I would like to start my review by saying that I have never owned a cat, a dog, a rabbit, an elephant:-) not even a fish. Unfortunately, I have never experienced the pleasure of owning some type of an animal. Thanks to mama Flora. She had always injected the fear in me. Not to get close, it will bite, attack, harass.. I have few friends that do own dogs and cats. One of my friends wanted to go check out this place and see if she could adopt a cat and replace the cat that she had that passed away 6 months ago. She couldn't wrap her head around the devastation of losing her cat Katy. With that being said, she asked me to go with her to this animal shelter and see if she could adopt a new cat. I agreed and went there like 2 weeks ago. There was this one cat that she instantly fell in love with, did all the paperwork with their staff, got all the information pertaining to the vaccines, immunizations, medications, & vet information. All the employees were caring, nice professional and helpful. The shelter was nice and clean. Established in 1903. They also do dog training, have pet supply store, animal control, workshops & kids programs. She had tears of joy in her eyes after adopting her new cat and named her after her late cat. For me, all this was new. Who knows, maybe one day I will adopt a cat and give it to my mama and she will get used to the animal.. hours of operation are 9:30am-5:30pm. Seven days a week. We parked outside and don't know if they have parking or not. The entire process was quick, fast, effortless, and seamless. Good luck to my friend & to her new cat!! Thank you staff at this adoption rescue center and Pasadena Humane! read more

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I'm extremely disappointed with Pasadena Humane. I found two hatchlings after discovering their mother and two other babies had already died. I did everything I could to care for them for 24 hours, but I knew they needed proper care and expertise to survive. I reached out explaining the situation, and while waiting for a response, my boyfriend brought them in--because what facility would turn away clearly vulnerable, dying animals? Apparently, this one would. We were told they needed "proof" that the mother was dead. That alone was shocking and honestly upsetting--what more were we supposed to do, bring the deceased animals with us? In a situation where time is critical, their lack of urgency and compassion was incredibly frustrating. Thankfully, we ended up driving all the way to Malibu to a nonprofit wildlife organization that didn't hesitate for a second to take the hatchlings in and give them the care they needed. I'm relieved we didn't leave them here. The birds survived and are on their way to thriving, and I truly don't believe that would have been the outcome if we had trusted Pasadena Humane. read more

Pasadena Humane - the hatchlings we found. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

I adopted my cat in July and had an excellent experience. Staff was patient, kind and took their time introducing me to multiple cats. I specifically requested a "huge snuggle bug" and immediately was shown my now sweet boy. I'm beyond grateful to have found him and that I received all his up to date medical records and medication he was finishing up. I can't imagine my life without my cat Rudie and always suggest adopting here when people mention they're looking for pets. Adopt don't shop! read more

Be careful when adopting a dog from here--they may give you a sick animal. I went to Pasadena Humane hoping to give a dog a home, but my experience was extremely disappointing. The staff were rude and misleading throughout the process. They really need to hire or bring in volunteers who genuinely care. I adopted a dog named King. He had a cone because he was recently neutered and was making a strange honking noise. I asked a volunteer about it, and they told me it was normal for the breed (a terrier and Chihuahua mix). They mentioned the dog came from Downey Animal Care Center but had no medical history available. When I met him, he was very dirty and smelled bad. They also said they didn't know when he was neutered and that I should wait before bathing him. The staff member processing the adoption told me the dog had a vet exam the day before and was "healthy as a horse." However, once I brought him home, the noise he was making didn't feel right. Although they offer a two-week vet coverage, getting an appointment was difficult, so I took him to the vet the very next day. At the vet, I found out the dog had a high fever, was extremely contagious, and had pneumonia and had parvo, The treatment was estimated to cost $1,200. Since I already have another dog at home, I was advised to remove him from the house immediately to prevent spreading the illness. Because of this, I had no choice but to surrender him. When I spoke to a volunteer, they were extremely disrespectful and focused only on why I hadn't used the insurance, even after I explained the situation. When I spoke to the surrender office, they told me to leave the dog in the car due to how sick and contagious he was. However, when I arrived, the staff seemed confused and questioned why I hadn't brought him inside. After surrendering the dog, I went home to disinfect everything to protect my other pet. Later, I checked their website and saw that the dog was already back up for adoption and placed in a kennel with other dogs. This is extremely concerning and irresponsible. This situation is unacceptable. When signing the surrender paperwork, it also states that if a dog is ill, they may euthanize it--yet they are putting a contagious dog back up for adoption. I will be reporting this facility to the city manager as this entire experience was absolutely disgusting. read more

