I have had such good experiences with Mutts and Moms beginning with my dog I adopted from them in 2009. When he passed at a ripe old age after a long and happy life in my home, I did not have to think twice about where I would look for a new companion when I felt ready. It has now been many years again since the last adoption, and I know I would return again when the time comes. I see that there have been multiple news items slandering this business and Marina as a person, which I think is ridiculous. I have found her and her practices both completely fair and empathetic. She cares about and remembers these animals even after many years away from them, and has always gone above and beyond offering a hand (even offering boarding if needed for a vacation!) F the haters, if I may say so. read more

"I posted a review about this deceitful rescue on 10/31/20. After a 5 month long legal battle I was able to recover my dog in May 2021, that I adopted from M & M in Jan 2015, after discovering Marina had taken her back in Dec 2018 and hid her from me for 2 years then rehomed her through her friends rescue in San Diego. As a result of our settlement Baktis will now have to alter how she does business. If she is contacted over a lost dog she homed, she has to contact the parent within 24 hours, according to public parts of the settlement in the case. She also can't re-home the found dog without a neutral party or Animal Services overseeing the matter. Lastly she must give up the #1 Primary- Owner position on the microchip of any dog she adopts out. If she doesn't, contact Ryther Law (jill@rytherlawgroup.com ) because she is breaking the terms of her agreement. You can read about this story at "The Absurd Drama Behind a Notorious Pasadena Dog-Adoption Honcho (thedailybeast.com)" read more

Mutts and Moms - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

Marina is great! We adopted Essie from her four years ago and couldn't be happier. Yes, he methods may be different but Marina cares for these animals like they are her own. Yes the questionnaire may have been long but she just want to know the family adopting is serious about having a pet. The world needs more people like Marina who go out of her way to rescue dogs throughout Southern California. Thank you for all you do read more

***Thanks for just deleting my first review, Yelp. Next time give me a chance to fix my review rather than just deleting it outright. I have had personal experience with Mutts & Moms. Several years ago when I was considering adopting a dog. (I didn't want to say anything about this in the earlier review, but it's true.) I found their questionnaire to be long and the owner to be judgmental. The email correspondence I had with her was terse and downright unfriendly. Then it turned out the apartment I moved into didn't allow pets; so I wasn't able to go through with the process. I guess that was a good thing. But my experience up to that point was not the best. So that is what I'm basing this one-star review on. That and the whole Ellen Degeneres/Iggy situation, which admittedly is all based on secondhand information. read more

Mutts and Moms - Mutts and Moms logo - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been looking for a dog and I found one on pet finder. The dog was available thru this rescue. I contacted them and asked about the dog and if I could meet. I tried to research the group and saw they had no social media presence- which is odd in this era. For instance, Facebook is an excellent channel to network dogs and get them adopted. I met the dog and the owner, Marina. The dog was lovely and I might have adopted her but after my interactions with the owner; I felt uncomfortable. I researched her name and found that this rescue was involved in 'Ellen-gate' ; Ellen deGeneres adopted a dog and then gave it away to someone on her staff. It violated the contract and the dog was confiscated by the rescue. The situation seemed to have been mishandled on all sides- however, M & M stated it wouldn't adopt small dogs to families with children under 14. This rule is RIDICULOUS. I know tons of families with kids that respect their dogs. It's also a great way to TEACH kids to respect animals and dogs. A few of her actions and statements seemed off to me - and I felt she was dishonest. She almost seemed to be doing a 'sell' on this dog. She said the dog would be adopted 'quickly- I just put her pictures up and there's been a few people interested' maybe BUT I know the dog had been up for adoption for a few weeks because I'd seen the dog on pet finder when I 1st started searching, a few weeks prior. There are plenty of good shelters and rescues. I wouldn't have any dealings with this one. read more

