Great place, great people. Love what they do. They take very good care of the animals and place is…read morevery clean.

Can't say enough good things about the folks at Furever Home in East Petersburg. They provide a…read moregood environment and the cats here are welcome to live out their lives if nobody adopts them. When I adopted a Pet Pantry cat who was living at Furever Home, I almost felt bad about taking him out of there. Food bowls, litter boxes, cat trees and toys everywhere! Zero rocking chairs! This is kitty Valhalla, at least at shelters go. I told them I couldn't compete with that many trees and toys. But what these cats need most is a home. And that part is working out well, at least in my case. This older male cat had no reason to bond with me but nevertheless, here he is as I write this, hopping into my lap and waiting for me to go to bed so he can curl up next to me.

I cannot say enough good things about Finding Shelter. It's easy to see that this completely…read morevolunteer based organization truly cares about the animals and their potential adoptive families. Finding Shelter makes absolutely sure that you're paired with the right animal, through veterinary & personal references, as well as meets with the dog and the family, and home visits. All of these things are done to ensure a good fit for all involved - the happiness and safety of the dogs and families is of utmost importance, not adopting out as many dogs as quickly as possible. Do you really want to rush through an adoption, just to have to return a dog because it wasn't a good fit after all? We adopted our dog, Linus, from Finding Shelter two years ago and really couldn't have found a better dog for our family. He gets along famously with our original dog and the two are now inseparable. When you get a dog from Finding Shelter, it is fully vetted and micro-chipped and you also get a lifetime of telephone support from a wonderful dog trainer. If you're serious about finding the right dog for your household, this is really the only way to go.

Adopting a pet is the best thing ever. I have done it 5 times and have had great experiences with…read morethe Morris Animal Shelter, Operation AVA and the SPCA in Philadelphia. I did not have a good experience with Finding Shelter! I found their process to be slow, intrusive and arbitrary. Here is my experience: 1. SLOW! -- From application to home visit took a full month. At other places we have adopted dogs, we filled out an online application including a vet reference and then adopted the day we found the dog we wanted. 2. INTRUSIVE! -- Currently I am caring for my son's rabbits and chinchillas while he is in college. All of the animals are quite healthy. I also have 25 years of experience adopting and successfully raising dogs. My vet confirmed that I am a good owner. Nevertheless, Finding Shelter required me to take my son's rabbits to a vet so that the vet could provide a reference. We would have left Finding Shelter at that point except that we really liked a particular dog. I took the rabbits to the vet and $100 later the vet confirmed that the rabbits are in perfect health and well taken care of. I can't imagine why Finding Shelter thought they needed a reference about rabbits when we were adopting a dog. The whole thing was so intrusive. (By the way, Finding Shelter never even mentioned or asked to see the chinchillas.) 3. ARBITRARY! -- When our chosen dog finally visited us, all went well for the first hour. The dog got along with my dog and was friendly with us. Then the volunteer suggested that we get out toys. Quickly, the dog became overwhelmed and nipped at my 15-year old son's shirt tail. Then he sat quietly by the volunteer. It's important to note that this dog had bitten an old woman while in foster care with the volunteer (where he had been for three months with several other dogs before we met him). Rather than discuss with us what had happened, what we learned from the experience and how we would help the dog adjust to our home, the volunteers left without saying a word about the incident. We received a call that night suggesting that we adopt a different dog. When I said that we liked the first dog and tried to explain what we had learned from the visit, the volunteer said that she would call back. She did not. I reached out again a couple days later and learned that the decision was made that the dog needed a home with a retired couple without dogs or children. The decision was so arbitrary (my son wasn't even the one playing with the toys, he was just the closest person to the dog when he became nervous), and explains why this adorable dog has been in foster care for so long. Rather than accept another dog from Finding Shelter, we adopted a dog from Operation Ava two days later. 4. LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS! -When I emailed the director of Finding Shelter asking to speak with her for a few minutes about our experience, she said she was too busy and that I could email if I wanted. A perfect ending to a bad experience.

