Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

    3.4 (9 reviews)

    Services - Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

    Animal shelters

    Safe Harbor Lab Rescue Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Page 1 of Adoption Agreement
    Stacie G.

    This is definitely a BUYER BEWARE situation. I won't even go in to all of the details of my situation but suffice it to say I was an IDIOT for not asking for a copy of the contract prior to driving to the outskirts of Denver to adopt a dog (Labrador Retriever) from Safe Harbor Lab Rescue. It wasn't until my kids and I met and played with the dog at the foster family's home that we were presented with the contract to sign. The dog we adopted was a stray, I paid a non-refundable $300.00 adoption fee (and NO, for anyone who might be wondering, it cannot be converted into a donation if you return the dog). Our dog went through training with a professional trainer ($300+), and was loved and well-cared for for over three months before we ended up turning him back in to SHLR for biting issues (he bit a dog and both of my little girls). The return was recommended by our trainer and by Sherri at SHLR because it was too risky to have a dog with biting issues remain placed with a family with children. If total loss of the dog (meaning the attachment created) and a substantial amount of money for the dog, supplies, and training wasn't enough, the negative attitude of SHLR (particularly Sherri) towards the HUMAN component of this experience was truly disappointing. When I signed the contract at the foster family's home we called Sherri to question why SHLR was requiring me to submit my phone number and address to them every time I moved during the lifetime of the dog. Her response to me was that it was for protection of the dog. I replied that the entire contract seemed to give me a RIGHT to the dog but NOT ownership. Her response to me? "Well then maybe this dog isn't the right one for you." ADOPTERS: Despite paying for the dog and dedicating yourself to the dog, understand this: YOU DO NOT OWN THE DOG. SHLR (albeit passively) OWNS THE DOG. READ THE CONTRACT SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M SAYING THIS. Adopting a dog, especially when children are involved, is a very exciting notion. Nearly all children want a puppy once in their life and most parents want to give them that experience. But let me tell you this: There is ZERO protection for the adoptive parent in SHLR's Adoption Agreement (I've posted photos of the contract so that you can see for yourself). This doesn't seem all that important when you're swooning over a puppy and the foster family and the agency are telling you they have observed zero behavioral issues with the dog. HOWEVER, if you DO have to return the dog for behavioral problems, it is a very sad situation - especially if you're dealing with an organization that is run like a cold business with zero empathy for the adoptive "parent". My suggestion to people looking to adopt a dog would be to seek out a reputable trainer who can help them identify an appropriate dog vs going to an agency with a very narrow purpose/intent. In my opinion, SHLR is strictly focused on dog placement for the dog's well-being and is not committed to working with families to truly find a good forever dog fit. Another piece of advice for those folks who have never owned a Labrador before: Labs have VERY VERY VERY HIGH ENERGY, especially puppies. Don't let the foster family or anyone else tell you otherwise. If you are a busy person and cannot run the Lab AT LEAST twice a day RAIN, SNOW, OR SHINE, avoid this breed.

    Snow day at Cranmer Park!!  He loves his walks!!

    See all

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Animal Shelters 2,559 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    LIfe is Better Rescue

    LIfe is Better Rescue

    (32 reviews)

    We adopted our Leeloo here. She is our Fifth Element, our Supreme Being. (The fifth fur-kid the…read moreball-n-chain and I have rescued in our years together). She is perfect. When we adopted her July of 2011, thanks to David S.'s recommendation, she was just over a pound and tiny. The vet said he doubted she was a full eight weeks and she was a tad underweight but she had been spayed and her little baby belly had a little tiny stitch in it which healed nicely. She had a little bit of a goopy eye that she got drops for and it cleared up. Our vet gave her the initial exam for free because she was a rescue and gave her a clean bill of health. We began the fatten-up-baby-Leeloo project and now she is still small, but her proper, almost adult weight. Let's just say, she is the prefect match for our family and my heart is warmed every single time I see her especially when she crawls on my chest to wake me in the morning to point out the fact she is a Supreme Being - the Fifth Element and needs chicken. I hardly remember life without her now.

    How can I give less than 5 stars when this is the place that brought us Gaucho? We found him at a…read morePetSmart adoption event featuring a few dogs from LIBR, and fell in love. We applied that night, someone reached out within a couple of hours, and by the next day, he was a part of our family. We've had him for two weeks, and he's amazing. So nice to have the dogs in foster care before you get them. It allows the foster to really get to know the dog's personality better than if they're in a shelter, so they can help match the right dog to the right person/family. Love our sweet Gaucho!

    Angels With Paws

    Angels With Paws

    (46 reviews)

    We adopted our cat from them. She is amazing. The staff & volunteers are wonderful, caring people…read more They care for unavoidable babies that have a forever home. I highly recommend adopting from them

    "This cat would do best being placed in a home with an aggressive cat or a dog" the words of…read moreElizabeth Talamantez regarding a warm and loving cat who she refused to let me adopt because I owned a cat. The mission of Angels with Paws is great, but their "leadership" needs re-evaluation. Specially, Elizabeth Talamantez, as she is cruel and abuses the shelter's mission by trying to play God. I went to the shelter and immediately fell in love with one of their cats. The cat also took well to me. After reading the listing and visiting with the volunteer who observed how the cat and I interacted, there was no reason to believe this cat would not do well in my home with another cat. The listing never mentioned a home with existing cats being an issue, the social media post even encouraged a proper introduction with other pets in their new home, and when talking with the volunteer there was no mention of other cats being problematic. I submit my application and when I followed up, I was shocked to hear the "rationale" or lack of logic rather as to why I was being denied thr opportunity to save this cat. Elizabeth informed me that she felt it was best this friendly and affectionate cat "would do best being placed in a home with an aggressive cat or a dog" . What sick monster would subject a poor animal to an environment where they are being bullied by an aggressive cat or potentially terrified of a dog and not to mention this cat had no known history of being around dogs? Elizabeth Talamantez is not an animal advocate. She's a mentally disturbed individual who enjoys playing God by subjecting innocent animals to poorly placed homes. My family and I have consistently donated company matched donations and cat food throughout the years because we believe in the shelters mission, but we had no idea how disturbed the "leadership" is. For anyone reading this, I highly encourage you to consider donating elsewhere because your donations likely aren't being managed in a way that aligns with what the shelter claims. It's unfortunate how people will take advantage of innocent beings to fulfill their sick and twisted fantasies, while claiming to be a cat advocate.

    Safe Harbor Lab Rescue - animalshelters - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...