During COVID, I was looking to adopt, as my last rescue passed on. The Boston shelters did not have a good match for me for a long time, and geez, some of the rescue groups out there are really super shady. Came here and found match-made-in-heaven. The people who work here and volunteer are top of the line. Think of this as the Ritz-Carlton shelter of the Newport, RI area. All those wealthy-boaty-estatey types love their animals and love to donate here I bet.... AS THEY SHOULD. As Gordon Gekko said... "WASPS.... They love animals and hate people." It's quite simple. And I can relate. Animals (Greater than symbol) People. It's basic math folks. Get you a friend at The Potter League. I'm always cutting them checks because they made it possible for me to find the love of my life, when Boston shelters were unable to. Gonna go cut a check right now actually. WORTH IT. read more

This shelter has the most welcoming staff eager to show you all their pets. It is a high tech super clean, well organized facility that even provides a clinic nearby if needed. The casings are glass, not cages. The animals are clean and well cared for. The people are the warmest kindest people I have ever met in any shelters I visited. I have searched for a month to find this most beautiful cat in the world! I was overjoyed with tears and it was a joy to take her home today. I highly recommend this shelter and easily give it 10 stars!!! read more

Potter League For Animals - This was her in my carrier on the way home! Sweetest little face with stunning blue eyes!! I ny am in love with this kitty! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

hi! would anyone tell me if they adopted a cat name Cleopatra(she was a ragdoll) and a cat name Mookie(he was a black and white cat) they ended up separating them when they got adopted when I told them not too.I also been calling to speak with owners on updates about the cats. read more

They gave me two very sick kittens, costing us over 800 dollars of emergency vet bills. After already spending 400 on just the cats alone. Both spays were left with mild infections. They should do better testing before giving people these animals. read more

I am from Portsmouth RI originally. Adopted dogs from Potter League and no issues back then. I called in today because of a complex situation. My sweet Bella a golden doodle was rehomed without consent a year and some change ago, in February 2024. I took a shot and called the Potter League then, and again today to see if anyone may have turned in a doodle. I am very distraught and emotional over this and I was not rude but whoever I was I was on the phone said I was being rude when I wasn't and that's not cool. Whoever he is should be fired. I'm a great person and nice but whoever had no business telling me I was rude when i was trying to get information. I asked if someone rehomed a dog, that belonged to someone that didn't give consent if they would provide the information to police to assist, and I forgot what else but I was definitely not being rude. If I find out my dog was at the Potter League, I'm coming after you. read more

Wonderful warm staff! Very knowledgeable, professional and great with people as well as animals. Volunteers do not feel like they are used and abused here, either, and the facilities are wonderful. The kitty I got here is thriving! read more

So many of these reviews are from people who have had the good fortune of adopting there fur kid from the Potter League. This one is different. My wife and I have always been devoted to our fur kids, over the many years we've been together we have had the good fortune to have so many cats who have lived there lives with us. Unfortunately due to circumstances we had to let go of one of our kids, he was and is a wonderful boy but we had to surrender him to the Potter League. Everyone we dealt with was so great from the people at checkin to the behaviorist. They understood our love for our boy. They knew that he'd easily make his new family love him as much as we do. Today we heard he was adopted. thank you We will always love our boy and are happy for his new family. read more

We adopted our first kitten here and couldn't be happier. The facility is neat and cleaned. The animals are well cared for and staff clearly spends time with them because they all seem to know about personalities of each animal. Our kitten was neutered before we took him home and we received a free vet visit anywhere local to get him checked out and given shots. We had been put on a kitten wait list and we were called within 4 days of a batch of kittens that came in. It is nice they let those on the wait list get priority over those walking in. We look forward to adopting from them again! read more

Awesome facility treats the animals with love and respect! Very clean and the adoption process is a breeze. We got our dog here 11 years ago and it will be our 1st choice when we adopt again. read more

