This place is a joke. If I could give less then one star I would. My wife and I walked in with interest in just simply looking at dogs. The girl at the counter was possibly the rudest, heartless, and most cold woman I have ever met. She must really hate her life if finding animals loving homes makes you that mean of a person. That was my first time in a kill shelter in a long time and that will be my last. We walked out without seeing any dogs. Adopter beware! There are many other shelters out there. Take your time and look elsewhere. Choose not to support this shelter or any other kill shelters. read more

Only chiming in because I see some folks had a similar experience so I'm glad its not just me. First off, I want to thank this organization for what they do and thank the volunteers who work here. This isn't for all of you. That being said, how about a little less judgmental/rude/interrogative behavior towards kind hearted people looking to take in an animal? I'm not sure if this is a PRE-Job for TSA but it appears to be some training ground for screening out just about anyone who ever even considered using a non-organic shampoo on a an abandoned puppy that just spent the last 2 months living in a gutter eating poop. OH, and don't be rude to children who want to pet kittens. If my child DIDN'T want to pet a kitten, there would be something wrong with her. read more

1/6/2017- Late last night I heard back from the vet at the Humane Society and they offered to perform the surgery to have the two tumors removed. Although it took quite awhile to get a hold of someone, I am satisfied with the sensitivity and responsibility they are taking. Rating updated from one star to four. Thank you! -- I rescued a 6 year old lab/retriever mix from the Seattle Humane Society less than three weeks ago. The staff and volunteers were very helpful and friendly during the adoption process and answered all of my questions, which I had many. During my second visit with her before adoption, I noticed two growths and inquired about them (one on her left hind leg, the other near her vulva area). I was reassured by the staff member that these were completely normal and she was given a clean bill of health by the vet, albeit being a bit overweight. Me not having had a female dog before, I decided to believe what this person said and went along with the process for adoption. Less than a week later I took her to my local vet to have her normal vaccinations done as well as a general checkup. When seeing the vet, she pointed out both of the growths I had previously inquired about and recommended I have them aspirated to ensure they were not cancerous. I agreed and had them checked the next day. A couple days later once the tests came back, the vet called to tell me that the tumors were cancerous and she recommended doing an ultrasound to see if they have metastasized and spread to her spleen, which is pretty common according to my vet. That is another $400 on top of the $300 to have the tests completed. I understand that having a dog can be expensive and they do require medical care. However, I trusted the Seattle Humane Society to be honest with me about any of the underlying health issues or concerns the dog I was adopting may have. If they had told me that there was even a possibility for her to have cancer and need some sort of treatment, I would not have adopted her. I have been in contact with the Seattle Humane Society and my vet as far as options on how to proceed. When I do get a person on the phone at Seattle Humane, I seem to get the run-around and no one returns my calls. I have lost hope that they will be willing to do anything for her, or even be willing to take her back so they can proceed with treatment. I am disappointed and heartbroken by this situation and fear that I may end up having to put her down because I cannot afford to have a multiple thousand dollar surgery performed. read more

Very disappointed in my interaction. I am an experienced and very loving large dog owner but was discouraged from meeting any of the large dogs at Seattle Humane because I have a cat and live in a busy neighborhood! I went to PAWS and got a sweet dog without the hassle of dealing with Seattle Humane. Don't waste your time here read more

My parents got my sister from here. I kid, I kiiiid!! I'm an only child and my first dog, a beagle/terrier mix, growing up was basically my sister, my best friend, confidant, and she never told anyone my secrets. Over the years, this place has remained an Eastside stopping place for un-wanted animals. From the ever too plentiful dogs and cats, to small rodents and birds. Staff here can get a bit hurried but they try, I mean if I had to deal with the world's dumbest creatures every day, AKA humans, I'd go bonkers! I salute everyone in this place, especially the host of volunteers!! One word to the wise, RESEARCH, the breed of dog or cat you are considering. Just like humans each breed has their own characteristics. As in humans, some traits just don't work out with everyone. As Mr. Price is Right, Bob Barker, use to say after each and every show.... Please remember to spay and neuter your pets to help control the pet population.... read more

