I have been to and volunteered at several shelters in not only the Tri State Area but in Florida as well. Never can I say, have I come across a place such as this. What a disappointment. I shall exclude the volunteer staff especially the younger ones who were amazing and so filled with love and ambition. But as for the rest of this rescue where one is supposed to be able to "Adopt"? What a laugh. Every other negative review I have read here on Angel Paws could not be more accurate in their experience. I had/saw the same upon taking my friend to adopt her second "fur-baby" (Is this a term now? I feel just as nuts as the lady running the joint). Long, long, and over dramatically short (which could have been unwarranted mind you). Arriving at opening in the evening, which seemed absurd to me to begin with, walking right in with several other families, we were greeted by lovely volunteers racing around trying to feed every little meow and squeek coming from every known corner of this small facility (I use that word as a kindness). I questioned if this was the first time that day these dear furry angels were seeing people. Most working said the owner did what she could during the day and they came at night, night being 6pm. Speaking of said owner, it was if she was the "man behind the curtain" heard of but never seen. My friend, after holding and bonding with 3 or 4 kittens believed she had found "the one". Filling out an application, as one would do, we were told we would be called within 1-2 days. Great! A week passes, I call and get voicemails, leave messages, never reach a person. She goes back for a second visit. The kitten is still their. She asks. Oh the owner has been terribly busy, but don't worry, this weekend latest, she says. The week and weekend come and go. So finally I go in myself. Because at every shelter and rescue I've worked at, to get one of these sweeties into a forever home? Top priority. And some I worked at went as far as a background check. Never did they take over a week. So yes, I went, I saw, I wanted to or may have not only shed a tear for my friend but also those poor cats and kittens trapped behind that glass window. Without needing to give reason my friend was rejected. Application declined. The owner deemed herself so high and mighty that not even a reason or explanation was given as a kindness. This is only of "those" places. A few bucks shy of the remaining "pet stores" there are. A lovely few from the front, but for the poor babies down in the basement (And oh yes, they are down there ) never seen in thsirnown mess, this "rescue" is a sham. The staff, whom I finally got to speak to me one on one all said the same. High adoption fees, low number of adoptions, abuse of funds, abuse of volunteer offered time, minors included folks. This nightmare of a "holier than thou" owner should have to face the furry jury for her crimes. Crazy cat lady would have been a relief compared to the monster described to me and read about in not only Yelp reviews, but upon further investigation into the community, and just about anyone whom has crossed her path. The same story rings true. Save yourself the time, and your children the tears. Not to mention the absurd $250 adoption fee. Which other than private rescues who strictly foster their litters, I have never seen that "price". There are some amazing rescues and shelters out there with babies and adults just as well deserving of a home. I highly recommend Somerset Animal Rescue in Bridgewater. And depending on your area the ASPCA or Woodbridge/Edison rescue. I just found my own newest addition to our family at Friends of Linden Shelter after a look on Petfinder.com Good luck to you all! Be safe and above all be smart! (Side note: For all who may need to surrender their loved pet for whatever the reason. Do NOT use Craigslist or give them to anyone who "claims" to be some kind of sanctuary that isn't legitimate. There are some mighty bad things and lives of little ones being lost this past year. Like I said. Safe, and smart.) read more

I'm sorry to have to write this but I had an awful experience at Angel Paws recently and I'd encourage any one reading this to adopt anywhere other than there, to avoid having an experience similar to mine. My son and I went into Angel Paws looking to adopt a pair of cats and wound up falling for two very sweet siblings who had been at their shelter for about a month. I filled out forms to adopt both of them and when I didn't hear back, returned 3 days later to visit the cats and check on our application. That night, finally , a volunteer called me and we spoke for about 20 minutes, going over the usual stuff, checking to see if I would declaw them, if cats are allowed where I live, what I'd feed them, my experience with animals, etc. and I explained that I've lived with cats all my life have a beautiful pet friendly home they could visit, and would gladly pay the $250 adoption fee for which they asked. I was told I'd hear back the next day as to when I could pick up the cats. A few more days passed, so I visited the cats again and checked on the application. This happened twice and then finally, 8 days after I filled out the initial forms, I received a brief email saying my application, "unfortunately" had been rejected. Don't waste your time here. Angel Paws is run by a crazy cat lady who thinks that no one other than she is qualified to take care of the cats and wants to keep them all for herself. I've raised cats my entire life and I'm unqualified to adopt two of theirs??? It's a shame, since a lot of good people volunteer there. I spoke to a number of them after this happened who told me my experience had been typical, stay away. read more