Potter League For Animals - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

My best friend and I adopted kittens together in august. She wasn't notified that the cat had been dewormed a total of 4 times . She then had the cat at home and the cat was sneezing and his nose was dripping after day one of being home . She brought him to the vet and he had a respiratory infection.. yet the potter league didn't know ? Then he started puking up tape worms and pooping them out .... Another vet trip and MORE meds . Over $200 the first week of adopting this " healthy " kitten... read more

I cannot say enough fantastic things about this place! My daughter and I arrived in Middletown a bit early for a hair appointment one day, and decided to stop in and take a look around (mind you, the primary and only intention was to just look and not adopt ) We were immediately impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the open and welcoming environment that the shelter offered. Fast forward about a half an hour or so, and we had our sights set on a sweet little black kitty named "Freedom". After our hair appointment, we immediately went back and adopted the sweet little boy (who we renamed "Ziggy"). Six years later, we couldn't imagine our lives without him and will forever be great full for the support that the Potter League gave us all throughout the adoption process and beyond. Both my daughter and I have visited numerous animal shelters and this one is by far, THE best one either one of us has ever come across. It's one of those places that you just have to experience for yourself. It may be a bit out of your way to get to, but you just have to believe me when I say.....it is worth the trip!! read more

Potter League For Animals - Ziggy (a.k.a. "Freedom) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

We adopted Scout (cat ) 7months ago. Our hearts were broken because we had to send our Roxie (dog)to heaven, which we adopted her at Potters 14 yrs. ago and we are not ready to get another dog. Having Scout didn't replace Roxie, but he definitely puts a smile on our faces. read more

exactly how a proper shelter should run. very friendly and informative I hope to adopt soon

I went to Potter League today with my sister to adopt a cat for their growing family. Since I'm a cat person I opted to help her find the newest addition! A close friend of mine recommended this place. Coming from providence, the way to Potter League is an easy and simple drive. We arrived at a nice building that was clean and welcoming. Entering the building we were able to find the adoptable cats right away even if we didn't the front desk woman was friendly. (I'm sorry I can't remember her name). The cats were living in either an open room with places to run, jump, and hide or a small box like container. Similar to something you'll find at pet smart or petco for their adoptable cats. From view, it looked very clean and the cats seemed well fed. Overall, it was a nice experience. We looked around and there were a couple of volunteer staff members either helping the cats or making sure we were okay. I appreciated that. That's something that you don't find at any other shelter. The reason for only a 4 and not a 5 Star review is because of one person who helped us. To meet the cats we had to fill out some paperwork and the woman at the front desk advised us to wait for Lisa. Lisa arrived and we stated that we would like to meet one of the cats. She seemed reluctant, like she didn't want to and raised an eyebrow at us. Us being friendly, we tried making jokes and tried being friendly but were immediately met with an attitude. We entered the room with the cat and she didn't leave us with the cat alone. Poor cat was frightened. She wasn't able to provide any information about the cat, it's origins or even its sex. She stated it was a male but was actually a female. Returning to the front desk, we fell in love with Buffy. We asked to see her. Lisa was going to let us in but then the front desk representative let us in instead. She provided us info on the cat and that she's timid but the way to her heart were her toys. I loved that little detail. As we were playing and petting Buffy we noticed Lisa assist another person looking to adopt. Her demeanor towards them was far nicer than us. To me that's discrimination, is it because I'm brown? Or that we're dressed casually? I think we deserved to be treated like any other person there. We left Potter League with Buffy and she's getting pretty comfy at home. With the tips and tricks provided by the woman at the front desk, it allowed us to move her in without a problem. I will be returning to Potter League in the future for my adopting needs. Hopefully Lisa won't be there. read more