I've been here many times and they have a handful amount of pets for adoption. Usually on their website there will be a list and picture of pets animal for adoption. Always something to check out before you come here. And if you are seriously interested you should give them a call to see if anyone has holds on the pet you are interested it. On another note, I read in a different review saying that adopters beware and to go to another shelter. I want to say that this is an adoption center. You are here to ADOPT a pet. These poor animals did not choose what shelters they are put into, so give every shelter an equal opportunity. I was here a couple weeks ago and the volunteers that devote there time in caring for these animals said that they do not kill any animals. My encounters with the people running this place were kind and educated in these animals. *Side note* It'll be really cool if a dog park was created within the facility for these animals to run around and play!!! [maybe if everyone donated a little, the community can make this happen!!] read more

My husband and I visited with the intent of just looking, no pressure to take home a dog. We really wanted a nice big, mild-mannered dog who would get along with our cats but be okay in a small apartment. We both manage to be pretty active and knew we could fold a big dog into out lives easily, so long as they didn't get neurotic in a small space! We got there and looked around, and sure enough there were several dogs who met our criteria. My husband fell in love with a shepherd/lab mix almost right away. I'd intended to get a female dog and hadn't meant to get such a big animal: he's nearly eighty pounds! But we visited with him and I was won over: he was friendly, bright, and absolutely wonderful with the volunteers and the people he knew well. He'd been very well socialized with people! There were a couple caveats: though very young, our guy had hip dysplasia and had the operation to get his hip removed. And he hadn't had a cat test. The volunteers asked us a lot of questions about our lifestyle and history with dogs and found us acceptable. I've volunteered in shelters before and had an idea what they'd ask, but I was very happy with how in-depth their questions were! Even though it was late in the day, they did a cat test for us and he was found to be good with cats. Turns out his foster-owner had three, it just wasn't listed on his chart! Hip dysplasia isn't a dealbreaker: it happens to a lot of large breeds and the dog can still have a full, active life. My guy had his operation pretty recently. The vet who was also his foster-owner told us all about the care they'd given him so he could walk again. A lesser shelter might have put him down, but he was young, healthy and energetic with a wonderful personality! The operation is kind of expensive and I can only imagine the labor they did in his initial physical therapy. We put a hold on our dog so we could come back with a car the next day, and have some supplies at home. This meant a $50 deposit on credit card. We were back the next day and a volunteer asked us a few more questions, had us sign a bunch of forms and pay the fee. Though his care must have been expensive, we were given the "special needs" rate for our dog. It was a nice surprise and entirely unexpected. I'm not sure the vet would like to be mentioned by name in an effusive Yelp review, but she was amazing. It was clear that she really loved this dog, and as his vet and foster mom she put a lot of work into making him adoptable. She even gave me her email address so I could ask questions and send her pictures. If you're looking for a place to adopt, this is it. The staff is amazing: they didn't talk down to or interrogate us, even though they seemed really concerned that our dog went to a home that could handle him. I could imagine coming off a little hostile about it without intending to, but they were very nice and enthusiastic! By the by, the pup is doing very well! He came home with rock solid house training and is wonderful with my cats. (Thank you so much, foster mom!) He's putting on muscle and gaining endurance. He's very well suited to a lifestyle of a small apartment with lots out walks, and he's just the most friendly, lovable monster of a pet! The Humane Society really did right by him. read more

Seattle inhumane society is not good. I was just sold a lab puppy, and after all the paperwork and $ was done, they showed me his medical records that they withheld. I was told he was fine, just a little diahrea. But it turns out, he's been on medication for a week for his tummy problems, and has a serious case of kennel cough. Which is now full on pneumonia! His first night at his new home was spent coughing and throwing up bile. Also, it wasn't until I was home that I was told about his medical issues. They called and said "I forgot to take his meds?" "What meds?" I asked. And then it unveiled just how sick my pup is. Horrible horrible situation caused by the inhumane society. read more

