This place is absolutely wonderful. I found a senior dog that no one wanted to help. I contacted a dozen other rescues and no one really got back to me. Liz from Retrievers and Friends didn't hesitate to lend a helping hand. It's so kind what they are doing to help these animals and their facility is wonderful. I will be making donations to their charity from now on. I've already been sharing their praises with my friends and neighbors on social media. Thanks so much! read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

I don't with confidence to Retrievers and Friends of Southern California. When I have dropped off physical donations, I have witnessed amazing care and love given to animals that came from horrible circumstances. They don't brag about they amazing work they do. What a gift to Southern California. I also donate cash through their website knowing it will.make a difference in an animals life. You all have been very kind and professional. You adopt these sweet souls to kind and loving people. Thank you for being selfish and selective. Keep up the great work!!! I thank you for everything you do for the souls. Truly a blessing. You make this world a better place. read more

After my Amazing R & F rescue Aussie, Duke, passed almost 2yrs ago, I contacted Retrievers&Friends to adopt another Aussie. I considered a couple of cute prospects. Liz remembered Duke that I had adopted (with me 9 yrs) and felt there was a better match for me than the 2 available. She was sooo right! My dream boy, Garrett, was about to be ready. He had serious injuries from extreme neglect and needed extended medical attention. I waited and so glad I did! He is a beautiful, happy 5 yr old that loves everyone and they him. We have bonded so well in the last year and half. He's the perfect boy. The vet's office loves to see him come. He's so excited, he walks to them on his hind legs! Thanks to R&F's loving staff and volunteers...Angels!!! I couldn't be happier!!! read more

Our experience with this rescue has been challenging due to ongoing communication issues. After completing a phone interview, the organization has been difficult to get in touch with, and our follow-up questions -- including inquiries about dogs posted on social media -- have gone unanswered. We have reached out by phone and email and left voicemails without receiving a response, which has been frustrating and raised concerns about their communication process. After reading other reviews, it also appears there may be discrimination in applicant selection, which is a significant red flag. Additionally, the responses from the organization to other 1-star reviews on Yelp come across as unprofessional and defensive. While we understand this is a volunteer-run organization, more consistent communication and transparency would make the adoption process much clearer and easier to navigate. We haven't really made any progress with them, and after reading the mix of reviews, that makes a lot of sense. We would suggest prospective adopters think carefully before moving forward with this rescue. read more

Retrievers and friends of Southern California is truly an exceptional organization and everyone there is dedicated to the well-being of the pet and committed in finding the perfect home for each and every one of the amazing rescues that they have available. A pleasant and wonderful experience. I submitted an application in the afternoon and the following day I received a phone call from Anne to set up a virtual home appointment, which was done the next day. My wife and I had selected a couple of dogs to look at a male and female WFT (Wire Fox Terrier ) And spoke to Liz by phone as she wanted to make sure we were familiar with this breed of dog And explained to me some of the characteristics Of this breed, as well as explaining that these particular dogs would require extra time and patience as they had come from a breeder And not socialized in a household environment... And she also suggested another little terrier puppy that we may be interested in. After a visit to the facility and interacting with all three dogs We chose a sweet little two-year-old female Wire fox terrier named Cher ( renamed Mia) in addition to coming home With our new addition to the family, they also sent us home with a nice little Care package Of food... Treats.. toys and bedding, along with a leash and harness. Mia is a beautiful, sweet and gentle little girl that has adjusted nicely to her forever home and she ask for nothing except to be loved and cared for and gives back so much more in return. Thank you so much to Liz, Anne And Nancy, for giving my wife and I this opportunity to have sweet little Mia in our life we love her dearly. read more

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I wanted to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to begin the adoption process with your rescue. I did the virtual tour of my home then was sent to Liz to set up an appointment to see the pups. At first, I was initially very hopeful and excited. However, despite my efforts to get more information, I've had difficulty receiving timely or clear responses. While Liz mentioned that the dogs I was interested in were no longer available, she also said there were other options--yet I haven't received any details, even after following up. Earlier this week, she asked if we could set up a time to meet through email, and I confirmed that I was available. Unfortunately, no time has been scheduled and I still have no information on the other dogs. After reading the reviews, I can see where this is going. Maybe they need more help. Due to the lack of communication and clarity, I've decided to withdraw my application. I truly appreciate the work your organization does and wish you all the best in finding loving homes for your dogs. read more

