I've adopted two animals here in the past few years. Most recently is a kitten two weeks ago, and at our first veterinary visit the vet mentioned Miss Kitty might have a small hernia at the incision site from her spay. Our vet said to keep an eye on it, as it might get bigger and she would need surgery. A volunteer from the MHS called to ask how things were going and I mentioned the possible hernia. The next day I got a call (On a Sunday) to get more information. Today, I was asked to bring Miss Kitty to the clinic so that Dr. Evans could check it. The MHS staff and volunteers are incredibly helpful and so coordinated when it comes to staying in touch with people who adopt animals. I'm extremely happy with the service here. read more

Marin Humane - The spay and neuter clinic. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

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We came here for the Bay Area Pignic 2025 event and really enjoyed it. There were a guinea pig eating contest, a guinea pig custome contest, and a health check up station, an adopation station, and even raffles. The property is huge and very well maintained. Behind the facility, there's a dog park and a parking lot. read more

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Five stars, of course, for the mission: rescuing, caring for, and adopting out animals. (Adopt don't shop, please, all animal lovers!) But did you know Marin Humane also hosts kids birthday parties? Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered hearing about a Marin humane birthday party, so when coming up with a birthday party plan, I looked up Marin Humane parties. It was so easy from booking to the party itself. Marin Humane takes care of everything. You can have a group of up to 10 kids and can pick cat or dog-themed. Your party gets use of a party room--decorations included! The first hour is taken by a shelter tour and an animal encounter. At my daughter's party, we got to meet two super sweet and affectionate therapy dogs brought by volunteers. Marin humane also includes a craft activity and some really nice goody bags for all the kids. (I added something to each bag but they were good as is.) Party hosts bring their own food, but Marin Humane provides cups, napkins, plates, and cutlery. So easy! I brought additional activities for our second party hour. This is also much cheaper than Marin's other birthday party options! Plus, I'm happy to raise money for a humane society. I've always hosted big park parties for my kids, but this was so much and was a really good experience for a group of animal-loving kids. read more

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I can't begin to say enough good things about the Marin Humane Society! This is a wonderful organization that does so much for so many different types of animals. I've had the pleasure of attending both of their major fundraising events, Woofstock, and Tails by Twilight. Woofstock is a day-time event on the lawn with live music, auction, food trucks, vendor and partner booths, and more! Tails by Twilight is a little more of an upscale event. It is an evening on the lawn with a cocktail hour, fancy catered meal, silent and live auction, and lots of other fun surprises. This event raises several hundred thousand dollars for the organization and specific needs. This is a great place to adopt a new family member. In addition to dogs, they also have cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds, and more! There is a store where they sell food, toys, and other pet supplies. I believe they also offer classes as well. Everyone I have interacted with involving Marin Humane has been great. From the front office staff, to the volunteers, to the grounds manager. Everyone is super friendly and there for a good cause. I wish I lived closer so I could be a regular volunteer. I am already looking forward to the next Woofstock event on May 4, 2025! read more

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A stray tortoiseshell cat hung around my house and my neighbors for quite some time. I took it to the Humane Society to check for a chip; all was fine there. Later on my neighbor brought this stray to the Humane Society unaware I had previously. They help onto her, spayed her, aborted her kittens, and had her ready for adoption. Marin Humane adopted her out despite my place on the priority list for her adoption. No call, no text, no email, nothing to inform me that she was ready for adoption. This cat and I bonded before Marin Humane was ever involved and threw that out in an instant. The adoption center manager recommended other tortoiseshell cats as if the original could just be replaced. I'm not sure if this was a clerical error or someone in the office wanted to ensure I didn't adopt this cat. I had a initial gut feeling that getting involved with Marin Humane was a bad idea and it turned out to be proven true, sadly. read more

Compassionate responsive staff is all I can say when we had an urgent need over the holidays. Still in shock and grief stricken I cannot elaborate on the details other than they were there for us. For any pet need I'm certain they should e your first call. read more

Marin Humane - Roamin our most precious boy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

