Interface with potential adopter's needs to really improve if this rescue organization is to survive. The "owner" was very rude and abusive.

Working with Cheryl was an extremely unpleasant experience. She was rude, condescending, and often seemed detached from reality. Communication was confusing and unproductive, and she made several inappropriate and bizarre comments--including personal remarks that were wildly unprofessional. We did our best to comply with all of her numerous and often unreasonable demands, staying patient and cooperative throughout the process. Upon reaching our breaking point with her antics we finally reached out to say we no longer felt comfortable moving forward. Cheryl responded with a lengthy, condescending email claiming that the dog we'd been speaking about had "numerous applications" and was already adopted. This was especially frustrating and confusing because just hours earlier we were supposed to meet the dog and possibly get to adopt her ourselves and had not been told about any of these other applications or that she might be adopted before we were able to visit the shelter. The entire interaction left us deeply uneasy. It's heartbreaking to think that someone so erratic and controlling is making life-changing decisions for these animals. For your own sanity please steer clear of this place. This place feels like a for-profit puppy mill, providing incoherent and inconsistent advice and posing as an animal rescue. read more

the application process is literally insane, verification of the animals well being is one thing, this is not even possible. I easily qualify, but the process is so arduous that it's not at all worthwhile. read more

Want to be berated and told you killed your dog who died of old age? look no furthers, because that is the kind of treatment you will receive while going through the application process of this "rescue". They will tell you that you caused your animals to die painfully because you didn't give them Chinese homeopathic herbs. Rompin Paws follows a homeopathic veterinarIan practice that is problimatic is so many ways. They heavily quote a celebrity veterinarian who, when googling, the second most common search is "veterinarians name Quack!" They are nothing but re-sellers who only take in/rescue designer breeds and charge for their specific brand of dog food and care. And per the owners Facebook page, she has had tons of cases of Parvo in her home rescue, and has lost multiple dogs and puppies to the illness in February 2023 alone. She is treating this illness with Homeopathic tinctures instead of following current medical guidelines. read more

Rompin Paws Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Arlington, Washington

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DANGER!!! BE WARNED!!! The owner of this business needs immediate psychological help and really needs to find a different line of work. My wife and I took in a 14 year old dachshund (we'll call him R) when his owner died and we purchased the home, rather than see the estate have him euthanized. He fit in fine with our family and our 2 year old mixed breed dog. Then, about a year later my step daughter got another small dog (we'll call her L), and unfortunately both R and L are fixated on balls.. so they go after them and each other over the nearly 50 balls to choose from. One evening they got into a scuffle and L bit R and damaged his trachea. Now, to be clear, L is a very sweet dog and generally has a loving, playful disposition, but my step daughter has not stepped up and taken care of L as she initially agreed to. Given the situation, we felt as though it's not fair to L to keep her in the environment where she's not getting the attention she needs and deserves, so we set out to try and find L another home. My wife spent less than 5 minutes on the phone with Cheryl before hanging up on Cheryl because Cheryl began yelling and swearing (replete with F-bombs at my wife and berating her and accusing her of dumping our dog. That's NOT what we were trying to do... rather we were reaching out to someone who we hoped (incorrectly, clearly) could help us match L with a family who could give L the time, attention and love that she needs and deserves. I'm not sure what trauma broke this lady, but clearly something did. She appears to be extremely unhappy in her career choice and is taking it out on the people who call seeking help. One can only hope that she doesn't turn her vitriol on the animals as well. If it were possible to give zero or negative stars, this person and their business are deserving of it. Please don't waste your time. She likely voted for Trump. I hope that the universe delivers her all that she deserves. read more

Owner /Cheryl told me to 'F off' when I could not take a dog back that I fostered over 2 years ago. I donated thousands of dollars to help this rescue. Sadly- they do not appreciate help. So- No- I do not recommend this site and feel awful for any dog that is in her hands! read more

We have an indoor cat who enjoys going outdoors. For the past couple months we have been trying to keep her indoors however she is really good at sneaking out when we let the dog out. She must have snuck out this week and she still isn't home. In desperate attempts my sweet and very sad teenager called this shelter. The founder, Cheryl answered and YELLED at my daughter. She (and I quote) said "it's people like you who are the f'n problem" she continued to berate my daughter. After hanging up she called back to kind of apologize but only continued to tell me how I have done wrong my letting my cat out and I should know better, etc., etc. We are upset, very worried and we understand the risk of her getting out which is why we have been keeping her. There was no need for Cheryl to speak to anyone like this, especially my child. I understand she has to deal with all types of pet owners but she had no right to take her frustrations out on us while we are grieving and worried sick. I, personally would never do any business with this woman or this Shelter. read more

