Great private fenced dog park in Mebane. Book through Sniffspot app. We went for an hour on Sunday. Our service dog loved it. It is so clean and well cared for. read more

This is a small shelter on the same grounds with an education center to work with owners and their new dogs, a dog park, and a nearby vet offering low-cost spays/neuters. From what I understand, the APS of Orange County started this shelter but I'm not sure if it's still part of APS. It's become a place for animals transferred from nearby county shelters. If you're lucky, you'll have the grounds cat escort you from your car to the front door just to make sure you don't get lost or take a wrong turn. The day I was there it was relatively quiet and I had the opportunity to spend as much time as I wanted with the animals. Like most shelters, the cats are separated by age group and placed in three decent sized rooms with lots of toys and beds. Only one of the rooms was an interior room with no view outdoors. The cats get to free roam within their rooms. Paws4Ever has dogs, too, but I didn't go back into their area. The woman working allowed me to take my time but was very quick to answer any questions. In fact, since I was the only one there at the time, even the cats seemed to like the attention. Unfortunately, that made it even harder to leave them all behind. My only criticism would be the smell. The rooms were clean, I didn't see any litter boxes, but it smelled like litter boxes that needed to be cleaned. It's an okay shelter, seems relatively low-key, and that probably makes it a nice place to check out if you're in the area. read more

I write this review while my newly adopted P4E dog (yay!) snores on my lap. I don't know much about the cat side of things but can comment on the dogs. I do know that the cats seem very happy and have wonderful spaces to roam and play! I feel like I owe it to the organization to at least write a review on Yelp. This place is fantastic. I've volunteered in many shelters and guaranteed adoption facilities from a young age and I'd like to think I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with animal rescue. P4E truly cares for these animals. They are devoted to training the dogs while they are there to make them more adoptable. They have a very impressive list of training classes to offer, from puppy basics to advanced agility, CGC, and therapy dog preparation. Classes are taught by knowledgeable, dedicated volunteers who are there because they care, not to get a paycheck. When you adopt a dog, you receive a "life skills" training class series with your adoption fee to teach basic commands. 3 local county shelters (Orange, Chatham, and 1 other county shelter, all of which euthanize) contact P4E when they have a dog that seems adoptable to give him/her another chance. P4E performs temperament tests to see how the dogs respond to various social situations, and they are graded on a scale. As a pit bull lover I'm happy to see pit bulls there getting second chances, as some rescues can be biased. The volunteer who taught my first training class is experienced with the breed and offered input on various questions I had (I now have 2 pits). If you're thinking of adopting but already have a dog, they let you foster for a week or two to make sure the dogs get along in your home. Also, any pre-existing health conditions are financed for the life of the animal. Our new pup unfortunately was neglected and now suffers from arthritis as a result, but it's reassuring to know that the financial burden of her medicine is covered. Along with the shelter and training facility, there is a large dog park open to the public. Before adopting I had been to the facility before for an auction benefit/dinner which was really fun, I recommend it for a night for a good cause! They also have a Habitat for Humanity store in Hillsborough and a dog food truck to raise money for their facility. read more

First of all, let me clarify that I am a highly respected professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant with a host of certifications. I have been loving what I do for over 15 years. I work with special needs youth and adults to train ESA, Therapy, and/or Service dogs to assist in their rehabilitation as well as work with behavioral cases for a host of animals. I like the adoption center, Paws4Ever, but I had to write about my horrible experience there this past weekend...I went down to Paws4Ever in Mabane to help a client pick out a new dog for her and her family. I was greeted politely by the staff. We looked a dog named "Ghost" a handsome male dog. I was asked by the adoption center manager, Sara Shellman, about my philosophy when it comes to working with dogs. She had asked me if I was positive reinforcement or a "balanced trainer" I was not familiar with the term "balanced trainer" and I asked her what was and instead of telling me what the definition was she said "If you don't know then you are obviously not" that was the first rude comment by this woman. Rather than take offense like most trainers with Ego issues would do, I proceeded to look up the term "balanced trainer" on Google and the definition is (drum roll please) In it's simplest form, Balanced Dog Training refers to any approach to dog training or behavior modification which involves the use of both reward-based techniques, and aversive consequences. All she had to do was say that but she decided to get all snarky like she thought she was superior and she is jus a help desk person that's it end of story. Anyways, we finished the assessment and I told Sara that I had looked up the definition of "balanced trainer" and I was not that although I do use light leash tugs to signal/direct the dog to go Right/Left/Stop or Walk while walking. She apparently took major offense to this and had the nerve to tell my client who was right by me to not go with my training and to go with one of their trainers. Very rude, extremely unprofessional, and I will be writing an email to her supervisor. Part of my business is the training aspect but another part is matching people with dogs and as I said I really liked this place and have used these guys in the past but no more. ** BEWARE ALL TRAINERS OF SARA SHELLMAN RUDE UNPROFESSIONAL SHE IS JUST TRYING TO FEATHER HER OWN NEST AND POACH CLIENTS ** read more

