I was looking to adopt a dog this past summer and eased my way into finding the perfect rescue. Throughout my research period Posh Pets kept coming up over and over again not only through online searches but through word of mouth as well. However, I live in the Bronx and they are located on Long Island so I while I kept them in mind, I essentially looked for a shelter that was a bit closer. One day, while searching dogs on Pet Finder, I came across the cutest chihuahua mix and just had to meet him. Where was he located? You guessed it - Posh. I went on Yelp to look at the reviews and I have to say I was a bit nervous looking at the negative ones. Here's what I have to say about that now that I have adopted through Posh: some of those negative reviews were clearly written by people who should NOT own animals. I am relieved that Posh does not adopt out to just anyone as that would not be in the best interest of the animals. Some of the negative reviews stated that the adopters were denied because they wanted to have their cat declawed or did not want to have their dog fixed - of course they were denied!! Many were also upset that their applications were never answered, however, the site CLEARLY states that if they don't feel you are a good fit for one of their animals, you will not receive a response back. I went on their website and filled out an application as instructed. Within ONE day, Linda was in touch with me and I had an appointment set up to meet the pup. I arrived at the facility a few days later and was greeted by Mel at the front door. I explained that I had an appointment for a meet and greet and she brought me right inside. The facility was immaculate. I could tell immediately the animals at this rescue were safe, loved, and cared for. I met the chi mix and was able to take him on a walk alone which I really appreciated as it gave me time to bond with the animal. We got along well but this particular dog was just not the right fit for my lifestyle and Mel could not have been more understanding of that nor did she hold it against me in anyway (that dog was eventually adopted, thank God, because felt horrible leaving him behind). She went on to introduce me to a couple more dogs all of which I was able to take on walks. During my time at the rescue , I was impressed by the number of volunteers and fosters who came through the doors. It showed me that people have built lasting relationships with the rescue which was meaningful to me. At one point, Mel said "I can tell you're one of us," meaning that I not only love animals but am also a responsible pet owner. I was so grateful that she was able to see that about me SO here is my advice if you're nervous about reading any of the negative reviews on Yelp: if you are a true animal lover and a responsible owner, Linda and Mel will be able to see that and you'll have nothing to worry about! I told Mel originally that i was looking for a dog under 5 years old. After meeting a few dogs and not finding "the one" she said "I have the perfect dog for you but she is a little older than what you're looking for." I was hesitant to meet this dog as I was really hoping for a younger pet but I agreed. Mel brought me to the back, I laid eyes on this pup, didn't even open the crate door, and was in love. She was PERFECT and exactly what I was looking for - small, friendly, and adorable. I so apprecaitive of Mel for taking the time to get to know me as it was an integral part of this match. I made my mind up on the spot and that was that. After committing, Mel called my references and said that they would take the dog to the vet in the morning and I could pick her up afterwards. I came back the next day and was able to scoop up my sweet Gertie. After adopting a pet through PPR, you are placed in a private FB group where you can share updates on your pet. Linda and Mel are CONSTANTLY commenting on pictures in that group which shows how much they truly care about their animals and want to stay connected to them. I was thrilled with my experience in adopting my dog and wanted so badly to be a part of this organization, however, I lived too far to volunteer at their Long Beach location. I found on their website that they had cats for adoption at PetSmart in White Plains so I got in touch with Posh again and have been volunteering with the cats ever since. Posh is a cut above the rest. The people who run this rescue are BEYOND selfless and will do anything in their power to save animals. I am so thankful for Mel and Linda in helping me to find my perfect companion. When it comes time to adopt again, I will 100% be returning to Posh as they have truly impacted my life in the best way - they found my best friend. read more

