Thanks goodness for people like Lynne Tingle and her organization! I put Lynne in the 'extraordinary' category. She dedicates her life to saving animals and it's extremely disheartening to hear she's up against this battle. As a former volunteer for the Milo Foundation I can honestly say Lynne works tirelessly, 24/7 to save unwanted animals. I have been to the Milo adoption center on numerous occasions and have never encountered a scene even close to what's described in this article. I consider any animal saved by Milo as a very lucky animal. Sadly, the same cannot be said for an animal ending up at the Marin Humane Society. She puts her heart and soul into this organization and relies on the kindness of the volunteers to help keep the org running smoothly. Her number one goal is to save animals from being euthanized and to find them loving homes. Along with that goal comes many hurdles as well as disgruntled employees losing sight of what the real battles should be -- to promote spaying and neutering of pets and giving them a life-long, loving home. Lynne and the folks at Milo have my full and unwavering support!! read more

This rescue goes beyond screening for people who will abandon their pets or mistreat them. When I submitted an application I received the impression that they couldn't care less that I wanted to adopt one of their animals, and that I was imperfect for dog adoption because I work full time. I figured as a homeowner with years of experience working in the veterinary field, and with a spouse who teaches school and is off early that I wouldn't have a problem- I was wrong! My coworker had similar problems with Milo- ending up with a sick cat that had to be euthanized, after being told that she wasn't a good fit for her first choice. It's unfortunate that "rescues" like this take the extremely adoptable pets from shelters and apply ridiculous adoption standards and high fees. My spouse and I ended up getting a new pup from the Marin Adoption Fair, and the poor thing is subjected to our substandard dog-centered lifestyle of daily trips to the dog park, weekly hiking, homemade dog food and treats, and other abuses. Thank goodness Milo's strict adoption standards saved their rescues from our care! read more

My husband and I adopted a puppy from Milo last June. We did our research before we went with them, and every step of the experience was wonderful. They were prompt and courteous with all responses, we got to visit our puppy multiple times at his foster home, and they made sure that he was up-to-date on all vaccinations before he came to us. Rufus is our dog's name, he is a lab/pit mix, and he is the best dog ever (in my completely unbiased opinion). Whenever he greets us after any kind of an absence, he brings us gifts (stuffed animals, toys, etc.) and he he has taken over ownership of our couch. I was really upset to hear about what happened to the Milo Foundation this week. They are a great organization that does good work and I couldn't believe that anyone would have the gall to shut them down. Please go to their website and read their account of what happened. Then either make a donation or adopt a pet from them! Help save a life. read more

I have known and worked with Milo for over 6 years. I live in the Central Valley and Milo has saved 100's of our animals from our local shelter where they would have been euthanized. Her rescue is organized, clean, and successful. They have adopted 1000's of animals to loving and caring homes. If you are considering adopting an animal from Milo, do so. I would and do refer people to Milo as I know they will get a wonderful addition to their families. read more

People love fluffy little kittens and puppies, and they're often adopted. For the lucky ones, they've found a good home for life. For the unlucky ones, their needs aren't met and, when they become inconvenient, they're left at the local shelter. An untrained two-year-old dog, or one of too many adult cats competing with kittens for a second home is often euthanised. Even puppies and kittens in CA's central valley aren't likely to leave the shelter alive. Sometimes Milo is able to offer another chance. Bay Area rescues and shelters may receive multiple calls and emails about the cutest puppies and kittens. Volunteers try to find the very best homes for them as they know what happens to the unlucky ones who don't find a good home on the first try. Working with primarily volunteers, sometimes not all calls and emails are returned, and that can be frustrating. I've checked out Milo's website and visited their shelter when looking for a pet, and twice I've found the right match. Recently, I adopted an adult cat, Noel. She came home as a foster-to-adopt so we could see how she got along with our male cat, also from Milo, and two dogs. Lynn let me hang out on a Sunday evening after they closed until my wife could come meet Noel when she got off work. I wouldn't hesitate to adopt from Milo again, and I'd encourage anyone looking to add to their family to visit them. I find it best to come to the shelter. You can meet the available animals on hand, and they'll tell you if there are potential matches in foster care or at the sanctuary. read more