This review is for the group dog training classes, and specifically for Yuching Deuctsh and her excellent training assistants. She is, in my opinion, the best trainer because she works closely with each dog & handler team, sends out a recap within an hour it two of class (while things are fresh in everyone's mind), tailors the recaps to what was taught (a previous instructor sent out recaps for what should have been taught, but didn't teach any of that during class), and keeps things moving quickly so that dogs don't get bored or frustrated. Her assistants are super! And she allows them to help us with suggestions, demonstrations, etc. We and our dogs get so much instruction and personalized help--the classes are always focused on helping everyone succeed. We love Yuching's classes and our dog is super excited to go. She wasn't excited for other instructors--dogs know. read more

Marin Humane - Abby, relaxing after class. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

The kind lady behind the desk was thorough and helpful. The paperwork we needed to complete in order to renew our pet's license was handled quickly and we were provided with information to assist us in the future. read more

Clean bathrooms, professional pleasant fun staff. Great atmosphere, I love the decor. I love the events and classes they have. I definitely love the yrly Bay Area Pignic! The parking and atmosphere is great read more

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Marin Humane Society is such a special place. I don't know if the team here is made up of volunteers or employees, but I don't think it's possible for them to be any nicer. Maggie, in particular, was so sweet and patient during my visit with a kitty. There are so many wonderful animals here, and it's clear they are well taken care of. The team truly cares about every animal and works hard to match them with the right homes. Highly recommend visiting if you're looking to adopt or just want to support an incredible organization. read more

I have visited Marin Humane three times. Each time the reception seemed odd for an adoption org. First I was told to complete an application before I had visited or seen any animals. Next time I shared my other dogs had been purchased at a breeder. This statement was met with a judgmental, " you bought from a breeder" comment -- still do not get this weird shame event, but it caused me to excuse myself and depart. A final visit over a year later I stopped in to check out available adoptions and while walking to the kennel area I was stopped and told to turn around. That was very weird -- as if I meant harm or something. I was hoping to adopt a sweet dog. Once again I decided to leave because I was made to feel like a Target-like security guard was following me. ICK! uncomfortable. While I do understand a protective nature, it is necessary that these folks train themselves to: stop with the weird judgmental attitude stuff; stop shaming people who have stated they bought a pet from a breeder as if it is a crime; stop hovering over and interviewing with weird invasive questions well meaning people seeking to adopt. I dont want to deal with this dysfunctional place again. Surely they do great good. The culture they transmit is not at all helping their animals. Headed back to a solid breeder. read more

I am obsessed with my rescue Max. This doesn't mean our journey has been easy. Max needs training, This isn't a surprise. When you rescue a dog often times the reason they were abandoned/surrendered is just that, Lack of training. I'm not ready to do in-person sessions whether with a group, private, or private at my home so I opted for the best option: one hour video consultation. I paid the fee online, scheduled the date and time that works best, and received a receipt and an email letting me know what to expect. Youching was amazing. She demonstrated a strong knowledge of canine behavior, helped us understand why Max does some of the things he does, encouraged us to implement different strategies to help Max adapt and adjust to his brand new exciting world, and build everyone's confidence. After our session she emailed us a video of our chat so we can revisit the strategies she suggested as well as a written post-consultation report. I felt like I received a great value for the money. I am really happy with our consultation - so much that I will sign Max up for in-person classes. I want to be frame this correctly. I love Max. I am obsessed with him. I have all the patience in the world for this little guy. I am the human who will not let him down like he was let down by other humans before the animal rescue saved him. He needs training. That is easy. He's such a sweet spirited doggie that I would do anything to make sure he lives his best doggie life. Right now that means helping him adjust to the world so that he can be socialized and make doggie friends. He is so smart, I can't wait to see him blossom into the doggie he was always meant to be. If Max is happy I am happy. Marin Humane Society offers a great menu of classes with many options to help you and your dog. My experience surpassed my expectations. Fiver for perfection. read more

Shelters across the county emulate Marin Humane for a good reason. They are the best humane organization bar none. Many people have the idea that MH is a "kill shelter". This is an unfortunate label. Shelters or rescue organizations that say they are " no kill" cannot possibly house every animal that comes to them so they turn them away or try to find homes otherwise. Some animals are either very sick or behaviorally far gone. In this case, euthanasia is most humane. I would say that if someone has the means to find appropriate homes for these animals, then they should adopt them and do that, if they can. I don't have an issue with Marin Humane setting reasonable standards of what constitutes a good home. As a Marin resident who has years of experience with MH, I can attest to the quality and integrity of this stellar organization. From amazing volunteers, to the hard working dedicated staff, MH is an established ent that Marin can be proud to have serving people and their animal companions for many years. It has stood the test of time thanks to the people who make it work. Support MH if you can or just go visit them on the website for info. And Of course adopt whenever possible! I just did that! Meet Leo! read more