STOP If you are an average person with a job and want a puppy then dont proceed with this rescue. I started off by emailing about the puppy and told to fill out an application. I did. This application ask for every aspect of your life. On Tues I was then contacted saying I was a candidate and need to do a home visit. Made to seem like a puppy was in my future. Thrus we did the video home visit. Right from the start of the video call I could tell Ann did not like me. She interrogated me on everything from why I crate train to how am I go to keep up with a puppy. Now mind you my husband and I are in our late 30 early 40s and go on daily walks. Ann kept telling me how a puppy is better suited for a retired older couple because they are home 24/7. We are only away from our home 3 days a week for work. At the end of the interrogation I was told that Liz would get back to me with an answer. Fingers crossed still a little hope. Well Liz emailed back saying that my home isn't good for a puppy but how about an older dog. I asked Liz why not a puppy which she told me I have long work hours and to busy of a schedule. She said this was based off my application and that she only did the home visit so she wouldn't get in trouble. Well here is the thing just be honest with families from day one. Tell me that you are never going to approve me so I dont waste my time jumping through hoops. Anyone looking to adopt a puppy good luck. Especially if you get Ann who seems to only want retired people to get puppies. Also I believe NO dog should be locked up for long periods of time on their own. This includes the "OLDER DOGS" Liz mentioned. Guess back to the breeders I go. read more

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I was very disappointed as I went through the long process in my adoption process to adopt a fur baby through this organization. I did everything I was asked. Liz was taking weeks to approve my adoption, I finally had to ask did I pass the adoption?. The cat I had my heart set on would have received so much love and care. I was not told earlier on that they only will approve to adoption of two of the cats together. It was never on their website to confirm that the two cats had to be adopted together, nor was I told when I first touched base with LIZ. I just felt the whole process was very unprofessional. When people are loving enough to want to adopt an animal and go through a long process with their high hopes of having a fur baby as part of their family only to be disappointed with an excuse. At this point they need to change on their website that both cats need to be adopted together so people understand, instead of stringing people a long. I don't recommend this organization. The good news is I've reached out to another organization and they got back to me right away. Very professionally handled and they are very excited in my request to adopt a fur baby. UPDATE! I was so pleased to go through a lady that works for rescues and she connected me with a a foster Mom for my sweet fur baby. I was able to adopt my sweet Banjo! They were very professional, compassionate and kind. They got back to me right away, and the process was quick and easy. I was even given all his supplies. He has all his shots, he is fixed and is even chipped. This is the type of professionalism that Liz from Retrievers and Friends need to adhere to. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

Very professional and caring. The experience was fast and simple to complete. I do not live close so there was a video walk through. That sped things up. Also followed up on transition. Met with nice staff and Director. My friend and I thought the facility was well thought out for doggie comfort. Large kennels/shade/ misters. They have to rehab alot of dogs and that also is a priority. My adoption pup has been wonderful. They do good work. read more

Believe what you read about this 1.5 million dollar charity and the reviews here and elsewhere. I could never in good conscience "donate" to such an unprofessional rescue. I am an experienced golden retriever rescue dad who experienced not only poor communication and zero transparency (process, cost and specific requirements) but a blatant refusal to answer my questions directly. They do have bias that masquerades as "vetting" and it's not apparent until you begin the adoption process. Both Nancy and Liz were rude, misleading, and difficult to interact with, blaming their heavy inquiry volume on lack of response and that they aren't equipped to do the job they are tasked with. But their attitudes were way beyond being stretched. They were not the least bit interested in even having a phone call about a 7 year old golden. Defensive and self righteous in every way, as if they are the guardians of well being for surrendered or abandoned animals in need. They aren't putting the animals first. Don't be fooled by the positive reviews saying they are just being thorough. I tried repeatedly to drive two hours to meet the mature dog I was interested in, to schedule a call, and to further a dialogue. My suggestion to anyone considering donating to this unprofessional incompetence is to read the reviews and check charity navigator and to think twice. And before the president responds here to defend his volunteers and his org as he regularly does... know that I never interacted with him once so everything he will purport is internal heresay. The only real tragedy here is not my experience trying to provide an extraordinary and loving second chance to an older animal as a previously vetted rescue dad but the fate of the animals in their care. I didn't lose anything. The animal did. read more