I wish I had read the yelp reviews before I called and spoke to this nasty Cheryl Salvati who called me a b!tch for needing to rehome a dog who is nipping at my young children. The conversation was doomed from the start. This woman shouldn't even be able to able to run a pet rescue I can only imagine how the pets are treated given the way she treats humans. Do not go here. Do not even call unless you want to be spoken over, berated, judged, cursed at. Cheryl I hope you have the day you deserve every single day. read more

I found an adorable pup through PetFinder and went directly to their site to fill out the application. The forms seemed fairly standard and they were quick to reach out to me for more information and follow up questions about my application. One thing that I wish would have been clearer in their PetFinder posting is their feeding requirements. I will admit that it's on me a bit that I didn't thoroughly review their website before applying. I was eager to apply and went straight to the application page. Once I was seen as a prospective candidate, they sent me a huge email with a bunch of links to articles about the benefits of a human-grade food diet. I let them know that it is something that I would consider and discuss with our family vet but they seemed to just keep pushing it. They told me that mainstream vets don't receive proper nutrition training and that I should only take the advice of a naturopathic vet then sent MORE article links. As I reviewed the articles, it was a lot of inconclusive studies or studies that were done on other animals or articles produced by CEOs of these small pet food brands. From there I looked at their website more and realized that I'm not the right fit for their criteria. Respecting that they are passionate about rehoming these pups to whom they deem as acceptable, I let them know that Based on their practices, that I'm getting bad vibes and that I'm opting out. They got a bit defensive and from there, I just left it at 'thank you. Best of luck with the pup. She's adorable.' From there they had to end it with one last snide comment: "I hope you choose to learn more about your dogs nutrition for your current dogs sake." This after I was clear that I buy a high end dog food that my vet specifically recommended. I spoke to my SIL who works at a vet clinic and she was able to debunk a lot of the misinformation that they are peddling about this human-grade raw diet. Please be sure to speak with an actual veterinarian before maintaining this recommended diet. What they are preaching as best for your dog may only best for dogs with specific GI tract disorders and could actually be harmful to your dogs if you're not exceptionally careful. read more

I put in for a couple of adoption places and found a beautiful 4 year old Italian Greyhound mix with Mini-Pin named Kali at a rescue called Rompin Paws in Arlington. She is all black but looks just like my Bella. After just losing my best friend of 16 amazing years, I thought I would find another little pup to help fill the void of missing my companion. I was approved after completing my application and phone interview and was able to meet Kali. She was quite nervous and a bit aggressive about meeting me but I saw something in her that I knew was sweet. Cheryl the owner of Rompin Paws asked me to take her for a trial to adopt so I could see how she is with me at home. As soon as we got home she came out of her crate and looked around and new she was home. She wasn't aggressive, didn't bark. She's been the absolute sweetest fur baby I could have asked for. I know my Bella would have approved. I can't say enough about Cheryl and Dawn the volunteer who interviewed me. Trust me, I read some of the past posts and reviews but I have to say Cheryl is passionate about a cause near and dear to a lot of us. Saving poor abandoned dogs, I applaud her tenacity. Cheryl is a very good person with a heart of gold. I without a doubt would recommend anyone to consider a deserving dog, young or older, Rompin Paws would be a great place to check out. #rompinpaws #Kali #Newfurbaby #snugglebug #stillmissmybella #bellasaiditwasok read more

I have no words for the type of service my daughter and her biological mother received yesterday from this woman. First off my daughter is 14 and had no idea this was a dog only shelter or contact wouldn't have been made. This place is completely unprofessional... there are millions of other places out there to help you with your pet or stray. If I could give this place a negative rating it be -100 starts! Make the drive to Noah if you can! read more

Rompin Paws Rescue - The founder of this rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Arlington, Washington

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They are very rude and not understanding whatsoever! They yelled at my friend on the phone and accused her of being a terrible pet owner. Her fur baby is still missing and the phone reps excuse is that she it's hard of hearing, well so am I and I'm very mindful of my tone. If you're going to apologize then do so don't blame your rude behavior on a hearing disability. read more

Rompin Paws Rescue just called me after i put in an application and told me that my puppy is going to die of cancer, I killed my dog because of feeding them kibble, and that my 14 year angel I lost in september could've been healed by Chinese herbs even though he spent a week hospitalized in a vets care. I have never talked to anyone so heartless and bent on their own philosophy thsy they would rather berate and hurt people than focus on the mission of getting homes for dogs with people who are open to learning and have a long history of caring for dogs well. Cheryl told me to stop crying and being upset and continued on to say that I killed my dog after I cuddled him for three days fed him the best cut of beef and all his favorite foods and held him when he passed and finally stopped suffering being in pain. Cheryl-- I do not care what defense or retort you have, you're a heartless awful person and I feel sorry for every dog who has to deal with you and your energy and for all the homes you denied because you lack simple compassion read more