Potter League For Animals - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

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If there was an option to leave zero stars I unfortunately would. I'll start by saying that I have been familiar with the potter league for quite sometime living locally and having many friends who have also adopted from there, as well as having adopted from them years back myself. Unfortunately, I'm writing this as a warning to anyone who might be inclined to adopt from them in the future. Back in March of 2021, I adopted a female cat from them. When adopting, they signed off that she was in perfect health, and that they had specifically certified her as healthy for adoption from a full examination. I brought her to the vet for her new patient check up less than one month after (as soon as I could get in). In that time, I had contacted the potter league due to a concern I had with her digestion, as she was having chronically soft stools from the day I had brought her home. They at that time had said she hadn't had the issue whatsoever during her time there and that it may be due to her stress of moving to a new household. When I brought her for her first vet appointment, she was still having chronic stool issues. At that time, the vet also mentioned that she had severe stomatitis in her gums and that it absolutely was likely a long standing condition that the potter league would've seen if they had actually looked in her mouth (as they had written that they had). The vet recommended that she go through some antibiotic injections, and we tried several remedies over the course of the next year in hopes of preventing tooth extraction. I made the Potter League aware, and they essentially told me it was my responsibility now that she was mine. They did ultimately offer to pay for part of the medical bills after I pointed out that they specifically signed off her teeth were healthy. Fast forward, none of the treatments ended up working, and she has now ultimately had to go through a full tooth extraction. I am well aware of the responsibilities of being a pet owner and would do anything to ensure my animals are happy and not in pain. However, the Potter League's negligence has now impacted my cat's life and wellbeing, as well as my finances. The tooth extraction alone is costing me over $3,000, not to mention the numerous vet visits and temporary treatments. The Potter League should be truly ashamed of themselves at this point, and I hope others will take this as a warning to steer clear of them in every way possible. Unfortunately there are so many sweet animals that need homes, but anyone seeking to adopt should be aware and mindful of getting an independent veterinary bill of health before ending up in the same position as I did. read more

This shelter really is so wonderful. Every one of the staff is extremely helpful. Adoption process is very quick and donation to adopt is extremely reasonable. They try their hardest to find you the best match for you. Even if you can't adopt, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and donate. read more

I adopted my first cat, on my own, here about a year ago. It is very clean, and organized. I was amazed as I walked through the shelter to see private rooms for the cats with large windows looking outside, toys, and cat trees, and a little shop right in the lobby area. The cat I adopted had a sign saying behavior on the window. I met with staff who explained my cat was very shy and was fostered to socialize more. The shelter kept in contact with me and checked up on my cat for a bit as she became more acclimated to my house. She is the sweetest cat, and the shelter was very kind and patient. read more

Potter League For Animals - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

I never realized how lucky I was to have the Potter League in my backyard, until I went to live somewhere else. They redid it about 5 years ago, and it is a piece of art. It is beautiful. It is based on all green engineering, and has a happy, light, and clean atmosphere. I have never seen better quality of living for the dogs and cats, they live better than I do! The dogs each have their own "tunnel" that allows them to go inside/outside as they choose. There are even holes in the plexiglass for you to feed and pet the dogs. If you go through a class or training, you are able to come and play/walk the dogs. I used to volunteer here in high school, and now Greg and I come about once a month to look at the dogs. There is a huge training room, where we have even been able to help the dogs train while we are there! They are worth every hour, dollar, and heartfelt wish from your heart. It truly makes you "Pause for Paws". read more

The nicest shelter EVER! I wish more shelters had the resources the Potter League has, because it might help change people's perceptions about the "pitiful animals" you often see on TV while Sarah McLachlan sings in the background. Their facilities are immaculate, no funky smells, and the dog and cat areas are spacious and open with floor to ceiling glass/plexi, raised beds, and an indoor/outdoor kennel for each dog. The building is even LEED certified! Who saves animals and the earth at the same time?? The Potter League does! Within that lovely exterior, they offer so many support resources for adoptees. When I adopted Lucy, I met with the in-house behaviorist who gave insight into Lucy's personality, the good (loves people!) and the bad (separation anxiety.) I can say now that she definitely spent the time to get to know my dog, to better prepare us for the transition home. Every adopted dog is offered a heavily discounted obedience class and lifetime access to the behaviorist phone line, on top of the usual medical treatments. It was great to have someone who knew my dog point me in the right direction, especially during the first four days when she didn't leave her crate, didn't eat and soiled herself, all while shaking like a leaf. She has come a long way! They also offer topic-specific seminars and playgroups, and have a retail store with useful and splurge worthy items. They also let me borrow a crate for a couple weeks until I was able to purchase a suitable one for my dog. The only thing that keeps me from giving a 5 star rating is that they are NOT a no-kill shelter, but that's something we'll agree to disagree upon :) read more