We officially adopted Phinney in May from SHS, but she unofficially came from our friends who were fostering her mom and the rest of her litter. We met Phinney when she was 6 weeks old in a home environment. What started as "just playing with puppies" turned into a serious discussion about getting a dog. After 3 weeks of hemming and hawing, we made the leap to dog owner! The good thing about knowing the foster parent is that you get to "reserve" a puppy so we didn't have to queue up when the shelter opened to snap up a puppy. Phinney transitioned almost directly from our friend's home to ours, with a short 10 hour stint at SHS for spaying. The adoption process at SHS is very efficient. The employees there are more brusque and matter-of-fact than warm and gushy (like I imagine animal lovers to be). I guess they see so many puppies and kittens that they become immune to cuteness. My adoption officer was monotone and bored, but he did process my paperwork very quickly. The environment there on a Friday afternoon borders on chaotic - many people coming in and out looking for new family members - but the staff managed them well. While I was waiting, I eavesdropped on some conversations with potential adopters - I liked how the staff were honest about individual animal's temperaments and behaviors. They didn't try to sugarcoat or lie in order to get the dog out the door and into a home. If the dog wasn't well-trained or good with children, they would say so. After Phinney came home with us, we received followup calls from the shelter after the first month and then a few months after that to see how she was doing in her new home. We also received a free 6 week training class with our adoption, but we never used it as we found a trainer closer to home. I have to mention that the shelter isn't very good at pinpointing the breeds that make up the dog's genetic makeup. Phinney was said to be a "lab mix" but when we got her DNA tested, she came back with absolutely 0% lab or retriever. The largest breed represented was border collie at 25%. She's also a little bit of terrier, a little bit of chow, and 50% "unknown". It was mostly fine with us - we were a bit disappointed she wasn't a lab - but I wouldn't rely on their breed classifications too much when choosing a dog. read more

A couple weeks ago I drove all the way there to adopt a dog.. they welcomed me and made me feel comfortable. After that I found a dog that I really really loved! One thing they don't understand is that they try to make it impossible to adopt a dog. While they were calling my apartment to see if I could have a dog one of the workers.. particularly a blonde was giving me a dirty stare and mouthing something very quietly to one of the other workers.! I felt so insulted on top of that the lady who was attending me was very very rude. They have really cute dogs but snotty and rude staff. They make it so hard to adopt. NOT COMING HERE EVER AGAIN. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE. read more

17 years ago, I adopted a kitten named Wilbur during one of the adoptathons hosted at the Phinney Ridge Community Center. A year later, I adopted a young cat named Apricot from the shelter. Both adoption experiences were extremely smooth, with the shelter staff making sure that these cats were going to forever homes while also providing great care to them during their transition period with the shelter. I still remember our vet being very impressed with the care and attention they received and we're benefiting from it 17 years later. It's been 17 years and the stories about the adventures of Wilbur and Apricot could easily fill a bookcase. And neither of them have any intention of slowing down. Thank you Seattle Humane Society for giving these two amazing animals such a sound start. I cannot imagine my life without them in it. read more

The Seattle Humane Society does incredible work for animals and their owners. I did not adopt my pugs, Blaire & Claire, from the shelter, but both of them had positive experiences being spayed/microchipped in the Vet Clinic. While the facility is located in Bellevue, it was well worth the drive during traffic hours to transport them for their surgeries which also conveniently came with a free nail trim that we opted for. Additionally, I was extremely pleased with the organization of the front desk and how welcoming and accommodating the receptionist, Savannah, was. It was clear that she genuinely cared about the animals being taken to surgery and was very gentle in her approach with them. She answered all my questions thoroughly and was very easy to talk to. I had never seen such a shining clean animal facility until coming to Seattle Humane and had full confidence Blaire and Claire were going to be well taken care of here prior to their surgeries. We would not hesitate to return to Seattle Humane should the need arise! :) read more

(Disclaimer: I volunteer here so my perspective may be a bit skewed.) This is probably one of the best shelters in the area for a number of reasons, including: * Really well trained staff. They're pretty good at helping you find a pet * Newly remodeled facilities. The cat family rooms are a fun way to meet the cats. The dog kennels are really clean and well kept. * Dog training programs are helpful and they've started to discount training sessions for adopters * Fun volunteer jobs such as cat fostering and the visiting pet program (where you go out with your dog and visit nursing homes, etc) They have dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats and occasionally birds and chinchillas. Kitten season is around May to October. Note that they aren't doing the pet request program anymore that was reviewed in Zarah M's review. Please try looking for your pet here before going to a breeder or pet store! read more

I adopted my new dog from Seattle Humane last weekend. My initial visit took place on 4/17, a Friday afternoon. I fell in love w/ a lab mix and that was that. The volunteers & staff were friendly, knowledgeable and patient. We did intros with my other dogs on Saturday at the shelter and Sunday my new buddy came home! I like that the staff took the time to allow for introductions and make sure he'd be a good fit for our family. This is our 3rd rescue dog and I highly recommend Seattle Humane if you are looking to adopt! Re: The review that mentions holds:You can't do a hold over the phone, but CAN place a hold on a pet once you've met him/her in person. read more