After reading about the Ellen & Portia story, I'm confused? I potentially adopted 4 year old Noddles a month ago. Marina did not finalize the adoption process or collect the adoption fee. We had a good 2 week honeymoon period. Then Noodles began peeing and pooping on the upstairs carpet as well as going outside, became over protective of me, growling and standing over my 6 year old docile Radar, and chasing my 2 cats who are outside 50% of the time. I called Marina and asked to bring Noodles back. She said I could the next day and the earlier the better. I was there a little after 8 the next morning. Marina wanted to know what happened? I said it just wasn't a good fit, and perhaps Noodles should be an only dog. As I was driving away, Marina sent me a rant, as follows: "You did dump her. What you did is no different than people who dump their dog at the animal shelter. I'm sure your dog knows that. Also, you said you would make a donation and didn't. That tells me a lot about you. Shameful, really." Me: STOP I will make a donation on line. I made a $250 donation on line when I got home. That was Noodles adoption fee which was never finalized. I thought you were suppose to return a dog to Mutts and Moms if you couldn't keep the dog? So I'm confused? read more

A year ago my dog passed away and I was looking for another dog. I was aware of Mutts and Moms through a mutual friend. And I'd gotten the real story on Iggy gate. Marina got destroyed in the media, and even under all that pressure, didn't cave on the principles of adopting she stands by. I really respect her for that. Marina helped me find the perfect dog for me. Not only for me, but for everyone who meets her - my Emmy is perfect. Unlike the media made her out to be, Marina isn't some Beverly Hills Dog Matron. My dog was saved by Marina in Bakersfield - where Marina goes often, since it has the highest kill rate in California. She saved Emmy and the three puppies she was still nursing, who had been abandoned there. So my one year old dog was already a mother, and was fearful of everything when I got her. Marina named her rescue "Mutts and Moms" since one of her pet projects is finding and rescuing dogs that are turned in after they give birth to puppies. It happens more often than not - and the dogs are mostly put down at the shelter. Caring for a dog recovering from delivery of puppies takes time, patience and lots of love. And the pounds can't take that extra care for one dog. But Marina does. Here's what I've learned about Marina - MARINA LOVES DOGS. Marina's tough. You need to take dog adoption serious when you adopt from her. She's seen too much to be lax with her rules. I can't express how much Emmy's changed my life. I was in a tough place last year, losing my job, my roommate and my dog in a short period of time. Emmy saved my life, got me through it, and we're both better off for it. If you want the perfect dog for you, and you're ready to take good care of it, please check out her site and find your new best friend!! read more

I have watched their adoption process very closely when my step daughter tried to adopt, and I can say they follow the rules when it comes to adopting. People who complain that they are not easy to deal with are folks who do not understand the adoption process is as important and should be as strict as when adopting a human baby. The DeGeneres case was blown out of proportion, Ellen did not follow the rules and transferred the pet to another person, just like a piece of property, and clearly in breach of contract. Animals are not a piece of property, they are living beings who deserve the utmost consideration and protection. Mutts and Moms does that. IF you want to adopt and think they are hard to deal with, be glad. They are doing their job. I only wish all rescues were as thorough as Mutts and Moms. Here is a great article that summarizes the Ellen case and outlines the legal rights of transferred animals and how they should be classified as "Adoptions" http://www.animalsheltering.org/resources/magazine/mar_apr_2011/law_forum_avoiding_adopter_roulette.pdf read more

Anyone that is reading these reviews, please PLEASE make sure to take double looks at the one-star reviews. The few five-stars that there are are either rare cases or are complete utter bs. These people treat you as if you are not another person like them, and basically act like they are gods compared to you. Zero respect. I have worked and volunteered at adoption centers, and anyone who thinks they have it right are wrong. These people are gross. They show not one single bit of respect when dealing with adoptions. Yes, animals are living things like you and me, but these people so NO humanity like in the Ellen case. {An FYI here, I'm not basing all this off that case. I have my own personal experiences, and friends alike.} Whatever you do. DO NOT support this agency. Support the animals, not the people. Edit: I found this in another review. I thoroughly agree. "These people are half a block from the Pasadena shelter. Go there instead. No hassle, no bad press, no rude people, and you're saving a dog from euthanization." read more