I recently had an experience with the Pasadena Humane Society when I was able to catch a stray running down Del Mar. I dealt with the dispatcher and the handler, all of which were friendly and helpful, but I specifically want to highlight the handlers gentle and friendly nature towards the stray who was clearly terrified. It was likely the end of her shift and she still managed to show compassion and empathy towards the scared pup, and I just want to personally say thank you as a dog lover. The story had a happy ending with the owner claiming the dog. Also, shoutout to their store. My pup loves to sniff around, he gets a treat and it just helps with supporting their organization. read more

After a recent move this is my first time visiting what is now our local animal shelter. My wife is involved with a local Northern breed rescue org , so I thought it would be a good idea to see what they are like. The bad is that they clearly are not a " no kill" shelter, but TBH many of the shelters that claim to be are not either. The employees there were polite, but understandably appeared to be under staffed overwhelmed. Along with the rescue group my family is involved with Animal Welfare in numerous ways , so this is honestly only my first impression. Hopefully we can update to a better score once we have visited a few more times. read more

Great facility and helpful staff. I wish all the shelters were this nice! They even have underground parking. Also they offer lots of educational programs such as dog training classes and fun activities you can sign up for even if you don't live in Pasadena. read more

Adopted our dog from here. Saw the profile online and went in the next day at 9:30. They explained everything and did their best to set us up for success. Overall a great experience and we would come back read more

We can't say enough about Pasadena Humane. Our vet wanted over $1400 to have our dog spayed, PH offered the same service for $400. Our vet wanted over $1000 for full vaccination panel of our two pups, PH did it for $200. We went to the vaccination clinic and were amazed at how efficient and organized it was. The volunteers were kind, the clinic was clean, we were in and out in a matter of minutes. In a time when capital investors are buying up vet clinics and robbing pet owners, Pasadena Humane is living up to their name. We'll be donating to this organization in the future! Keep up the great work! read more

One of the best organizations in the LA area. Their commitment to animal well-being is unsurpassable. They go above and beyond to ensure every animal gets the best experience possible and is adopted into a caring, loving family. I have volunteered there multiple times, and the staff truly cares about what they do. I have also brought in two wild animals I rescued around Pasadena (a squirrel and a bird). They took great care of them, rehabilitated them, and released them safely. You also get a code so you can track their progress. read more

*Edit: I do appreciate the response, I just didn't like the way the intake made me feel. It was a bad first impression. I hope kitty made it into a good home. Thanks! Found a kitten in the middle of the night, brought it here the next morning. I already have a dog, and this kitten obviously needed a lot of cuddles and attention that I couldn't give. I thought to myself, someone would probably love to adopt this cat, he's friendly and needs attention. I brought him in, and he was a little upset about the car ride. Understandable. The woman at the front tells me that because he's crying, they'll most likely put him back outside around where I found him. An area notorious for coyotes. I thought I was doing a good thing, now I'm depressed that I brought this little guy in to eventually become coyote food. He's too little and needy to be outside imo. Think twice before bringing a kitten here. He would've been better off if I rehomed him through Facebook or something. read more

Pasadena Humane - kitten they said they'll probably put back outside because he's crying a lot - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