I adopted a senior dog from Cheryl at Rompin Paws in 2017. A friend was fostering her and I fell in love. I went through the rigorous (as expected) application process to adopt this chihuahua and it went smoothly. I received this aging small dog the day she was spayed and had many teeth removed. Fast forward to now, a close friend and roommate of mine reached out to Cheryl to adopt a small breed dog. She was called to interview for this dog, but was berated over my "abuse" of my own dog, Puddles. Nothing about this phone conversation was an interview, but more so telling her off about my horrible mistreatment of my dog regarding what I feed her. When I originally adopted Puddles, the diet was cleared by Cheryl. I have been a long-time supporter and donator to her cause, but I am saddened over how her lack of people skills, in addition to slander has now led me to write this review for a cause I once supported, but cannot any longer. I do understand that she wants the best treatment for her dogs, but she could have come to me personally if she thought I was abusing my dog. In addition, she never followed up with me about my dog aside from once shortly after she was adopted. If I were to abuse my dog, who is spoiled rotten and has what I deem to be the best food, supplements, etc. that I can provide for her, wouldn't you at least follow up to know that? I reached out to Cheryl via email to update her on my dog, and she says she would have never let me adopt Puddles knowing what I feed her. Deeply saddened by this topic of conversation, and the slander to my name regarding my dog (who I treat like my own child and eats better than most humans). Her diet has been adjusted to accommodate her aging conditions, and she is feeling like a puppy every day now. Rompin Paws, I do know that you want the best for the dogs you adopt out, but speaking badly about previous adopters and donators to an inquiring adopter is not the way to go about finding forever homes for these animals. read more

**i also posted this on google reviews because not everyone uses yelp and I feel this is important information.** The other reviews about Cheryl's abusive treatment of potential adoptive families are absolutely true. We lost one of our chihuahuas in early March and have since been looking for a new buddy for our remaining senior chihuahua. I really should have read the google reviews before applying. Other's have complained about slow response but Cheryl replied back quickly - Now I wish she hadn't replied at all because the email I received was absolutely the most hostile response I have ever received from a shelter. Cheryl took Umbridge with the fact that I don't have my 13 year old chihuahua (who on a dedicated exercise routine and instead let the dog play, run around, and go for short walks outside at her own pace. Apparently this makes me a cruel and neglectful owner because I am not rushing her to surgery (which isn't even recommended as treatment usually) or putting her on the very specific supplement regimen that Cheryl feels is necessary. I see that the owner is quite active in the comments here so I would like to share what my response was to their email: "I appreciate that you feel there are red flags and I would have happily discussed them if you felt I need to be educated on something. We have worked diligently with our vet in regard to feeding, exercise and overall health of our chihuahuas. Your response was so shameful and hostile I don't even know what to say. Cheryl, you are the founder so I'm guessing the buck stops with you - and since you wrote this response I have little hope that this email will do anything. Bottom line, this is an abhorrent way to respond to someone and I sincerely hope you take some time to evaluate how you interact with people." I am also posting a photo of the email that was sent to me in the first place so folks can see for themselves exactly what kind of interaction this was. I would say that anyone who wants to adopt from this shelter better have a thick skin and a very healthy sense of self esteem in order to survive the process. Edit To Add - Cheryl's response was just as delightful as expected. Apparently, working with a Vet is a scam you should just google it. I feed my dog Fresh Pet dog food and apparently that kills them? My 16 year old Chihuahua that recently passed is because I am a terrible owner and she would want to confiscate my dogs because as a rescuer with access to google she must be the best dog owner ever. I recently had 2 different pups that we brought home as a trial that we did return to the rescue because we did not think we were the best fit. Both dogs turned out to be pets who would do best in a house with a fenced yard rather than an apartment. But apparently being conscious of whether an adoption is a good fit makes me an unfit and abusive owner. Jesus. What a piece of work. read more

Rompin Paws Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Arlington, Washington