Amazing that people give this organization so many negative reviews! They save lives, people! In response to previous reviews about the "lack of communication", I didn't have any problems getting in touch with anyone about my new pup. In fact, one of the volunteers emailed me back at 10pm one night when inquiring about my pup for the first time! There were times where I called Milo back a few times in a row to get a person, not a machine, but that didn't bother me because think about it: They are volunteers. How can you complain about people offering their spare time to save lives? The foster mom was really easy to work with. My little guy at 4 months was already doing his business outside and had learned how to sit. I knew all his quirks and habits and what he needed more training in. People have also been complaining about getting the 3rd degree from fosters or volunteers.. I had been looking for a dog at my local shelter for months and they were more than willing to give any away to me that day with showing no true qualifications. I love that Milo goes the extra step to make sure you are a good fit and if you have kids, how often you're home, etc. It's a longer process than a normal shelter but it's worth it and is for everyone's benefit. I've heard of people changing their minds during the wait so it's probably a good thing to have the process take a little longer. Why would they want to adopt out a dog that would sit in the backyard all day? I donated much more than the adoption fee so more animals can be supported and I hope you do, too! read more

I adopted my dog through Milo 2 years ago. The staff were warm and helpful, and took time to talk to us about the process even though people were streaming in to see the adoptable animals. Later, when we were looking to add a second dog to our family, we went back to Milo and had another wonderful experience. We fostered a dog for some weeks, but when it became clear that our foster dog was not a good fit -- she was a bit of a bully to our submissive dog, and seemed better suited to be an only dog -- we coordinated with Milo to bring her back so that she could find an adoptive home that was a better fit. Throughout the process, which was fairly emotional as we had become quite attached to our foster, the staff at Milo were kind, supportive and understanding. I am continually impressed by the work that Milo does, especially given their limited resources. Like all organizations that are supported by volunteers and donations, Milo has felt the pinch of the economic downturn, trying to cope with more homeless animals with fewer donation $$ coming in. If there is any "lack of communication" at Milo, as some reviewers have complained, it can only be a function of volunteers who are rushed off their feet trying to cope with the extraordinary demands inherent in their duties. What is clear, though, is that the well-being of the animals comes first. Adopting an animal is not like shopping for shoes online: the primary job of the volunteers can't be to instantly produce that cat that you saw online and thought was cute. I still hope to add another dog to my family, and it will definitely come from Milo. I will continue to donate funds to Milo, regardless of whether I adopt again, because I can't imagine my donations being put to better use by any other animal rescue organization in the Bay Area. Milo is the best. read more

I was reading good and bad posts - the review on the lady wanting a puppy for her kids birthday party -is the wrong way to introduce a dog to the family- especially a puppy - a dog is not a gift- or a present - It's a lifetime commitment- like a family member - and I believe Milo foundation did the right thing - I've been looking for a particular dog for a while and it's not something you just rush into -most kids that get animals for gifts- just lose interest and animal gifts turn up at shelters again and again - they need to think of the animal first - and as far as the post of the pretty dog and all those types of comments - welcome to this world!! - just like with people the pretty one s get noticed first - no fault of Milo that's the way of the world - maybe try adopting a three legged dog and a adult dog not a puppy? Maybe try having someone in your family volunteer at a shelter and she what that is like - I do Cat rescue and it's a really cold world...... read more

They look great but this isn't a rescue that really cares about the animals. Making tons in donations while they dump dogs back at shelters and only keep the cute fluffy adoptables. read more

Long story short, my husband and I wanted to adopt a dog. He's had many big dogs before and I have never been a dog owner. We let them know this at the beginning. We wanted to foster, but Lynn talked my eager husband into an adoption contract and said it would be no problem to return him or her if it didn't work out ( the difference being $100 refundable dollars for fostering vs a non-refundable $300 adoption fee). Almost one year, 4000 dollars of vet bills, training lessons and home damages later - we realized this was not the right dog for us. (I work from home; that dog was never neglected and taken to dog runs and parks every day, sometimes twice) We got so much attitude when we brought the dog back, Lynn said hello to the dog and completely ignored me, they made me wait for 40 minutes after she said hello to the dog, before I had to say that I needed to leave and could someone please help me (We had spoken on the phone and confirmed that I would bring the dog in that day) - plus they wrote some mean things about us on the dog's new website adoption blurb. We will never use or recommend this place again. read more