We rescued our new Golden Retriever puppy, Sunny, yesterday. The application, interview and overall process went so smooth. We completed our search in 3 days. Their facility is immaculate, peaceful, and well run. Liz picked out the perfect puppy that met our needs and family style. Sunny came to us complete with a neuter, applicable shots and a chip. Also they provided a toy box full of toys, treats, a blanket, and so much more. A very caring rescue! We would highly recommend this rescue! read more

Update: we adopted a wonderful dog from Retrievers & Friends and we couldn't be happier with her. Bringing her home has been a breeze as R&F had already been working with her. They run a very tight ship at R&F. It looks more like a resort for animals than a shelter. The grounds were immaculate and there was an army of volunteers looking after and socializing animals. The entire staff was helpful, friendly and very knowledgeable. If we ever need a new friend for our dog, we will find one with Retrievers and friends. I trust them. I know they're going to find a good dog for us. As for all the negative reviews: I can only speak to my experience, and I can say that my experience with R&F has been great! Most of the negative reviews are coming from people with hurt feelings. I get the disappointment, but you should be happy that the dog you wanted has found a better living situation. It happened to me too and I was happy that she was going somewhere nice with someone who's with her 24 hours day. They care deeply for these animals and they are extremely picky on who they choose to adopt. They prefer someone who is retired or works from home, but that's not always feasible, I'm sure. Bottom line: if you're looking to adopt, try Retrievers & friends. They will find the right dog for the right person. Just remember - they are not running a business here. It's a charity for animals. They are not working for you as a paying customer. They are working for these animals and they do it well! Good luck! read more

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o not waste your time. This place is either ageist or a scam. Me and my wife decided we were finally ready to get a new Golden Retriever puppy after losing our previous one of 15 years. We were ready and our 2 year old Australian shepherd needed a friend. After previously getting our dogs from breeders we decided to try and do the "responsible thing" and get one from a rescue. We see this places website has some puppies available which would be perfect. We fill out the online application and a couple days later get a phone call from Liz the owner. She goes over some questions with us and everything seems great. She gives us the number of a volunteer to call and do a video of our house to make sure we can care for him properly. Enter Anne into the equation. She almost immediately is rude and condescending. Trying to find any reason to not approve us. Tells us multiple times that there are a lot of retired seniors applying for these puppies and they are a better fit than us so we probably will not get approved. My wife and I are younger with no kids nor any plans to have kids. House is paid off. Very stable life's and jobs. I fail to see how a 65+ senior has the energy level or unfortunately life expectancy to care for a puppy better than us. Anne constantly was trying to push us for an older dog. Wouldn't the older dogs be better for a senior? Maybe since Anne herself is an older senior she is in denial about their abilities to take care of a puppy? At the end of the call Anne told us our house passed inspection but we would probably not be approved for a puppy. So surprise surprise the next morning we receive a message from Liz saying we can only have an older dog. Citing our "busy work schedules". My wife only works out of home for 3 days a week and her mother checks in on the dogs while we are not there. Weird thinking to say a puppy would be mistreated for being home alone supposedly but not an older dog. The older dogs would be just as neglected as a puppy by their reasoning right? Lets not forget our work schedules were listed on the very first initial application. If we were going to be denied due to work schedules then why waste our time with this whole charade to begin with? In the end this place is a waste of time. Either ageist Anne gives preference to old people that makes no sense or option 2. After reading other reviews I have seen other people denied for being too old. I am wondering if these puppies are just on the site to get attention so they can try and get everyone to take the older dogs. By Liz's reasoning she knew from the very start we would be denied due to work hours. But still wasted time to try and get us to take an older dog. After all is said and done we will be going back to the "evil breeders" to get a puppy. Doing the "responsible thing" did nothing but give us the run around and waste time. The video with Anne was recorded. I really hope the owner watches it to see how unprofessional she is. If these people care about dogs as much as they claim, they should be happy to know that their actions kept a dog in their shelter and gave money to one of their evil breeder enemies. They denied one of their dogs from living in a wonderful and loving home. Maybe people with such poor judgement should not be in charge of judging how fit somebody is. read more