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Cheryl is incredibly passionate about this cause. She's running this rescue on her own for years and we've seen that it's no easy task. She dedicated her life to finding forever homes for these angels so she has no problem turning ignorant people away. She has the dogs' best interest at heart. She is extremely knowledgeable in the dog care and nutrition - if you don't see anything wrong in going to Petco for your dog's needs, your application will be denied. We received a response to our application fairly quick with attached comprehensive details on dog care/nutrition. A phone interview and meet/greet was scheduled soon after. Her responsiveness is 10/10. Despite having more than 10 dogs at her sanctuary, Cheryl keeps it super clean, safe, and secure. We hold a mutual understanding in expecting nothing but the best for our dogs. Cheryl's no BS approach comes from her passion in wanting to end suffering, abandonment, and cruelty of these dogs. We fully support Rompin Paws Rescue. read more

STAY AWAY from this rescue! Why do you think there are so many negative reviews?? The owner, Cheryl, is the most unprofessional, extremely rude person I have ever met in my life. She yelled at us, accused us of killing this foster dog, and cussed us out. We were totally on board with her food and supplement plan for this foster, but when the dog doesn't eat for days and only eats the food without supplements, we're gonna make sure the dog eats first. She proceeds to scream at us over the phone. She will go into a rant and will not listen to you at all. Why do you think its ok to yell at people and curse? We get it, you want to feed these foster dogs the healthiest food and you know that these supplements work. But if your so overly protective, why don't you just take care of all these dogs yourself? Work on your communication skills. Show some respect to people and they will show it right back. Just look at how she responds to these reviews. She is extremely childish, is extremely defensive and CANNOT take criticism at all. Save yourself the trauma and AVOID this rescue! read more

The founder of the business found it appropriate to berate my grieving family for trying to find a home for the dogs of a family member after she very suddenly passed away. I absolutely am stunned that anyone would find it acceptable to behave this way, let alone somebody running a public business. read more

After filling out application, I find we must have been the most terrible dog parents with our beloved pets we have lost in the past from various issues, including old age and cancer. This women yelled, and berated me to no end. Do not deal with this lady. read more

First off, as I understand the principal of a rescue center, it is to rescue pets from areas that are LISTED on a kill sheet. What most, if not all, complaints are about is actions taken by the SPCA. Drop off your pets there. The rescue center is not an old west trading post or used car selling lot. Now I AM NOT part of this rescue center so can not speak for the owner. I am one who donates what I can, and will continue to do so. Bill Michaels read more

Adopted the loves of our lives from Rompin Paws Rescue and couldn't have asked for a better experience. Cheryl and her team are dedicated to the health and happiness of their pups and ensuring the right placement for the humans and the dogs. Thank you Rompin Paws! read more

Rompin Paws Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Arlington, Washington

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I don't know who in the world was speaking to me over text but this woman was so rude and sooo unprofessional I was astonished!!! I told her we were moving out of state and need to rehome a one year old lab and she literally told me "I hope you don't have children!" This woman is a true piece of work and in no way would I trust her with anything professional!!! She knew nothing of our situation and nothing of our circumstances and had the nerve to tell me she hopes I don't have kids and act like we just got this animal to abandon it!!! Absolutely astonishing!!!!! read more

I wrote an email to Cheryl asking about two sibling puppies I was interested in. As soon as she discovered I did not own a yard (even though I was very clear that I have a yard) her emails became rude. "NO, sorry ... contact us when you own a home yard and can spend hours a day with them" I tried to clear up the miscommunication politely, explaining that I will have many hours a day to care for the puppies and that I do have a yard. Instead of responding to my questions, Cheryl made assumptions about my lifestyle and ability to care for dogs "you will be too busy with work for a long time." When I asked again whether she thinks puppies can tell whether I actually own a home, Cheryl told me to google the breed so I can learn more about them. The negative reviews I've since read about Cheryl resonated with me. EDIT: I feel compelled to add that since writing this review, Cheryl wrote me several additional emails and yelp messages, first explaining why I "have to take down my review," and when I wouldn't, then explaining why no responsible person would ever adopt a dog to me. Whether or not she is right is not the issue for me. The fact that Cheryl believes she knows who "deserves" to adopt a dog, combined with the fact that she needs to convince ME that she's right about this, describes my problem with Cheryl. read more

