Underdog was incredible. The whole process, from start to finish, felt incredibly considerate and…read morecaring. In our case, we have two kids, and really wanted to make sure the dog was a good match before we introduced them. That model isn't a great fit for shelters where they (understandably) want the whole family to meet the dog, and won't place a hold to let grownups prescreen first. Not so with Underdog! We completed our initial form, had an email exchange, and then a video call, just grownups. There was no rush, and absolutely no pressure - such a wonderful difference from what we'd experienced elsewhere. Once we felt like this was a good fit, we included the kids. Our foster was incredible. She was responsive, caring, kind, and compassionate, and it totally opened our eyes to how this process can go when it is handled so skillfully. Moreover, she gave us a fabulous download of information, all super actionable and helpful. We came home with healthy, realistic expectations, and tons of tools and resources to get us started. All this is to say, thanks to Underdog, we got connected with our pup - and our family is completely in love.

Underdog needs to improve with communication,follow through,they gave me a timeline on when they…read more would contact me about a pet I applied for and gave me no response on pet availability.I felt disappointed about not being able to adopt the pet I wanted.I applied fifteen days ago and heard nothing.This rescue is only about how much they can profit on their so called rescues,don't waste your time contacting them.

I have been following Cal Paws Rescue on social media for quite sometime and I finally had the…read moreprivilege of adopting from this amazing organization. From the adoption event to pickup, the process and communication from this rescue was top tier. What I really appreciate is that Cal Paws does it's due diligence to make sure these dogs are placed in the best fit homes and that they are set up for success in the near future. It is evident that this rescue and their volunteers really care about making an impact in our local communities and educating the public on the importance and the role of animal rescues.

I really appreciated the organizations follow-up and the efficiency. Every interaction was…read moreprofessional and friendly. The puppy was healthy and happy. It was a wonderful experience.

I emailed this business to find out about a certain dog. I never received a response back. I'm…read moresorry it didn't work out. I'm sure they stay busy but it was disappointing to not be able to have any questions answered. In the end we decided to look elsewhere. Also of interest- I think the dog I wanted to meet was still over seas and maybe that's why they didn't respond? So just be aware if you see a dog on their web site it may not yet be imported. So maybe one star isn't fair? Either way a quick email or note would have been appreciated. That said I'm grateful anyone takes the time the rescue a dog. We've have had a successful overseas adoption in the past & was considering it again (the group we used before doesn't seem to be rescuing currently).

Took a chance on adopting Raili from Taiwan. We had submitted a request for her on pet finder. Mary…read moreand the association reached out to us. Let us know of some medical work she had & provided plenty of video, photos and a live whatsapp meeting to show us raili and guarantee her health and disposition. We were smitten, said yes, and picked her up a month later at SFO. These dogs are not easy, but a year later it has been the best decision we've ever made. Raili has gone from shy and reserved to a goofy confident dog. the formosan breed is very fight or flight so it is important to give them time to adjust, but also make them face challenges and overcome their fear. Adopt a doggie gave us referals to Brent Cooper (cooperhaus training). and we worked with him for a short while to help with training and confidence building. These dogs are work, but if you have the time it will absolutely work out.

We recently adopted Astro, aka Apollo at Rocket mobile adoption. The support staff is amazing. They…read morehelped made the transition for Astro to our home as easy as possible. The staff is very friendly and even assigned an advocate to Astro. If we have any questions or concerns, we contact his advocate and they've been quick to response. Rocket is a non profit that is operated efficiently

I am upset that they will not consider Home Rescues. They wrote me bask and said that they mostly…read moretake rescue dogs from shelters that are being euthanized. I am being displaced due to a Domestic Violence event, which I won in court. I cannot find a desent place that will allow dogs. This entire situation breaks my heart.

Came in to browse and left the shelter with my soul cat…read more The staff here were very friendly and super helpful. Once I met and played with Janet, I decided that there was no way I could leave without her. We just clicked. She's so gentle and cuddly and climbed on my shoulder even though she was shy and scared. Ashley was one of the lovely people who helped me through the adoption process and made sure Janet also had her blanket which smelled like her brother who got adopted earlier that day. Thank you so much for your help! Janet takes lots of cuddly naps so far and has lots of energy for zoomies afterward. She is so curious about everything I'm doing and loves to climb and hide among pillows .

Pets in Need is a wonderful resource in our community. They offer low-cost spay and neuter clinics,…read morewhich are very popular. They provide a second chance to animals that have gotten lost, or were abandoned to find a forever home. Many wonderful people work and volunteer here. At times the atmosphere is fairly dysfunctional. If someone on staff decides they don't like you (for literally whatever reason, you are having a good hair day, you smiled, etc) they will try to humilate you and you will notice a distinct lack of service. Don't take it personally, Unfortunately there are some bruised egos here and it comes off very snotty at times. It isn't you. I wish they would address this toxic aspect, because it would help the animals much more!!! The Redwood City Location is MUCH MUCH more functional and professional. It's the Palo Alto location that is full of a strange cruelty.

