My experience with Lara and Shera was unfortunately not a good one…read more Lara, our assigned trainer, presented me with a prong collar at the initial assessment for our 35lb basset hound and told me that this was an "essential training tool" that is "very common". We found out later that this was not true - in fact, most people were horrified that we had allowed our dog to be trained this way. I'll front this by saying my husband and I did not do a whole lot of research on different training methods beforehand and are first-time dog owners, but looking back, we really wish we had pushed back on this. The combination of the collar and Lara's request to withhold all dry food except in training turned our formerly sweet and scared dog into an aggressive food guarder who was still scared to go on walks, but now growled and snapped at our cats. After 4 sessions, we consulted a behaviorist and told Lara and Shera we would be switching to another trainer on their recommendation. We received very defensive emails from both of them about the impropriety of seeing a behaviorist without their knowledge(!), but Shera agreed to refund our remaining sessions. When we still hadn't received a check five weeks later, I sent a follow-up and got back a reply complaining about my "combative" attitude (though she did then promptly issue a refund through PayPal.). Grateful to finally be done with them.

Shera at Pawfect Pups is the best!…read more We started training sessions for our dog Maggie when she was just 3 months old. I thought it was too early, but my husband convinced me that the earlier the better and he was right! We did a lot of research on yelp and other sources. The reviews we read about Pawfect Pups made us feel like there was something different about Pawfect Pups. Shera did such a great job addressing our problem areas at each session and worked with all of us to teach Maggie commands. Before we started, Maggie was a pretty stubborn little puppy and she was biting on pant legs, socks, blankets, and even my hair, snatching up any food that was dropped on the floor. Shera helped us work with Maggie to fix those habits and even taught us a variety of commands. Each session was focused on Maggie's concerns. I never felt like she was following a curriculum. Everything was very customized for our pup. We also really liked that we were an active part of each training session. People always compliment us on how well behaved Maggie is. My husband and I tell each other over and over again that finding Pawfect Pups was the best thing. Thanks Shera!

We just adopted a dog through AHOTO. Everyone on the organization that we interacted with was kind,…read moreprofessional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. We highly recommend them!

I adopted my cat through AHOTO. They asked me to foster and it was obviously a fail. The…read morecommunications and support were great. Natalie is very attentive to all their cats and kittens and super helpful with adoption. She knows which cat to pair which human with, and is always spot on. I would 100% always adopt from them.

My first time here. Immediately greeted when I walked in. I was there to make a donation of…read moreunopened kitten kibbles. The place is so clean, from what I saw. There were several families adopting. All workers were smiling and the layout is open, which I appreciated, with lots of natural light. I was thanked for my donation. So glad I could help.

The staff and volunteers here do a really good job trying to find homes for pets of all kinds and…read moretrying to assure that all pets are treated properly while awaiting adoption as well as after adoption. I have adopted many pets here over the decades, including rabbits, hamsters, and birds. You get a discount at Pender vets for the life of the pet if you adopt from the shelter. The small pet adoption fees are very small, and sometimes they give you a habitat or supplies if they have enough donations. I appreciate that they try to keep pets together that are bonded to one another. Just be sure to arrive well before closing because I think they stop adoption paperwork about half an hour before closing time. I wish they had longer hours, but that's a county budget thing.

Absolutely adorable! We had some extra time in the area, so we decided to stop by to see some…read morekitties. After getting the rundown of the rules and information, we paid and placed our shoes in the front area. (It's socks only, so my husband borrowed a pair of slippers, as we hadn't pre-planned footwear for our visit.) Once inside, there were so many kitties to visit and plenty of places to relax. It's clear that the cats and facility are very well cared for, as even the floors and corners were being meticulously cleaned during our visit. Visitors are asked to utilize the hand sanitizer when moving between the spaces to minimize potential infections. The cats were relaxed and comfortable with many spaces to run and nap. An orange fluffy girl was being a hissy diva to the other cats, but she absolutely loved people. She crawled into my lap and made it her throne for a while. There's also a separate room for the kittens with plenty of toys for play. They went absolutely bonkers for the wand toys and found cozy spots for naps when they were all tired out. We really enjoyed our visit, and we would definitely return in the future for an afternoon of kitty snuggles.