It's always sad when hard working volunteers get harsh criticism... I am a doggie foster parent for Milo. I receive no money from this group and to be honest - I have not particular strong ties to this one rescue group over another. I'm just here to help dogs become adoptable and Milo is where I ended up. Yes they can be disorganized, yes they can be burned / stressed out, yes many of them could use better people skills. But they've saved over 20,000 lives and they are 100% devoted to animals in their care, even AFTER they're adopted - which is why they have to be picky and use their judgment when approving applicants. Please take the bad reviews with a grain of salt from those whose applications to adopt were not approved even though that is "not why they are writing the review" and then they go on to explain how angry they are that they weren't approved. That is not to say that a portion of those applicants could have been great homes - that is very likely the case. The fact is that folks who do rescue work have to deal with dogs getting returned all the time. ALL.THE.TIME. Please put yourselves in their shoes. It is a DISASTER when dogs get returned - older, with yet another layer of trauma from ending up again in a shelter environment, and with a black mark on their record. Not a good scene. Anyone at Milo who approves an application to see the animal returned a day or 5 years later - they blame themselves.They seriously beat themselves up about it and wonder how they could have avoided that situation. It sucks. So - if you're in an apartment and applying to adopt a 1 year old border collie. Or if you have a 2 year old and want to adopt a hyper, untrained, heel nipping cattle dog - please understand that the people on the receiving end of your application have real statistics and personal experience at their disposal. They sometimes have to go on gut instinct. It might not be fair to you. It can be an emotional experience to get attached after a brief meeting and told 'no' - I understand, I've been there too. Please try to understand! Yes, they are disorganized. Yes, many lack people skills - as most animal workers do! I say this as a former dog groomer, veterinary technician and current volunteer and foster parent for Milo. Many who do this work are likely on the autism spectrum, and I say that with all due respect! These are dog / cat people who spend countless hours cleaning poo, nursing orphaned babies, cleaning poo, nursing sick dogs and cats, cleaning poo, training crazy unsocialized dogs, and cleaning poo. And dealing with very strange, unpredictable, moody, hard to decipher creatures called humans. We can read animal body language...but people? We can't figure you out sometimes. We're in the Bay Area - lots of crazy people and lots of great people and everything in between. We have to deal with all of them. Please, cut us some slack. The top priority - always - save as many animals as possible. We can't save them if we don't use our best judgment (which can be wrong sometimes) and say no to some that may be good homes. If that animal comes back when the facility is full it is a MAJOR problem. Please understand. Please keep this in mind, too when it comes to the mobile adoption events-Everyone there (usually) is a volunteer. Some spend dozens - dozens of hours every week volunteering. Many are just foster parents like me who are there with their one or two foster dogs/cats who can only answer questions about those animals. I do my best to help others, but honestly - I usually have my hands full with my one or two crazy unsocialized project dogs. I spend a huge portion of my free time training and socializing crazy dogs. I am not trained in processing applicants for Milo- while my social skills are more than adequate to talk to the public, the overwhelming burden of sussing out a good home is quite overwhelming to me so I choose to work on what i'm good at and what I like. That is why you may get passed from one person to the next. Of course we can / should get more organized, but we don't have the same people there every week, and, well...see above - we are animal people more than we're people people - at least most of us. Some are 'on the spectrum'. ALL of us care about the animals. We can do better, and as one of the few 'people people' -we're trying. I've noticed that the 'people people' tend to be the ones with high pressure day jobs, making it hard to make the impact on Milo's weaknesses that we'd like to. Maybe those of you who love animals as we do, who see our weaknesses, whether you're a people person or antisocial dog/cat person - maybe YOU could step forward to volunteer, make a donation, walk dogs at the facility in Point Richmond, etc.!! That would be a great help. Thanks for reading :) and thanks for not breeding. Let's focus on our common goal and not nitpick a great group of volunteers read more

I tried to adopt a kitten but they made it so complicated ive been filled out an Application and they said they were going to give me a call back and they never did and the next day I called and they said that kitten was already adopted :/ and times they will leave me on hold for 10 minutes than hang up!!! read more

We excitedly adopted our dog from Milo in San Rafael last week, due largely to the raving reviews here. We love our new family member, but are VERY disappointed to find he has a terrible roundworm infection. As much as we support the Milo Foundation and were happy to pay $300 to adopt our dog, I expected that obvious issues as this would've been cleared up, or at least DISCLOSED to us. In addition to the adoption and accessory expenses now we are incurring huge vet bills, housecleaning, and not infecting the other dogs. Without being graphically specific, there's no way they didn't know about his worms. If this was the pound perhaps I wouldn't be so disappointed... read more

