This is one of the most abysmally run organizations I've ever encountered. Strap in for the ride,…read morebecause this is a long story.
So, checking out local shelters, I find ARF not too far down the road from my new apartment (I'm from Central New York). I go and check it out, find a few puppies I'm super interested in, and ask about the application process.
A few things about the woman in question's demeanor: she was curt, looked at me as if I was "unqualified to adopt" any sort of dog, and attempted numerous times to brush off my inquiries. I will not mention names, but I assure you you'll know who I'm talking about if or when you meet her.
Now, after speaking with this woman and feeling like I had been belittled and berated for trying to help a puppy in need, I put in an application. I waited a few weeks before I decided to come in, as I'd not heard anything. Upon returning, I'd inquired about one dog, and I quote, she said: "I'm going to have to say no to that puppy, because he runs a lot, and you live in an apartment." Fair enough, I thought. She must know more than myself, because she said herself: "I've become really attached to the dogs, after being here for thirty-ish years."
It was only until I inquired about the next type of dog that I understood how "attached" she was.
I expressed interest in a litter of 3 Border Collie puppies, and asked what the next step in the process might be. She gave me the standard rate, told me a little about the puppies and I said: "great! I know you close soon, so I won't keep you. I'll swing by tomorrow to continue the process." Her reply was: "see you then!"
This is where it gets so massively obtuse that I can feel the anger all over again.
The next morning, I go out and buy a kennel, food, etc.- the regular supplies for a new puppy. I wanted to be prepared. I get there right as they open their doors - another woman greeted me with a smile and said: "hello! You here to get a dog today? To bring one home?" And I reply: "yes, or rather, I hope so!" We both smile for a bit, make small talk about the puppies and I point out which one in the littler I'm interested in.
The owner then comes out of the back and says good morning to me. My throat closes in anticipation - I greet her and she goes to review my application. Almost instantly I can tell, as she takes it off the bottom of the pile, nestled between dust and what appears to be hoarded garbage, that she hasn't touched this since I applied three weeks prior. This certainly didn't bode well for my stomach; it was in knots.
She looks a little more at the application, says she wasn't able to get in touch with my landlord (which is a lie, because he said he hadn't received any calls or voicemails regarding pets of any nature), and so I said I called him last night and asked him to be available around this time. I also had a few references she could check, and I gave her those numbers as well. She wanted to be sure that once I get a dog, my landlord wouldn't kick him/her out, all that noise and garble. Completely understandable. Up until that point, I was fine. She went in the back to call him, and these next few instances are what makes me want to take away the one star I gave to this institution.
She came out and said: "well, I talked to him, and tried to tell him that puppies would chew up the apartment, but he said you would have a security deposit, so he was okay with that." I nodded and smiled, sort of in temper about the audacity it took for her to try to dissuade my landlord. Chuckling, I thought she was joking...
And THEN she said: "I mean- how do I even know this is your landlord?" My smile dropped. "I'm sorry?" I replied, confused. She was accusing me of giving a phone number of someone I knew that wasn't my landlord. Hmm. "Okay," I thought. "She's just super protective and wants to make sure these pets go to good homes," I convinced myself. "There's just something I'm not comfortable with," she said.
She asked me to give her two hours to make a final decision. At this point, I'm a little unnerved. I had bought everything, was prepared, and told to wait a little more. At this point, I'm patient enough. I go home and call back two hours later. "Have you made your decision yet?" I ask sheepishly. "Well," she starts, "the other two pups are going home with someone right now as we speak!" I think: oh, okay, great! Those two have homes! And I ask: "alright, so I can come by and pick up the last one (her name was Jada)? She then, stumblingly, says: "oh, no, we gave her away right after you left, but we're getting puppies on the 13th!"
I will never recommend this place. I will, in fact, dissuade people from ever going here. She was completely unprofessional, profiled me as a 25 year old that didn't know how to raise a dog (I've had four in the past), and ultimately played an irrational game of cat and mouse. Abysmal. I hear the other part of ARF with the cats is a great place. This review is for "Her" alone.