In early 2014, my husband and I were looking to adopt a cat after we had to put one of our two cats…read moredown when she became sick with cancer. Upon recommendation from a friend, we decided to look into Francisvale and found a cat we were interested in right away. We submitted a thorough application (free from any outstanding issues) and inquired with the staff of Francisvale quickly regarding the cat. Once I was able to actually reach a staff member by phone (who was not very nice might I add), I was surprised to find that we had not even been considered for an "interview" with the cat, on the grounds that our living cat was declawed (and was declawed when we adopted him) and the one we were applying for had claws. They would not consider adopting their clawed cat out to a household with a declawed cat, no questions asked. We were frustrated and tried to explain that the cat we had to put down had claws and was in no way an issue for our very sociable declawed cat. We got nowhere with Francisvale, and went on to adopt a clawed cat shortly thereafter from Morris Animal Refuge in Philadelphia (who are beyond excellent, by the way). Our two cats have gotten along swimmingly and are now the best of buds. I would like to add, that 1.5 years later, that cat that we showed interest in is still in the shelter waiting for a home. We are two experienced and capable pet owners who offered to adopt a cat from you to a loving home, which is your purpose. And we were turned down. We are disappointed that a cat that we offered to adopt is still in search of a home 18 months later. I hope she gets it someday.

Though we didn't end up adopting from Francisvale, I can say from our experience with them that…read morethey are an awesome rescue. The application can be filled out online, which is super convenient. A volunteer got in touch with our references right away, and then contacted us pretty quickly after we submitted the application. Everyone we met during our visit to Francisvale (by appointment only, after your application is reviewed) was very friendly, and completely honest about the animals we were interested in. We were able to meet a few that we asked about, and they recommended others to us based on what we were looking for in a pet. Ultimately, I think their judgment was very sound. The dog that they recommended to us was not one we would have noticed or asked to meet, but I think it was definitely the right one and the one we would have ended up going home with, if we hadn't ultimately decided to adopt a dog from a different rescue. That's the only reason we didn't move forward with the process, but it sounds somewhat extensive, involving at least one more visit at Francisvale with any current dogs, and possibly a home visit after that. So, if that sounds like too much for you, you may want to focus on other shelters, but this was a very positive experience for us and I'd highly recommend this rescue to anyone who isn't daunted by the long adoption process.

I am so grateful for All 4 Paws. They truly do so much to give dogs a second chance. We adopted my…read moredog, Poncho, from here and had a wonderful experience. Anna was willing to answer any questions and the process was easy. They gave us all the necessary paperwork and gave us plenty of time to make decisions.

Took me several tries but I finally got my puppy! Processed my application super fast - yes, they…read moremost certainly do check references! Many of their dogs require placement in homes with other dogs, so I became discouraged but I didn't give up completely. At some point my puppy came along and it was a perfect match. I was impressed with their adoption process and the level of care the puppy received by the vet prior to adoption. A reputable organization!