As part of my summer soul searching, I decided that it was time I did something "feel good." Given my love for furry animals, I decided to volunteer at the Humane Society. I'm currently a weekly volunteer in Vet Services - and I love it. I get in at 7 am on Mondays to kick off my week (Believe me, until I started volunteering, I did not get up this early in the morning to go anywhere, let alone to do some form of work.) - and it's always put me in such a good mood first thing in the morning! Not only can you get a fantastic deal on a cat or dog (They have "specials" from time to time on their animals depending on demand during the different seasons.), but they also have the small furry animals for adoption too - rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats (Yes, you can have a pet rat. If I didn't have cats, I would have gotten the pair.). The small animal selection varies, so call ahead if you're looking for something a little more unique than a bunny rabbit. .. And if you get a dog, you get one free dog training course! That's a great deal right there!! This is in addition to up-to-date shots, spay/neuter, and microchip you already get for your low adoption fee. Plus, all adoptions come with a free visit to a local vet (within a reasonable amount of time) so you can get reassurance that your pet is in good health (if not, you can return the pet for "medical reasons" and get your adoption fee back - but I've never seen this). The facility is huge, and animals (and grounds) are well-cared for. They have good-sized room and board for all the animals, and staff that diligently take care of them. In addition to adoption services, the Humane Society also offers a low-cost clinic (your basic vet care - and low cost spay/neuter surgeries), dog behavior and training programs, as well as programs to help seniors or "disabled" persons to take care of their pets. There is a lot of great outreach and community education offered through the Humane Society; there are great educational tours that have been prepared for kids so that they can get an early exposure to pet education. They're always looking for some volunteers! If your current situation doesn't allow you to have a pet, definitely consider coming in for a few hours a week and spending some time with the little creatures. As someone pointed out to be recently, yes, you could get paid to help walk dogs and clean cages - but then it wouldn't be so fun and satisfying. I've gotten to meet a lot of really great people (staff, fellow volunteers) while volunteering here. read more

This place is fantastic, hands down! I highly recommend it. I went here the first weekend in December to see about adopting a cat. It was a little overwhelming at first, as the place was packed with families looking to adopt new animals for the holidays. However, once I inquired at the desk about a couple of cats I had seen online, things calmed down a bit and I was able to relax. One of the cats I had been eying was recently moved to foster care, but the other was available to visit in one of the "Cat Condo" rooms that were scattered throughout the building. These condos had 5-6 cats per room and you had the ability to play with them and see how they interacted with you (as well as other cats). There was a handy binder with details on all the cats. This setup was really excellent because you were able to see the cats in a more normal environment and see how well you got along with each other. The cat I was previously interested was, uh, not as friendly as I had been hoping. We unfortunately did NOT get along. So I decided to go from room to room, interacting with the cats and seeing if any of them clicked with me. After seeing all the cats in the condos, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to go home with a cat. But I remembered that a girl at the front desk told me there was a portable outside with additional cats, so I headed out there. And that is where I found my kitty! Since she didn't get along with other cats, she was in her own cage. She was quite friendly and we hit it off immediately. I went to the front desk to inquire if I could talk to someone about her. I waited about 10 minutes and then I met with the nicest girl ever. I wish I knew what her name was because she was truly awesome. She talked me through everything about the cat, from past health issues to general temperament. It was really great to be able to talk to someone so in depth about her. After being with the cat for a bit, I decided that she was the one for me. I had to wait a bit to get the adoption finalized, but it was quick and easy and everything was explained to me in depth. I was in and out of the Humane Society quite quickly after choosing my cat. ***I will note that adoptions fees are waived in December for all cats over 1 year old. So my gorgeous Delilah was absolutely free! If you're interested in getting a cat, now is definitely the time to go. Unfortunately, after all my adoption successes at the Humane Society, Delilah and I did not turn out to be a match. Once she became adjusted to my home, it was clear that we were of two different temperaments and my lifestyle did not match what she needed. She was extremely high-strung and hyperactive, while I am much more laid-back and calm. I worked hard with her to try and acclimate her to my home environment, but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. It was with great sadness that I decided Delilah would be better suited with another family in a larger home, where she would have more space to run around and be much happier. I took advantage of the Humane Society's 30 day policy, in which you can return a pet if the adoption does not work out. I returned within this time period and explained the differences between Delilah and I and how, as much as I wanted it to work, the two of us were not a good fit. We just weren't the right match. It was a difficult decision - and an emotional one - for me, but was the right move for both of us. The women at the Humane Society were very polite during the return process and it went quickly and smoothly. I was very sad to see Delilah go and I still wish it hadn't come to that. I hope she finds another family that is a better fit. Overall, my experience with the Humane Society was excellent. I wish my adoption had worked out better, but the adoption experience could not have gone any better. I highly recommend them and would without a doubt send friends and family there in the future if they are looking for a new pet. read more