We visited Milo Marin and were disgusted by the facility when we opened the door. We could smell the urine from the parking lot and when we opened the door we saw animals in dirty cages and the smell of the facility nearly knocked us over. An hour later we could still smell the facility on us after only standing in the entry and briefly looking at the unkept facility and animals. The sign on the window reads "Don't buy from breeders". There are many breeders that keep animals in better living conditions than these animals were kept. I would never adopt from a facility that thinks it's okay to hold animals in this poor way. The rescue needs a rescue and a call to the health department. read more

I love the dog we adopted from Milo, but I would like to caution people about the situation and how they have handled it. Our dog came home with us on antibiotics for "kennel cough". A few days after the meds were finished I had to take her to the Emergency Vet where they found she had a very bad pneumonia. She was hospitalized on oxygen and IV antibiotics for almost 4 days. I had to pay thousands of dollars to save her life. At her follow up appointment we also had to treat her for Giardia. Milo is basically ignoring me. Looks like many other people have had similar experiences with sick animals. It's sad because they are not taking good care of the animals they are supposed to be protecting and I'm glad I rescued my dog from them. I just wish I didn't have this huge credit card bill to pay off now! read more

I got my dog Chloe from The Milo Foundation. Within a couple days, I realized she was really sick and took her to the vet they suggested in my area. They were amazing and reimbursed me for the bills! I cannot say enough nice things about the people who work with Milo and I'm forever in debt to them because I adopted the best dog in the world! Thank you! read more

Okay, so I am not a huge fan of the staff either or the shelter here in San Rafael, HOWEVER I see what most people never see...the long rows of dogs and cats being put down by the hundreds (yes hundreds) each week due to lack of space. I am also a 501(c)3 animal rescue group. i see what Milo does, and the work they do to rescue animals in places like Kern County and Sacramento who euthanize many many animals because they simply they do not have the staff or funds to treat a sick dog with kennel cough, so it gets put down. To walk the rows and rows of dogs and cats in such proportions in not only mind boggling, but takes such a thick skin, most people cannot do what they do on the scale that they do it. I have bee doing this for years, and it is horrible. Milo and their staff drives hundreds of miles each way to transport sick and healthy dogs and cats that can be easily treated that otherwise would have been euthanized. I see them show up when no other organization will. They are dedicated and focused on their rescue efforts. Please do not judge them, go in with an open mind. Thank you Milo, from one rescue group to another, i applaud you. Karen Stromfeld Pound to pillows a federally recognized 501(c)3 read more

I can't rave enough about The Milo Foundation. They have saved so many pets lives - even the "hard to place" ones deserve a chance to live. They have a caring network of foster parents, and a volunteer run shelter in San Rafael where you can go to get a great pet. I adopted my dog "Wilson" from a Milo Foster home in Berkeley and he has been a terriffic addition to our home wver since. One of the things I most like about Milo is that they are in the business of finding "forever" homes and don't just hand out dogs like candy. They are very caring and if your adoption doesn't work out - no problem - they want both the animal and the adopter to be happy. I would give them more than 5 stars if it were possible! read more

I am writing this review based on my experience trying to adopt a dog from Milo recently, as well as past experiences I have had adopting dogs from them. The SF Bay Area is very dog friendly. Consequently, a lot of people are looking for dogs. Your choices are to buy from a breeder (either reputable, backyard or pet store) or adopt from a shelter. There are a number of great shelters, but Milo isn't one of them. There are three defining characteristics of Milo: 1) Arrogant, entitled employees, 2) A disorganized organization that doesn't have a complete set of rules and guidelines and doesn't follow the ones it does have, and 3) stinky, unkempt offices. Given that dogs are a commodity, the employees of Milo think this gives them license to treat people poorly and treat them like pawns, play favorites with insiders, make judgment calls about people with no basis for doing so and charging ridiculous fees that are not deserved. I could go on for pages about Milo's poor management and mismanagement of their people and resources and the "heinous acts" they have committed against honest people that want to adopt a dog without being treated like the contents of a poop bag. Milo has been shut down before for their mistreatment of animals. Hopefully, another, better run organization that treats customers at least as well as a dog comes around and takes away their business and they go away for ever. Milo, you need to fire all your senior people and staff and start over with fair, unbiased, clearly communicated rules and guidelines for treating potential pet owners with respect and train your employees to act like humans, instead of fight bred pit bulls with no manners. read more

Over the past 3 years I adopted a cat and a dog from Milo, have fostered a litter of 6 kittens (and their mom) and recently fostered an 11-week old puppy for Milo. If I could I would help out even more! It breaks my heart to know that innocent animals are dying out there every day because they are not matched with their new owners in time. To all these reviewers who are unhappy about the lack of communication: I beg you to be patient and understand that all Milo volunteers do the best they can. Most of them devote their entire lives to the animals they help. Some of them have better communication skills and return phone calls immediately - others might be more focused on providing the needed care and pleasing the pets (rather than giving priority to finding adopters). They all have in common the love for animals! read more

Just about the best no-kill shelter in the Bay Area!