READ BEFORE CONSIDERING TO ADOPT A PUPPY!…read more Home At Last Dog Rescue spayed my Heeler/Golden Retriever mix at just 10 weeks old--well before the age recommended for large breed dogs. I adopted her at 11 weeks and only learned she had already been sterilized when a volunteer casually said as I was leaving, "Keep an eye on her incision. She was spayed Thursday." As a result, she now suffers from urinary incontinence, leaking urine while sleeping, requiring lifelong medication, repeat diagnostics, and possibly surgery. This is not an unpredictable outcome--it's a well-documented risk of early spaying in large breeds. Each puppy's profile under one year old should clearly state that the dog will be spayed or neutered before adoption. That simple line might alert someone that the procedure is happening far too early--and give them pause to consider the lifelong hormonal complications they could be inheriting. Had I seen that information, I may have realized what I was walking into. Had I not spent time with the puppies on adoption day--snuggling with her and her siblings, watching them play, and identifying my lifelong best friend--I would NEVER have adopted a puppy spayed this early. You shouldn't either. The incontinence doesn't become apparent until you finally realize that this puppy is trying so hard to be housebroken but just can't make it for the normal length of time between potty runs. There were eight puppies in this litter. Eight puppies all spayed or neutered too soon. Buried deep on their website is this statement: "To help reduce the number of unwanted animals, our dogs are sterilized prior to adoption unless there is a medical reason that this surgery can't be done at this time." There is a medical reason--recognized by veterinary associations--not to spay large breed puppies at such an early age. The AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommends delaying spay/neuter for large-breed dogs until 12-18 months of age to reduce orthopedic risks and hormonal complications. My dog is a Heeler/Golden Retriever mix, and she now lives with the consequences of their "one size fits all" protocol. A puppy needs the hormones allowed by delayed spaying to support normal development of their bones, joints, and urinary system--removing them too early can disrupt these processes and lead to long-term complications. Home At Last Dog Rescue claims to carefully vet their adopters. If they trust these individuals enough to adopt a dog, why not require a signed contract to ensure spay/neuter at the medically appropriate age? When I adopted my previous golden retriever at 7 weeks old, I gladly signed such a contract. It's a responsible, balanced approach--and one this rescue refuses to consider. In their response to me, the rescue stated: "We've adopted out nearly 25,000 dogs over 15 years--roughly half of them puppies--and have always followed pediatric spay/neuter protocols with the support of 19 veterinary offices, without similar reports or documented patterns of complications related to urinary incontinence or long-term hormonal issues." I have her medical records and offered to submit them, but they never asked for them--so my dog becomes yet another 'undocumented complication.' Adopting from this group isn't inexpensive. I paid $550, and they required another $200 donation as a "benefactor" for another dog's medical care. Yet when my own dog's complications became clear, there was no support, no refund, no shared concern--only a blanket policy stating they don't assist adopters with medical care after the adoption. While I don't believe this rescue intentionally hands off dogs with medical issues, their protocol--despite being supported by some vets--carries known risks. My own vet, and many others, do not support pediatric sterilization in large breeds. This wasn't disclosed, discussed, or even acknowledged as a possibility. Think very carefully before supporting this group. Ask hard questions. You will find that once you sign the adoption papers, you--and the dog--are on your own.

Horrible organization. Attempted to adopt from them four times. Finally received a phone interview…read moreafter the fourth application. Was ultimately told I could not adopt because I do not have a fenced yard. This in spite of living across from a walking trail which I informed them I would use four times a day. Have since adopted from another organization and met multiple owners who adopted from HAL, none of whom had fenced yards. Have also met multiple dog owners who were denied adoption from HAL. Common theme, all those denied adoption were 60+, all those who were allowed adoption were under 50. So.....HAL discriminates based on age.

An amazing organization doing great work. I had an excellent experience with MLAR and have urged…read moremany others to check them out. I don't get why people are so mad about their policies which are in place for the sake of the animals. Also, there is definitely some leniency if you are rescuing a senior or special-needs animal. Caring and generous staff, well cared-for animals, and lots of support. Keep up the good work Main Line!

We adopted a dog from MLAR years ago and have donated to them ever since. It is a fabulous…read moreorganization that truly cares about the animals in their care. Be patient. It is so traumatic for an animal to be rescued, adapted to new surroundings, and vetted. Then after the animal is brought on board to MLAR, getting them adopted out is yet another stressor for the pet. Having an animal returned, or worse, turned out, because the new pet was not properly placed in NOT in the pet's best interest. These folks do their best to ensure the placement will be a success. Our little baby came to us after being rescued and cared for by MLAR. We are forever grateful.

This place is so wonderful. There are three whole floors of clean, well-maintained, free roaming…read morespaces for cats and kittens. The rooms are organized so that cats are in the best and most comfortable environment for their age and personalities. The staff is so kind and knowledgeable about the cats. We adopted two kittens here and were given cute little blankets to take home with them, and all the information we could possibly need for pet care and vet visits. The adoption fee was super reasonable considering the kitties came fully up to date on all their shots, spayed/neutered, and microchipped. Can't say enough good things about Kitty Cottage!

We adopted our girl Biscuit from Kitty Cottage and we had a great experience! Facilities are clean…read moreand the staff is really friendly. All of the cats appeared healthy and happy and the cat rooms were open and accessible. Great place to adopt from!