I was searching for a pet cat, and I found CC on Seattle Humane Society. She is such a beautiful chub chub cat, and she is still shy. However, the staff at the shelter did warn me about CC's behavior, so I am just letting CC being herself daily at my home. The paperwork process was quick, and the staff clearly show their enthusiasm when it comes to animals. I am very glad to have such a place like this to help out with homeless/abused/neglected/abandoned pets. Everyone deserves a second chance, including animals! read more

I was blessed to find a sweet dog needing a loving home. I was also blessed with understanding staff who went above and beyond to make sure the pup could come home with me as soon as possible. I understand policy is policy, but I was slightly furious when the people who put the hold on the dog didn't show up or call saying they changed their mind. The only thing I hated dealing with is placing policy over the well being of an animal. Twice I visited the dog I was interested in and I even waited to see if he was going to get taken to his forever home- my husband and I lucked out. Next thing I know I see the vet checking out the pup and I was told they made the decision to let him come home with us. One of the intake volunteers remembered when we visited the dog initially. I almost cried. I fought so hard not to fall in love with this little guy and everything fell into place. The adoption fee was reasonable- I was ready to spend $300 to take him home. It ended up being less so I purchased a "Doggie starter kit" for $45 and then made a small donation on top of the fees/gift pack. The kit included: Two stainless steel feeding bowls, collar, leash, poop bags with dispenser, and a kong toy. In the adoption packet there are more goodies: Free vet check up, 6 weeks of training classes, FREE FOOD from Mud Bay, free month of pet insurance and all the paperwork to prove shots/medical care was done. I was also sent home with antibiotics and pain relievers because the pup had a medical condition which was being treated. He should be ok in a week-and you better believe that free vet check up will be used to make sure he's ok! For what I paid, it didn't even compare to what I would have paid for all the services privately: Neuter, shots, microchip, free food, free classes, complete medical care, two vet visits etc. I could go on and on. The best part is discovering hidden talents in my new family member. Thank you so much Seattle Humane Society, your staff was supportive and caring. read more

I have been there twice in the last week because we really want to adopt another dog, new facilities look great but while it appears there are a lot of volunteers, nobody is there to help you through. Also, I felt bad to see that dogs looked really sad and bored. First time was last Sunday, when we arrived someone at the front desk told us to go downstairs to see the available dogs, after helping ourselves through the dogs' area we had some questions about a couple of dogs and the adoption process, but when we tried to ask at the dogs front desk, the lady there barely answered while she was looking at her computer (not even looked at us once!), she basically told us to look at the website and go back if we wanted to apply for a dog. Well, that's what we are doing since. Yesterday we saw another cute dog at the website, so I went today to leave an application, when I asked about her to a couple of volunteers at her cage, they only told me to ask at the front desk, which I did. The lady at the front desk (same lady that was there on Sunday) just pointed at the application forms in the desk and told me to fill one up, but I already had one that I printed at home so I handed it to her. As soon as she saw the dog's name I was interested in, she told me that the puppy had some issues with her column and legs and she would need a very expensive surgery (about 10,000 she said) and we had to take care of it... that would've been no problem if they would've stated that on their website, unfortunately not everyone has that amount to spend, so posible adopters can know if they're willing to before applying... Seems like they don't care if they find a new home for the dogs. I wish they were more transparent about their dogs and treat people with more respect, the fact that we are looking to adopt a dog make us as much caring as them. Seriously, if you don't like to be there, just look for another place to volunteer! Anyway, I'll continue to check their website, these poor dogs are not to blame for people's lack of empathy. read more