We adopted our sweet two year old Maltipoo 09/15/2025 a few weeks after he was neutered by this group 05/25/25 and were told that his stitches would dissolve on their own. Weeks later I noticed a strip of what looked like string all along his little penis because he kept licking it. So I took him to our veternarian in Huntington Beach who tried to see scrape it out without having surgery but decided it was just too deep so needed surgery to remove. I asked that she save the material for me. Here's what it looked like. I wrote a letter to the Dr. Pyrdek, the surgeon at Pasadena Humane Society, saying, "Although I admire you for donating your time and energy helping animals I caution you to be sure you're careful in giving each and every patient the very best of your abilities. It shouldn't be about the amount of animals you sterilize, but the quality of your work, as well. Please be careful to watch for signs that your animal might've been sewn up with non-dissolvable sutures and have to undergo a second surgery to have them removed. read more

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Great experience fostering here. Everything was well-organized, and the staff were awesome. Perfect place if you're thinking of fostering! ::Experience:: I fostered this year at the Pasadena Humane Society. They give you all the information and supplies you need. You also get training and track your hours. ::Customer Service:: I had the pleasure of interacting with both Enessa and Taylor during my time fostering, and they truly made the experience even better. They were always warm, welcoming, and made me feel comfortable reaching out with any concerns or questions I had. Whether it was something small or more detailed, they took the time to explain things clearly and never made me feel rushed. Both of them are incredibly knowledgeable about fostering and made sure I had everything I needed to care for my foster. Their enthusiasm and dedication really show, and it was clear they care deeply about the well-being of both the animals and the volunteers. ::M's Notes:: -Parking: Lot read more

My only experience is from visiting and donating during the wildfires, and I give Pasadena Humane Society ALL the stars and thanks possible. They are doing extremely important work with medical care for injured animals, caring for boarded animals of evacuees, along with reunifications at the shelter and in the field. When disasters happen, it's always the animals that my heart pulls for the strongest. And here, they seem to be absolute angels to the animals caught in the chaos. Thank you Pasadena Humane! read more

Pasadena Humane is by far the most patient, caring, and genuinely compassionate animal society we've come across in the Los Angeles/Glendale/Pasadena areas. Most private shelters made the process so complicated and make you feel very bad - asking for unnecessary very personal details like income, where you work, references from work, friends, crazy fees, weeks of reviewing your application etc. Pasadena Humane, on the other hand, had a simple and reasonable application, and their team was kind and helpful from the start. They explained the dog's background in detail, shared notes from his foster, and answered every question we had without ever making us feel rushed. After the adoption, we came back for a recheck post-neuter, and the vet was great. They also gave us a free exam at VCA Care, which was really helpful to make sure our dog was healthy, even though they had already provided a full and detailed medical record. The adoption fee was very low, and after dealing with some really frustrating experiences at private shelters, I can honestly say this was a breath of fresh air. These are people who truly care about the animals and want to see them go to good homes. Highly recommend adopting from here. Thank you, Pasadena Humane, for everything you do. read more

Pasadena Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have adopted all my pets from Pasadena Humane. I am so happy they strive to be a 100% No Kill Shelter. I adopted my latest pet 9 months ago. I was surprised they had changed some of their policies - no meeting of dogs with current pets in household beforehand because they say dogs get rejected unfairly. The large dog I adopted turned out to be very aggressive to my small dog and I was afraid he would not calm down. I now see the logic of why they have the policy. I worked with the dog for 4 months. He turned out to be very friendly, social and loving. Having been left on streets just made him resource guarded, but he's now secure and loving. read more

Made an appointment to have my 1 year old female cat spayed. (She's a little bit Spicy) Appointment was confirmed and received emails with all information on how to proceed and do's and don'ts on recovery. Staff was kind, attentive and informative. Treated with respect and care of our furry little ones. Check in was a breeze both checking in and picking up. During check in staff went through the check list procedure with care as well as pick up calling your name and pet name with all information again and what to expect during recovery. Then asking if you have any questions before you go home I have the up most respect for the staff at Pasadena Humane Society. Hard work and much love for each furry loved one read more

Pasadena Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

Very unhelpful when I brought baby possums for help after their mom was ran over. I don't know why they even have a wildlife center.