I was going to pass along this rescue to my in-laws but after reading the reviews I will not. A red flag went off just by their instagram page which lead me to do a deeper dive into this company. They post the same dog with different names with the exact same description. I knew it was too good to be true. They also don't allow for comments on their posts which is unheard of for any rescue. Thank you to the reviews for confirming my doubts. read more

Notice: Reconsider applying if you live in a townhome/apartment. This is an organization that is really dedicated to all the animals in their care. They put a lot of effort into making sure that animals that get adopted through this process will be going to forever homes and will not be back on the street or be abandoned. With that being said they prefer to match their animals in homes that have secured and fenced in yards. There were a few different dogs I was interested in but I was unable to move on in the application because of my townhouse and patio. I hope that those animals get their well deserved home soon. I'm happy that RFSC is taking good care of them. read more

We received our very best friend from them. His original name was Spike. Can you believe that? A maltipoo named Spike. They changed it to Spenser but my wife and I named him Sam. He looks like a hobbit so I named him Samwise. Or Sammy. He is such a lover. Thank you Retrievers and friends for letting us adopt such a sweet loving little boy. read more

We adopted a beautiful chocolate lab six days ago and wanted to share our experience. Retrievers and Friends is a wonderful rescue staffed by kind, knowledgeable animal lovers. They are very focused on the welfare of the animals and work hard to place them with the right home. They are professionals, and we recommend that you listen to their advice about making an adoption. We would definitely adopt another dog from them and will recommend them to everyone. Their facilities are very nice, very clean, and have a good mixture of indoor and outdoor kennels and meet and greet areas. Their fee is also low. This is a wonderful rescue! read more

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I had a wonderful experience at Retrievers and Friends. Liz was prompt in answering all of my questions. Yes, they have rules BUT that is because they want the best possible match for the dogs they care for. Their grounds are absolutely beautiful! We adopted the very best dog from them and we are over the moon. Maple is settling in nicely. I enjoyed meeting and visiting with not just my new baby but also Liz. Rescues have rules for a reason, these pups have been through enough, so this rescue tries its very best (via their rules) to make sure the home their pups are going to is going to be the very best fit for that particular pup's situation. I just can't say enough about them. They truly care about their animals. Their animals are happy and not just cared for but pampered! I wish I lived closer so I could volunteer. I wouldn't hesitate to apply with them. I look forward to keeping in touch with pics and chats and showing them the life we are providing for Maple. She is such a special girl and I am so thankful and grateful. Please remember that these are volunteers. I understand being disappointed, but kindness goes a long way. THANK YOU Liz and all the volunteers from one very happy family! read more

Retrievers and Friends - Maple and her very happy new owner! - Pet Adoption Near Me

I selected zero stars but must pick one to post! I am actually disheartened of the negative response that came from Liz White regarding selection of a replacement dog due to return of the first, 10 month old rescue I took home. Unfortunately the young dog had severe, destructive nervous reactions when left at home when just going to the market. I was not pre-informed of this but was told to crate the puppy whenever I left home. She was house broke otherwise. I set a new appointment and looked at another dog, told Liz I would return the next day. Unfortunately I had to travel out of state due to dying relatives (2). Then going for 2 more weeks to assist with final arrangements. When calling Liz upon my first return I was told "They were put out that I did not return on Sunday" I believe they are closed. Regardless, no appointment had been made. I apologized and explained my situation but also found out the dog had been adopted. To date of 7/29/2025 I have left Liz 2 texts with interest in a 4 year old mix returned to them due to the owner dying. No response. Now, I just wonder why the owner of an animal rescue would not have heart to understand my situation. Not hers but mine. No inconvenience to her or her very good volunteers. This experience makes me feel that I have been scammed out of $300 dollars as well as two new pens I volunteered to them. I guess there are those type people in all areas of life. If you don't understand why someone would a be negative here I could only ask you read this again. David D. read more

Just have to write a follow up on my earlier 5 Star review on this incredible shelter! My wife Debbie and I were so impressed with our ENTIRE experience when originally searching for, eventually finding our puppy, Toby at Retrievers and Friends as well as the love and care provided by their entire staff! However, all of that initial experience doesn't compare to how they reacted and responded to what tragically happened six months later when we lost Toby to a totally unknown or predictable spinal disease! When Nancy and the staff learned of our tragedy we were immediately invited back and sent home with Brody AND Cody!!! (Double the Love!) NO FEES of any kind!!!! (Had to make an anonymous donation ) read more