I sat beside my husband as he interacted with Cheryl. He's too kind to write a scathing report on her lack of professionalism, but I heard enough from my vantage point to say unequivocally that she is an ideologue who cares more about inflating her sense of self-importance than actually helping these animals and the families who are interested in saving them. Not only was she rude, but some of her comments demonstrated a real lack of intelligence. The conversation took a negative turn merely a minute into the interaction with Cheryl when, unprovoked, she began to curse at my husband telling him that our house and yard we're "not fucking good enough" even though we have a 2500 sq ft home and a 1200 sq ft yard. The issue that prompted this outburst was the fact that we did not have a fenced yard. However, we live in Seattle, where very few people not earning 6 figure incomes have fenced yards, yet somehow hundreds of thousands of people are successfully raising healthy dogs. Mind you, the animal we were looking to adopt is expected to weigh 10 pounds, fully grown. These are the kinds of dogs responsible urban pet owners seek out, because we know that larger dogs need larger yards. We are not stupid just because we are not you! The most frustrating aspect of Cheryl's behavior was not her rudeness, but her incompetence and lack of intelligence. Upon explaining that he did not understand her insistence on a fenced yard due to the fact that the animal would never be outside unaccompanied, my husband was told that while that sounded reasonable she was concerned that, without a fence, "a hawk could swoop down and carry the dog away." She is apparently unaware that birds come from the sky and that a fence couldn't possibly protect an animal from a hawk or any other bird of prey. What happens to these animals if they are not adopted? Maybe Cheryl had hundreds of inquiries into this particular dog and I can understand if there were better options than my family, but if her goal is to encourage people to adopt instead of seeking out breeders, she is certainly detracting from her mission. Maybe Cheryl truly cares about these animals, but if her work is based on her passion for the animals and not her ego, she should consider a common sense approach to adoption instead of asking applicants to pass an ideological inquest. Update: Cheryl has contacted us by phone, email, Facebook, and Yelp trying to get us to take down this review. Let me make it very clear, I understand that policy is policy and I am willing to except the decision that was made. Yes, rejection may be painful regardless of the extenuating circumstances, but I did not write this review because of being rejected. This is only the 3rd Yelp review that I have ever written, so I do not do so frivolously. I wrote this review because my integrity and intelligence were questioned, as was my husband's, by someone who is an absolute stranger. The tone projected in Cheryl's response is not indicative of the manner in which we were treated earlier today. There is a way to tell someone "no" respectfully, but she does not practice this behavior. read more

My sister-in-law posted a pic of a dog in California who had been so overbred that her uterus filled with pus and she was going to die. They needed someone to pay her medical bills. I stepped up. With no intention of taking the dog. After a few bills and following her progress I became invested in this dog. Her name was Star. Almost blind and needing cataract surgery, retinal reattachment and teeth scaling we were looking at $8000 for her care and this was after her vet bills inCalifornia. The dog failed her health certification to fly out of state 3 times so she was ferried up here by car by people who could take her several hundred miles ...underground railroad style if you will. When she got to Cheryl's we already knew that I wanted to adopt her and I applied and went down to meet her. I live in Bellingham. The last one to transport the dog contacted me and warned me that she was concerned that Cheryl would try to give me the dog too early and I paid heed but knew I could care for this dog regardless. Cheryl did contact me about taking the dog and informed me I had to take the dog to her follow up vet appointment. She neglected to tell me that the financial responsibility for this appointment was hers. I paid the $400+ bill. My husband and I call her our $12,000.00 dog because that's how much we spent the first year we had her to get her medical needs met. I'll add that we were reimbursed for the $400+ vet bill when it was made known that we were now aware that there was questionable stuff going on. I like Cheryl. She's a nut. She's passionate. She cares about the dogs and her plate is overloaded. She wants the best for the dogs. In her quest for what she considers the best there are good and decent people that get overlooked and yes, her people skills could use some refining. It's going to cost her more than she might be willing to pay to engage in the judgements and swearing etc. in the form of a negative reputation. In the end it's going to cost the dogs the opportunity to be loved by a family in a forever home. I want what's best for the dogs too and there are lovely people who don't eat right or have health issues. Free radicals are everywhere. The only thing one can give a dog that won't change their ph balance is ice cubes and raw carrots. Which one to put their medication in right? People are flawed and imperfect. And genetics is a factor as well. A little leeway goes a long way. On both sides. It helps to understand her motives and it would also benefit Cheryl to understand that most people have the same kind and honest motives where the dogs are concerned. Educating people can be done respectfully and kindly. If we educated our children in school in the brash manner that is her style there would be lawsuits left and right. Education is something done with the intention of bringing about awareness and change. Putting people on the defensive is not the best way to help them grow. And I think that she employs this tactic bc she may not have felt heard in many situations and just wants to be heard. Sometimes it's easier to hear a whisper than a scream. That said... intentions are pure and perception is everything. I really hope she's successful in her dog placements and grows her network. read more

Extremely rude and foul mouth and very unfortunate helpful. Was called very bad names and was told to just toss out our animal. Kept calling me to yell more. Very aggressive woman. BEWARE!!!!!! Do not support this organization read more

Wonderful dog rescue. We were very happy with all aspects of the adoption process.

