I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH SHELLY AND ROTTEN ROTTIE RESCUE! I was surprised to read negative YELP posted a few days ago by a person who adopted from Rotten Rottie Rescue. I had the exact opposite experience with Shelly F. and R.R.R. (Rotten Rottie Rescue). I mean no disrespect to the person who wrote it. I don't know the details of their circumstances. But because I had such a positive experience with R.R.R. and Shelly, I felt prompted to write a rebuttal in R.R.R.'s defense. First, It is important to remember that a rescues responsibility is to be first and foremost, the advocate of the animal, not the animal's adoptive owner. Since the animals do not have their own voice, the rescue is that voice and must act as such. A GOOD rescue facilitates a good match between prospective adopter and a dog who needs a home. But the animals best interest has to be primary. My family and I adopted a 3 + year old Rottie from R.R.R. I also have 4 children ages ranging from 9 to 15. I did a lot of pre-work with Shelly prior to adopting our dog. She asked all the right questions. What we were looking for and for what reason. She put all of our personal family factors into the equation and gave me a detailed list of what Rotties would be a good match for my family. She was concerned that we had a good match in a dog for our lifestyle. There are so many things to consider and she touched on them all. Do we have frequent visitors? How old are my kids and their friends? How much do we travel? What other types of pets do we have? Are we willing to train our dog or do we want a dog that has already had some training? Etc., etc. Those are just a few things but you get the point. She matches a prospective adoptive candidate in this way because - at least in my experience - R.R.R. takes every step to INSURE a SUCCESSFUL long term adoption where both pet and owner will be happy for the long-term based on an adoptive candidates lifestyle and the type of dog that suits their lifestyle best. Shelly was also VERY thorough about making SURE we could take care of the dog in the manner he should be cared for before she even considered sending someone out to inspect our home. Yes....a perspective adoptive candidates home is visited prior to adoption to make sure the home is safe for the dog. We had an in home visit with a great volunteer who met with my family and I and did a walk through of our home. It was not invasive. She asked questions and just got a feel for who we were and what the dogs life would be like once he came to live with us. After that step, we met with Shelly and the dog we hoped to adopt. After we all interacted with him and spent some time with Shelly, we were cleared in the adoption process and were able to adopt our new dog. A contract is signed that states that Shelly and RRR have the right to inquire and check up on the dog post adoption. Our new pet came home with complete shots, health check and a micro chip. She even was kind enough to send us home with some extra collars and a doggy seatbelt that fit our new family member. Since the adoption Shelly has followed up with us. In fact, her follow up was as thorough as her pre-work. Again, not invasive but she made sure our doggy was adjusting well. If I had questions, she answered them promptly and was ALWAYS available by text very quickly. She is a wealth of knowledge in regards to the Rottie breed and is very happy to dispense that info anytime we needed help. Not that it matters to everyone, but for the small adoption fee we paid, we have a beautiful 106 pound German male pure-blood Rottie who is the scariest looking gentle giant I have ever met. Not a mean bone in his body but big enough to scare away any bad guy that might show up at my door. Exactly what we wanted. So whats the bottom line? We got an AMAZING and PERFECT dog for our family. A custom fit. That was no accident. It was because Shelly F. at RRR took the time to know who we were and what we wanted before we fell in love with a dog. She facilitated the perfect adoption and I am so grateful to her. Thank you Shelly and RRR for going the extra mile and being wonderful advocates for your dogs and for introducing us to the most wonderful dog I have ever know! read more