Marin Humane - Leo - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

I registered for a 6 week puppy class and their 'Puppies in the Park' program. We attended the first 2 puppy classes. Due to a family emergency (my brother was dying) I had to fly to NJ to care for him and remained there for 4 weeks through the funeral services. I contacted Marin Humane to let them know I'd be away and was met with a pretty callous response. 'No makeup classes, no prorated fees'. So - I paid for 6 sessions and was only able to attend 2 due to death in my family. I found this pretty inhumane. read more

Sadly Marin Humane has not handled the pandemic as well as I would have hoped. If ever there was an essential business it's the Humane Society. But we're now well into July and the place is still essentially closed. By appointment only which is fine but nobody answers the phones. Nor can you leave a message. After ringing a gazillion times the recording says nobody is available, call back later, good bye. I have been trying to reach them to surrender a young rooster sent by mistake from a hatchery but was told we're not taking in surrenders, post it online. I did and nobody responded. No more euthanasians either, that's closed due to the pandemic as well. Unfortunately I gave up rehoming the bird with them and ended up humanely killing it this morning in a kill cone. And Lisa B., please don't respond and say you're sorry. The bird is dead. read more

We had an abysmal time with this place. We gave a feral kitten into the care of the San Rafael emergency vet, who then gave her over to Marin Humane. In between 4AM when we dropped her off and 10AM when we woke back up and realized we wanted to keep her, both places lost track of her. No big deal. One kitten in the deluge of kitten season can easily be lost. After calling back for the fourth time(!) they said they'd gotten her and would start processing her. We called after her multiple times in the following week, asking if we could come see her, come get her, how to adopt her, etcetera. We couldn't see her until she was up for adoption and they'd have to wait a week before spaying her to check for a microchip, they told us, but we'd be first on their list of potential adoptees. We went in person to try to see her and got grilled about whether we'd take her no matter what, "no matter what she may have" as the person manning the desk put it. We're told it may be a couple weeks and we go out of town hoping we can get her when we're back. They call us during our trip at 1PM, telling us to come get her by 5PM or she'll go to the next interested party, and they won't hold her for 24 hours, the best they can do is 10AM the following day. We panic. We call around trying to get friends to pick her up. The lady who called us doesn't answer her phone or reply to our messages so we just send a friend to get her anyway. This was... inexcusable. To have us on the hook like that! We couldn't adopt -- until we had to adopt IMMEDIATELY. It didn't matter that we were the ones who found her and inquired about her so many times. Who was this other mystery person who wanted her? If she wasn't available until that day, who in the hour she was ready was going to take her home? Why wouldn't they return our calls? I'm so mad. Neither I nor any of my friends, family, or coworkers will be back to this location if I have anything to say about it. I respect the work they do, but can't forgive how we were treated. read more

The staff really cares deeply about their animals and they're honest. We came in for a cat, fell in love with a sweet kitten and took her home within an hour, I think even less. So happy to have this beautiful addition to our family. Thank you, Michelle for your help and your lovely personality! read more

Marin Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

The Marin Humane Society is the cat's meow. I really mean it. This organization does so much to protect and find new homes for pets in Marin County and beyond. Their Novato facility is a spectacular property. It looks more like a college campus. They have wonderful volunteers and staff that keep this non-profit afloat. There are plenty of classes to help educate the novice pet owners and/or the pet-curious. Their motto states: "We bring animals and humans together, forging a bond that impacts not just our homes, but makes neighborhoods happier and healthier." And I couldn't agree more. These guys don't just talk the talk. They also walk the walk. FYI, in the month of January, they waive licensing fees for dog owners if/when you show a current rabies vaccination certificate. Very generous! read more