For one rude, cursing at me for ask a question about surrendering a cat. After I hung up with the very rude lady, she called me back yelling at me, mind you I live with my parents and have no choice but to rehome my cat. My mom also called after I did and asked about her policies and Cheryl was very disrespctful, cut my mom off thenhung up on my mom. I myself wouldnt want to work with a women like her. She is lacking communication and intelligence and not professional at all. Calling me names and very unprofessional and would NOT recommend this place. I would not even give this place one star. This place is a joke read more

Hello! This is a review of RPR and a response to Joey H. I just recently adopted the two sibling, pittie puppies that were up for adoption here. Cheryl was an absolute sweetheart to work with. That being said, she had 17 applications for these two girls in less than 24 hours on top of receiving five new dogs from California on three hours of sleep. This is a private shelter that hires wonderful fosters (thank you, Bree!), so let that be noted as I continue. The pups that come from here are required to be enrolled in obedience classes for 28wks and must eventually become CGC certified. She has very strict rules on the followup treatment of her animals. These are not dogs you can so easily adopt, and it's awesome that most shelters are going in this direction. Adopted dogs reentering shelters is a massive issue. Having stringent standards, like owning your home, condition and size of your fence, etc, quickly weed out unsavory people looking for an easy animal or potentially unprepared (though well meaning) owners. Making adoption standards higher reduces the chances that these beautiful animals will have to move their whole lives. What Joey H. isn't telling you is that he is also from California, and was in the middle of making a return trip from China. These were red flags that could be considered indicative of someone who's very busy, in addition to being incredibly far away (when there were a dozen applications in the state). Please. Don't let these things deter you from adopting a dog!! There are rhymes and reasons to why shelters may turn down your application. These pups had homes and folks in line that the shelter felt could be better fits or were more readily prepared. Work with the shelters and ask that they keep your applications. Work with them and find a dog that suites your lifestyle. Please don't feel offended if maybe that one doggy wasn't a good fit, or if someone else's application was chosen over yours. There are SO many fantastic doggies who need loving homes. All said, the dogs that come from here are such angels. And from what I've seen of their fosters, they do a beautiful job of training the animals. The trade off to these standards is a stunning example of well loved and trained pups. "Act like the person your dog thinks you are." read more

Rompin Paws Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Arlington, Washington

I can't believe it's taken me so long to write this review, but here goes: * My partner and I were looking to adopt last year. After an abysmal experience with one Seattle area rescue (starts with a G, ends with an R, -inge- in between), I found Cheryl at Rompin' Paws Rescue. I'm so glad I did! * After application approval and before the dogs arrived, Cheryl sent out a VERY thorough email, detailing what the puppies have been eating, stressing appropriate care such as nutritious food/not being locked in crates all day/the importance of training, and many other issues. Having worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 19 years, I wish taking a newborn home from the hospital came with such a thorough application process and instructions. I'm not kidding. * I "reserved" (that feels weird to say) a lab mix puppy through her, which came up from her rescue partner in California. "My" dog got here, and he just wasn't my dog. GREAT dog, but not my dog; I don't know how else to explain it. He didn't want me. * Another puppy (Shepard mix) was at the drop-off site (just off I-5 in Arlington), and his owner didn't show up. I met this puppy, and that was my dog. This obviously was not the plan, and I felt badly about having the other one shipped all the way up here, but I had to go with my gut. Cheryl was very understanding...even though this was obviously an inconvenience for her. I'll always be grateful for her understanding; she even gave me a hug when she saw I was upset! Jameson is now a year old, and fits in PERFECTLY with us! He was an awesome puppy, I followed Cheryl's advice, and I have THE. BEST. DOG to show for it! Happy side note: the lab mix dog was adopted within a week. :-) * Before the adoption, I joined her Rompin' Paws Rescue Facebook page, and we have since seen each other several times in real life. My partner, his kids, and I have gone up to "socialize" the dogs and puppies, ie: play with them, cuddle them, give them lots of love, (appropriately) correct them, and get them used to different people/genders/ages. We'd be there a lot more often if I lived closer! I cannot stress how WONDERFUL Cheryl is at her job. She does her best to do right by all the dogs in her shelter, and is extremely knowledgeable about how to care for them. If dogs won't be/are not treated well by people, she refuses to adopt them out/takes them back from the owner to rehabilitate them and find better homes for them. Every business has a financial bottom line, but getting a check is not her driving force. Unlike other rescues, she doesn't want to just adopt dogs out without considering the care they will receive, and the match with their owners. She's a direct person--which I greatly appreciate--and will straight-up tell you what she thinks. Smart people will listen and heed her advice. There are so many great dogs out there; please DO NOT go through a breeder! If you are open to a mixed-breed dog (which tend to be healthier anyway), Rompin' Paws Rescue should be your first stop. Check out their facebook page, and see what they do. It feels great not only to help a dog in need, but to support a business that does its job so well! Thank you to EVERYBODY at Rompin' Paws Rescue. I'm in awe of what you do! read more