I am in agreement with Kerri B. Shelly is an amazing lady, as well as, all of the volunteers, foster (and adoptive) parents that are a part of RRR. Our family lost our 9 year old male in October and couldn't stand to be without him. Our house was so empty; therefore, rather than be Rottie snobs, (as we had in the past by going to breeder's only) we couldn't imagine other Rottie's being put down or suffering, as we painfully witnessed with the passing of our latest. Needless to say, we decided to honor him (and our other "passed" Rotties) and look into fostering or adopting. I contacted the rescue via email, filled out paperwork and exchanged numerous texts. Note: I was able to review the legitimacy of this organization, in advance, as my sister in law & niece have worked with RRR in the past (to foster & adopt) and they raved about RRR. In any case, my Husband & I attended a Halloween event at the RRR ranch to see at least 35 dogs show up with their loving owners or foster parents (most in Halloween costumes). It was so overwhelming & beautiful. This sprawling "Rottie estate" is amazing and reflective of the time, effort, passion and sheer dedication to the breed (and the "rottie life"). There was so much room to run, a huge beautiful for them to swim & so many life size doll houses around the property where all the babies, large and small, could visit with their "friends" and be protected from the elements. RRR and team does nothing but rescue, care for and nurse these amazing creatures back to life, investing hundreds and thousands of dollars to be able to give them an opportunity to be treated with the dignity and love they deserve. If RRR was not doing their due diligence with screening applicants, inspecting homes, and ensuring she learns about the families (to ensure a perfect match) - chances are the dog could escape / run away, not be able to receive the expensive care they require (or the food) and the dogs would end up right where back where they were (i.e. sick, malnourished, beaten etc.) On a final note, those that have given a negative review to RRR really disgust me (especially those that are too cowardly to include their names on their posts). These individuals have clearly misinterpreted RRR services and the purpose of the organization (and are more concerned with themselves and their "feelings", opposed to the actual breed). Our adoption fee, (after a few visits to ensure we had the right fit for our family) for the male & female, was clearly listed on the website (and honored). Shelly is an honest, hard-working gal with plenty of nightmare stories about where the dogs came from (or how a few needed to be returned to her); therefore, refuses to allow dogs to be placed with unfit parents, families and living conditions. Thank you RRR for all you do and our family with continue to support in any way we can, fostering, future adoptions or financial donations. Rock on RRR! read more

**WARNING** **WARNING** read with caution: RRR: is a wonderful organization. Highly recomend it if you are looking for a healthy, ready to rehome rottie... she certainly does her due diligence when taken on the responsabilities of the dogs, and rehoming them.... (After reading some reviews I feel I need to specify again, this woman is dedicated to the safety of the dogs... if there is a reason why you are NOT approved, its not out of harm, or malicious judgment I PROMISE, so lets keep this in mind when reading some of the nastier reviews....) To any of you who have ever had your hearts broken by your rottie, youll know how difficult it is to work through the grieving process. I reached out to Shelly a few months after my BEST friend passed away. I had no idea what a big rottie advocate Shelly was when I first met her. I though she was just a good lady rehoming dogs. She introduce my son and I to 2 wonderful boys. I explained to her how difficult this first visit was for us (mostly me). I didn't know if she could possibly understand and empathize with the heart break I was experiencing at that exact moment. My emotions and feelings were real and raw with the loss of my BEST friend, my therapy, my reason to come home and relax after a hard day... How could anyone possibly "GET IT". She explained to me the adoption process takes time, and these feelings of guilt I had for looking at other rotties were normal. As I was talking to her, she said "I understand your grief, but just think about how happy your lokie would be if he knew you rescued his brother or sister.... " At that moment I felt like maybe she understood... so, I went home and researched the hell out of her. The passion, love, and dedication I came across was unbelievable.... All of a sudden I realized... the woman I met a few days earlier was like, the voice for misfit rotties that were abandoned, or neglected. The dedication this woman has to the breed is pure! I think she's helped over 700 rotties find new homes in 2017! Super cool organization she has going on. I would highly recommend working with Shelly and her team. Let it be for adoption of your new rottie baby, or just out of interest for animals in need. Support your neighbor, Support the woman who's made this her life's work, most importantly, Support our Rotten Rotties read more

**WARNING** **WARNING** RRR: is a wonderful organization. Highly recommend it if you are looking for a healthy, ready to rehome rottie... she certainly does her due diligence when taken on the responsibilities of the dogs, and rehoming them.... (After reading some reviews I feel I need to specify again, this woman is dedicated to the safety of the dogs... if there is a reason why you are NOT approved, its not out of harm, or judgment I PROMISE, so lets keep this in mind when reading some of the nastier reviews....) To any of you who have ever had your hearts broken by your rottie, you'll know how difficult it is to work through the grieving process. I reached out to Shelly a few months after my BEST friend passed away. I had no idea what a big rottie advocate Shelly was when I first met her. I though she was just a good lady rehoming dogs. She introduce my son and I to 2 wonderful boys. I explained to her how difficult this first visit was for us (mostly me). I didn't know if she could possibly understand and empathize with the heart break I was experiencing at that exact moment. My emotions and feelings were real and raw with the loss of my BEST friend, my therapy, my reason to come home and relax after a hard day... How could anyone possibly "GET IT". She explained to me the adoption process takes time, and these feelings of guilt I had for looking at other rotties were normal. As I was talking to her, she said "I understand your grief, but just think about how happy your lokie would be if he knew you rescued his brother or sister.... " At that moment I felt like maybe she understood... so, I went home and researched the hell out of her. The passion, love, and dedication I came across was unbelievable.... All of a sudden I realized... the woman I met a few days earlier was like, the voice for misfit rotties that we're abandoned, or neglected. The dedication this woman has to the breed is pure! I think she's helped over 700 rotties find new homes in 2017! Super cool organization she has going on. I would highly recommend working with Shelly and her team. Let it be for adoption of your new rottie baby, or just out of interest for animals in need. Support your neighbor, Support the woman who's made this her life's work, most importantly, Support our Rotten Rotties. read more