We couldn't have asked for a more pleasant adoption experience! Michelle spent a lot of time with us, the dog we adopted, and our older dog we brought with us, giving the dogs a lot of time to interact. She gave us as much information as she could about any potential issues and made sure we felt comfortable. The shelter was clean, had a nice outdoor and indoor meeting area, and neither dog seemed stressed being there (very unusual for our older dog to be relaxed in any clinical setting)! We brought home a really sweet girl to add to our family and she's doing really well so far. We had one health related concern that came up during our first night with our new pup and sent an email over to the clinic for more information. Michelle did a little research with the vet and called us back first thing in the morning- all is well, she's just still in recovery from her spay surgery, phew! Based on our experience, we would recommend Marin Humane to anyone looking to adopt! read more

If you are considering adopting a pet, I could probably provide enough glowing comments to convince you (and all your friends and family!) to adopt from Marin Humane. They are organized, professional and most important (to me) is that they are careful about the animals they put up for adoption AS WELL AS the families with whom they pair them. In my opinion, caring about four-legged creatures as well as us two-legged human ones is a huge and beneficial distinction when it comes to adoption - and keeping everyone happy (I suppose that's why they call it Marin HUMANE!). Our dog, Clyde has been a fantastic addition to our household...a seemingly seamless transition for our entire family, the credit for which I feel goes back to the folks at Marin Humane. If you're thinking about getting an animal, do yourself a favor and adopt here. read more

This review is solely based on the MHS Share Program. A friend referred my mom to this great program which assists low-income seniors who have pets and need assistance with pet supplies such as food, litter, flea medication, and a stipend to cover vet bills. This program even does more amazing work including dog walking, transportation to the vet, and pet food deliveries. You have to go through a registration and interview process before joining that's hassle free. Whenever we need to order more food or have any questions, Annie Humphrey is always there for us. We are so grateful to have found such an amazing program with caring people who are looking out for our seniors and their furry companions. read more

I went here yesterday and it was packed! There was an event that brought in a ton of people. I was there solely to visit a cat and hopefully adopt. I saw so many great cats and kittens. A lot of them got adopted which is wonderful! I was looking for a single cat 2 to 10 years old and mellow. Well I found a shy cat huddled inside a cat house. He seemed very sweet but not happy being there with so many people and noise. The volunteers and other staff were great and told me all about Tigger. I pre filled out the form and had my cousin (whom I live with) along for the visit. I decided he was worth taking a chance and adopting him. So he is now my cat. We are slowly getting to know each other and he even came and curled up by me on a pillow. He is still a bit shy and hides under the bed. He loves his tuna supreme though and comes out for it. Thank you everyone at the Humane Society for all you do! Update: I changed his name to Leone (Lion in Italian) and he has come a very long way. Sweet and getting braver every day. He now goes out to his catio all the time and has fun bird and squirrel watching. He loves being brushed. He has the cutest meow and is very dainty. He adores playing with his cat dancer toy. I look forward to continuing to get to know this sweet boy kitty. read more

Marin Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California

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every time I call MHS about the guy next door who owns 5 pitt bulls who he allows to roam loose without a leash and gets in neighbors' yards, the MHS doesn't do very much it seems to me. I've submitted 4 complaints or more about this neighbors' dogs and the MHS NEVER get back to me about the complaint resolution, which they're supposed to do. One staff member even argued with me, saying I am "prejudiced against pitt bulls". Ha! Like when they charge at me in my own yard?? It takes them a long time to follow up on a complaint and when they do, they seem to favor the dog owner and the dog against the complainant. read more

Marin Humane is a mixed bag: Pro's + REALLY positive place for shelter dogs + Lovely volunteers + Take dogs from all over to avoid "running out of time" at a kill shelter Con's - Very local (prejudice against people from out of town) - Customer service varies widely (sometimes very nice, other times unhelpful at best) Overall, if you're in this area and want to adopt a dog - this is the place. Be patient, persevere (even if they're rude and unresponsive), and do your best to be kind - they'll find you a great pup. Just let the rest go :) read more

For the past month I've been looking for a replacement cat. Marin Humane has been very difficult to deal with. The facility seems set up to allow the Cat Ladies that run the place to collect as many cats as they can but they have NO interest in parting with any. They make it next to impossible to visit the cats unless you have an appointment AND have chosen the cat off their website. No name of an eligible cat? We can't help you. Go home and look-up the one you want to see and if your lucky we will allow you to see it when you come back. Gone are the good old days when you would be free to wander the cages and find the one that appeals to you. Whoever set up this system clearly has no interest in helping people find pets. Go away, that's the message I got. If they direct you to Kitty Corner, be prepared for worse! read more