Angel Paws - I adopted these beautiful kittens after being rejected at Angel Paws - Animal Shelters Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

Personally DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS PLACE, honestly I checked the reviews on other websites like yelp and google and let me tell you, it's wayy different then the reviews here on facebook when I first saw two kitties I wanted first on aspca and petfinder, they take weeks and weeks to get back to you, and I heard some crazy cat lady runs this place, yikes I don't think my temper can handle it, and the only way i can get in contact with them was through facebook because they have awful communication, and after days and days of waiting they reject my application , the person i talked to was a volunteer, it's so upsetting don't waste your time, do the research on the place first. (copied from my facebook review) read more

Angel Paws is an all volunteer run non-profit organization that cares deeply for it's cats. It's a perfect place to volunteer and get your fill of kitties or a great place to find the perfect addition to your family. They don't have any municipal funding, it's all based on donations. Angel paws is a no-kill facility that allows many of it's cats to roam freely instead of being in a cage till they get adopted. This is an amazing thing for the older cats that don't get adopted as often and could be there for years. As with any shelter, you should do your research on how to properly care for a cat /kitten prior to adoption. This is important so you can avoid cruel or dangerous practices for your pet and so you can be aware of myths in pet care. Angel Paws wants all their cats to find amazing and well-suited homes. They would not reject a well-prepared, loving person(s)/family that is educated on proper cat care. The only time that could happen is if their were many applicants for the same cat. It's disheartening that another review would even refer to Angel Paws as a "pet shop". Considering it's a nonprofit animal welfare organization that is against kitten mills and breeding, unlike pet shops. Not to mention pet shop cats are far more expensive. The cost of the cats at angel paws covers the health costs (vaccines etc) of the cat you want to adopt as well as the spaying/neutering ( a bargain compared to having to pay those vet bills yourself) as well as the excellent care your pet received in a free roam, high socialization, non municipally funded facility. To summarize this overly long review, I love angel paws. It is an amazing facility, passionate about it's mission, and truly cares about it's animals. There are plenty of amazing cats at the facility, and some angel paw's cats are also at rahway kitty hall and at petco clark adoption days. read more

I don't understand the bad reviews for this shelter. I adopted a cat from Angel Paws-Colonia in August 2017 and have stayed in touch with them, including volunteering there for a while when I was between jobs. I paid the then-standard $75 (now $100) adoption fee after a few days' wait to be approved (understandably, they needed an OK from my landlord). The owner and volunteers made it clear that I could call them with any questions at any time, even years down the road. And one of the volunteers phoned me after a few weeks for a good long chat about how my new cat was settling in, and reminded me to stay in touch with them if I moved out of the area or, God forbid, had to re-home the cat. Before I called Angel Paws I'd been jerked around by other central NJ shelters that I won't name (and didn't trash on Yelp even though I should have--e.g., one lied about a male cat's peeing and spraying habits). Clearly our experiences vary with these shelters. But if you're turned down for an adoption, it's for a reason, and you shouldn't take revenge on the shelter by posting lies on Yelp. read more

Angel Paws - My Roo - Animal Shelters Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