We adopted a 2 year old kitty from Hopalong at Woodland Pet in Bon Air Center. We had just recently…read moresaid goodbye to our beloved cat who was 20 years old and had been the best companion for us. We weren't looking to get a new kitty so soon, but Dharma was in the back of the store and she was very sweet. They let us play with her and our dog was with us, so we took turns being near Dharma and allowing our dog (who loves our cats) to see her from a distance. All went well. We learned that she had been in the store for a while and had a rough life before she was taken to the shelter. Fast forward to today--she cuddles with my husband who has been very ill and she is his best friend. She learned how to win over the resident cat (with lots of time and some help), and she and our Husky and best friends. She's earned the nickname Drama because she's very good at getting into mischief. The support information from Hopalong was useful. We've had cats our entire lives and still each cat is unique. Having resources at hand is great! The people at Woodland Pet were very helpful in vetting us to make certain that we would be a good, safe home for Dharma and that she would be happy with us. They sent us home with supplies and toys. Because of their continued interest, our dog and I go back to show them photos of Drama earning her nickname.

What a great experience with Marin Humane + Hopalong. My partner and I lost our pug earlier this…read moreyear in January. We adopted her from the shelter when she was two and she lived all the way to fifteen. She was everything to us. After she passed, we waited a while before feeling ready to adopt again. In the meantime, I followed a ton of Bay Area rescue groups on Instagram and checked the Petfinder app regularly. We knew we were drawn to flat-faced breeds, but the most important thing was finding a dog that could get along with our two cats. We actually found a Frenchie through another rescue and even went to meet him at an adoption event. Unfortunately, his foster parent said he didn't do well with other dogs and probably not with cats either. That was a dealbreaker for us. About a month later, during the week of July 4, I came across Sally Sitwell (now renamed Winnie) on Petfinder. Her profile mentioned that she was good with cats, and she sounded perfect for us. I applied right away but didn't hear back for a few days, so I was worried she might have already been adopted. But I totally understood since it was a holiday week and I'm sure they received a ton of applications. Eventually, I got an email from Ruthie, a volunteer, to schedule a 1:1 phone interview. She was really warm and easy to talk to. She explained that she usually handles phone interviews for people interested in brachycephalic breeds since she has experience with them. I shared our story about our late pug and everything we went through with her including surgeries, seizures, and IVDD, and Ruthie could tell we were familiar with the breed's needs. She planned to coordinate a meeting with us, the dog, and the foster parent, but she was going to be out of town. So she looped in Alex from Hopalong and Francesca, the foster mom, so we could set something up directly. We coordinated a visit to meet Winnie at Hopalong in Oakland. I really appreciated how flexible and communicative everyone was. It felt like everyone genuinely wanted the best for this dog. When I first met Francesca and Winnie, I lit up. Winnie was even more adorable in person and so much smaller than I expected. Francesca was such a kind person. She already had a Frenchie and cats, so you could tell she really loves animals. She walked us through all of Winnie's little quirks and her daily routine. A few minutes later my partner arrived and I ran out to get him. I told him right away, "You're going to love her, she's so adorable." The moment he walked in and saw her, he was smiling ear to ear. We ended up spending about 30 minutes with Francesca, chatting and also sharing more about ourselves so she'd feel reassured that Winnie would be going to a loving home. Toward the end of our visit, Alex, the program manager, came out to meet us. She was super bubbly and also a Frenchie owner. We let her know we were all in and wanted to move forward with the adoption. We asked if we could pick Winnie up the next day since we had a bunch of supplies being delivered like her crate, food, and bowls. Francesca was so accommodating and let us come to her house the next day to get her. The whole experience was amazing. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. There were no awkward moments and we felt supported from start to finish. I would recommend this rescue to anyone. Now Winnie is completely spoiled. We originally planned to have her sleep in her crate but that lasted exactly one night. She's now in the bed with us. She's been to the dog park, joined us on restaurant patios, come to work with me, and even had a few spa days. After hearing about her rough start to life, being used for breeding and then dropped off at the Hayward animal shelter, we knew we wanted to give her the best life possible. She is truly the sweetest, most loving dog we could have asked for. We're so grateful to everyone at Marin Humane + Hopalong for bringing her into our lives.

Deidre is amazing! She has taken care of our English Bulldog, Winston, for nearly a year now…read more You know you have met a good walker when they are excited to see your pet. Our English Bulldog takes a bit to get off the couch, so definitely need a walker with a great personality. Deidre is most trustworthy as well. She has had access to our place, and always been the most considerate. She will communicate with you as much as you would like. We receive regular updates from our dogs daily playgroup. Deidre is also most helpful, as she has accomodated many requests to take care of our doggy.

I highly recommend Wags and Walkabout for any pet lover hesitant to go on that business trip or…read morevacation and leave their beloved furry friends at home. Deirdre was so great with my kitty, who can be very cautious with people she meets for the first time. I also received daily e-mail updates from Deirdre, just letting me know that my kitty was doing well while I was on a trip.

We adopted another beautiful, well behaved and healthy kitten as a companion to our first from…read moreLulu's. These cats dont seem to need a companion, as they bond very quickly with people. They are just irresistible and we decided another one would complete our household. We weren't wrong. Victoria is the best, and there isn't a question you might have about these amazing cats that she can't answer. Scottish Folds are a very special breed: intelligent, playful, loving, with their own routines. They are quiet, and easy to train (acquiring a second one confirmed that). I wish I could have more!

We love our beautiful kitten! She is an adventurous girl, loving and cuddly. She is a great…read moreaddition to our family and she's very gentle with my 1 year old that's not so gentle with her. She's just perfect Not that I'm done gushing over our kitten Victoria is such a nice lady and owns the business. She allowed me to come visit and reassured me this wasn't a scam lol but she was responsive and texted me back. Emailed me all the information I needed to take care of our first kitten! The whole experience is great and I'd get another kitten in due time from her! She made it so easy!