We had the pleasure of working with these kind folks. Jasper, our love was nurtured and got the best care! I hope to pay it forward and volunteer soon. Thank you all, for the work you do! read more

I have contacted Marin Humane on several occasions. First, to gain assistance with a dog locked in a hot car that was clearly having difficulty breathing. They were too busy. I asked if they would call the police to come. They told me no and to go myself through the mall to find the owners. Really? I did because I cared about the dog - I did not get the sense that they did. Another time, I witness a dog being abused and called them. They were too busy. I got a repeated non-helpful wrote line. "If the dog has food and water, there is nothing we can do." I was shocked! Another time, a pit bull was running along the street in Belvedere. I called for help. They were too busy. Belvedere came out to help. A deer caught in my elderly neighbor's fence - it was Tiburon police that had to get the help. Thank goodness for Tiburon police - I have been told that they are the one's who respond to and will keep the dogs running loose in Tiburon until the owner is found. I found a pup being dumped and took the pup as I was worried he would be hit by a car or cause an accident. I called Marin Humane to tell them I was bringing him in. I was told they would not take him. I asked if they didn't have the contract with Marin to take loose animals - I was told, by a supervisor, "you took him, he's your problem." Members of my hiking group at the top of Mt. Tam found a cat meowing loudly at us and following us. We called Marin Humane, we said we would bring him in, could they read the microship and we would take him to his home. We were told "our policy is cats can live outside." This line was repeated to us despite asking several times, "can you just read the chip"? Why do Marin County Supervisors keep giving this organization the contract to help animals in Marin when so many of us cannot get help for animals in distress in Marin. I'm so tired of their marketing and denying that these experiences actually happen. read more

The Marin Humane Society is where my son and I adopted Yogi - Our dumb happy Mexican dog. He came here via the Pet Partnership Program with San Felipe Animal Rescue on the Baja Peninsula. Yogi arrived at the Marin Humane Society in December 2004 and was described as a Heeler Mix and estimated to be somewhere between 1.5-3 years old. I think he acted more like a puppy after we brought him home. And a sweet one that my son absolutely adored. My son also promised to take good care of him, saying "You know Dad, owning a pet is a big responsibility!" We parents know full well how that turned out.. My son and I have found that the other descriptors on Yogi's profile were pretty much correct. He's energetic, but calms quickly and he likes most people, other dogs, and even cats. He's also mentally sensitive, has a short memory, has never bitten anyone, and has a tail that is always wagging. My parents still tell the story of making friends with Yogi and then returning the next day only to have him bark and howl at them, before lowering his ears and welcoming them home. The nearby park dog people all know and like Yogi as as has any visitor that has come to our home. Our home visitors all know that after that bark, a welcome prance and snort and a wagging tail will always follow. But it is Gayle that Yogi has a special place in his heart. Gayle says that she's Yogi's "Annie Sullivan" and she indeed did set down some boundaries and broke the language barrier (with the help of cheese), when he was really a barely trained street dog. And when Gayle comes over, I always know when she has arrived, since Yogi always lets out that special yelp that we never hear any other time. But I digress. The Marin Humane Society is a great place to adopt a pet. I thought that the staff were knowledgeable and asked the right screening questions without resorting to an ARF-like interrogation. The facility is also handsome and is well layed out for not only selecting your animal companion, but getting acquainted. It was also a pleasant coincidence that my friend Lisa and her family were at the Marin Humane Society to adopt their beloved dog at the same time my son and I were there. We sometimes joke about what would have happened if our timing was off by a few minutes and we ended up with each others dogs. read more