The staff was very nice and very helpful when we came to adopt a dog. We were walked through each perspective pup's health and behavior records, questions were clearly answered, and we were give time to "interview" (my own words) potential new family members. The cages and kennels were clean and well kept, and the animals looked well cared for. It was a great experience. read more

This was the first shelter I've ever been to. I love that it's a no-kill shelter and that they have such a huge variety of animals. I am personally a rabbit lover but I adopted my very first dog here and I couldn't love him anymore than I already do. Sometimes I stop by when I'm having a bad day just to see all the animals, since it's close to school and work for me. However, I can see what the other reviews mean when they say that some of the volunteers there are rude. It honestly is a "hit or miss" thing when it comes to them. They're people too and they're only volunteers - you can't expect much from them. But when you meet an animal you fall in love with and want to take home, all the attitude is worth it! Personally most of the volunteers have either been quite helpful and nice to me or just don't mind me at all and continue doing their thing. read more

Seattle Humane - Me and Mojo on our first day home together :) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Three cheers for the SHS and all the awesome work they do! I have done a little volunteering and i have also adopted a cat. It is amazing how much that place is run by volunteers, and how efficiently it is run by both staff and volunteers. We adopted Sherbet, a three-ish calico girl who was missing a leg. She was one of the sweetest cats ever, a massive purr-ball lap kitty. Unfortunately though soon after we brought her home she started having medical problems and our other cat, also a girl, (won't be doing two girls again) liked her, but took advantage of Sherbet's disability to torture her quite often. We think this stressed Sherbet out a lot. Sherbet began peeing all over the house, and we spent a lot money trying to fix it, till about 6 months later when we discovered it was bladder stones. We spent about 1500 on a surgery and new special diet food, a few weeks before our wedding, and then we discovered she had worms so bad she barfed one up. We were concerned about her being stressed out, and we were out of money, and we were afraid for her health as she wasn't eating or drinking. So we made the incredibly difficult decision to bring her back. We were afraid that given all her health problems that she might be put down, but we were reassured that they would do everything they could for her. We learned that she had gotten better and was back up for adoption. A friend of my husband's had mentioned Sherbet to another friend, and she got scooped up within a couple months of bringing her back. We are so grateful to the Humane Society for helping her and giving her another chance, and to the person who adopted her and gave her a home that is more appropriate for her. read more

Look... for whatever reason you are reading this or any other review for the Seattle Humane Society... I urge you all to adopt your pet from a shelter. There are just so, so many innocent animals without a home. I had the privilege of visiting this Humane Society and am just touched and overwhelmed with the goodness of people who volunteer/donate to keep this place running. Of course it isn't the ideal environment for any animal... the absolute ideal place would be in a loving home. They do the best they possibly can here. The staff is so friendly and willing to do anything to help get these animals adopted. I read a review or two complaining about the process in meeting an animal. Yes, you have to fill out a form and be briefed... so what? Someone has to protect these innocent animals. Yes, the adoption fees are about $200 but how else is a place like his supposed to operate? I would happily donate $200 to the Humane Society. They have so many mouths to feed, costs associated with daily operations, etc. I was so happy to hear that this is a no kill shelter. They do not euthanize any animals because of the extended time they are in the shelter. Please adopt. They actually have an event this Fri-Sun (10/12-10/14) where they are waiving the adoption fee. Please go and find a new addition to your family! read more

I love the Humane Society and have been a long time contributor. I love what they do for animals and most of the staff there is friendly and helpful. The one gripe I do have is the dog introductions. We have a jack russell mix and were looking for a companion for her and it was difficult to find the right friend for both her and us. We found a few dogs and I felt really rushed through the process. We put each one we liked on hold and brought our's in to have a meeting and see how they'd get along. The introductions were always very quick and just involved a 5 minute walk with both dogs. I just always felt rushed into the whole thing because we were afraid someone else might adopt the dog if we hesitated. Honestly having someone come in one day and take a dog home that same day, isn't always the smartest choice and hasty decisions are what lead to animals being given up. If the Humane Society would improve their dog introduction procedures, and always let you hold a dog for 24 hours to really think the adoption through, I think I would feel better about their procedures. Either way I will continue to support them and I believe in what they are doing and what they represent. read more

I really was impressed with the cleanliness, space and customer service in the cat section. This is the second cat I purchased from the humane society, and this was the best of the two. I really appreciated the follow up calls, time of the staff and opportunity to get to know my new pet! Thank you!!! read more