Yesterday while I was at work we noticed a husky running around the street. Eventually he came Into the property I manage. We were concerned this dog would get hit by a car so my co workers and I chased him around until we grabbed him. He was terrified. Poor baby. We weren't sure where he came from or who's dog it was. We could not keep the dog here and I had to go back to work eventually. I started looking up animal shelters and called atleast 5 of them Rompin paws being one of them, and I got no answer from any shelter I called. I stood outside the office with the dog trying to calm the dog down as he was so scared and Just wanted his family. I waited to see if maybe someone drives down the road and claims him. 40 min passed and No one did. I ended up calling police to see if they could help. They said all they could do was take him to a shelter. I personally couldn't due to being at work and being the office manager. I waited for the police who was very nice and gentle with the dog, and he took him. Today this morning I receive a call back from Rompin paws and I told her it was taken care of and I appreciate the call back. The lady who called back starts going off in me asking why I would do that, police will kill him. I explained to her I tried to call multiple shelters and no one answered me she goes "why didn't you take him to any shelter" I explained how I found him while I was at work. Very rudely she says "that's not what I asked" and repeats the question. I decided I was going to end tje call there because at this point it didn't matter anymore she called late. I said I called you guys around 2pm, they didn't answer me and called me a whole day later. And yes I checked their hours first. I said to her "thanks have a good day" and as I was hanging up she starts cussing at me. How rude!!!! Terrible customer service I wish I asked for that rude ladys name. read more

I recently adopted 2 wonderful pups from Rompin Paws. I have had a lot dog adoption experience and I have to say, Rompin Paws (Cheryl and Leanna) have been extraordinarily wonderful in comparison to most! They are knowledgeable about their animals and really want a great fit for them and you. They have a fast response time, are very educated on training and tips, especially when it comes to food. My two adopted dogs coats shine and they are so healthy because of the recommended food and supplements. It has been just over a week since I picked them up and they are doing great. I am so grateful that Rompin Paws put the time, energy, and love into rescuing. My new loves most likely wouldn't have made it out if it wasn't for Cheryl and her crew and I will be forever grateful she saved them. So many thank you's "Rompin Paws", you are doing great work! read more

I'm one of the fosters that helps Cheryl with a few of the dogs. I love that she has the passion to help all these dogs. The house is always spotless and I don't care that there isn't a place for me to sit. The dogs are happy and Cheryl is happy she is with them 24/7 loves them dogs and takes wonderful care of them the food that she feeds them is really good food and is very healthy for the dogs. That being said please don't allow a couple people that write bad reviews change your minds about this rescue I think it rocks and so does Cheryl. Shawn R read more

We just got our Furbaby from her a week ago and she is amazing! An amazing addition to our family- she has adapted well so far and is more than we ever could have asked for. I agree with Lena, Cheryl is very passionate about pets AND about what we feed them along with specifics as to what it takes. They are a huge responsibility and she would like to ensure they get the best life that they can and ensure they are taken care of and loved! I admit, when I received her first email response I was overwhelmed with all of the information in it. BUT, I am grateful for her sending it to me because I understand all of that information, while overwhelming, is VERY important and I am grateful she sent that information and I am grateful she looks out for these furbabies. Many people do not realize what is in the dog food, treats and toys out there. Many are making our animals sick and causing diseases. Thank you Cheryl for doing what you do and being so passionate about what you love! Thank you for making a difference. read more

I contacted Cheryl from Rompin' Paws in regards to a dog my husband and I were looking to maybe adopt. At first, via email. she seemed nice and helpful. She asked for a good time to call me and we arranged a time. When she called me, everything changed. She asked me if I was planning to crate my future dog and I told her yes. She then proceeded to literally, and I mean literally, yell and scream at me about how horrible crating a dog is! She went off on a profanity rampage, literally cussing at me, and continued yelling and demanding an explanation as to why I and others thinking crating is humane. It was a horrible experience and I recommend that no one try to adopt through her organization. read more