Laurel House recommended that I bring my dog Daisy here after I suspected that my ex hurt her…read more Everyone that we met with was incredible. The care, compassion and kindness that they gave Daisy and I were unmatched. Really amazing experience !. Maureen showed so much compassion when I called and followed up to get Daisy in quickly. Marissa and Chastine checked on Daisy often while we waited and made sure she was comfortable. They, gave her water and love. They even came out to meet us at the car to make sure we entered thru the right door. I was really impressed with Dr. Aime Berman. She was working on a cat that had swallowed a piece of yarn that had tangled up her intestines. The yarn was stuck in several places but she didn't give up. She didn't call it. She worked until she completely removed the yarn. That is the kind of vet I want. One that doesn't give up. She really cares. They are opening a clinic here to treat animals and are open for appointments now. If you need veteran care for your pets I highly recommend you give them a call. The care is excellent and the prices you can't beat. They were one third the price of other vets. They want to help people keep their pets and give their pets the care they need. Give them a call. I'm so glad that I did.

We recently brought a stray cat that we had been feeding for 2 weeks to the Montgomery County SPCA,…read moreand our experience was deeply disappointing. The cat was quarantined for seven days and given gabapentin without our knowledge. Had we known he would be medicated and kept in a dark cage for a full week, we would have made different choices for his care. After the quarantine, the SPCA performed a TNR and released him to us the same day he was neutered early that morning. Typically, cats should have 24 hours to recover from surgery. The carrier they returned him in was old, smelled strongly of urine, and--most concerning (and unbeknownst to us)--was not secured properly. When we got home and set the carrier down in our yard, he escaped immediately. We had a safe home lined up for him and never intended for him to go back outside. It has now been over a week, and he has not returned. When we contacted the SPCA about the unsecured carrier and the situation overall, the staff did not seem overly concerned or empathetic. For an organization whose mission is to ensure the safety and well‑being of animals, this was incredibly discouraging. We trusted them with a vulnerable stray, and we regret that decision. We believe the week he spent confined, medicated, and stressed contributed to the outcome we're now facing. We hope no one else has to go through an experience like this.

So happy I was able to adopt my English Cream Golden Retriever from To Love A Canine. I am apart of…read morethis program that trains rescue dogs to become service dogs and was thankfully able to get my wonderful dog for free as a military veteran. The adoption process was easy since I'll be going through the program and they found me a dog that is everything and more than what I wanted and expected in a doggie. She is so relaxed, calm and very lovable. She loves attention and needs it constantly which is what I want. I can't wait to get her trained so she can help me in the home on days where I can't get out of bed because of my back and difficulty doing so. I am so thankful for the team at this rescue for making the adoption experience easy and fast. After they found me a dog that would match my preferences, they emailed me a picture of Navi ( her new name is Navidad, since we bought her before Christmas. We met Navi the next week, and I basically got to bring home my new furry daughter the same day. I was able to meet the foster family who had her to ask questions about her and to find out her favorite treats, food she eats and to get any other information I wanted. Brought Navi home and she bonded quickly with me and my daughter. She dragged me up the steps and somehow knew where we lived. It's like she knew she was home. It's been almost 2 months now since she's been adopted and it has been the best experience of my life. My dog changed me in so many ways, and for her being my first dog I am so happy I got her. Her temperament and personality matches ours and we love her so much. If I decide in the future to get another dog I would adopt from To Love A Canine Rescue again.

This rescue has so many wonderful and caring volunteers. We have gotten two dogs from them, and…read morethey made the transition very easy.

absolutely insanity the hoops that are set up in order to adopt a cat. I understand. needing a…read moreprocess to be approved but their process is so strike it's seems as if this is more so a tax write off scheme than a rescue looking to house homeless cats. their customer service is basically none existent. I had to send 2-3 emails in order to receive one email that had more hoops to jump through than answers. If you're never owned a cat you can't not adopt due to their ridiculous rule of needing a years worth of "feline" vet records in order to adopt. if you have dog records they will not count that. Good luck, they're a tax write off more than an adoption center.

After visiting Cat Nook Cafe, which I found out is run through this nonprofit, I fell in love with…read morethe cats. I ended up adopting Claire from Cat Nook Cafe. Animal coalition of Delaware County made the transition smooth and everyone was so sweet. I know that they care about the cats. They thoroughly vetted me as they should. The reviews of people who are mad about not getting their cats, please realize this is probably because there were something wrong with their application. It is in no way indicative of the rescue. I love Cat Nook Cafe and if you haven't visited, you should. enjoy these pictures of my baby Claire.