I needed to find a caring and compassionate place to put my baby Jasmine to sleep and from the time I made the first call to the Marin Humane Society, I knew they would be a good place to have the procedure done. They offer a little side room off the main lobby as a private area to say our last goodbyes to her before they brought her to the operating room in back. I was so sad that they didn't allow the family to be there during the procedure but can understand as well. Alternatively, other services did offer that option but the cost was at least 8x more and didn't seem half as compassionate so the difficult decision was made to forego it. It's been a heartwrenching day for my family as we laid Jasmine to rest today. I wish the side waiting room was a little more quiet and private but under the circumstances, served us well. The adoption area was actually a welcome distraction and we actually considered adopting a new puppy on the spot but it was a little too soon for us. The Humane Society was the best possible combination of compassion and cost-effectiveness for my family and, while it doesn't make it hurt any less, I know they were gentle and will be as they take her to be cremated and ultimately bring her back home to us. read more

I adopted my dear love companion a toy poodle He was the light and love in my life. He passed on 9/7 and I'm looking forward to another rescue replacement companion. And now I choose only toy poodles from my great experience of us together. read more

A stay dog on a leash wandered into my business, less than one block from MH. I was on duty as the only employee to serve customers and could not leave. I called MH. They could not have been less helpful and would not come over and help this dog and try to locate the owner, and there were multiple people on site at MH working at the time. Luckily, they are not employed by Novato Police or Fire. 90 minutes after my first call, I called again..... still no response and the lady on the phone could not have been less helpful or less informative. read more

I recently adopted a kitten from them. The following are the goods and the bads. Good: adoption fee was waived Bad: the reason is bc some sad sort of person keeps breeding and dumping kittens at the shelter this summer Good: very friendly staff and we were able to find an animal that fit our needs (being a multi-cat household comes w some limitations/specifications) Bad: the day I happened to convince my husband to come w me to look at these sweet homeless kitties was a Saturday, so the place was packed. I mean tons of looky loos and even a news crew. This piled with the fact that some of the volunteers didn't really seem to know a lot about what animals they had and which cat went with what paperwork made getting out of there difficult. After we had made our decision and were ready for paperwork we were passed around to 3 different people and had to restart the process over again w each. Overall: please, find it in your heart and home to go adopt a pet today. Or better yet, maybe a weekday to avoid the crowds ;) read more

I had 2 completely different experiences here and the 2nd experience was one where we adopted our 7 year old doberman, Liberty, so it completely out ways the bad. The process was relatively fast for adopting, they seemed to be very happy we were taking Liberty home and eager to find her a home that would work for the dog, not just let her go home with anyone. The facility is decent. Pretty clean and lots of helpers. They will let you take a dog on a walk around the premises to get to know it better. One weird thing was they made the entire family come to the facility in Marin even though we live in Sonoma, so my Dad had to drive all the way down there to meet the dog. That was kind of strange to us... The woman we worked with during the adoption process was very kind. I'm just happy I was able to find my girl here. : ) read more

Thank you Nic Kersten and destiny for helping me take in my two parakeets. You both are wonderful and so kind to help me. I saw they got adopted which I was truly blessed! Also I hope the bag of food helped! Thank you so much for what you both do and your team as well. Thank you! :) read more

I have taken 3 dog training classes here with my pup and had a great experience. Highly recommend coming here for obedience classes.

I can't say enough good things about Marin Humane. We started by fostering two adorable kittens, and after four days we knew we had to adopt them. The staff we worked with (Catherine & Suzanne) were fantastic - friendly, professional, generous, and responsive. What a great organization doing great work - even during Covid! read more

Someone, pick up the phone? Been emailing and trying to inquire about the adoption of one of your pups. Wondering how a business can operate if they do not even pick up the phone calls?? read more

Great organization. Great facilities. Seems to have lots of friendly volunteers helping. Just adopted a great dog here last week and staff were wonderful and easy to deal with. Make a difference and adopt someone to love here! read more

It took a while to get through to a human on the phone, but the woman I talked to wouldn't even let me meet the puppy I was interested in because we have a three year old human and apparently the puppy can be "toothy". All puppies are toothy. We have had five dogs and two cats, and are super experienced pet owners. Now we are looking at breeders instead. Bad experience. Likely won't return read more

Wonderful place- great experience and every single person working and volunteering was awesome. I was rescued by the sweetest miniature poodle who recently lost her eyes. She was given extra special attention by the staff and volunteers. Understandably they wanted to make sure she went to the right home. The entire process went smoothly and the follow up to be sure she is settled has been helpful and welcomed. My little love is settling well into her new home with her new sister. read more

Marin Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Novato, California