The Potter League is an amazing place. I adopted a puppy from here a few months ago and it was a wonderful experience. You can tell that the staff love the animals as if they were their own. They offer classes to first-time puppy parents, dogs that need a little bit of obedience training, and even a puppy playtime class! If you are considering adopting a pet, there is no place better than the Potter League! read more

Could not have asked for a better experience. They welcomed us as soon as we walked in, saw about 10 dogs and walked two of our choice (no other rescue allowed us to do that). They asked if we wanted to take home our choice. We said YES. The fee and what was included was beyond satisfaction. Potter League is highly recommended. read more

1st review says almost everything you could want to know/feel about critters of all kinds on Acquidneck Island. They import strays from all over the country for good homes in New England. Bias spoiler - we got our canine companion there after a lengthy search. We could not be more over the moon about our match for our new family member or their efforts. Donate your time, money here - world class animal stewardship. read more

In all honesty I have mixed feelings on potter league. If I was eating them on adoptions alone I would probably go a little lower. We had some issues when we were trying to get a dog. On one hand it's great to see shelters on the empty side on another it was so hard coming and going and not finding the right fit for our family. However once we did find the right dog potter league has been a good sent! Their behavior training center is completely amazing. Their staff is well knowledgeable and our pup loves the play groups. The offer great programs! read more

I had a great first experience adopting my kitten from Potter League 3 weeks ago. I had visited in the past just to look around and see what it was like inside. When I returned ready to find a cat to call mine I immediately fell in love with an 8 month old male. His name was twinky at the time but I have since renamed him to Jax. I decided to put him on hold to go back home and get all the items I needed to make my house "cat friendly". When I returned the next day to pick up Jax it was extremely easy to adopt him and after maybe about 30min of paperwork and talking to the lady at the front desk I was on my way home with him. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a wonderful animal as they really do care for all of the pets they shelter. It was very clean inside and staff were extremely helpful with any questions I had. read more

Potter League For Animals - Animal Shelters Near Me - Middletown, Rhode Island

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I would totally recommend. They staff is super helpful and sweet. We have adopted many, many animals from them. They adoption process is super simple and easy. They care and love any animal that walks through the door. They work with each animal to meet their needs. Whenever we happen to go their to drop of items we normally bring our dogs to see the people who really helped them. They will definitely appreciate see them. read more

I volunteer at the Potter League. I can't say enough good things about it. First LEED-certified animal shelter in the country (important to me as I'm in the energy efficiency business). Seriously, I don't even have words for how wonderful this place is. Please go check it out for yourself, even if you aren't planning on adopting an animal. The animals are well cared for and happy, but they still want a home. There is an abundance of cats right now, so if you are looking to adopt, come on by! I'd be happy to bring you around and show you some cats. :) read more