review Judy Bartinelli in the last week I am very happy Rotten Rottie Rescue exist. We adopted a wonderful full of love Rottie that just needed much love from someone. What Shelly does is a wonderful thing to rescues and place them in loving homes. I very much like the fact that she will have homes checked out to make sure they will go to good homes and receive the love they need and not to be put back into terrible situations. Our baby boy we adopted has special needs, we wanted to go on a trip but was afraid to board him in fear he would not be taken care of properly or receive the love he needs. Shelly was so kind to offer to care for him while we were gone. He was in a nice home, was given love and even got Christmas presents :). I am grateful for Rotten Rotties/Shelly. We are going to be looking to adopt another Rottie from her very soon. Judy Bartinelli in the last week I am very happy Rotten Rottie Rescue exist. We adopted a wonderful full of love Rottie that just needed much love from someone. What Shelly does is a wonderful thing to rescues and place them in loving homes. I very much like the fact that she will have homes checked out to make sure they will go to good homes and receive the love they need and not to be put back into terrible situations. Our baby boy we adopted has special needs, we wanted to go on a trip but was afraid to board him in fear he would not be taken care of properly or receive the love he needs. Shelly was so kind to offer to care for him while we were gone. He was in a nice home, was given love and even got Christmas presents :). I am grateful for Rotten Rotties/Shelly. We are going to be looking to adopt another Rottie from her very soon. read more

I love Rotten Rottie rescue and everything that Shelly does for this breed. We adopted our first rescue Lilly in 2014, she had been part of an entire litter that had been dumped at a pound in CA and some of the puppies came to Rotten Rottie Rescue. Shelly was very thorough and honest about the process, we had a home visit and filled out the application and brought Lilly home. it was a several day process Then in 2016, we wanted another Rottie and again reached out to Rotten Rottie. We loaded up the car with 2 chihuahuas and Lilly and drove down to see about a good fit with everyone. We met Bronx and fell in love. Our pack was complete. Our Chihuahuas passed away a few years ago at ages 16 and sadly my best friend Bronx passed this past November a week before Thanksgiving. He was an exceptional dog! My protector. I kept watching the Rotten Rottie site and the adoption page in the last month or so waiting to see that special "one" . I was now ready for another Rottie. I reached out to Shelly, she remembered us, we chatted and I asked her if she might have a good fit for us. She got back to me within a day or so and we arranged for us, including Lilly to come down and meet Bandit. We spent the evening getting the dogs to know each other as well as us. We brought Bandit home this afternoon and he is settling in great! Shelly picked the best dog for us. Some may say Shelly is picky about the adoptions but these dogs have been for the most part put through hell and Rotten Rottie Rescue is there to make sure they find their Furever homes. I appreciate everything they do for this breed and am grateful to have been given the chance to adopt all 3 babies from there. read more

I have had "aggressive" type dogs since the early 70's. I say "aggressive" only because this is what insurance companies state. I got Zack from Shelly in May of 2014. Zack had been with her off and on for 8 months without a successful "Furever" home. Zack and I have been together now five and a half years. During this time, we have spent many hours in professional training. Like most male Rottweiler's, Zack is protective, but one must respect his feelings. Zack now does well with people and also with most dogs. Shelly was completely up front with me when I adopted Zack and has kept in touch over the years. She has chosen to take on a difficult job trying to rescue Rottweilers. As I stated above, insurance companies dislike and in some cases will not even insure your home if you have a Rottweiler. I have been purchasing third party insurance for Zack because my homeowner's insurance will not cover a Rottweiler. These are special dogs and what Shelly does is truly a wonderful service for these Rottweilers. Yes she does a due diligent to make sure the dogs have a good home; more power to her. The important point is that she is looking out for the welfare of the dogs as she should be. This is not about you, but is about the safe and happy welfare of the Rottweilers. I would certainly highly recommend Rotten Rottie Rescue to any individual that is truly willing to spend the time to take care of a Rottweiler properly. read more