We recently adopted a lovely poodle/terrier mix from Milo. They were great in helping guide us to a pet with the best temperament for the children. They stayed open late so that the kids could experience all the dogs and see which ones were best suited to the family. The dog is settling down nicely and we have been very happy with the outcome. read more

I'm sorry to say I did not have a good experience with this agency. I am an ardent dog-lover and adoption-supporter, having grown up with dogs and previously had a wonderful experience with owning an adopted dog. I adopted a young puppy at one of their adoption fairs, sincerely believing this pup would be content with my lifestyle and feeling like it was a great match. Sadly the puppy turned out to be too active for my small apartment, and I wasn't able to give her what she needed. She was obviously in need of more space, so I decided to give her back to the agency, in the hopes that she would find a better home. When I adopted her, the agency did direct me to a volunteer who told me apartment living would be fine for this dog. I mentioned this to them, and a volunteer, Ann, became extremely defensive and critical of me for not knowing beforehand that the dog wouldn't be a good fit for me, basically saying that it was my fault and that they had never given me that advice (they did). Her email was so hostile it brought me to tears. She said she had every right to be disappointed and "express her emotions". Needless to say it was very unpleasant to be on the other end of that. Ann also accused me of lying on my application, and I was completely honest on my application. This whole interaction seemed very strange to me. The bottom line is that I don't feel this agency is very customer-service oriented or professional. I think there are better agencies in the bay area, ones who will care more about what's best for the animal than in getting into fights with people who are trying to help. read more

I was SHOCKED within the first minutes in being there how incredibly loud it is, how the dogs and cats are not separated, and how incredibly pungent the smell is. This place is clearly under funded and CLEARLY over filled. I think they'd be better to take less animals and do better for the number they can afford to care for. Not impressed at all with the staff either. Everyone seemed in a hurry and it was honestly so loud with dog barking incessantly that it was difficult to really consider any particular animals. DO NOT recommend this shelter. All the best to you Milo but you really need to dramatically improve your facility in a number of ways. read more

We adopted our dog 13 years ago and we could not have been happier with the process of the adoption. They are a growing and concerned organization for the pets they have. Our dog was abandoned with a litter of 7 pups and their mother in a field. The Milo organization rescued them and their mother. We are ever grateful for having adopted our dog. He has been the joy of our family. We have frequently been in touch with the Milo organization and Lynne who owns the rescue organization. Good job to them for all they do!! read more

Yay for Milo! Thank you for being in our community, you are all loved for what you do. My husband and I have 2 rescues and would take 10 more if we could. Keep on doing what you are doing. read more

My family adopted from Milo over 15 years ago, the foundation does amazing work with the animals. I adopted my second dog through Milo a few weeks ago. The weekends are very busy, lots of dogs and kitties to choose from. If you desire more than basic assistance in finding your forever pup or kitty, maybe go later in the day or during the week when it's a lot less hectic. The volunteers/staff were friendly and helpful when I needed them, otherwise I appreciated time to just visit on my own terms to see what dog I bonded with and vice versa, I stayed a long time for two days before deciding, it's a huge decision and commitment. There is a Milo playground a block away, I suggest walking there to get time away from the kennel to really get to know your potential new family member. Adoption fee covered his shots, neutering, food for a bit a leash and medicine for a little cough that was gone in 3 days. My new family member was worth every penny. Thank you Lynne and volunteers for all that you do. read more

I foster for Milo. I can't believe that the dogs I get were actually in the pound. Aside from not usually being potty trained to begin with (quickly they become potty trained though,) they are pretty much perfect. Thank you for thinking of adopting a former pound dog. For your money your dog with be spayed/neutered, have shots (age appropriate of course), microchipped and will love you forever. read more

