1. Red Collar Rescue

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Houston, TX

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Red Collar Rescue

3.7 (27 reviews)

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Whether Asha's shattered leg can be saved is uncertain.
Binky M.

Red Collar Rescue has been a champion for Houston's most desperate, injured and badly abused dogs for nearly 20 years. Their commitment and care for the very worst cases of abuse is second to none. That makes the recent spate of 1 star reviews posted here so surprising, untrue and unkind. Where do they come from, and why? To summarize, a sweet little Red Collar rescue named Asha was recently mauled by a pit bull. That attack took place while Asha was in the care of a local for-profit training business. The pit broke through a mesh wall separating their enclosures. Asha had gone there for socialization to help overcome the fears caused by her lifetime of mistreatment. But she got the opposite and is back in the hospital fighting for her life at Red Collar's expense. That other business? Not answering the phone now. Showing a restraint that hasn't been earned, I won't name them. That wouldn't help Asha. Saying a prayer for her might though, so please go for it.

Amity - Before and After
Stefani H.

Red Collar Rescue is a fantastic organization and one that I am proud to contribute to and volunteer with. Red Collar takes in the critically injured and abused animals and spares no expense in getting them the best of care. Once healthy and well, Red Collar Rescue carefully screens potential adopters to make sure the animal and human are a good match, and the animals are never in harm's way again. I have been involved with other rescues before, and the amount of information required in order to foster or adopt is in line with what all other upstanding rescues require. When you are placing an animal in a home, you intend for it to be a FOREVER home. Therefore, it is 100% understandable that the organization would have a lengthy application process and multiple requirements. With the overcrowding situation in animal shelters in Houston, the last thing we need is for more animals to go back into shelters or rescues. That's why rescue groups like Red Collar need to do everything they can to ensure that each dog goes to a wonderful, loving home. Many times, the dogs come from traumatic situations - either from the streets or they were neglected or abused in a home. Therefore, they may need extra love, care, attention and TRAINING to transition positively to and in their new life. Red Collar Rescue is an all-volunteer organization, and the members put in a huge amount of their time and and often their own money to ensure that all of the dogs in their care receive the medical help they need. It is a labor of love for these very dedicated people! Red Collar Rescue is making an incredible difference in the lives of so many animals that would otherwise die on the streets or be put to death in the shelter. If you are looking for an organization to support or adopt from, Red Collar Rescue is a wonderful choice.

Winston
Felicia B.

I am the lucky girl who got to adopt the dog that Jennifer B. returned. I couldn't have enjoyed my experience with Red Collar Rescue more. Charlotte's top priority is making sure that each dog and family find their perfect match. I filled out the application on their website and received communication back within 24 hours. After meeting my sweet baby at a park, Charlotte said that other dogs would be arriving shortly if I would like to meet them, but I knew Winston (formerly Phoenix) was the one for me. A home visit was conducted, I received help securing a vet that was involved with his history (rescued with a 5 lb tumor on his foot and endured several surgeries to repair the damage), and Charlotte helped me create a list of all the things I needed before Winston could officially be mine. I am so thankful every day that this guy waited for me to find him. He's been with me for 7 months now and I cannot remember life before him. Forever grateful for their work!

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7 years ago

Submitted an application, never contacted us back even after emailing them asking for the status.

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Ask the Community - Red Collar Rescue

Review Highlights - Red Collar Rescue

“Charlotte advised us against the dog we were looking at, and suggested another she thought would be a better match.”

Mentioned in 8 reviews

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Friends For Life

Friends For Life

(94 reviews)

The Heights

I have worked with the staff at FFL to help foster a sweet older lady cat. They have been nothing…read morebut courteous throughout the process. From what I've seen, they care a lot about the animals they're saving and do a job in the community that many of us do not want or are even able to do. I cannot vouch for the adoption program since I have not adopted an animal through the shelter.

