies we needed (including a free bag of food). I am most impressed with medical care ARF provides. Our dog's teeth were cleaned, and a broken tooth was extracted. In addition, a small mass was removed and biopsied even though the vet believed (correctly) that it was benign. This care alone would have cost us several times the adoption fee. Additionally, everyone at ARF was friendly and very excited for us and for the dog we adopted. I will definitely recommend ARF to other would-be adopters. read more

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Gotten 3 cats from ARF they have the best animals to adopt super clean they really care about their animals. Like their own when I go their every time their is done one in the room giving each animal quality time one on one. It's so cute. The staff is unbelievably the best they know their stuff just not trying to pond off a animal. And I like you can take your time spending time in the room getting to know that cat before you adopt . The dogs you can go and take them out and play with them even to see if they are a right fit. read more

Joybound People & Pets - His name was Tuck ARF gave him but we decided on Benny-Boo. That's the second day we got him he made himself at home - Animal Shelters Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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My family and I adopted our dog, Artie, from ARF a month ago. We were all very impressed with the adoption process. It's obvious that the staff really cares about matching a pet with the right kind of home. If you want to just get in there, take a pet, and get out, then you'll be disappointed. However, if that's what you want, then I question whether you should be getting a pet. I was more than happy to answer the questionnaire and talk about our plans and intentions. The fee is more than reasonable considering that they took care of neutering my dog and much of what he needed health-wise. Plus, you get a complimentary wellness check with VCA, so all of those things would have cost a lot more if taken care of on my own. They also offer training and assistance once you adopt your pet. I haven't had to take advantage of these for my dog, as he's pretty well-behaved and I am not too bad at teaching him how to walk properly myself. Still, it's nice to know that these services are available if needed. read more

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The only place where I could find the help I needed for the abandoned kittens in my neighborhood!