I am this very minute sitting in a animal hospital with a dear friend who has paid out $13,000.00 SO FAR in ER services for her family dog that was literally ripped apart by a rescued dog from Milo Foundation, Point Richmond. My friend is too shocked and kind to post this herself. The dog from Milo was pulled from a high kill shelter in Kern County. Admirable yes, a beautiful dog with a sad UNDESERVING story yes. but not enough story. The dog presented with Valley Fever immediately after the adoption was complete (Mar 2017). Calls to Milo were not returned. Then after getting the beautiful dog through that illness ($700) it attacked the smaller family dog. What if the dog had attacked a small child? Beware, be smart, RESEARCH any "rescued" pet you bring into your home from this organization! I will say once Milo returned calls, they refunded the adoption fee and took back the dog. I wonder when the dog was pulled from the shelter vs. when it was allowed to be adopted? The dog NEVER should have been rehomed and Milo Foundation should have known that. I wonder what poor unsuspecting family will that obviously behaviorally challenged dog be rehomed to next? read more

I am writing in support of the animal rescue group, The Milo Foundation, which has been doing EXTRAORDINARY work in saving and caring for animals, and in placing rescued animals in short and long term care, and permanent homes. Their work has saved hundreds and hundreds, (if not thousands) of dogs and cats in the years that they have been operating--one of the most telling indicators of their prolific and successful efforts is that on any given day, at nearly any dog park in the Bay Area you will find people whose healthy and happy dogs are alumni of The Milo Foundations EXTRAORDINARY rescue and adoption work. I am writing as more than a casual supporter--my wife and I have been very active in animal rescue efforts since we adopted our first dog 14 years ago. I am the former Chairperson of the Alameda Dog Park Committee, (during my tenure we organized, lobbied, and fundraised successfully to have the plumbing, drainage, and fencing infrastructure of the Crown Beach Dog Park upgraded, and created the first dedicated small dog park area in Alameda County). We have fostered and helped place a couple dozen dogs through our household, and have become the grateful guardians of 6 dogs of our own. As just one example, after hurricane Katrina hit, we donated and raised funds to outfit three mobile animal rescue teams, and coordinated these three teams to travel to New Orleans for a one month period to rescue animals on the flooded streets of the 9th Ward. We personally followed many of the rescued animals for months after to insure their successful adoption and/or reunification with loving caring homes. We could not have done any of this without the partnership and leadership provided by The Milo Foundation. While there are a good number of very reputable animal rescue groups here in the Bay Area, we have dedicated and donated our efforts primarily with Milo for the past 14 years, and thereby have gotten very familiar with the staff, the founder, (Lynn Tingle, who qualifies as some kind of modern day Assisi for her tireless, and fearless efforts in saving dogs and cats from the cycle of misery and death in the shelter circuit), and most importantly with the practices and conditions of Milo's operation. While at any given moment a snapshot of the operations at Milo may not be perfect or pretty, (in my 14 years involved in animal rescue, having been in numerous facilities including Marin Humane, I have yet to see ANY facility that at one point in a day, week or month there aren't animals in less than perfect hygiene conditions...animal rescue is a tough, demanding, and tragically under resourced endeavor, and playing catch-up, making do, and going way beyond the limit are the constant conditions), I can say with 100% certainty and confidence that The Milo Foundation provides exemplary care and conditions for their animal wards, and most importantly they have an uncompromising commitment to qualified, successful placement even with the most challenging of cases. In the 14 years that I have been around and closely observed both the outward public interactions as well as the behind-the-closed-doors operations of the Milo Foundation, I have NEVER seen ANYTHING that remotely would warrant a punitive intervention, much less a halting of their efforts as was recently conducted. Could they do what they do better? Certainly. Could even a 25% increase in their meager annual budget be leveraged into a 100% increase in results given by their relentless efforts and creative resource utilization practices? Probably! Is there any really good, substantive reason, beyond political gamesmanship, to close a facility like Milo's? Absolutely not! In a world where egregious as well as merely thoughtless animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment are rampant why in the world would Marin Humane want to go after one of the "good guys"? It is beyond me to imagine any good reason except some kind of sensationalized, competitive, territorialism.... But, rather than attempt to dig deeper into that point, let me simply ask: When we have an organization like the Milo Foundation, that is clearly and undeniably working so tremendously hard at saving animals, with such a broad base of supporters and beneficiaries, shouldn't we be spending our energies and limited resources to find ways to support and strengthen their efforts? The shutting down of an operation like The Milo Foundation, which is so clearly providing profoundly beneficial services, makes absolutely no sense. The punitive and disruptive actions must be repealed...the priority efforts must be to reinstate permission for Milo's full operation immediately, with any pertinent issues and actions regarding operational standards being aimed at keeping and enhancing Milo's optimal performance. Michael Allare & Kimberly Long Dedicated Animal Rescue Participants & Activists Grateful Animal Guardians read more