I am a vet tech of about 24 years so I have seen every type of client, good and bad, from my time…read morein the vet field. Now, I am a school teacher but I still foster dogs for animal control and currently have 9 spoiled mutts at our ranch who are loved dearly, whether my own personal pets or one of my fosters. I feel like I am very knowledgable with regard to animal care and now as a teacher, spend my days reflecting on systems that work and ones that really need improvement. I am sure that Friends For Life has good intentions for placing these animals in perfect homes but the narrow minded approach they have to the adoption process and line of questioning is an absolute detriment to the pets waiting for their forever homes. A family member of mine began the application process to adopt a sweet young dog and I can vouge that she would be considered a TOP NOTCH loving, caring, responsible pet owner/client in the eyes of any vet because she has no kids and treats her dogs like the kings and queens that they feel like living in her home under her care. During the interview with her, Friends For Life asked her how she felt about the use of shock collars and she was honest and told them that under the direction of a dog trainer when one of her dogs was a puppy, she used one for the timeframe of about a month (and later, I found out it was only on the vibrate setting and was activated probably 3-4 times during the training sessions). They immediately sent her an email telling her that they could never consider her as a potential adopter because she believes in her trainer's methods and trains dogs by using fear as motivation. They told her that they were sure she could find a dog somewhere else to adopt, but just not from them. Any dog could only be so lucky to be adopted by her, as I have joked for years that she runs to the vet if her dog looks at her funny. She videos and keeps a log of their every move to give the vet a minute by minute calendar of what is going on when something isn't right. She will spend whatever it takes to help them, buying only a high quality diet, the veterinary recommended preventative medicines, and the best of the best in every aspect of quality care. I truly can't say enough good things. That month of using a vibrating collar with one dog in her 63 years on this earth was enough to stop the application process in its tracks. No further questioning, no checking references, no calling the vet for a recommendation, no nothing. Hands down... she is out and the dog is still homeless. The real victim here is a dog that could have landed the most loving home ever for it's entire life, with NO worries that it would ever be given away, given up on, or put in a bad situation. It could have had a stable, mature, active home that catered to it's every desire that a sweet, spoiled dog deserves. A 6am walk every single day, runs at the park, golf cart rides, car rides, regular medical care and more. I called this adoption facility, as a loyal and caring family member, and told them that I was NOT begging them to reconsider because the hurt that their assumptions caused had already settled in. Instead, since their own description of their animal adoption facility suggested that they were "innovating, improving and tracking results to find the most effective ways to save lives," I suggested that they consider and collaborate on a more extensive vetting of adopters by looking at the bigger picture of what the potential home can offer and calling various credible references, rather than placing judgment on a more-than-great family and negating the whole process based on a single application question that required further interpretation than an email or a text could offer. Anyone can lie on an application and let them hear what they want to hear, but she didn't... and further conversation could have probably clarified things to the point where this dog could have already started living it's best life. She had even cooked bland chicken and rice in preparation for bringing the new dog home and acclimating it to a new food. Prayers that every dog in this facility gets a great new home and a fresh start, but more... prayers that Friends For Life revisit their adoption process so they don't continue to run off any more perfect homes for these very deserving animals. Again, I am sure their intentions are good but... what an unfortunate loss to the animals for a possible forever home at the same time!

Pup Squad Animal Rescue - Can you take her?

Pup Squad Animal Rescue

(9 reviews)

Fourth Ward, Downtown

Odd...when searching for the business "Pup Squad" in the Yelp search box, the business Smashburger…read morekeeps coming up as a result! =/ *gulp* Visited the Pup Squad Animal Rescue location at Houston Pavilions Saturday morning to peep through available pups. The rented space is large, airy, and spacious enough for several kennels to line the walls without overcrowding. Due to the high ceiling, warehouse style accomodation, it smells fairly fresh & clean in here. It's also dark and cool, and most dogs were found napping their way through the morning...a stark difference from other adoption places I've been to. It was easy to move through the space, and foster parents sat next to their pups like proud parents, eager to do a show and tell if so requested. What I liked most about this place is that the dogs here seemed to be happy! I rarely saw nervous, jittery dogs. Most were in their kennel, eager to play with visitors; others in their foster parents' arms, and some napping, barely opening an eye to peer at us. Though I did not come away with a new child that day, I wouldn't hesitate adopting one from this group. I spent a good 20 minutes talking to a foster mom about this organization and I'm completely thankful and hopeful that there are still many altruistic people left in this world. If you're considering adding a member to your family, please put Pup Squad Animal Rescue on your list as a must-visit.