My daughter participated in the JR Vets program for four weeks, and she absolutely loved it! Meeting new friends, learning about different animals, and helping in the community made this an unforgettable experience. It was the perfect mix of education and fun--thank you to everyone who made the program possible! read more

I wonder if our tax payor money funds this place. Doesn't seem like they are interested in helping a cat that's wounded and needs to be adopted. read more

A few days ago, my partner and I came across a post from Vanessa Ortiz about a beautiful dog named Lucky, and we instantly fell in love. Today, Lucky is part of our family, and we are beyond grateful for Vanessa's compassion and the adoptions team for making this possible. As an executive myself, I understand what true dedication looks like, and with Vanessa, it's clear her work isn't about a paycheck, it's about her genuine care and love for these animals. Thank you, Vanessa, and the adoptions team, for everything you do and for giving us the opportunity to welcome Lucky into our lives. read more

Pasadena Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

They give you attitude some are nice workers but there's 3 of them that have this smug attitude and made this experience bad never going back feel sorry for the Animals.. with their attitude good luck having people come to adopt read more

We adopted a cat from here, and they gave us insurance for a 14 days and some food to start with. We've loved our Kotya for 1.5 years now, and we might adopt someone else from here later! read more

Pasadena Humane - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Their Girl Scout Program is absolutely incredible. Miss K and Miss Tiffany were so excellent. The girls completed an age appropriate service project and then had a chance to see many different animals. The PHS was very thoughtful and had headphones for the girls as well. Highly educational and informative and most of all fun for the girls! read more

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they're so thorough even over the phone! most of the staff is great! got a same day appointment. things went well. meow read more

Very kind staff trying to adopt out a high volume of animals. Adopted a cat here to avoid the homestudy requirement of Kitten Rescue. Each adoptive family receives a packet including food coupons and a free VCA vet visit within 14 days. If you live in Pasadena you are eligible for reduced price vaccinations. However, I had assumed beyond spaying/neutering the animals were given a vet check prior to adoption. The medical costs (apart from vaccinations) were $375. I would recommend adopting from Kitten Rescue if you are looking for a cat- their cats and kittens are checked by a vet prior to taking them home. They are either in good health when released to the adoptive home or have medical notes explaining what care is needed. I assumed all adoptive organizations did the same but no. The home study can be a video walk through, and you will be asked for a care plan if you are elderly so that the cat will have a home should you not be able to care for the cat. We appreciate all Pasadena Humane does for the cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals it cares for. read more

--- 5-Star Review -- Pasadena Humane Society Pasadena Humane Society truly exceeded my expectations. The staff is compassionate, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. You can tell they genuinely care about every animal that comes through their doors. The facility is clean, well-organized, and welcoming, and they make the whole adoption process smooth and stress-free. I appreciate how much time they spend making sure animals are healthy, socialized, and matched with the right families. They also provide great resources for new pet owners, which shows how committed they are to long-term success, not just quick adoptions. If you're looking to adopt, volunteer, or support a shelter that truly makes a difference, Pasadena Humane Society is one of the best around. Highly recommended read more

We adopted a dog two weeks ago as of today and our experience has been horrible. A few days after we brought him home he was showing signs of being sick. His poop was runny, he had a cough, and at times he seemed lethargic.. We took him to the VCA first thing Monday morning on May 12th and the vet said the puppers had parvo, along with a lung infection. What the heck??!!! So on top of adopting a dog who was sick, they lied about his age. They told us he was 3-4 years old but while my sister-in-law was filling out the paperwork, his birthdate indicated he was actually 11 months old! The incubation period indicates that he got parvo from the shelter or maybe from his previous owners who surrendered him. I would like to know what the intake process is because I've had two puppers so far and I've never had this problem. I've used two different NONPROFIT rescue groups and never had this problem. I say nonprofit in this manner because Pasadena Humane has various grants and a large, profitable contract with the City of Pasadena. For those reasons, I don't consider them a true nonprofit organization. I approached them and requested compensation because we spent $1,200 on vet care. They said we can't make any guarantees but we'll take it up with the higher-ups. I asked for the number of the chief vet on site and an administrator, someone in authority, but I was denied that information. I don't think it's fair that this organization didn't do proper intake and now we're stuck with a sick puppers. We're trying to do a good deed and give an abandoned puppers a loving home. I, myself, have my own doggo who must now remain at my mom's until the new puppers sheds the parvo virus. So now two dogs are suffering because of misconduct. I think we're owed some kind of reimbursement. This is ridiculous. Do better! read more