We adopted our wonderful dog from Milo when they were still in Berkeley and we were very impessed with the love and dedication the volunteers showed towards all the animals in the shelter. They have a lot to do, overwhelming really, so I am OK with not every being perfect, but they got pretty close to that. They always got a huge selection of great animals to adopt, so let's keep supporting them. read more

We had a wonderful experience with the Milo Foundation and found them to be very helpful. I was shocked to read so many bad reviews; it almost sounded like a different place to the one we visited. We adopted a lovely dog and the staff were very helpful. Their task is a really difficult one and we didn't mind paying $350. What they had done to the dog in preparation would have cost far more than that at a vet. read more

I am writing in response to the negative and erroneous post below, from April Dewart and Ryan Barrett, of Emeryville. Since they chose to defame me and include my last name, I will in kind do the same for them. I normally would not have any time to post on here, as I am too busy with both my full time job, and seven days and nights a week of volunteering for Milo. Plus running the East Bay adoption events, and fostering over 600 animals in the past 7 years. They chose to post this horrible review, so I have no choice but to respond. As you can see, their opinion is in the minority. We have thousands of happy adopters. I cannot even remember thier adoption, as I have done hundreds since, but I have their application. I know that we tried to make sure they were appropriate for a puppy, since they rented. They of course insisted this would not be a problem, and we allowed them to adopt. We also stressed that their puppy, like all puppies, was an active breed. WE NEVER guarantee the breed of ANY of our dogs or puppies, unless we have both parents, which is almost never. We can only make our best guess, based on their looks. Their puppy was spotted like an Aussie. The boy in the trio was all black, so we thought that Lab could also be in the mix. I NEVER would have said that a LAB puppy would guarantee it was mellow, like blending wine varietals or something. I know that Labs in particular take several years to mature. No one EVER waited 6 hours to adopt from us. We were never even OPEN for 6 hours! I am TOTALLY organized and maintain the Milo database. We have adopted close to 14,000 animals in 15 years! I don't know what April thinks she remembers, but it is not true. If some of the puppies microchips got mixed up at the vet office and I had to correct a number or something that could have happened, but Heaven forbid that... and ANYONE who knows me KNOWS I am ULTRA thorough in my adoptions. I explain EVERYTHING, give people my number and tell them to email with ANY problems or questions. I read the Milo emails every day, even if I ever get "away" for a day or two. I can tell you that we never received any email or call asking for help with this puppy. Just an email later that she was too much for them and they needed to find her a new home. So we put her on our website as an assist. Once I saw her current photos I could tell that she was not an Aussie or a Lab, but looked more like a Catahoula/Akita/Basenji or some such, so we put Catahoula as one of her breeds. Well April did not like this, and accused us of trying to sabatage her re-homing, and demanded we take down the post or they would sue Milo... unbelievable. Why would we not want the dog to get a good, FOREVER home this time? I took down the post once I was assured that the dog had a new home to go to. I thought that was the end of it ,until the Yelp posting was pointed out to me. If I am so rude and uncaring, why did we have the following email exchange before adoption? Hi Ann: Thank you for getting back to us so soon. We completely understand the concern with renting and how that can affect future moving plans. We do have permission from our landlord to have a dog as we rent a large two-story house with both a front and back yard. We will be attending the Thursday evening reception and would be more than happy to bring a copy of our lease. Currently we have no plans to move any time in the next several years, however, that being said, we have also discussed our intent if the unforeseen should happen and we are forced to move. Having both grown-up with dogs since childhood we understand how difficult it can be to find aplace that allows pets but by no means impossible and we agree that under no circumstance would we move into a home that would not take a vital member of our family. We have been considering this decision for sometime and are looking forward to speaking with you more at the reception about our current and future plans to give one of these beautiful puppies a new home. We look forward to working with you and the Milo Foundation to find the right addition to our family. Sincerely, April Dewart & Ryan Barrett On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 6:30 PM, wrote: Hi, thanks for your application for Elka or Ella. We have been receiving several apps for these cuties. Are you planning on coming to the Thursday evening open house in San Rafael? Our only hesitation with your app is that you rent. I am sure that you know how hard it can be to find places that will rent to a dog owner, especially a larger, active breed like these babies. We would need to see a copy of your lease stating that you are allowed to have such a dog, and also speak with you about the future if/when you move. Nothing personal, but we see hundreds of emails from people every year with the same story: "Moving, can't take my dog. Moving, can't take my cat...". We just want to make sure this is a well-thought out decision. Thanks, Ann read more