This program is great when you think that most people want to get a puppy when they get a dog, but…read moreif you want to do your part and get a rescue dog, your chances of getting a small breed puppy decreases to about zero. They have dogs in all shapes sizes and colors and all (I'm pretty sure) in good health. Our first visit there we were just curious but pretty interested in getting another dog to play with our very energetic shih-tzu and one that was small enough to accommodate apartment living. We walked around a bit and they did have some really cute dogs, but it wasn't until we spotted this adorable pup that I had the "gotta have this puppy" feeling. They told us he was a puppy mill dog and that he was a Tibetan terrier and maybe about 3 months old. We personally didn't have all day to make a decision and were hesitant to commit on the spot, but they guaranteed that we could have a one week home visit to make sure that we wanted to keep him and that he was compatible with our dog. They would hold the $120 check and if we didn't come back, they'd cash it. So, for $120 you get a puppy in good health who's been socialized through the foster program with as many/all of the shots and exams needed for the applicable age an optional microchip to have put in later rabies and county tags You have to fill out an application form, but they review it on the spot and if you're a shoe-in (i.e. you have a dog or know the risks/responsibilities of having a dog) they let you adopt. It was a painless process and we are very happy with our puppy. These dogs are rescues so I'm attributing that to the fact that we weren't quite sure of the age, how big he'd get, and if he was really the breed they said he was (we thought he was a bit jack russell for a while, but now due to his size, we are back with the Tibetan terrier.) The other great perk to having a rescue is that I know at least the VCA will give you a free first exam for having just adopted a rescue. A great program and system for adopting puppies! Just a note, puppy mill dogs, as I later found out, can have a lot of health problems on their own due to poor/careless breeding. Do your research!

El Gato Coffeehouse & Cat Cottage

El Gato Coffeehouse & Cat Cottage

(199 reviews)

$$

The Heights

The website was helpful to make the reservation and let you know you can order drinks and treats…read morefor the cat when you're there. The ambiance is very relaxing for the cats where they have many options or roam on the playpen, different nooks, and rooms here. They had automatic litter boxes, various toys and treats available for the cats which was nice. The cats were more interested in being fed which I figured they would be but it was still fun to check out. I enjoyed feeding and petting the cats here.

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I encountered an employee who seemed this determined to…read moremake a paying customer feel unwelcome. We purchased our tickets online while driving to El Gato Cat Cafe. The online system did not give us an option to adjust our session time. We arrived at approximately 12:10 -- literally TEN MINUTES after they opened. Other customers arrived at essentially the same time and were given stickers allowing them to stay until 1:15. Ours only allowed us about 50 minutes. Naturally, I asked the bright-red-haired employee working the front counter why customers arriving at the same time were receiving more time than we were. Apparently asking this question was a grave offense. Her response was unbelievably rude, condescending, and dismissive. We were told that they were walk-ins, "those are the rules," and that they "never change the rules." There was seemingly zero interest in finding a solution, acknowledging how ridiculous the situation appeared, or even speaking to us with basic courtesy. I wasn't demanding special treatment. I was asking why WALK-IN customers arriving at the same time were receiving more time than customers who had already paid online. And here's the irony: for a business so obsessively concerned with enforcing its rules down to the minute, I wish that same level of attention had been directed toward the cleanliness of the facility. The place had a noticeable unpleasant smell, and the overall cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Yes, this is a cat cafe, so obviously nobody expects it to smell like a luxury hotel lobby. But there's a difference between "there are cats here" and walking into a place and immediately questioning how well it's being cleaned and maintained. Combine that with an employee at the front counter who speaks to customers as though they're an annoyance for daring to ask a perfectly reasonable question, and the whole experience became unpleasant very quickly. Customer service isn't complicated. You can enforce a policy without being rude. You can explain a rule without being condescending. And if you're going to be completely inflexible with paying customers over TEN MINUTES, perhaps bring that same uncompromising attention to the condition and smell of the facility. We absolutely will not return. There are plenty of businesses competing for people's entertainment dollars. I'd rather spend mine somewhere that is clean, welcoming, and actually seems happy to have customers.