My boy friend and I have been looking around shelters for dogs... and we ended up adopting a pomeranian mix at seattle humane society. They have a lot of selections! I also did a little research on the Seattle Humane Society, and they are a non profit organization and they don't euthanize healthy and harmless animals. I was just dropping off donations because I've been holding pet food drives for the seattle humane society, and decided to look at the dogs at the shelter and I fell in love with Butters. My boy friend payed $20 to put him on hold for 24 hours, but we didn't realize on weekdays they open at 12. I had to go to work the next morning, and he had to go to Olympia... so we called the coordinator, Wendy Laxton, and she told one of the staff to come early, so we can bring Butters home. It really shows that the staffs genuinely cares about animals! read more

This review is purely for getting my female cat spayed because I haven't seen any others strictly about that. I'm a recent college grad and fun-employed and have zero cash flow. Souris, my cat, needed to get fixed because she was constantly going into heat and disturbing our neighbors with her howling. I've always been hesitant to take her to get spayed because it's an invasive procedure and not nearly as simple as male cat neutering. I digress. We made the appointment, dropped her off at 730am and after signing liability documents, they whisked her away. This is my only complaint. When I dropped her off, they weren't very friendly. I was trying to tell myself "Stephanie, they do this all day, every day, and this is a no frills place. Stop being so sensitive." But for this being the first surgery for my pet, it still made me uneasy. I also didn't know where they took her to, they just kind of took her away and told me to come back later from 3-5. When we picked her up, they were much more friendly and answered my questions after bringing her out. Souris was in heat so it was ($50 spay cost) + ($5 heat fee) and a free microchip installed. She is healing well now and my anxiety was quelled by the pick up staff. Please get your pets spayed/neutered...even if you're a puss in boots like me. read more

Awww - need a great dog or cat? Adopt one here - it has had a vet check and a behavior check and is neutered/spayed and up to date on all shots. This is the way to go to get a great pet and also give an animal that needs forever home. Check them out on their own website or on petfinder. The staff will review your needs and let you know if the animal is a possible fit for you. Then take it to the "get acquainted" area and decide for yourself. read more

Very well run place. Loved the dog I adopted there. Had to give him up for move. Miss him terribly. Staff here top notch. Get your next dog family member here. read more

My husband & I brought our kitten and adult Pit Bull to get spayed. Our Pit Bull has always been very anxious and panicky at the vets, I believe it's due to a bad experience she had as a puppy. We warned the staff that she might get somewhat aggressive with them. Which she did. They did a wonderful job of calling us back and asking for our assistance with calming our dog down while they gave her sedatives. It was a difficult position to be in as a pet owner, to watch my happy loving dog be so fearful. She literally had tears in her eyes. I'm incredibly grateful to the staff for being patient, loving and professional. Thank you for prioritizing whats best for my big puppy. read more

I had been trying to find a new home for my two German Shepards for just about 10 months now. Every shelter I had called was full and after meeting with several families and the cards not lining up, nothing fit the home we were looking for to surrender are amazing fur babies. I had called everywhere and finally got in touch with Seattle Humane in which they got me an appointment the NEXT day to greet the dogs (when normally it can be up to two weeks to book an appointment). They ended up rescuing them and took this huge relief off of our hands since we are moving in just a couple of days. I highly recommend this shelter to anyone who wants to find the right home for their pets. They were absolutely amazing - great customer service and just a welcoming place from A-Z. Roslyn helped me over the phone and I just want to say thank you so so much!! She made me feel so comfortable and so welcomed with the entire situation. It was seamless. I'm thankful to have found the perfect shelter to surrender the dogs where I know they will be cared for at a very high level. read more

They don't seem to take much time getting to know an animal before writing their bios. The dog we got has an almost completely different personality than the one we were told about. She is a good dog, but I never would have adopted her had I known about the issues she has. Update: And now they have the gall to have me make an appointment to give her back. Thanks a lot for the two extra days of stress and anxiety in my household. read more