I have had wonderful experiences with Milo volunteers. They helped me save five 10-day old kittens who were abandoned by their mothers. They showed me how to bathe and feed them and keep them warm. At 8 weeks, the kittens were all adopted by caring families. read more

I adopted a ktten at an adoption fair in Berkeley. I was able to meet the person who had fostered him and she gave me not only a complete medical history, but also a personal description of his personality and antics. I lived in another city and MILO gave me a beautiful Sherpa carrier approved for airplane travel. They followed up with me by e-mail after that, even informing me of medical news about his littermates - just so I would have a full picture. read more

In 2007 we lost our beloved Rosie and were heart broken. We made the decision to adopt a shelter dog for our next pet. I was aware of the good work Milo does through friends and co-workers, so I started looking at their fostered puppies and found the perfect one. The process went very smoothly. I filled out the online application. After an email exchange between me and the foster mom, we made an appointment to see Daisy. When we got there we also met Daisy's brother and fell in love with him too. We ended up with both of these wonderful puppies and they've been the joy of our lives. Milo made sure they were spayed and neutered, given their first shots and microchipped. They are very healthy and very happy. Milo makes sure the homes their rescued pets go to are good homes and that the new parents will be responsible. I have nothing but the best recommendation to anyone who is seeking a pet. If it wasn't for Milo our precious dogs would have been euthanized at a shelter. read more

I visited Milo yesterday. My dog recently passed away whom I had for 16 years and I just wanted to see what dogs they had and maybe pet/play with any dog that I felt a sense of connection with. When I walked in, though there were at least 5 people present, the only one to greet me was a yorkie who was roaming around and seemed a little lonely. I walked around the facility and not one staff member smiled or greeted me at all. When I attempted to ask a question about one of the dogs, the woman at the desk look irritated that I was interrupting whatever she was doing. It's a little chaotic and unorganized. On the positive side (and the reason I gave it 2 stars instead of one), it looks like the dogs get decent walks and they are given pretty hardy food. read more

I have done volunteer work with the Milo Foundation for several years. Lynne Tingle is an amazing person who has dedicated her life to saving animals. Since 1994 the Milo Foundation has rescued 15,000 animals. I have been to this facility many times and never have I witnessed what this person at Marin Humane has described. These animals were pulled from high kill shelters with hours or days left to live. So the cages weren't clean first thing in the morning, ok yes there were more animals at the facility than allowed. I'm appalled that this person at Marin Humane would go to such lengths as to sensationalize conditions at this facility, essentially putting such a benevolent organization out of commission. If it were up to Marin Humane these animals would never have seen the light of day. They're alive because of Lynne! read more

The milo foundation is such a good organization. The staff are so nice and want to help. I volunteer as much as I can, and it is such a rewarding experience. We got my lab mix, Bodie, there 5 years ago and he is the perfect dog. Milo doesn't just give out dogs to anybody, they make the perfect match, considering what is best for the dog. If somebody works all day, the dog won't be happy. Milo gives them a second chance, and aim to make that one count. In fact, last year, Milo rescued the lives of 1,700 animal lives. Dogs, cats, bunnies, goats, horses. THANK YOU MILO!!! read more

We got our dog from Milo last year at an adoption event in Berkeley, and we have learned to love and appreciate her very much. We are very grateful that Milo was able to rescue her. However, we wish they had given us a better idea of what we were getting ourselves into. This was our first dog, and we adopted an Australian Cattle Dog mix. Most guides recommend that this breed should not be adopted by first-time owners. After we adopted the dog, the people at Milo did not go over her behavior problems in detail with us; they mentioned them in passing as they handed us the papers. There was no mention of strategies for dealing with the behavioral problems. The next few months were very frustrating for us, trying to figure out how to handle the dog. I hope these days Milo is more careful about their adoption process, especially with dogs. I am only mentioning this because I noticed on Milo's website a rather sanctimonious tirade against some people with whom they had placed a pet. Two years later these people, for whatever reason, turned the pet into an animal shelter later. I agree that was the wrong thing for these people to do, but maybe they were not prepared by Milo for dealing with the pet. read more