Went here to pet some cats and decompress and the studio is so nice and clean. The owners are so…read morekind and you can tell they are passionate about taking care of of all the cats. The owner even taught me about the appropriate way to pet cats to ensure they feel comfortable with you. When I first arrived I forgot to bring socks and they were kind enough to provide me a pair and explain the rules of the studio. They have you sanitize your hand between every room you move into and the floors and couch's were in clean condition. My favorite room was the kitten room, a little gray kitten sat on my lap and cuddled with me they were all so sweet . The cats are up for adoption and this service is a great way for them to be desensitized, I will be back in the future for some more cuddles‍

The volunteers were great. I had applied online previous to our attending the adoption event and…read morethat made it a bit easier I am sure. We fell in love with one of their sweet pups and they made it easy to take her home the same day. They had taken very good care of her and had her records ready for me. There were coupons to use for her essentials and there is lots of great info on training and bringing home a new dog on their website. Honestly amazed at how organized they were with so many dogs in their care. Definitely would highly recommend looking to adopt with them first. Very grateful for all they are doing! They are amazing!

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue (LDAR) was recommended to me by a trusted area groomer. She suggested I…read moreapply online before the adoption event, and I'm glad I started the process before arriving so that I was pre-registered, so to speak. The event was well attended so I recommend arriving early and checking in with a volunteer (green tent) so you get instructions for navigating, selecting, and adopting. You want to be first on the list to adopt your dream pet. Due to the great turnout, and the number of foster parents there with the dogs, I couldn't find the dog I originally arrived to adopt. Keep an eye on the LDAR website for the most up to date list of dogs and cats. I found out the day before the event that another wonderful pup had be transferred to VA, and so I inquired about him as soon as I arrived, which gave me priority. The whole adoption process took about four (4) hours - about half of that was due to shopping for my new bestie. The lines can get extremely long during adoption events because the store is open to the public and a hundred or so adoption guests the day I visited. There was a small wait (30 minutes) to have my application reviewed, and for the pre-interview. Then about 30 minutes before I found out I was approved to adopt the puppy. There's another wait to go through adoption counseling (30 minutes - where you should shop for appropriate items such as a martingale collar, leash, name tag) and the counseling took about 30 minutes (I had questions). The process was seamless and LDAR has been great about following up with me since the adoption. I also received a number of online resources that helped me acclimate my new little guy, and house train him within a week! The volunteers are transparent about the fine print, so it's important to know what you are responsible for. LDAR, thus you, might not have all the details on the pet's health and temperament. No take backs! With that said, an adopter will be on the hook for vet bills to ensure the safety of the animal. After our first vet visit, a few days after adoption, I did learn that my pup had a few things we needed to take care of, but this comes with pet ownership. I would recommend LDAR to anyone who is looking to adopt a pet. Visit an event and ask questions to see what it's like.

Adding onto other reviews, all interactions I have had with SPCA have been marked with passive…read moreaggressiveness and hostility. I understand the need to properly vet adoptees but do not believe their passive aggressive disposition is warranted at all. I was interested in adopting an adult cat from them and all they did was send me an email borderline disparaging me, making unwarranted assumptions about me, and insinuating that I didn't read the online bio well enough. I ended up adopting a cat from AWLA instead, and they were much more seamless to work with and friendly. I am concerned for the animals that aren't able to find their homes sooner as a result of SPCA staff's nasty and unprofessional attitudes towards adoptees, but I can't stress potential adoptees avoiding this organization enough.

As others noted, the application process was overly arduous and their standards for adoptees are…read moreimpossibly high. My husband and I both work full time but from home 1-2 days a week, we own our house and have a fenced in yard. Last year, we attempted to adopt a dog from them, which entailed a level of paperwork and in-person interviews that rivaled a job application. We showed up to a pet store to meet the potential dog at the specified time but they basically booked a whole bunch of people for that same time, so about a dozen of us were meeting the dog together in a sort of awkward group interview. The dog was about an hour late arriving and seemed stressed out by all the people. After, we waited as they individually interviewed us one by one. It took half a day and we didn't end up getting the dog we applied for. It was a waste of time for us, the other families, and certainly the dogs, who looked pretty stressed out meeting a huge group of people for the first time. Disheartened, we asked around and found another organization that rescues dogs from kill shelters in the south (Pet Rescue Alliance) and brought home our wonderful beagle mix same day. He's the sweetest dog and the joy of my life.