I came here with my mom to find a dog. Our little family dog, Sam, had passed away a few months prior and my mom wanted a furry friend. We looked around at the cages mostly filled with chihuahuas. One dog that I kept coming back to was Bailey. My mom wasn't as interested. She had always hated black labs. But Bailey was so energetic and playful that I eventually wore my mom down. When we had our "meet" times with two different dogs, it quickly became apparent that Bailey would be a new addition to our family. After she went through an interview and filled out paperwork, they brought our new friend out to come home. The entire process was a bit tedious, but it was a weekend so they were packed and understaffed. However, everyone was very nice and helpful. If you are in need of a little buddy, definitely check them out. read more

We adopted one of our family members from SHS. They were honest in providing the underlying health conditions and behaviors for each animal. The staff asked me some questions to see if we can provide the right environment. They were very busy so I spent some time waiting to talk to them but they were very helpful. They gave me a list of vets because we would need it in the future. It's a great organization that does not have time limits so animals can stay there as long as possible. There are many animals that are old. I also see animals that have ongoing health conditions. I'm glad that SHS gives them chances to survive and makes sure that they go to the right family. read more

After we lost our cat Mr. Clover, we were so lonely without a pet that it was only a week later that we decided we needed to adopt a new kitty. In memory of Mr. Clover we adopted the most sweetest, pudgy, and needy cat. We spent more than 2 hours there and Steak-y our cat was the last one that we saw. I knew she was right for me as soon as I held her, the other cats all scratched me or were scared and shy but not Steak-y. She was purring the first thing when I held her. Highly recommend adopting cats especially older ones. We got her for free there because during the holidays they have a special for cats older than 3 years old where they waive the adoption fee. The only thing was that the medical records were kind of not right...we did have to take her to the vet several times. I highly recommend taking your new pet to the vet and use the free vet visit to make sure your pet is healthy. read more

I love the work they do here. Nice staff. Caring people. I'll always adopt and not shop from now on. Just one irritating experience. I wanted to donate a sizable amount to this place and they promised to call me back. Never did. Money has gone elsewhere now. Yup. Two calls to them and no call back. read more

I'm really shocked at the negative reviews for Seattle Humane. We have adopted dogs from this shelter, have volunteered here, and donate here. We had an amazing experience adopting (and yes they do let you introduce your current family pets with pets you are thinking about adopting. The last thing they want is for you to bring back a dog you adopted because it does not get along with your other pets). People who work here do so because they love animals and care that the work they do is has a kind, positive impact. Thank you to everyone who works here. read more

I adopted my cat here 4 years ago, and since then have become a volunteer. I mostly foster kittens since my work schedule doesn't permit much extra time in my life. I find everybody at the shelter to be super helpful from vets, to adoption staff, to foster staff, to other volunteers. It's a great place and great people and a great cause. They truly care for all the animals and will do what it takes to get them healthy, happy and a great home. read more

We've come here on occasion to look at the dogs but ended up adopting a cat. This place works very hard to place animals - the one we had looked at had been there for a year (chronic illness which can certainly be managed by an owner but possibly a home-based telecommuter). We ended up adopting another cat and still cannot understand how it came to be given up as his personality is so mellow and welcoming. We were just glad to get him and glad the shelter has a no-kill policy. Unfortunately, this is hard on the shelter as foreclosures are causing more animal abandonments which means less room. At the time of this writing, they had 50+ cats and up to 20 (?) dogs with only general vet services. A lot of animals with a small staff, even though there are lots of volunteers to help the visitor out. A caveat to keep in mind. Get the pet defleaed and de-wormed (or at least get it to your vet as soon as possible for a checkup) after adopting. We found out that Sammy brought us a welcome gift of worms and fleas so Mom and Dad are now supercleaning the house (and him). Other than that, I highly recommend this place to start looking for a pet. read more

We've been considering getting a dog for quite some time now and we finally broke down and decided to look into adopting. We went to SHS thinking we were just going to start our search there. After seeing all the dogs I was immediately drawn to Bella (Artemis). We met with the staff for about 30 minutes to discuss her and a couple of other dogs we liked then we finally got to meet her! We knew Artemis was meant for us as soon as we met her :) After spending another 30 or 45 minutes hanging out with her and making sure she really was a good fit, we met with a volunteer who described some of her mannerisms and things to be aware of. We were there for quite a while, but I think the time we spent was well worth it. The staff and volunteers at SHS obviously love what they do and they do a great job making sure the animal is a good fit for its new owner and vice versa. The process couldn't have gone more smoothly and the fit couldn't be better. Thank you SHS for making a great match for both of us! read more