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We just adopted our beautiful girl Hailey. She was really well taken care of at this rescue. We went through a good amount of questions, a video visit and in person visit. I'm baffled to see that negative reviews are only from applicants who have not matched: Yes there are questions, yes there is a home inspection. And it is absolutely normal and important. It is their responsibility to find a family that will REALLY provide for the dogs that already had to be left behind due to less than perfect circumstances. Nobody wants a mismatch, neither you, neither the dog, neither the previous owner, neither the rescue: nobody wants a dog to come back again and the pain it does to all. If it doesn't go through, do not take it personally, it's not about you. What would make sense to you does not always make sense for others. What makes you think is not a big deal might actually be. Maybe they can match you with an other dog in the future, be patient. If you had to rehome your pet I am sure you'd also be very picky and wait for the exact right candidate. They're doing a great job. At the end of the day they solely decide and you can't blame them for doing a thorough job at rehoming. They also ask a small participation for the rehoming, and that is absolutely normal, money does not grow on trees to take care of all these animals. I would like to tank the owners and the volunteers at Retrievers and friends. Your work is seen, don't be discouraged by reviews of people who got their feelings hurt, you're doing good for a great cause. Thank you! read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

I've adopted 4 Goldens from Liz. The last I adopted when I retired was Rosebud she was 9mos old and was my Best Friend until cancer took her a 13yrs. I was so lonesome I thought I would try to adopt a 6 or 7 yr. old Golden as I'm getting old. I lived in a nice mobile home with Rosie for almost 13 yrs. Nancy whoever she is denied me saying my place wouldn't be safe. In the past I got at home inspection. Water under the Bridge but if Rosie spent 13 yrs with me it must be safe. Nancy can't be so lazy she couldn't have a home inspection. I miss Liz and the old way read more

Wow, look at all the negative reviews! What's going on with this Liz? I'll put in my two cents. Liz rejected my wife and I because we are too old! No interview. No home assessment. That's just wrong! ..and probably illegal. Evidently, she didn't consider my history as a pet owner, and didn't pay any attention to the information I provided in our application ... just our ages. She added that NONE of the dogs currently available are suitable for us. I spoke with a "young" couple down the street from us and they were also rejected BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDS! We're talking about Golden Retrievers. I'm wondering what Liz considers to be a qualified applicant? There are a lot a dogs missing out on good forever homes. I won't ramble on, but I could. It appears that there are some very good dogs available as I write this, so go ahead and apply. But be prepared for an unfounded and subjective rejection from "Liz" if you're a senior or have kids young (under 8?) kids. ------------- Update after reading Liz's response.... Again, she rejected us based on age, and age alone. There were no other reasons. In my application, I said that my adult children would adopt the dog if my wife and I were no longer able to care for it, but that I am in excellent health. Liz emailed me and said the none of the dogs currently available are suitable for us. (I expressed interest in two adult dogs that are brothers, to keep them together, but we were open to any available dog that we could mutually agree on.) Liz did not talk to us. No one came out to see our home and meet with us. read more

My wife and I adopted Riley today after meeting him and Liz. It was such a pleasant meeting and Liz was very nice and explained the ins and outs of adopting a dog from their organization. This is the second time we have adopted a dog from this great organization. I don't understand all the negative reviews as Liz and Nancy are helpful and very professional. I highly recommend this place to adopt and you will not be disappointed at all. The care of animals and the pristine grounds they live in are exceptional. Thank you Retriever and Friends for bringing my wife and I much joy in our lives. read more

The team here is amazing. They are caring for all animals. They find excellent forever home for the animal. Highly recommend if you are looking for a pet forever and bring into your family to love. Please check them out. My furry has come from them. I am so proud of the retrievers and friends. The owners and the team here they are amazing. I am sad that when anyone, if any, puts negative thoughts or response about them on Yelp. I am so glad they tell the truth about why they did not get the animal. They are amazing to find forever homes for the pets. If you get rejected, you're not a good fit. They check out for the safety of the pet and the family. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

This is an amazing animal rescue. I've rescued my furry baby from this rescue. Trudy is a love. If anyone is interested in rescuing adorable fur baby, please contact them. The volunteers are amazing what they do. read more