I cannot thank this organization enough for helping me find my new best friend, Linda. I had a dog…read morein the past who sadly passed away 4 years ago and felt I was ready to have a new friend. As a first-time pet adopter (my dog was a birthday gift from my dad), I was incredibly nervous and worried the adoption process would be filled with loopholes, but the experience was the exact opposite. A huge thank you to Lisa, who was exceptionally kind and patient. She took the time to schedule a genuine, heartfelt phone call with me that felt far from transactional. I often deal with high levels of anxiety, and I was met with nothing but warmth and understanding throughout every step. Meeting the cats and chatting with the foster homes was a seamless process, and I truly appreciate that all the cats--including Linda--are kept up to date with their vaccinations and medical follow-ups. Linda has been with me for a month now, and she is truly my best friend. I will definitely be returning here when I'm ready to adopt another companion in the future!

I adopted a precious kitty from FFGW and the staff was exceptional every step of the way. They…read moretruly care about the animals and are very organized in the adoption process and answered all my questions. I highly recommend adopting from here!

Don't have a puppy but absolutely love them? Not sure if you have enough time to raise one? Don't…read moreworry! Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation got you! They have volunteer opportunities to walk dogs, take them on dogventures, or host them over night! I had organized a group of 12 volunteers to become certified in taking these pups out on a dogventure. These dogventures provide the pups opportunities to explore life beyond the cage. We went hiking with two dogs at Scott's Run and and another pup at Difficult Run. One of the dogs we had taking hiking was adopted one week later! I highly recommend checking out their dogventure program! I am so glad that I found this. It's a great way for both me and the dog to relax and enjoy nature.

If I could give a negative star I would…read more I have fostered multiple dogs back to back for this shelter but my last experience revealed a DISTURBING lack of professionalism and humanity. After providing feedback regarding a major communication discrepancy, the dog program manager acted out of spite immediately. During a phone call, Michelle W. (dog program manager) repeatedly talked over me and refused to let me finish. She continuously mispronounced my name despite multiple corrections. Even before I could finish a sentence, her final words were "you can finish but at the end of this phone call, drop off the dog at the shelter" and "I don't need to have a reason. I can ask for the dog back because I can". They attempted to force a well adjusted puppy (one I had fostered for over a month) back into a cold kennel environment as a "power trip" simply because Michelle didn't like receiving a constructive criticism. It was clear she lacked empathy for the dog's stability and was prioritizing her own authority over the animal's well being. The adoption process here is abysmal. At the adoption event, numerous potential adopters who were interested in my foster dog said that the interview process is a joke. The interviewers talked more about themselves than giving the potential family to speak. A lot of them said the interview didn't even last 10minutes. Worst of all, I witnessed firsthand they use a lottery system (that's what everybody calls it at the event). They literally pull a name out of a plastic bag to choose the final family for the dog. Lastly, I find it interesting that Dawn (the executive director) responded to my google review asking to "connect directly". During my call with Michelle, I repeatedly asked for the contact information of a supervisor. Michelle lied and told me there was nobody above and she was the final authority. While the rescue claims their decision to pull the dog was for "safety" that concern only appeared AFTER I voiced my frustrations with their non existent communication which resulted me and my foster dog to stay at the vet for over 4hours. Was the "safety" they were worried about actually the safety of their own egos? As a rescue using an animal's placement as a tool for retaliation against a foster is very very disturbing and unacceptable. This organization is not what they market themselves to be. They claim to appreciate their fosters, but their actions prove they view them as disposable and animals as leverage. If you want to support a rescue that values animal welfare and basic human decency, this is not the right place. I would stay far away from this one.