It boggles my mind to see so many of the negative reviews on here. I've known Linda 9 months now. I started out fostering for her and then joined the board of Posh Pets Rescue. If you're looking for someone to read you a bedtime story and make you a warm glass of milk, then run the other way. That's not what she's about and that's not what rescue is about. Linda is no-nonsense start to finish. She has been involved in this long enough and seen it all. She's not going to come riding in on a unicorn and hold your hand. What she WILL do is work with you to determine which animal would be right for you and your family. We recently spent $6000 sending 3 pit pulls to rehab and training. Most other rescues would have given up and put the dogs down. Luckily for these 3, that's not an option for us except in the most extreme circumstances. All 3 have come back after several months of training and are doing beautifully. One was adopted, the other 2 are still waiting for their forever homes. Do we at Posh Pets take on more dogs than we have placements for? Yes! We don't have a facility - we have to rely on foster homes and boarding. We only pull dogs from the euthanasia list at the NYC kill shelter. The list comes out at 5 pm daily. We then have until midnight to find a place for the dogs to go. So yes, we sometimes take dogs and have to put them in boarding so that they're not loaded up with pentobarbital and then thrown in a freezer with all the other carcasses. This is why we save 500 dogs from the city shelter every year while most rescues save between 10-50. We don't make money, quite the contrary. The adoption donation for most dogs is $250. Yet nearly every dog we pull from the shelter requires medical care, some extensive care such as fractured bones, dental surgery, eye removal, etc. We recently saved a 5 wk old puppy who needed $10,000 worth of heart surgery. Dionne Warwick thankfully helped with $500 of the initial bill, but the rest was covered by Linda herself with money from her retirement fund. This woman works tirelessly, day and night, for these animals. She has dipped into her retirement so much that she now must go back to work at the age of 62 in order to keep rescuing. And yet she continues, we still take the hardest cases, the ones no one else wants to touch because it may mean coming out of pocket for them. So please, before you get the idea that this is an organization that cares more about money or is run by Cruella DeVil, educate yourself about the NYC shelter system and rescue. We're not just taking fluffy 5 lb dogs from the shelter, tying a bow around their neck and delivering it to your home. We're pulling puppies with deadly parvo, senior pit pulls with broken teeth and severely matted poodles, having them treated by our vet or trained by a professional behaviorist and then placing them in the home that seems to be the best fit. On a side note to Linda D who wrote the negative review - Linda Vetrano posted that he was good with children and cats because I fostered him in my home, with my 1.5 yr old son and 12 year old cat. He did wonderfully. Sometimes it's not the dog that's the problem. read more

Declined for a stray cat? Really?? Stay away from Posh Pets Rescue!!!! (Upper East Side) Posh Pets Rescue (poshpetsrescue.org) is absolutely and completely absurd!! Do NOT use them unless you want to waste oodles and oodles of your time. Linda (the owner) is a crazy English lady that I think has serious mental problems. I gave her the requested 3 references (which, mind you, she will call each and every single one and drill them on your background like she is some crazy cat lady detective). Also not only does she want $100 dollars per stray cat, she puts you through hoops to get one! After giving her the 3 references, and after filling out TWO very lengthy adoption forms, went all the way up to the UWS to see the cats at the foster moms house (spent an hour alone there), she claims one of the references doesn't count because it's my mother, the other doesn't count because it's my landlord... ummmm, wtf? So who do you want as references, strangers??) This is all after I put down a $50 deposit. Uh, scam much? She doesn't return phone calls (claims she never received any). What hell you have to go through for a stray cat that they found abandoned in a building! I'd have better luck going and getting one off the street!! (Oh, and by the way, after all of this.. she declined me!! (My ex-husband, whom of course she called and "interviewed", had a dog that passed away 2 years ago). Sooo, that's grounds for denial I guess. I'm telling you, this lady is unbelievably out of her mind. So don't want to waste your time (and sanity) bypass Posh Pets Rescue (poshpetsrescue.org) and go somewhere else. Seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Copies of emails to give you an idea of what an idiot this lady Linda is): Hi, Just wondering about how long the adoption process takes? Please let me know: 646-345-6463 Thanks :) (from me) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi AnMarie. One of your references mail box is full Lance. Could you please give me another reference. As your landlord is also one of your references could you also give me one more references thanks linda (Umm, I don't know, can you say reference one more time??) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catherine (the foster mom) said she gave you my mothers number, someone did call her already so I don't know who that would be if it wasn't you. Also talked to my landlord and he confirmed that someone had called him as well. Exactly how many references do you need?? Please let me know, thanks (also me) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lance numbwr no good need 2 more rerence you havd landlord as personal reference Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® (spell much?) So that's that.. Does anybody have any horror stories from this place?? (Wish someone had warned me) :( read more