My Family Pet Store - Waiting for mommy to sign all the paperwork.

My Family Pet Store

(5 reviews)

The Heights

LOVE LOVE LOVE My Family Pet Store!! I found my pup Harley here! She's the sweetest & most…read moreenergetic puppy you'll ever meet! She will melt your heart If you are looking for the newest addition to your family, small or big, I highly recommend that you check them out! They are very knowledgeable on all the breeds they have. They explain everything clearly and it's very helpful when it's your first pet. The thing I love the most is that they're true to their name "my Family pet", Day or Night they will answer your texts and questions if you have any about your puppy, even after you've bought the dog! I can confidently say that I trust everything they say Go & visit the shop, even if you're just looking around! The pet store is SUPER CLEAN & crazy part is it doesn't smell like a pet store! 11/10 WOULD RECOMMEND

So first and foremost I was very excited about getting a dog dachshund from them on 7/12/20 but it…read moredidn't fall through that day so the next day 7/13/20 we are able to get the puppy "Skippy" they let me know on 7/12/20 that the pup had received its shots when we first went to go see the puppy "skippy" so it may be tender on his right back leg me not thinking much of it and trusting them let it go and just didn't ask much about it. When we signed the contract the guarantee that the dog comes healthy. The next day I'm playing with the puppy in the morning and notice a puncture wound that's scabbing next to where they said he received his shots and I took pictures and sent them to The family pet store owners and they called me and said that it was a "reaction" to the vaccination and and to compress it with warm water I take the puppy to the vet that same day 7/14/20 to get his shots and that checked out and they let me know that it's not a reaction but a puncture wound caused by something such as a bite etc. they ( the vet) then preceded to give us ointment for the area. I let the owners of the family pet store know and requested that they give us an explanation so we know what happened to the puppy they told us that when they got the puppy from the breeder he had an active infection where the puncture wound is located and they had been treating it with just warm compressions. They are not licensed vets they should've taken the dog to get looked at for that beforehand. They did not disclose this information with us before we purchased the pup and if they had we wouldn't have gotten the dog because The puppy was not healthy we have to care for it's puncture wound so that it heals properly and he doesn't risk getting an infection. Not to mention because they didn't get he wound professionally treated with the proper medicines the scab is going to leave a bald patch on the puppy's butt ( he's already losing lots of fur there after a bath ) We assumed we bought a "healthy" dog and that we wouldn't have to take care of a wound especially for the price but we were wrong they knowingly withheld information about the dogs health and completely discredited their about us statement. On their website and I quote "Most people unknowingly end up with puppy mill pups due to choosing unreliable routes to abtain a pet. You can be sure that you will only find healthy, ethically raised puppies here. All of our puppies are born and raised in a home setting and come from parents who are very much loved and are family pets first. We only work with small local breeding programs, whom we have established solid personal relationships with. We value our pets as family members and hope that you can see the different level of standard we uphold at our store. It's a lifetime of love - one puppy at a time!" Is definitely lacking and untrue I really wanted to like them and give them the benefit of the doubt but honestly if they would've just let us know from the start that the puppy had a healing wound from past infection this would've been avoided and the price for the dog should've been negotiated and lowered. We love the dog but feel cheated for the price we payed and are "working" with the owners of the to fix the issue they seem like reasonable people but after they withheld information about the condition of the dog I can't trust them to do the right thing. They clearly only care about the money and not the dogs that they sell. UPDATE: 7/15/2020 the owners of the store did not give us SOME of the money back for the puppy that they sold to us with a defect they offered to give us a refund if we returned the dog because they knew it had a healing puncture and didn't let us know but we declined because we love the pup and don't feel comfortable giving it to those people who clearly buy from bad breeders and puppy mills the dog would be safer with us and not be put down if we did return it. Overall this was a huge learning lesson and I strongly discourage people from buying from this guy and his wife they know that Texas doesn't have puppy lemon laws and take advantage of that. Stay away from these people and the store they know how to twist and lie I'm sure they have been sued before in California for selling sick puppies which is why they opened up shop in Texas.

Red Collar Rescue - petadoption - Updated October 2026

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