For my 100th review, I wanted to review someplace special and I couldn't imagine a better place than the Potter League for Animals. They are in the midst of building a brand new facility which is entirely green and LEED-certified. It features sustainable materials, and all of the animals will have rooms with outdoor views and radiant heat (and most importantly, no cages). It's opening in a few months, and it's going to be awesome. But onto the reasons why I love them. They take such great care of the animals. They will not adopt out animals who have untreated health problems. They do everything in their power to ensure that the animals and the owners are a good match for one another. The staff devote their lives to these animals, and it shows. In 2003, I adopted my first cat, Michael, from the Potter League. When I first saw him, he was in the intensive care area being treated for wounds he suffered while he was stray. He had a giant abscess on his head, he had tapeworm, he had ringworm, he had bald spots, and he had scabs all over his body from being in fights with other cats before he landed in the shelter. They treated all of his health issues, and two weeks later, I adopted him. He was the best cat I ever could have imagined. He went from a scrawny, scraggly-looking thing to a gorgeous 18 lb. Maine Coon. He brought an incredible amount of joy into my life, and I credit much of that to the Potter League for taking such good care of him in the first place. Last December, Michael passed away. I knew that getting another cat would help me grieve the loss of Michael, and I knew I wanted to go back to the Potter League in my search for a new cat. When I went in there that day, I was really emotional and it was difficult. But I found this little tiny cat, also a Maine Coon, named Mika. And she was scrawny and scraggly and weighed less than four pounds. She had actually gained weight in the past couple of weeks, as they were helping her get back to full health. I adopted her and brought her home. Two weeks later, she went into heat. The family that brought her to the Potter League had told them she was spayed, but they lied. I had to have her spayed, and it turned out that she had a horrible case of endometriosis to boot. I called the Potter League, and they felt terrible, and they ended up paying for all of the surgeries. They are good people who will always do the right thing. When I adopted a friend for Mika a month later, we ended up going through a different rescue organization closer to Boston and what a mistake that was. The adoption process was ridiculous, the woman didn't want me to adopt the cat because of the city we live in, and then after she allowed us to adopt the cat, we discovered all of these health issues (including herpes) that she would then take no responsibility for. It was not a good experience, but it made me realize that I will always adopt from the Potter League in the future. They are the premier shelter in New England, and they have an incredible amount of support from the community. Rather than give out favors at my wedding, I donated money to the Potter League. Every year, I participate in their fundraising walk. There is no organization I have more faith in than them. They have helped enrich my life through the adoption of animals. read more

Amazing place! I work as a volunteer there and the animals are friendly and the workers helpful. Right as you walk in you can see all of the hard work put into the place! Probably one of the best animal shelters in the country. And when it comes to prices they aren't too expensive. Would highly recommend when looking for a pet. read more

As an animal rights activist I have been a supporter of the Potter League for many years,however for the first time this past week I have adopted a pet from them. The set up of the building is phenomenal. The cats that can handle being with other felines as housed in kittie condos that have large windows. Each dog is placed in its own Plexiglas space. This prevents that horrible barking that plagues every other animal shelter I have been to. If you find an animal that you would like to socialize with you just have to fill out a simple no obligation application and they will bring that animal into a private room with you. We wanted to adopt a cat, but we were concerned how it would react to our dog. They offered to bring one of there gentle trained dogs right outside of the dog (and then let it poke it head in) to see how the cat would react to it. We picked a Golden Oldie (cat over seven years) and the fee was $60. He has been fixed, chipped, and treated. The staff went over his complete medical history while there. The included a free bag of food, a coupon for a free vet visit and a bunch of helpful information. They even allowed us to borrow a carrier crate since I was concerned the cardboard carrier would be to small for him. They just asked that we bring it back when we were in the area (I live off Aquidneck Island). They partner with a sister shelter in North Carolina, so if you're looking for a puppy give them a call and find out when the next time they are transporting some up! read more

I adopted a great black lab from Potter League a few years ago and could not have been happier with the experience. The staff and facilities are clean and they were very helpful. read more

Was very impressed. Super nice employees, large, clean facility. What impressed me most was the amount of background info they had on each dog that we were interested in. One had come all the way from Barbados, how cool is that!? Didn't find a good match for a dog but they were really great. Would go back to adopt a dog from them 100%. read more

Let,s just say the place is clean,friendly,well managed.I have adopted 2 dogs and 1 cat from here.If I could adopt Pearl....(the manager )life would be good.lol. Pearl and staff are the best.Scott M. read more

We adopted a dog and she and their support is great. We love the way they engage the community and training can't be beat. ..free if you adopt on Sundays. read more

After searching for over a year--and visiting some local shelters, I have to say that the Potter League is pretty amazing! The staff were very friendly, I loved that after we filled out our paperwork...we were simply able to take the dog for a little walk and interact with him. They were well staffed and they really allowed us to get to know the dog before adopting him. It's been about 6 weeks since we adopted our dog and the support from the staff at the Potter League is amazing! From the free Sunday morning training sessions and the follow-ups, they really concerned about your pet's transition into your family and do everything they can to support that! read more