I would give no stars if I could. I have had many rescue dogs over the years and they have all been very successful. On my application to Rompin Paws, there is a section where I checked reasons I would return a rescued animal - biting and aggression. I adopted Linus at the end of December. When I got him he was so fearful and timid, it took several weeks for him to relax and feel at home. When it was just us he was fine but when visitors would come over he would suddenly lunge and bite them. This was something I have never had to deal with before. I researched all kinds of sites to try and find a solution but after 3 months of trying to stop this behaviour and several incidents I realized this was not going to work out. When I asked Cjeryl if I could rehome him, she was emphatic that no, I couldn't, and I would have to return him. She was also unbelievably nasty, to the point that I had to ask her to not send my any further communications. I was very distressed at having to return Linus because I had fallen in love with him, and I really did not need her abuse as well. She asked me to wait 2 weeks so she could make room. I obliged her and we drove down on April 19th. As soon as she saw Linus she said he was fat. Yes, he put on a little weight with all the treats he was given while we were trying to train him not to bite, but I wouldn't say he was fat. She did not want to hear anything from me but immediately went into a tirade and verbally attacked me. When I pointed out that she was scaring Linus she didn't seem to care at all about her effect on him. When I went to give her some of the food he was used to so she could gradually transition him, she lost it. She said I was feeding him garbage kibble and proceeded to yell more. The food I fed him was very high quality food but she wasn't interested to hear from me. When I left I felt that I had been assaulted. I am 67 years old and I have never ever been spoken to in such a vile and disrespectful manner. She also said she would put me on the US national do not Adopt. list because I let him get fat. I didn't think he was fat, but perhaps a couple pounds over weight. She said this was abuse. I would not recommend this organization and would in fact suggest you never set foot on their property. I am sure there will be a retort back just as there was to all the other negative reviews, but people should not be subjected to this type of abuse. If she does this to people, what does she do to animals. read more

What a nasty woman to deal with. Lectured me about proper pet care after I submitted my application. Said I was abusive to my dog. Talk about turning someone off from rescuing dogs. This woman gives her cause a bad name. read more

A word of caution. I do not find Rompin Paws Rescue on the Washington State site for charities, nor do I find a business license with the state for Rompin Paws. This should be of concern. If you wish to adopt through here be prepared to play the game. Cheryl has very specific ideas on how a dog should be cared for. This includes feeding. She will provide a list of things you should be feeding your dog and your vet may not agree. After our adoption we took the list to the vet and the vet went down the line, no, no, no, definitely not appropriate for this dog, no, no. The food, our vet said it was fine IF you could get the dog to eat it. The vet was not a fan. Be prepared for Cheryl to criticize everything you know about dogs. The carrier you bring to take the dog home will be wrong, as will the collar, harness, leash. She does not discuss. If you are willing to agree with everything she says and then make your own decisions, you will be fine. It truly is a matter of playing her game. I do not doubt the passion she has. I question her business operation and her unwillingness to understand that not every dog is the same and her one size fits all just is not appropriate. We got lucky. Our furbaby has a forever home and is loved beyond measure. Just use care in dealing with Cheryl. She is and interesting character. read more

Playing with my little Chihuahua pack in the yard today jus remembering how Thankful I am for Cheryl at Rompin Paws for rescuing these fun cuties. If u are looking for a puppy or dog there are always great ones at her place. Your search isn't complete until you have checked out her available dogs! read more

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WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE, IT SPEAKS THE TRUTH. HOW CAN IT ONLY BE HER IN THE RIGHT WHEN SO MANY HAS had ISSUES WITH HER. IT'S TIME FOR HER TO DO SOME INTROSPECTION.... I agree with the reviewer Patricia. Very abrasive and rude. I reached out to her to adopt a dog. Because my kids are allergic, I "dared" asking her about what breed she thought would be good for us concerning shedding and hypoallergenic breeds. I mentioned that we never owed a dog and we would like more information. Well, she wrote to us that she saves live, that she is very annoyed by people asking those questions and so on. She did not answered ANY of my questions. She just showed me how annoyed she was with answering my email. I wrote back to her telling her that her way of answering me was very unprofessional and rude, and that I will look somewhere else, where people will be patient, educate me, listen to me, teach me. Not being judged for asking honest questions from people that have needs and never owned a dog.In my email, I was clear I did not want any business with her following her answer, yet she sent me "possible" dogs that could be a good fit, despite me clearly annoying her. YET, after finding my review on help, she emailed me with a long letter telling me how an awful person I was, poor her, blah, blah, blah". I did not read it all because I could not care LESS. She IGNORED my previous answer that I wanted NOTHING to do with her, yet I am RESPONSIBLE for her lack of understanding that I DO NOT want to do BUSINESS with her following her VERY UNPROFESSIONAL and RUDE behavior???? She's in TOTAL DENIAL. Anyway, I know she "answered" to my Yelp review, but THEN AGAIN, I did NOT read it because I could not care less on how she feels "hurt, blah, blah, blah". read more