Another fantastic Posh Pets review which needs to be seen but which was mistakenly discarded by the very dysfunctional yelp "filter." Here it is again--in its rightful place where people seeking to find honest reviews can read it. On 4/10/12, Marie T. of Kingston, N.Y. wrote: For years my family, many friends, and I have adopted various rescue pets from the pound or rescue organizations. All rescue pets have issues; after all, they don't arrive at rescue centers because their lives are ideal. First, it's important to try to match needs and personalities. Then, it takes time to work through all the issues and build a relationship of respect and loyalty, let alone love. A few years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Linda of Posh Pets in my search for the "perfect" dog for my family after our previous "perfect" dogs had died. Believe me, none of the "perfect" dogs I've had before were perfect to start with--it takes time. I appreciated how busy Linda was; pulling 1 dog out of the pound; moving another; a vet trip...and it gave me confidence that here was a dedicated person, determined to improve the lives of unwanted/discarded pets. But the part I liked best---Linda hooked me up with my beloved Lido. I will always be grateful to Linda and Posh Pets. Lido is a great big gorgeous lunatic of a Staffordshire/mastiff (and, I'm positive, greyhound judging by his hound-y voice and how lightning-quick he is, particularly for someone his size) mix. I've had dogs almost my entire life, loved them all, but every once in a while an extra-special dog crosses my path; Lido is one of those. He guards and protects and would lay down his life for us. He's loving and gentle. He's highly intelligent and has a fabulous sense of humor. He is beautiful; I think it's because his heart and soul are so generously loving. Usually, I've found, it takes a few weeks for a rescue pet to relax and cheer up. Not Lido! He was so happy to move in, his tail wagged nonstop and his eyes lit up with joy. Yes, it was a difficult transport from NYC to outside Woodstock (lesson learned--never go alone, particularly w/ a large, nervous, unfamiliar dog who pukes in the car), but the second we pulled up in the driveway and got him out of the car, he was HOME! He went from a dog taken off NYC streets and sentenced to die, to Linda coming to his rescue, to his forever home surrounded by woods to run through, a stream to splash around in during the summer and his toasty spot in front of the fireplace in winter, and a yard to play Frisbee and ball. Plus, now he has a new best friend in my best friend's rescue rat terrier right down the road. I am eternally grateful to Linda and Posh Pets; without them, I would not have my magnificent Lido. Thank you Linda and Posh Pets; I could never express how happy you have made us by putting Lido in my family. We love him! read more

I am a foster failure as they say. I started out as a foster to my pup Max who literally was rescued by Linda with only 7 minutes left of life. Linda begged the ACC to give her more time to find a foster for Max and they so graciously gave her ONLY 2 hours to do so. Linda then sent out all the pleas to help save this incredible pups life. With only 7 Minutes left my hubby and I found Max and I immediately sent an email to Linda. She immediately responded back with a phone number to contact her at. Once on the phone Linda explained to me everything that was needed to be a foster I sent her the info she checked the references and with in an hour she called me back to say that we were approved. She then set up a transport to bring Max literally to my front door as I do not drive into the city and had no way of picking him up. in less then 24 hours Max arrived a very very very sick pup with kennel cough which he had caught from the ACC. Max was a very sick pup that took about 8 weeks for him to get better. Linda walked me through the numerous sleepless long nights and provided me with everything I needed and then some to make Max well. When Max was well enough to attend adoption events I took him to one event. Max had several inquiries to adopt him. Once my hubby answered a call regarding a potential adopter my hubby decided we needed to adopt Max ourselves. I spoke with Linda who was thrilled that we were adopting Max. Linda and her staff are such amazing Angels that have selflessly dedicated their lives to saving so many animals. This is such a thankless job that they do. They have given up so much for the sake of saving these poor defenseless animals who through no fault of their own would have been senselessly killed and tossed away like a piece of trash. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Linda, Vanessa, and the entire staff of Posh Pets Rescue. I have sent many of friends and family to Posh and they have adopted pups, cats and have had no problems. So before you listen to all the hate mail that has been posted about Posh and Linda think about this, To most people these are just animals but to Linda, Vanessa these precious souls are FAMILY and if they come across as tough with their applications and policies it is to protect their family. Would you just give your children to just anyone? if you thought someone was awesome on paper then met them in person and didn't like what you saw or feel would you give them you children? Walk a day in their shoes she wast they see before you make any judgement. I can honestly say I am so happy that there are angels like them walking this earth. Thank you Vanessa, Linda and all the Posh Pets rescue volunteers for all you do. But thank you most of all for bring Max to me and my family. read more