All of the negative reviews about this place are spot on. You can tell there is something wrong with the people who work there as soon as you set foot inside this little hideaway. The first thing that hits you is the smell. Then after listening and talking to the volunteers who hang around the place something else hits you: you're not worthy. The attendants of the superior furry beings may on the surface appear nice but they can see right through you and they know you're not ready to quit your job to devote your miserable worthless life to attending to the whims and wishes of your four-legged master. They are all warriors of the spay/neuter crusade. We saw a really beautiful, friendly female kitty there once, the kind every family would be happy to adopt. They told us her story, how she was found outside with a litter of 2 kittens and then she was spayed, her kittens given away, and now she remains looking for a home. You could feel the regret in their voice that the kitty was allowed to have little ones and wasn't "fixed" beforehand. They actively and proudly participate in TNR expeditions across all New Jersey, and apparently will not rest until cats are eradicated from the face of the earth. We saw a nice little kitten our children really liked. We filled out an application, called. No response. We stopped in again, saw another little kitten (the first one was already adopted by one of the staff), filled out the application again, called and waited some more. Might as well try to knock down the Great Wall of China with a banana. We're not worthy. Our children are not worthy. No one is. Only them. read more

Angel Paws is a great rescue. I have been reading the negative comments posted here. It's really pathetic how little people know of how rescue works or what it takes to make it work. This group, like so many others, is run by VOLUNTEERS. They do not get paid for doing this. Most have full-time jobs and still devote countless hours to the pets in their care. FYI, rescues do not approve just anyone. A good rescue will do what they think it's best for the pets in their care. If they feel someone will not a good fit for that pet, they will NOT get that pet. Just because one wants a cat, it does not mean they should have one. read more

Love this place! Adopted my mother's cat from here and he is just the love of her life! I'm reading some other reviews with false information and it's sad that people who weren't accepted get so salty they feel the need to trash a rescue's yelp page. I got a call back in 3 days and the fee is only 100$... there are people who just have to complain about something I guess. read more

I adopted cheese, crackers and snowball about a year ago from angel paws. Great staff very friendly and they care a lot about the animals they have.. read more

Angel Paws - Crackers - Animal Shelters Near Me - Colonia, New Jersey

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I kept contacting to inquire about adoption only to be ignored by the staff despite many emails being sent to them. So, I contacted them via Facebook and was told not to contact. Whoever is managing the Facebook was absolutely rude and not helpful. Do they even care about animals? how am I supposed to ever get in touch so I can adopt an animal who needs help? read more

Great place, caring volunteers. Two of our cats are from there. They do great work! They make sure that their cats are going to good homes.

Great place to get a kitty. Really nice volunteers and the cats are well taken care of. Got my lovely cat from here.

Angel paws has been there with incredible support since we adopted our girl Orchid. They made the procedure easy, were understanding and accommodating with our needs, had all the shots and chips done. Simply a joy to work with and would adopt from them again in a heartbeat. Thank you. read more

Amazing people at this organization! Patient, caring, and devoted. All of the animals at the facility are well looked after, well adjusted, happy and just waiting to find their fur-ever homes. I would highly recommend this group if you are looking for a fur-baby. If you cannot adopt or foster at this time, I would encourage you to donate to Angel Paws - the great work they do is a very worthwhile investment. read more

My boyfriend and I were looking to adopt a companion kitten for our kitten we already had at home. The ladies seemed to like us at the desk. We were getting along with the cats petting them and talking to the staff. We went to see the kitten at petsmart we filled out an application and we never heard back from them. No rejection or acceptance of our application. Seems to me if you're looking to adopt a cat this is not the place to go. We went to woodbridge animal shelter and adopted our new kitten immediately, the day we met we took him home and was only $50 adoption fee and free spay. read more