Rotten Rottie Rescue saves lives!!! Me & my champion pedigree Rottie have done volunteer work for Shelly for several years. Shelly operates ethically with integrity. She puts the needs of her rescues above all else, including her own, her health, her family, her friends. She has an unrelenting love and passion for these dogs. The volume of rescues that she's accommodated with the love and support of her expansive network of volunteers is mind boggling. At her events, she'll coach participants in how to best ensure positive interactions between Rotties. She takes the time to really assess people & puppy personalities to determine best suitable adoptions. Most reasonable people understand her necessity for rules, expectations, and the careful guidelines she follows for the best possible outcome for these fur babies which has been established as Rescue standards and based on her own experience. And... Shelly is still human. No one is perfect, she deserves respect and appreciation for the the sacrifices she's made of time, money, and resources, which are absolutely incredible. Just take one look at the layout of her home and you'd know without question what her priorities are. Anyone who says otherwise lacks any and all credibility or right to contradict or judge. Love you Shelly! - Me & Juggs. read more

I saw facebook (Rotten Rottie Rescue) a Rottie who needed a foster home right away before the shelter put him to sleep. So I called Shelly to volunteer to foster the Rottie. it was about a month ago and it was my first time fostering an animal. Shelly provided me with a crate, food, bed, medicine, hair brush ... etc and even brought an Empowered K9 Trainer to assist in the first day. I have learned a lot about Rottie's and also see how compassionate and dedicated Shelly is for the Rotties. It was such a good experience for me and for Ruger Jr. who we fostered. We only had Ruger Jr. for about 2 weeks when he was adopted. Shelly was always available for any questions or concerns the I had. Rotten Rottie Rescue does such a great job finding these lost rottie's and making sure they get the best care. They spend a lot of time taking care of the dogs and also making sure they get the best home for them. I would encourage anyone who wants to have a Rottie to reach out to Rotten Rottie Rescue instead of buying from any breeder or pet shop. They will make sure you get the right Rottie for your family. They make sure the Rottie and the family are good matches. I am looking myself to adopt a rottie once we find the right one for my family. read more

I'm reading these negative reviews on here and they are honestly laughable! They have a very selective process in place to ensure that the dogs they rescue go to a family that will love them forever and not give up on them like the previous people did for whatever reason. So if you aren't the right fit, for whatever reason, Shelly won't place a dog with you, it's as simple as that. If you don't like it, the pound has a lot of dogs that need homes, there are other rescues as well. We have fostered dogs and adopted dogs from Rotten Rottie Rescue and we are very appreciative of everything they do for this breed and for the people that they place their rescued dogs with. They rescued our boy Oso from a less than ideal situation and I thank them everyday for placing him in our lives so he could be with a family that loves him. The people that run the rescue are extremely selfless and ALWAYS put the animals first, many times sacrificing sleep and do so even when some of the dogs they rescue come with the financial burden of different ailments. Follow their Facebook page and you'll see first hand what they do for the dogs on their care. It's amazing! Thanks guys! read more

I adopted a Rotti from Rotten Rottie Rescue in December. They had me fill out a very thorough application, then came to my home and did a walk through of my place to make sure I could provide a good home for a dog. This process took less than 5 days, and they were very professional. Shortly after that I got a call that they had found a dog that fit the criteria I had asked for (yes, you can tell them you need a dog that is good with cats or other dogs, etc.). That evening I met Finn McCool (formerly called Kane), and he became a part of my family. Finn had his shots and they had gotten him neutered, so I knew my new pup was in good shape. Rotten Rotti Rescue has e-mailed me periodically to make sure everything is going well for Finn and for me. They always offer to help if I need it (they have resources for dog trainers if you need one). This is a wonderful dog rescue group. If you are looking for a good dog and an excellent adoption experience, you can't go wrong with Rotten Rotti Rescue. This is an amazing group, and they do wonderful work. read more

I adopted my baby Titan through Rotten Rottie Rescue on July 4th of 2011 they were awesome Shelly was very helpful and knowledgeable and offered me all the information I could possibly need to address any training he might need and any issues that he might have from having been a stray and mistreated. He has grown into an enormous boy 31 inches tall at the shoulder and 175 pounds of muscle, healthy as a horse ,strong as an ox and a huge part of our life. Titan has overcome having valley fever which is a very very long bout of liquid medication twice a day everyday and he was so patient and tolerant and he came out the other side just fine. He is the sweetest kindest most loving dog I've ever had and I've had dogs all my life. I give Shelly a lot of credit for the way she treated him immediately after rescuing him.she taught him he could trust again and then when he came to me he bonded like super glue. Rotten Rottie rescue does an awesome job he is down 5 stars all the way. Keep up the amazing work Shelly! read more