I got my rescue mutt from Marina at Mutts and Moms a few months ago. I was a bit reluctant because I had not had good luck finding the right dog at the Pasadena Human Society or through other dog Rescue groups. We knew the moment we saw our little girl Tootsie that she was the right dog for us. We have not been disappointed! We were also very impressed by the level of thought and care that Marina puts into placing animals in the "right" home. I love the way she met with my kids and talked to them appropriately about the responsibilities and care of pet ownership. I highly recommend pet adoption and I especially HIGHLY recommend MUTTS & MOMS! Thanks Marina! read more

I've adopted our dog from Mutts and Moms. I am so thankful that they rescued her from being euthanized at an shelter just because she had full milk sacs after having a litter of pups. I appreciate that they want to find the best homes possible for these dogs and do a thorough check of potential adopters. You sign a contract when you adopt and are expected to abide by the agreement. I'm really blown away by people posting negative reviews when they have nothing to do with the organization or a celebrity's situation. Get off the internet, get a life and go do something positive for animals. Thank you again Marina! We love our Gwynn! read more

Mutts and Moms - Gwynn Flynn Polan - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love Mutts and Moms! I found my adorable Maple on http://www.petfinder.com. I filled out the application and then sent a follow up e-mail. Marina got back to me right away and invited me to come meet Maple. As soon as I met her I knew she was the dog for me. I think Marina saw that too, but she didn't pressure me. When I told her I wanted Maple she was so helpful. And as a first time dog owner I needed a lot of advice! :) Since that time Marina has continued to be so wonderful. I have left Maple with her when I've gone out of town, and we've gone hiking with her and her dogs. She is extremely passionate about what she does and the dogs of SoCal are really lucky to have her. read more

I have never had an experience like I have at this place. I'll keep it short and sweet. Don't adopt a dog from here. They are terrible and DO NOT have the best interest of the animal in mind. They have general lay out rules to cover all the dogs, but don't take their personally into consideration. These people were rude, short, and completely unprofessional. You should be ashamed to call yourself a rescue. read more

I would never adopt from here. The process is to much and over the top. They make you feel as if you are not even human or have the right to add to your family. read more

DO NOT EVER CONSIDER ADOPTING FROM THIS GROUP! I was caring for my friend's dog while she went to visit her 88 year old mother in Missouri. The dog slipped away on the evening of July 4th. Mutts & Moms was notified because they were the contact for the dog's chip. Lot's of people went out looking, but unfortunately it was Mutts & Moms who found the dog six days later. NOW THEY REFUSE TO GIVE THE DOG BACK TO THE ADOPTIVE HOME WHO'VE HAD HER FOR OVER 3 YEARS! Marina, the person in charge of this rescue group, told my friend that she violated the contract because the rescue tag was not on the dog. She also chastised my friend for not returning from her trip when she learned the dog was missing. Mistakes happen! Dogs run away--especially on the 4th of July. This dog has been a comfort and companion to my friend during NINE MONTHS OF CHEMOTHERAPY and other health issues. Marina has no empathy for my friend's bout with cancer and the lengthy and difficult treatment she endured. This little dog was loved and cared for like the precious darling she is. Who takes a companion dog away from the only owner it has known for almost it's entire life? Marina's interest is clearly not the dog's well-being, but to punish my friend. read more

Don't waste your time! There are so many other rescues in Los Angeles County who are honest and truthful groups. This is not one of them. The owner is just not a good person. read more

I have recently dealt with these disingenuous and unscrupulous people over attempting to adopt a pet for our family. I have never felt so scrutinized and pre-judged in my life. What could have been painless and simple turned out to be a power-play and ultimately feel like a violation of our privacy. We were already feeling less than human by the end of all this, yet we kept the process going for our kids' sake. The final straw was that of our neighbors being questioned about our standing within the neighborhood and if we were cruel to our existing animals. In the interim we have heard several other "stories" about this place and they all seem to have this common theme. The thing that breaks my heart is that these "ghouls" make the decisions on who is worthy to give their love to an animal or not. Furthermore, there is NO WAY that these 5 star ratings are legitimate. They all sound canned and pre-written if you ask me, plus they all have the same tempo and inflection of writing. Regardless, if you do go, I honestly wish you the best of luck if you fall in love with one of their animals, however due to personal experience I wish for their business to go under, their animals to be seized and given away to loving homes for FREE. read more