Amazing, grateful, compassionate, ahhhhh thank you so much. I did not intend to meet my best friend but I came out with the kind of dog you read about in books. SUMMARY: - Make appointments online, appt times are released 2 times per week - A 10-day adoption trial is a genius idea to test compatibility but also not push a commitment without testing the waters (you're supplied food, toys, a harness, a Pasadena Humane Society collar, emergency support should something happen, a 24-hr hotline) - You can meet and greet the dog in a playpen during your appt - The staff returns calls within a day & is always informative Appts can be made online & are 45-min visits with an animal (you can choose more than one) that you see online. I have been interested in fostering a large dog to get them out of the shelter. I saw online that 'Morticia' was a border collie mix & I was just curious if I could handle a border collie mix. I also made an appt to meet Raymundo, a large Labrador retriever. I met Raymundo and he was HUGE, like MASSIVE. My only critique for this place is to list weights instead of small, medium, large because the dog I thought was smaller (Raymundo) turned out to be a fricking dinosaur, and the dog I thought was bigger (now named 'Gemma') was waaaaaay smaller than she appeared in the photograph. Then... I saw Gemma. Oh my. My mother said "she's absolutely breathtaking." She would tune in to dogs barking in their kennels but come back to me repeatedly. We were in awe of her elegance & beauty. Another critique which I don't think can be solved bc it's part of the nature of animal shelters is contradicting stories on why she was in the shelter. The handler said she was surrendered pregnant & her puppies were adopted out immediately (obv, puppy privilege) & the owner had given her the dark name - but the woman in the office said Gemma was found with her "boyfriend" as strays and they named her for the Halloween vibes since this was in October. It doesn't specify in my paperwork, so I'm still confused. However, there are a lot of dogs that come in and out of here, & you can't expect every employee to know the details of every single dog. STORY TIME: I met Gem before leaving for a 10-day trip to Chicago & would have adopted her on the spot but a trip would be so stressful for her. My mother said, "leave it to fate" & I held onto that. While in Chicago, I checked her profile almost daily. I had to stop myself from looking some days in case she was adopted. Half of me wanted her to find a home, but the other half felt this intrinsic bond to her. One day I noticed she was listed as "foster" and they called me back & said it's just a fostering situation. I was relieved that Gemma (I named her before I even got her) was in a real home for the holidays. I then called and said hey, I want to make an adoption appointment for when I return. They cannot hold any dog (which is good for the dogs; you want to give them the opportunity to be adopted). We made the appointment, and they said if anything changes we will call. I confirmed the appt the day before & the same thing was said to me. Then!!!! Came the day!!! I came to pick up Gemma & it's amazing how many resources they give you: 1. Free VCA vet visit 2. Free 30-days pet insurance that we activated 3. All paperwork including rabies vaccine and spay/neuter proof 4. Information on crate-training, introducing a dog to a cat, the 3 day (nervous wreck) - 3 weeks (assimilating) - 3 months (real personality emerges) info sheet 5. A discount for training classes offered at Pasadena Humane (I live in Long Beach but otherwise I would go) 6. A free bag of Hill's pet food they feed them at the shelter (good for weaning off the food to another brand since you have to do it gradually) 7. Get to keep the easy walk harness 8. Get to keep the shelter number tag attached to her neck (I put it in my memory box) 9. Get an adoption certificate with your name & the new name of the pet I am so, so, so, so, so happy with Gemma. She is the most intelligent, most playful, most inquisitive creature I've ever come across. I didn't think I could get a dog after my late senior terrier passed away 8 months ago, but when I met Gemma, I had that same feeling I had when I met my Belle. This wonder & thought of "why do I just want to know everything about you." I cannot for the life of me believe she was at the shelter October - January. Everyone tells me, "it's so clear that she genuinely loves and adores you," and that is all I could have asked for in a companion. Thank u so much Pasadena Humane Society for caring for Gemma & for tolerating my phone calls wondering if she was still available. I'm so lucky Elle & Gemma read more

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I am so grateful this place exists. I have volunteered here and I can see firsthand how well they care for the animals.

