Have you ever heard, "1st impressions are everything"? It's true! I just left North Beach Paws. There were about 3 suggestions of folks needing donations, 1 was the senior center, for which I have taken several loads, and they've always been welcoming, and genuinely grateful. I have specifically put aside all animal related items, and decided to drive them out to Paws. I have looked forward to going to the facility since I moved to the area from out of state. I'm a huge animal advocate, financial supporter, and volunteer. I have been helping a local woman downsize, and she's had some amazing items she's parting with. I've wanted to share these items with those in need locally.
I just left Paws, the only reason I'm not giving them 1 star, is because I have read, and heard they are reputable where animal rescue is concerned. Clearly, given this experience, they have no business wasting peoples time asking for donations, along with definitely needing to work on their welcome mat to customers, who by the way could have been significant future donors, of which I will definitely not be ever again, financial, or other at this point please beleive.
I drove all the way out there when I could have taken this load to the senior center before they closed. When I pulled in, there were many cars parked in the facility, but I walked around the kennels, and all around the buildings figuring there would be someone outside I could ask where I should take the items, instead I saw no movement anywhere. Not a soul to greet me, or be able to ask a question of. Finally, I hear a guy say can I help you in an annoyed tone come from a building by the kennels. I guess a couple people could see me from from a window, but I could not see them. It only gets worse from here. He seemed to be eating something, and I asked where I should bring donations, and again he seeming annoyed, said what is it, still at the door not bothering to walk out, and I tried to generally tell him what I had, and he yells into someone, who also seems uninterested. Then he left for awhile. It was all so damn weird, and then he walks out and he says he's going to go over to the cat people to see if they need whatever it is I have brought to donate. Never once interested to even look. I was getting really annoyed at that point, because I felt like I had gone to the trouble of getting this load together especially for them, because I was told they were in need, when I could have brought it to the senior center which is literally right around the corner from me, where they would have been thrilled to get this load. Instead I'm driving all the way out there today, only to be greeted in such a disturbing way. Or really NOT AT ALL GREETED for crying out loud. One annoyed guy finally walking out, not even saying hello, I couldn't even get him to take a second to walk over to the bed, much less the cab of the truck just to see what I had. I said listen if you don't need/want it, just tell me, and he said "you can keep it"!! Lol Yeah the entire experience was rediculously not ok.
I had a huge hardly used extremely nice cat condo enclosed pen with all parts, with like 3 stories, with all kinds of stuff for the inside of it, like ladders, and scratching post, toys, I had a sliding glass doggy door insert, I had a greenworks mower which was nearly new, I had automatic feeders, and waterers, dog and cat bowls, and toys, some kind of electric machine for litter, a brand new never used hp printer, and so much more. To add insult to injury, my gas, and time wasted at paws meant the senior center had closed, so I had to drive this load back home, and will now take it to them tomorrow.
Yes, it may be awhile, if ever, before I think of paws in a decent light. I know many folks in the community think highly of them, and the only reason for 2 stars instead of 1. However, I have heard some negative feedback about them as well, and is the faction I now fall under no doubt. read more