Was very satisfied with adopting our puppy. She is as precious as it gets. They were extremely helpful with her adoption. We recommend Moms and Mutts to whoever is seeking a puppy for their forever home. read more

My dog, Kiwi, is one of Marina's great rescues. Marina cares so very much. I'm sorry to read the recent posts. Read what is written: "Mutts and Moms sent out a search party to find our missing doggie and then upon finding her, wouldn't give her back! Marina has thus created one more homeless dog!" This poster, and apparently others she put up to posting, admit that the dog escaped. The adoption contract makes it clear that if the dog isn't cared for, Mutts and Moms need not return the animal to the negligent new owner. I suggest to this negligent person that she return the companion dog...he's in jeopardy, from my point of view. Marina spends 24/7 worrying about animals who others have abandoned. She spends far more of her money than most of us would to care for these animals and then make sure they are well-cared for. I suggest that the people who think it is great to disparage Marina and Mutts and Moms spend 1/100th of their time doing what Marina does, and then consider how it must feel to be so devoted to animals no one else wanted, and find that people you trusted couldn't even care for the little animals. If you cannot watch one dog (or two), get a goldfish, Arlene, Olivia and Deborah. read more

I wish I could post the dialogue I had with this business. I wanted my family to rescue a puppy. My children are young and lifes lessons are important and this was a great opportunity for teaching them a brutal life lesson. I found a few puppies through PetSmart who claims they do not sell dogs. I contacted the website for this business where the puppies were held and fill out an application. I filled it out at 11:30 at night and was approved by 9:30 the next morning. I was quite surprised because there's no way they could have verified references, employment, or residential establishment. I was even more surprised when they demanded $850 for this mixed breed puppy. When I questioned the price and the health of the puppies including their hips and blood work their reply was unbelievable. The questions I asked anybody in the right mind would question especially if they have good judgement. After they're hateful replies cursing and false accusationsof me threatning them (which I would never do to anyone) I finally told them they were a puppy for profit and that's it. They then send a most hateful reply calling me names and cursing along with a picture of my home, no words just a picture. I find these actions extremely disturbing. It shows a very unstable atmosphere. I eventually had to contact the police and fill out a report. After I was already pre-approved they then told me because of my questions that they were going to contact Colorado adoption agency and have me removed or band. There should be laws against people that are taking pets from shelters and selling them for profit. If they are a non-profit that might be, but I think $850 for a mixed breed puppy who is not fixed, does not have any registration, health guarantees, or hip guarantees is ridiculous. Im sue most people wanting to save a puppy would agree. I will pray for the owners in the way that they talk to me and I hope anyone who considers adopting a pet from this place will reconsider and do research. I have no problems with people selling puppies but don't pretend that you're some kind of loving animal rescue and you're trying to save the planet you're only doing it for profit. Everything I say here is the absolute truth. My first time posting a review for anything, to bad it had to be negative. I have all documents to these facts. Do your homework, know who you are supporting. Thank you read more

Let me start by saying that it takes a special kind of person to be involved with animal rescue. Passion, commitment, and unrelenting concern are the qualities I've found in the people who run quality animal rescue operations. These people are not rescuing animals to find fortune or fame. They are doing it to save lives. In October of last year we lost our dog of seven and a half years to renal failure. Whether for therapeutic reasons or because we were ready, we started browsing PetFinder for another rescue when we came across a little female terrier puppy named Odette. We went to meet her at Paw Boutique in Pasadena. We also met Marina who is one of the founders of the organization. Right away I knew that she was passionate about her pack of rescues. She was straightforward, inquisitive, and kind. We decided that we were interested in moving forward with the application process, which included a home visit, a donation, and the signing of a contract. Admittedly, this can feel a bit intrusive, but knowing that our little dog had an agency that is committed to her well-being, not just her adoption, made us feel nothing but grateful. The application process was quick. We scheduled a time for Marina to come by the house with the dog. On that same day we signed the contract, Marina said goodbye to Odette and we welcomed little Scout into our family. We continue to stay in touch with Mutts and Moms through social media and an occasional visit to the boutique. In fact, it was our visit this weekend that prompted me to write this review. Scout (Odette) had not seen Marina since the day we adopted her in November, but as soon as Scout saw her our little dog reacted with excitement and genuine affection. As I watched Scout loving this woman I saw two things: I saw the reason why our dog is so loving and affectionate and I saw the real reward that people like Marina get from rescuing shelter animals. She does it because she really cares about them and I'm grateful for that. If you're looking to add a four-legged friend to your family I highly recommend this rescue organization. read more