I called this place about surrendering my pets but they were very rude about it and hang up the phone without helping me find an alternative don't not recommend this place they're rude !!! read more

They are so kind and helpful here. We were panicking looking for our dog and luckily someone brought her here . They were super sweet and helped us reunite with our loved puppy again. Super grateful for their staff and services thank you! read more

We had our daughter's 7th birthday party here. The staff were knowledgeable, patient, accommodating, and fun! We brought the cake and pizza, and they took care of the rest! The girls had a great time with the animals and the party went off without a hitch. The Pasadena Humane Society was also very flexible with a last minute date change (my daughter woke up on the original party date with the flu). I highly recommend this venue for your child's next party! read more

I'm appalled by the service I received at the Pasadena Humane Society today. This morning, my spouse and I found a litter of abandoned puppies in a park -- starving, filthy, and clearly in need of urgent care. We called and made an appointment to drop them off, as we already have three dogs of our own and couldn't keep them. From the moment we arrived, we were met with hostility and condescension. Staff were not only dismissive but went so far as to accuse me of owning the puppies and mistreating them. Instead of focusing on the welfare of the animals, they chose to insult and humiliate the people who were trying to help. I showed up in my sweats, having rushed over after wrangling these puppies best we could -- and I regret that now, because it was clear I was being profiled based on my appearance and, frankly, my race. It's unacceptable and unprofessional for an organization that claims to care about animals to treat good Samaritans this way. If you actually care about helping animals without being demeaned or profiled, I recommend going to the San Gabriel Humane Society instead. Pasadena Humane Society should be ashamed. read more

@NIKKI B is a Fairy God Mother! She is the Godmother of Saffy & Angelina; a crucial part of the adoption of my babies thanks to her diligent connection with Pasadena Humane Team/ Site and updates. I would not have these babies in my life if not for her! LOVE LOVE her forever Pasadena Humane has always been such a fantastic shelter that maintains its integrity as an adoption source~ the entire staff is ALWAYS so kind and compassione during my adoption process. I have adopted three (3) Kittens from them; Chauncey is 19 now (yes, 19 years old!!), Angelina is almost 1 year and Saffy is 6 months. I am beyond grateful for ALL the ladies that make my life so enchanting and filled with unconditional love with my furbabies. read more

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Xochitl was amazing!!! We met several dogs, & she knew all details of each of the dogs we were interested in and guided us to the dog of our dreams. read more

This animal shelter is the most caring, patient, and humane one I've ever seen. When I called, an employee named Mike answered the phone. He was very attentive and asked me in detail where I had found the cat, then took down the information and immediately arranged for me to bring the cat over right away. I was truly touched, because too many shelters treat stray cats and dogs with coldness and indifference. But I could tell right away that they were not like that. When I arrived at the door, a lady helped me register and fill out a form. She was extremely kind and explained to me that this newborn stray kitten would be placed with foster parents, and even if they couldn't find one, their staff would take care of the kitten and would not put it down. She reassured me. I really want to thank all of you, because your kindness and warm words made me feel that staying up all night to care for this newborn stray kitten was absolutely worth it. It reminded me that there are still people in this world who truly care for them. Thank you! read more

Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Super professional. Best animal shelter I've been to...highly recommended for your next adoption. A+++ read more

Our adoption process was incredibly simple after walking through the adoptable dog section. Before adoption, our dog was spayed and microchipped without additional costs aside from the adoption fee. Afterward, we were provided all necessary documentation to be new pet parents. I am forever grateful for finding my soulmate here. read more

Pasadena Humane - My best friend, Togi, 2 years after adoption! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

The staff was incredible and patient with the stray dog we rescued and brought to them. From the initial phone call, appointment and intake. They were accommodating and transparent on the procedure for turning in this abandoned animal we found. I am very grateful for their service to the community! read more