I have just adopted three kittens from Angel Paws and I cannot say anything but positive things about the facility. First of all, all of the volunteers are the nicest people and work tirelessly to take care of and most of love all of these cats. The facility might be small, as some of the other reviewers have stated, but they make good use of all of it. There are areas for the new cats who are being evaluated, areas for the cats that have behavioral or trust issues and are harder to adopt out (they are loved very much by the volunteers) and all other cats in between. I have adopted from other facilities and I am so very impressed with the care these cats are receiving, being at the facility or in their foster homes. Their medical care is taken care of by Angel Paws and written documentation is given to the adopters. Some other reviewers have mentioned that the facility took a while to get back to them after inquiring about some cats. I did not find this at all. I was called within less than two days. They did ask many questions about my ideas on caring for cats but I was comfortable with this. They want the best for the animals. I find that a positive attribute. They genuinely care for these cats and will only give them the best lives. I went for one cat and took home three. This was because of the great people and their care of my future babies. I had constant communication from their foster mom and I ended up loving this place so much, I am now a volunteer one day a week. Please come in and visit or go to the adoption events and check out their cats. Each have their own unique personalities and the volunteers can help you find your perfect baby, or two. read more

This organization is as good as it gets. All volunteers. The love and dedication that they have for their furry charges is so obvious the moment you walk through the door. We have adopted from them and were very pleased with the way the whole process was handled. A great organization... if you love animals then donate, adopt and volunteer. read more

Don't Waste your time. So let me start out by saying they charge $250 for a cat the last time I checked, I didn't realize I was at a pet store not a rescue. Me and My girlfriend went in to possibly find our future cat only to be greeted by two women of older age that were clearly judging my girlfriend and I ( I'm 26 and she's 24) As we were talking to them cats were coming up to us and rolling around and purring while we pet them clearing showing them that we have chemistry with animals. We filled out an entire application, Agreed to a home visit and everything. Weeks went by and we never got a call back. So I guess they really aren't trying to find forever homes for these animals when there are people bending over backwards to adopt your cats and you're snubbing people. I wouldn't even be surprised if the ladies threw our application right in the garbage after we walked out. not even to get a call is out right insulting to be honest. We went to Woodbridge Animal Shelter and adopted a kitten instead, the process was painless and quick and Astro is healthy and happy in our home =) shame we couldn't do that for one of Angel Paws animals but they wouldn't let us... read more

Don't even bother with this place ! Went there with my boyfriend to adopt a kitten,everything seemed well,we clicked with the kitten and we were told to fill out an application to proceed. We were told that we would hear back from them in 1-2 days at most. When a week passed ,we decided to call in and check the status of the application,and the lady told us that we would get a call back in 1-2 days. After 3 days we called back again,and we were told that someone would call us shortly. Nothing happened.. it's like they don't want the cats to be adopted .. read more

5 years ago, my (at the time) girlfriend walked into Angel Paws to meet some kitties the ladies had told her about. She didn't hit it off with those kitties, but a certain little boy stuck his paw out at her because he wanted to get her attention....and share his love with her. She got along well with him and one of his sisters (5 kittens in the litter; 2 were taken and 1 was sick) and she took them home. 5 years later, we are married and our little angels are a perfect fit in our family and their furever home. When we got married, in lieu of gifts at the table (seriously, who wants a picture frame), we donated money in everyone's name to the great people at Angel Paws. Go visit and adopt a little ball of fuzz today =) read more

I was just looking when I went to angel paws. I had lost my 17 yr old rosie in sept. there were so many friendly cats that were adorable and well taken care of. the people who work there are angels. they love these precious cats and it shows. volunteer means they don't get paid. god bless them all. read more

Wonderful, caring volunteers...adorable, loving cats & kittens.....definitely worth considering when you are looking to adopt, foster or sponsor a pet. Also, they are always in need of volunteers to help clean the shelter, transport cats to vet appointments, lend a hand at adoption events, etc. read more

A couple of my friends and I heard about this place from a worker in petco. We went there today and the staff were terribly rude and made it seem like they didn't want us to volunteer. Horrible experience here. read more

my friends and I went to this place to see if we could volenteer for them and they were so ride to us. they also lied and said we needed to be 17 when we did not have to be. this place is awful and the people are very rude. Never going back read more