I'd give zero stars if I could. The woman who runs this rescue is insane. I spent two hours on her application filled with bizarre, nonsensical questions only to be denied because, heaven forbid, I have dirt around my house. Can you imagine the audacity of a person living in the desert and having dirt around their house?! Clearly that makes it an unfit home for animals who were bred to be outdoor working dogs and are regularly part of search and rescue teams. She said it's a valley fever risk. I have several dogs who visit my home regularly and none have ever left with valley fever. This is a desert, every back yard is a risk for valley fever after every monsoon season dust storm. She didn't have a real reason to deny my application, but she did the best she could to come up with something because someone who lives in her rich neighborhood offered her more for the dog. My advice to anyone looking for a rottweiler, go check your local shelters or Craigslist. Rotten Rotties isn't worth the headache. read more

We've owned, bred and showed Rotties for over 30 years. Now our Rotties are only rescues. Shelly is the most knowledgeable, caring and selfless person regarding these Rotties. Her love for the dogs, compassion for their experiences and care provided for their individual needs is apparent and exceptional. Additionally she follows up after the adoption process is complete if you're lucky enough to adopt a dog from Rotten Rotties. Some people may think they'd love a Rottie and unfortunately, many times it's these same people who bring their dogs to the same shelters that Shelly rescues from. A Rottie isn't for everyone and Shelly, thank goodness, scrutinizes each application with the dog's best interest at heart. Rotten Rottie Rescue is an excellent rescue organization, best we've found, who will help you every step of the way and help match you to a wonderful dog that needs a forever home. read more

Shelly does a great job rescuing and adopting out Rotties. After reading several of these reviews, I think people have to realize that this breed is not for newbie dog owners, and that's why the adoption application is so long and involved. A Rottie is not a Golden or a Lab (both of which are great dog breeds); they are powerful, strong-willed animals, and you have to be an alpha to control the dog or the adoption will not work. Moreover, the Rotties at the rescue have had a rough past, which makes adoptions even more challenging. Shelly looks out for the safety and well being of the dog, not the prospective owner, so please keep that in mind. I really appreciated seeing a history of each dog, and each dog's bad habits are pointed out, both on the website and in person when you visit. This is done, once again, to ensure a successful adoption. There aren't many shelters that do that. read more

Great facility and Shelly is awesome, I've been following RRR for about 2 years now and have adopted a puppy form her. She made sure the house hold was a good match for the puppy before allowing me to accept. Shelly has helped me with any questions I've ever had regarding the puppy. It's just comical to read some negative reviews here about RRR as they don't match the place at all or maybe those people are salty cause their application was probably denied due to them being incompetent to handle a Rottie. Those people needs to put in some work in for betterment of the rescue before pointing fingers at anyone. Now those salty negative people probably gonna say negative things about this review or myself but I'm just gonna chill and laugh at their frustration. Lol :-D Keep up the good work Shelly...we got your back!!! read more

When it comes to love for the Rottweiler breed, there is no rescue like Rotten Rottie Rescue, and there is no one like Shelly. I have fostered two Rottweilers with this organization and everyone from other fosters, Shelly, and trainers were competent and compassionate. Shelly will take back her adopted dogs if needed, but she works extremely hard to make sure every placement is a forever home. She often hosts free training nights at her home to help fosters and adopted rottie parents understand the breed. When a rottie is picked up and at the county shelters, Shelly or other volunteers are the first there trying to save lives. I have been involved in 2 other rescues, and their commitment to the rotties is unparalleled. Adopt don't shop! And consider a rottie- they are the best dogs ever. read more

I have been a foster for this rescue for about three months, and have had the pleasure of having 5 wonderful rotties so far. Shelly is very supportive, and is very on top of it. She is open and honest about the history of the dogs, if it is known, and will always provide whatever the dog needs - crate, bed, bowls, food, treats, leash, training, etc. The top priority is always the doggies, getting them ready for adoption, and finding them a suitable forever home. I will continue to foster for Shelly in the future, even if I do get too attached and have to adopt one :) I highly recommend fostering if you are wanting to get to know a dog before making the commitment. Rotten Rottie Rescue and Shelly do amazing work for this breed, and I am grateful to be apart of it all! read more

Yelp, for whatever reason has decided to only show 12 reviews out of about 60 reviews that have been written. If you would like to read more reviews about our rescue from people who have fostered and adopted and volunteered for us, please click on reviews not recommended by yelp. If they would take into consideration all of the reviews that were written about us, we would have five stars. Apparently their computer software has determined that those reviews were "fake" but if you read them yourself you will know that they are written by people who have real life experiences with our rescue. Almost on a daily basis I get calls from companies who claim to be able to fix this problem for a fee. I refuse to spend money so that yelp does their job. read more