You should be ashamed of yourself for caring more about a signed paper than the welfare and happiness of a dog. IF you cared about these dogs, you would want a good home for them, Iggy WAS in a good home, loved for and cared for. And you came and snatched that puppy from it's loving family. You're sick and go absolutely against RESCUE. I understand you don't want dogs put in the wrong hands, but sometimes you can't play GOD. Ellen used great judgement and knew the home of her hairdresser would be a great match! Shame on you for your spite and ego. If you don't know what true rescue is about you need to find another "job" because the rescue of animals is about love and about the ANIMAL. NOT YOU. read more

I look back at when I attempted to adopt a puppy from Mutts and Moms, as one of the great horrors of my life. They allow you to bond with the dog while making you jump through incredible hoops, one after the other. Finally, after more than a month and five visits with the pup, I was rejected. Rejected! I have been a dog owner my whole life, and have nothing unsavory about my life or lifestyle, I'm just an ordinary working stiff with a nice home and big backyard who had lost a dog and wanted another. This crushed me. The reason was frivolous. I talked to my vet and asked him to call them, as I'd bonded with the puppy. He said that he would call them, but he knew "the type" and the fact they'd rejected me was proof to him that they had become self-important and fallen in love with the process, rather than the end goal. Rather than move more dogs into homes, they were enthralled with their many stepped adoption process, and how important each step was. To the point of losing their way. I ended up getting a pup from another rescue; it took an application, a fast home check and in two weeks I've had the love of my life with me. She's 12 now, it's been that long. But I won't forget this awful place. Such a good cause gone wrong. read more

PEOPLE, JUST BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ACCEPTED AS AN APPROPRIATE ADOPTER DOESN'T MEAN THAT MUTTS AND MOMS IS BAD!! Marina is so passionate about finding the right home for her dogs. Unfortunately, she comes off as being a rude person that doesn't want to have any of her dogs adopted because she thinks the adopter is irresponsible. Mutts and Moms is totally unique and doesn't just give dogs away like candy, and that's why i love Mutts and Moms. It's one of the shelters that doesn't euthanasias dogs. My family got my dog Munchkin at Mutts and Moms! Nobody would accept our applications to adopt other dogs, that includes the Pasadena Humane Society. Finally, we heard of a shelter that doesn't put dogs to sleep. It was Mutts and Moms. Don't think that Marina just is a heartless person who takes away dogs and doesn't allow people to adopt her dogs! The whole Ellen DeGeneres thing was almost just an act. Ellen DESTROYED Mutts and Moms, and should be ashamed of it. The contract CLEARLY stated that if you had problems with a dog, bring it back to Mutts and Moms. Next time Ellen, if you adopt a dog...READ THE CONTRACT!!! read more

Mariana is very judge mental . I brought my kids to see the dog they loved it she said I could have the dog ...great. I have the dog 2 weeks my kids fall in LOVE with the dog. Mariana calls me see how the dogs doing....but something seemed odd on the phone call but I figured I was paranoid. She comes and when she gets to the house she says she wants to do a home inspection...I didn't understand. She takes 1 look around says this is not a good home. She already had a crate waiting outside BEFORE she entered the home. I tell her no she claims I breached the contract but would not tell me how as my kids are sobbing she speeds off. I later find out she never took my dogs picture off the Internet and someone saw my dog and called her about him. When she said he was not Available they offered her 300$ and she came and took him. I can not believe an so called animal lover would do this to the dog or my children. This lady is sick. read more