We adopted our Yorkie Madeleine though Retrievers and friends. We are so happy we heard about this place. The love you feel from the people who volunteer there is so apparent. I was pleased that they are sure all their dogs go to good homes through application and home visits. We love our little Maddie so much, and she is already a bit spoiled. I highly recommend Retrievers and Friends. read more

Nancy & Liz did not explain things well. I felt like I was buying a used car. They made up a reason that this little wire fox terrier was too "mean, rough, tenacious, & aggressive for us. We raised 2 chihuahuas to ripe old ages, & what is more aggressive than a chihuahua? I researched the fox terrier breed & everything said that they love to play &get along well with other dogs, family members, etc. So, what exactly was the problem? read more

very disappointed in RFSC denied adoption of three different dog's. the reason was not having shelter from weather. I wouldn't recommend RFSC! read more

We were ghosted. My husband rushed home to do the zoom inspection. I reached back out a few days later and got no response! We found our dog, but I was sad to see that the two I was interested in are still on the website. Hopefully they find homes soon. read more

A truly caring rescue that protects and continues support of their adopted animals. The special people giving shelter and services to needing animals are incredible and dedicated. The rescue shelter is set up to provide a safe and animal friendly area. Retriever and Friends is a rescue organization that should be a model for other animal shelters throughout the country. We found our Toby through them and we willbe forever grateful. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Toby, day two at home cuddled on the couch with mom and dad. - Pet Adoption Near Me

I know alot of people are critical of the way this facility is ran, but heart to heart I love their way of doing things! Having been a rescuer myself, I would never just hand over an adorable animal to just anyone, animals need to be saved, yes absolutely but more importantly they need to be placed in a reputable, safe, loving and life long committed family/ home! Not every person is committed to a life long expense of owning a pet some just aren't the right fit, some just want to have a pet to put in their back yard, but I love Retrievers and friends, they are committed to placing pets In a safeloving committed home and environment. The pets are their priority they got my vote and respect read more

we adopted our dog Kona a few weeks ago. I was very impressed by this rescue. truly caring people who really want the best homes for their dogs. The application process was very easy, and I was contacted within 24 hours. The home visit was done online, making sure I had adequate fencing and gates to keep the animal safe while at home in the yard. I had expressed my interest in a few dogs. I was told two of them were pending adoption, but the other two were available. I told them I could come to see the dogs in a few days. I was sent instructions regarding location and payment amounts and method of payment accepted. We arrived at the facility and were blown away by how clean and well maintained the facility was. I met Liz, who was very hands on and knowledgeable about the animals. She knew I had another dog in the home and I was concerned that the new dog be kind and not intimidating. she had a couple of dogs out in the area for me to meet. Both of the dogs had been bathed and were in beautiful condition. There was no pressure into making a hasty decision. She let us play with the dogs for a bit and get to know them, as well as answer any questions we may have had. we brought our beautiful Kona home a few days ago. she was the right dog for us! I read some reviews that were not very complimentary of the rescue. Most of these coming from folks who were not given the opportunity to adopt due to issues relating to unsecured conditions for the animal to live in. I would not hesitate to recommend Retrievers and Friends to any loving family that can provide a safe and secure home for an animal. I was so impressed I suggested the rescue to my son, who was fortunate enough to be able to adopt our dog's litter mate. The communication from Nancy was great, from the start of the process as well as afterwards. She contacted us a few times after we got home to see how things were going. Please give these rescue pups a chance. if you have a place in your heart and home for a beautiful dog, don't hesitate to give them a call. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Kona - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Wonderful and dedicated people here. They truly care about their rescues. We adopted a five-year-old pug and we're very pleased with how organized and helpful they were. They truly vet the people/families that adopt the pets and I'm glad they do. read more