For years my family, many friends, and I have adopted various rescue pets from the pound or rescue organizations. All rescue pets have issues; after all, they don't arrive at rescue centers because their lives are ideal. First, it's important to try to match needs and personalities. Then, it takes time to work through all the issues and build a relationship of respect and loyalty, let alone love. A few years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Linda of Posh Pets in my search for the "perfect" dog for my family after our previous "perfect" dogs had died. Believe me, none of the "perfect" dogs I've had before were perfect to start with--it takes time. I appreciated how busy Linda was; pulling 1 dog out of the pound; moving another; a vet trip...and it gave me confidence that here was a dedicated person, determined to improve the lives of unwanted/discarded pets. But the part I liked best---Linda hooked me up with my beloved Lido. I will always be grateful to Linda and Posh Pets. Lido is a great big gorgeous lunatic of a Staffordshire/mastiff (and, I'm positive, greyhound judging by his hound-y voice and how lightning-quick he is, particularly for someone his size) mix. I've had dogs almost my entire life, loved them all, but every once in a while an extra-special dog crosses my path; Lido is one of those. He guards and protects and would lay down his life for us. He's loving and gentle. He's highly intelligent and has a fabulous sense of humor. He is beautiful; I think it's because his heart and soul are so generously loving. Usually, I've found, it takes a few weeks for a rescue pet to relax and cheer up. Not Lido! He was so happy to move in, his tail wagged nonstop and his eyes lit up with joy. Yes, it was a difficult transport from NYC to outside Woodstock (lesson learned--never go alone, particularly w/ a large, nervous, unfamiliar dog who pukes in the car), but the second we pulled up in the driveway and got him out of the car, he was HOME! He went from a dog taken off NYC streets and sentenced to die, to Linda coming to his rescue, to his forever home surrounded by woods to run through, a stream to splash around in during the summer and his toasty spot in front of the fireplace in winter, and a yard to play Frisbee and ball. Plus, now he has a new best friend in my best friend's rescue rat terrier right down the road. I am eternally grateful to Linda and Posh Pets; without them, I would not have my magnificent Lido. Thank you Linda and Posh Pets; I could never express how happy you have made us by putting Lido in my family. We love him! read more

I've been wanting to write a review for a long time but as you see, I don't write many reviews for anything. But we have been so impressed with Posh Pets Rescue that I really want other potential adopters to know about what they can expect from this rescue. We have adopted two dogs from Posh Pets and each one has been a blessing in our lives. What I love most about this rescue is that they do not just try to find homes for their dogs. They work at finding the RIGHT home. They will tell you upfront what, if any issues you may have with the pet you are considering so there will be no surprises. Our current dog, Beetie aka B3 was rescued from the illegal dog meat trade in Thailand. She came to this country fully vetted and after a long journey, placed in a foster home in NYC. We were told upfront that she might be skittish on the leash and that we would need to take extra care to make sure we held the leash tight when walking her. Posh Pets even went so far as to give us a GPS for her just in case she got loose (thankfully that never happened...we listened to their advice!!) For both the pets we adopted we were allowed to visit the foster homes and meet with the pets in their current environments. The fosters are top notch and really take care to make sure they are getting their foster babies ready for their forever homes. Posh Pets asks lots of questions on their form and on the phone - they want to make sure that the people adopting their animals are stable, ethical and loving people who only want pets and not guard dogs, etc. The most important thing to know about this rescue is that they are looking for forever homes for their charges. They might seem overly protective of their animals but they know what happens when wrong matches occur. So I have a feeling that the people who don't like this rescue may not have understood that the animals feelings and safely come first above all. Linda and her crew are top notch and I highly recommend you giving them a try. Also - give them a break if they don't answer right away or tell you a pet is not for you. Believe me, they know what they are doing and aren't trying to be short, or hurtful or mean. They are just doing their job. read more