I Have about three years and 1200 hours of volunteering at Potter League so I have the inside up close scoop. If you must be a homeless animal. I believe there is no better place to be.....Nothing can compare to a permanent situation in a home, which is Potter's goal for all their animals, however while in their care these lucky animals get a day full of healthy balanced nutrition and medical care specific to their needs, multiple social interactions with walkers, trainers, other appropriate animals, and an enrichment crew of staff and volunteers who are all on the same page with the animals best interest in mind. They are all housed with controlled climate, dogs have radiant heating in sections of their floor with both cats and dogs having their own separate filtered air supply to help eliminate upper respiratory issues..... Is their an option for 10 stars? Very Well Done Potter League For Animals!! read more

I just adopted my first kitty here and couldn't be happier! I've had cats all my life growing up and just got one of my own. I can't express how awesome this place is. After being there for a few minutes I realized just how much they care about the animals and how well they take care of them. Some of the cats are in wall cubbies that aren't too small, they have enough room to play around and do as they please. Others had they're own rooms, some with access to a little catio outside, which I thought was amazing. The workers and volunteers are so helpful and know so much about these animals. I was excited to see they give you a little pamphlet about your new pet, as well as food and a carrier if you need it. I would definitely recommend Potter League for anyone who wants to adopt and animal that needs a home! read more

Just went there today with my husband to get our dogs a microchip at their open clinic. Great facility and it was fast and a good price. The staff were all friendly. BUT there was one worker who stopped me at the door and scanned our dogs to make sure they didn't already have a chip. She was oddly aggressive and rude. Not a nice gesture or comment as I sat waiting. I also noticed she yelled at another worker and called her a girl when she was clearly older. It was very unprofessional and uncomfortable. The area was not large enough to handle so many dogs and she seemed angry about everything. So I hate to leave this review and especially as my first one. I just don't feel comfortable with what I watched. I just hope the staff would maybe look into who they have rudely working there. It has always been so welcoming before. read more

This shelter looks amazing, its clean and well set up for the comfort of the animals. They even have excellent people to answer any questions about properly training your pet. The adoption process however, is not so amazing. The person in charge of this process has absolutely no people skills. Since she is in charge of ensuring that the right pets are matched up with the right people, I see this as a huge problem. What good is a multimillion dollar facility if the pets keep coming back to the shelter because of a bad match up? read more

Went back to the Potter League to see the remodel, all I can say is AMAZING!!! I thought what they had before was nice, the new space is 10X better! LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!! read more

the 2 is for adoption I went through. 5 stars for dog I rescued though. I believe I should have been given back half of the adoption fee, since I was mislead. Perhaps not intentionally of course, but I do not know. Was contacted asking if I was interested in a 2 YEAR old ....... I said yes, went and met......of course fell in love...Went back the following week, only to find out she was 3 yrs old, not 2, ..... Picked up following week. Fell more in love....and then took her to be spayed, ...only to be told by vet this dog was definitely between 6 and 8. He felt closer to 8!!...What was I going to do, she was already settled in, ..and I love her...but shelter should have given me back half the money for adopting a senior dog after telling me she was 2 to begin with! They said they contacted owner and was def 6 yrs old. That is not a "young adult" even at 6. Which now having her awhile, ...I believe vet is correct, closer to 8. ...I still believe they should pay me half back, ....if money were no issue to me, I wouldnt care, but a 100 bucks buys a lot of Merrick food!! My next rescue I'll do a bit differently. The building is super nice. The staff...well the young girl, Jessica I believe her name is, she was very nice and helpful. I just feel this was not a good rescue adoption process for me at all, ...and deep down, I believe they knew the dog was older. Any qualified vet from first check wouldve known. And for the record. They told me, when dog was surrendered the person said she was 2 yrs old. Yet on her glass room, the info stated 3 yrs old....then when they supposedly called surrender person, then she said 6. Sorry dont buy it. If they want to make it right...they'll send a check! read more