Attempting to adopt a forever furry friend through this agency was an extremely disappointing experience. We found a match online, moved through the application process as outlined on the website. Our initial phone contact felt more like an interrogation than a purposeful conversation in trying to match a dog with a loving family. We were genuinely surprised by the aggressive nature of the initial phone interview where we were told we would get a response within 24 hours to schedule a FaceTime interview or schedule a direct visit with the dog as we had already met the initial vetting requirements for adoption. Due to a lack of follow through, we resorted to email communication for next steps to schedule a potential meeting of the candidate dog. We shared that we were willing to complete any necessary steps to partner with the dog including hiring a dog trainer and meeting with a contractor to fulfill any further requirements to ensure the safety of the dog with regards to all aspects of the exterior of our home (including the front, side and back yards). We were ultimately 'rejected' by a 'Liz' without having any clear or justifiable communication on why we were suddenly deemed 'ineligible' based on her "feelings". We found this rather peculiar and misleading (we never had any sort of promised FaceTime with a 'Liz') or said opportunity for our family interact directly with the dog. Our only regret is not having screened through the yelp reviews first for this organization. It's always a major red flag when an agency has more 1-star reviews than anything else and the name 'Liz' is repeatedly flagged in a bulk of the 1-star reviews. It seems there may need to be further investigation here on the validity of this organization... read more

This business seems unprofessional. Days to get a response and when you set up a call back or email response no one gets back to you. Our home visit went well and after being interested in 2 dogs Liz said I wasn't a good fit for one of them and failed to say which dog! They send short emails like text messages and expect the adoptees to go with the flow. 4 days later no one has gotten back to me on what dog she was talking about and where my application stands with the other. There are good dogs who need a home stuck behind a poorly organized/functioning rescue. UPDATE: I will gladly enter screenshots where you failed to let me know the names of the dogs you were talking about and never responded. I got the faster communication about my bad experience than I did this ENTIRE adoption process. That should say everything that needs to be said. It took a call from my family member to get the communication your orgs fails to do. You never take ANY responsibility and play victim for your poor ratings and that's why your business has horrible reviews. Sad, moving on to a more organized and legitimate rescue. Glad there's plenty more. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

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To anyone attempting to go through company please do not. save yourself the time, headache and heartache. You will only get rude non responsive and impolite recipients who will reject your application, even if you do what they require and go out of your way with an offer to get a dog trainer and speak to your contractor and email them that you are willing to fulfill any other requirements they might have in order to give a rescue dog a forever home. I was told initially that there would be a FaceTime interview and I would be judged on my interaction with the dog at the pound. Neither happened. I was contacted two days after my application was denied and then spoke to someone who had no idea who I was, when I questioned how can you not know who I am and reject my application. I was informed they have a lot of applicants and she could not keep up. I was told Liz denied my application, I'm still unsure why as I never had a FaceTime call or came to the pound. This company has 192 reviews and 84 of them are one star, tells you all you need to know. When close to 50% of your reviews are 1 star and the name Liz is evident in the majority of them something is definitely wrong. I can only hope and pray that the animals that truly need help find a home. read more

We volunteered for this charity and have nothing but the highest respect for their hard work and love and care of the animals. They are providing medical care, grooming, large play areas, some with kiddy pools, air conditioned buildings for them on hot days, pens cleaned continuously throughout the day, training on walking on leash, simple commands, beds, clean fresh water, blankets, and even some balls. Most of all they provide love, attention, socialization, and a safe place for them to live till the dogs get matched with the right family. They have our full respect and gratitude for what they do. read more

Fantastic rescue. We drove 1 1/2 hours to look at two young dogs and fell in love with a Standard Poodle 6 years old named Princess Sophia. The rescue filled us in on her background as a breeding dog, her insecurities around people, anxieties and food obsession, so we knew what to expect except for the high cost of grooming. We love her and she is worth every Penney we spend on grooming her. She has issues, but she has made a place in our hearts and helped with the grief of suddenly losing our cockapoo, Rosie, at 12 years of age. This is the place to adopt.​ read more

Retrievers and Friends - Princess Sophia, 6 year old, Standard Poodle, Retrievers and Friends rescue. Love our girl! - Pet Adoption Near Me

Yes, there are few negative reviews on Yelp but our experience has been very different than most of the 1 star reviews. Why? Well, because Liz and her team make sure that the dog finds a home that is the best fit for her/him. It's nothing personal, it is relationship ( 2 sided). Liz has a lot of experience and is a good judge on dog/owner relationship. The process of adopting our great Pyrenees was more involved than most rescue but made us feel more confident about the shelter's abilities and competence. If people get denied, they get "Butt hurt;" if they get approved, they are "happy". As simple as that. Trust in the process. read more