We adopted a pit bull from Linda and she is the greatest dog ever. There is an adjustment period when you adopt a dog from a rescue as you don't know what it went through before it was found on the streets or left at the shelter. They can be very anxious and nervous when first brought into your home. They can have food aggression if they have been hungry on the streets. I fed my rescue three times a day, usually in her crate ( with my other dog fed right next to the crate) and after a few weeks she realized she was not going to starve here and stopped her food aggression. I gradually moved her out of the crate and fed her on a leash next to my other dog. They now eat side by side and know their boundaries. To prevent them from fighting over bones I put milk bones all over the kitchen floor for a few days, and after she realized she could always get a bone they didn't fight over them any more. If you already have another dog, walk the dogs together before you introduce them (I usually put the new dog in front for a while and my other dog in back just as if you were behind a neighbor and dog walking down the street). Let them see and smell each other from afar and gradually walk them next to each other. Do this before entering the house so as your present dog does not meet on his territory. We had another rescue dog in the past and she had a lot of issues, but after working with her for a few months she turned into a great dog also. You have to give them an adjustment period of a few months and the dog has to learn to trust you and get comfortable with the new surroundings and schedule. Don't judge your adoption until you have given it a few weeks to settle in. Use the crate when you are away from home until the dog can be trusted to be loose when you are away. This will help with separation anxiety and they will not eat your couch when you are out! Give the dog a treat when he enters the crate. My dogs run to their crates and hop in when I am leaving the house as they know a treat is coming. Also, always remove their collar when left in the crate - you would be amazed how they can get their collars caught. read more

I have a NEW pet, that I would like to introduce you to. Her Name was (Rora) and I changed it to "Cali". The reason I did this is because she came from California, found as a stray. My first name is: Rhoda and Both of us would answer if I kept her original name: This Precious Shih Tzu was adopted from Posh Pets in Long Beach. Please remember that all these adoptive sites state that they get so many inquires for their pets that they do say that after you fill out their forms that they will not get back to you. Only to the accounts they have accepted. I was contacted by e mail by Linda Vetrano. She is the founder of Posh Pets, Long Beach. I was invited to her Long Beach Shelter for an interview. I went there last Sunday with my daughter & a close friend as well as my 11 year old Maltese that was adopted in Suffolk as a puppy. Linda Vitrano wanted to see if the dogs got along as well as what kind of fit "Cali" was for me. I was treated with such respect and felt so very comfortable with Linda. She told me the complete history of Cali as well as reviewing all the documents she had on this Shih Tzu. As I said "Cali " was a stray in South Los Angeles and was picked up as a stray there. They had no room for her in their shelters as well as many others so Linda went to California by Van and took as many pets she could save. Some were put in available places in Texas and all the other Pets continued with this gracious lady to Long Beach. I was accepted as a fit for Cali, and was able to take her home with me. Cali has been with me 1 week in my home and is the most quiet dog I ever knew. My Maltese, Sophie really likes her too. I had a pup "Molly, which was a Shih Tzu as well and died at the age of 14 1/2 years old. This was over 7 months ago Thank you to my daughter Irene, and our friend Laurie for being at the shelter with me, and to Linda Vitrano,for her dedication to saving Pets lives and for accepting me as "Cali's new mom . I am overjoyed! read more

I know how the process of adopting a pet can be emotional and that people can be anxious to get a response to finalize their adoption but it's generally not the best idea to over react and take your frustration out on the organizers just to sabotage your adoption. Sometimes it's just best to not do anything but to be patient when it could be a simple misunderstanding. They do have a rigorous background check and generally prefer to adopt out animals to people financially secure and young enough to know those care takers will be around long enough so the adoption cycle doesn't have to repeat itself with another shelter. It is simply false for anyone to suggest that the founder could be in this business for the money as some have incinuated and it's just nonsensical when the fact is it is all about the animals. With regards to the health of the cats all they can do is rely on a vet check up to get a clean bill of health for the animals and treat the obvious problems that are present. There are no guarantees in life and no one that deals with placing animals with families can ever guarantee how long a pet will remain healthy. In short you won't get a guarantee as for how long a pet will stay healthy nor will any rescue pay your future pets' medical bills. If you can't afford potential medical problems that may arise in the future or do something really bright like getting insurance for your pet then don't adopt a pet at all. People need to be real about the adoption process and owning a pet. read more