Paws4Ever is a great shelter that is dedicated to animal welfare. They have clean and spacious areas for the animals with lots of space outside for them. They also make an effort to give the dogs training before they are adopted, and having adopted a dog from them I can say this makes a big difference. In addition, their files are very organized and when I adopted my dog I got her complete medical file that had a certificate that she was spayed and her vaccination records. The training facility is nice and they have a good selection of classes (I just wish they offered more classes on Saturdays and Sundays). They also have diverse revenue streams, which, in my mind, shows that they are mature organization with their sites on the long-run. And on the topic of revenue streams, their Resale Store in Hillsborough has a very good selection of items at very good prices. read more

We found a dog in our neighborhood so we went door to door with no success. Then we took him to our vet to read the chip which turned out to be nonexistent. Our vet's employees wouldn't touch the dog because "It might have rabies". That's ani can of worms but anyway... A customer at the vet suggested paws4ever. We took the dog there so it would be safe. The woman behind the counter told us she would be calling Alamance's ASPCA. Not what I expected from a no-kill shelter. There was also a man working in the office who was rude when I asked about the ASPCA's kill/no-kill status. All in all this was a disappointing interaction and in no way what I expected. read more

I found the website for Paws4ever on line. Great site very informative. I went to visit the center and was impressed just turning into the tree lined driveway. Peaceful setting with good vibes, seriously the place felt good to me. The cat adoption area was easy to find right across from the big brown Wagon Wagging Tails bus.(too cute) I've been to shelters before but never one where the cats were allowed to be themselves and roam the premises. what a difference that makes allowing their personalities to come through. They were all beautiful and hilarious. The staff couldn't have been nicer or anymore helpful. That day while I was there 4 cats were adopted. Everyone was genuinely happy for all those concerned. Three days later I brought my husband to meet the two little 8 yr old sisters I had picked out. He fell in love with them too. done deal. They will have a forever home next Wednesday when we go back to get them. I have to mention all the volunteers, of all ages they make this place alive with activity and smiling faces everywhere, lots of wagging tail here. THANK YOU "PAWS4EVER" for being so great to your animals.( and those who come to visit them) read more

The Adoption center is better than ever, with rotating exercise time in their yards and fields, well maintained trails, coding system for personality and behavior traits, and close monitoring of visitors and volunteers, all to benefit the animals entrusted to their care. Paws4ever just started a home space in the former vet clinic they used to lease out, instead finding a use for an unused building that prepares adoptees for future life outside the center, in a home with all the stimuli, noise and motion that normally floods them. After shelter life, then adoption center life, the critters need some real life desensitization, p4e recognizes this, and prepares their animals. The training promoted for dogs adopted from their organization is just a continuation of the foundation staff and volunteers set with every dog, starting with Life Skills. The Learning center offers fun classes, like Nosework and obedience, as well as competitive training if you want to learn agility. These classes are promoted for adoptees as well as anyone wanting to train their dogs. Their beautiful dog park for a small annual fee outshines the other local dog parks, including Burlington, Durham and Chapel Hill. Even my former fave, Anderson dog park in Carrboro isn't as large, as covered with vegetation, or as well maintained. It's preferred to not bathe a muddy dog daily because the park has no grass or roots anymore, ya know?! I especially like Paws4ever's message of responsible ownership, and active involvement in our pets' health, mentally and physically. If a critter needs medicine daily for the rest of its life, or costly surgery to repair an injury or congenital defect, Paws4everv is absolutely committed to providing top notch care to these critters they pull from local county shelters, sometimes paying a fee to adopt them from such conditions. Once you're in p4e, you're a "Lifer" no matter if you're adopted out in a month or 3 years. As a critter, you can't ask for much more. If the adopter needs to return them, p4e has a return policy, no questions asked, so they provide continuity in their adoptees' lives. If a dog is found abandoned in SC or VA, their microchip implanted when with p4e will trace back to the center, Theresa will be there to bring them back home, rehabilitate them, and find them a better home. A Bassett in particular stole my heart in 2010, arriving busted up and infected after she was found in SC on the streets, scanned, and picked up by center staff 3 years after being adopted. P4e set her right for the second time in her life, and found her a great family. No other npo does this, goes so above and beyond expectations. My 13 years in vet medicine and over 15 years volunteering with animal-related NPOs and shelters insists your time, your donations, and your support are well vested in Paws4ever. I'm a Lifer, as much as their adoptees. Please, visit paws4ever.org, find your own way of giving via many opportunities on their gorgeous website, and spread the good word about this unparalleled facility and organization that enriches local critters' and our lives! read more

I was passing by and I saw paws4ever dog park. I stopped and took my dog for a walk on the trail. It is a nice trail. The sign on the gate said it was open from dawn to dusk, so we went back several times. There's plenty of room for the dog to walk and get exercise. We visited during the week. We went one Saturday and they were having their agility run so I stopped to watch and one lady was quite friendly and she was explaining what was happening and the different apparatus when another lady (rudely) stated you can't be here. We kind of of ignored her and continued with our conversation. I came back several times during the week and the following months. Today, I was told I had to leave because I didn't have a membership. No where does it explain anything about memberships and/or nature trail fees. There are also obedience classes as well as park orientation classes that you must attend before you can have access to the dog park. This should be posted at the entrance otherwise a person passing by will not know the rules, regulations and guidelines. It seems like they only want a certain group of people to frequent their dog park (establishment). read more