Went there on a Saturday and waited 20 minutes to be screened by intake . Didn't adopt on that day but will return

I escorted my daughter and her fiancé to Animal Haven for a cat adoption. I was very pleasantly surprised on the care and knowledge of each individual cat they have . You can enter each room with gloves on and then after a thorough interview and veterinary boosters , a two week foster and another appointment we got to bring our little cutie Enoki home. Highly recommend. read more

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The "safety check" isn't just about safety--it's a screening for lifestyle, opinions, and even politics. If she doesn't personally agree with how you live, she may deny your application. I recommend blocking her social media access before applying to protect your privacy. During the interview, she took an accusatory tone and repeatedly twisted my words. It felt more like an interrogation than a genuine conversation. Instead of assessing whether I could provide a good home, she seemed focused on finding a reason to say no. What's more frustrating is how much control they want compared to other shelters. Most adoption processes are more straightforward--this one involves initial contact, a lengthy application, an interview that feels invasive, and a two-week trial period where they decide if you're good enough. This isn't standard across the industry, and honestly, it's a deterrent. Worst part? She did all this knowing the cat would stay in the shelter. I already have experience, a safe home, and was willing to adopt an older cat. If someone else truly wanted the cat, I'd be fine with that--I just wanted to see an animal get a home. But gatekeeping isn't helping anyone. The humane society works just fine and it's much easier. read more

I have adopted two little kittens that were abandoned in a garbage can in Brooklyn. The adoption process was easy and I was able to bring them home. These innocents kittens are everything for me and my family. read more

I have never written a review in my life but I just had to share my experience at this adoption center. I met with an older white, short haired blonde woman regarding a cat who had been at the shelter for over 6 months. We were looking to seriously adopt an animal, and had asked to see both the cats and dogs on separate visits. She was extremely judgmental, rude, vaguely racist. Though we are first time adopters on paper, we were more than qualified to adopt, and myself and my partner strongly feel this was not a fair adoption process. I recommend anyone else that is looking to adopt, that is not white, and wealthy, to look elsewhere. There are so many other adoption agencies that will not charge you $300 to adopt an animal that has been in shelter for months. I also recommend anyone looking to visit this center to take time to look at other reviews detailing the same experiences I had. There are many negative Reddit posts about this agency as well. Please train your staff to be more professional and create a work environment that doesn't allow people like this to be comfortable in their micro aggressions. read more

I came to volunteer at Animal Haven and was impressed with how dedicated the staff and volunteers are with the animals here. There are a number of dogs that seem to require a lot of special care, and the regular volunteers were extremely attentive, which was nice to see. They have a lot of dogs and cats that are all waiting to be adopted. If you're looking for a new pet, this is a great place to rescue one that needs a home. read more

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Came here this afternoon to drop off some of my recently (1 year ago) departed chihuahua Mika's belongings. I wasn't sure which animal shelters were taking donations so I did a search on Yelp and found Animal Haven. A nice employee game me the email address for Sandi to discuss. My communication with Sandi was wonderful - she informed me they were currently in need of some clean blankets. I immediately searched my entire apartment and came up with 4 large soft blankets and one small blankie. Donations are by appointment only so I showed up today promptly at 1pm as directed. When I walked inside I was VERY pleased with how clean, organized and quiet Animal Haven was! This is hands down the most sanitary shelter I have ever been to in the tri-state area. Thank you to Animal Haven for taking such good care of the emails in your care. I saw a beautiful white cat in one of their rooms that looked cool, calm and content. Fabulous work you're all doing here. BRAVO! I sincerely hope the adoptable animals here get some cozy comfort from my little Mika's blankets. read more

Animal Haven - Donated my baby Mika's things here today since she's up in heaven now - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

Recently adopted a cat from Animal Haven for my daughter who lost her cat after 17 years during the height of the pandemic. Initially she found a 10 month old cat that she had her heart set on even without seeing a picture. She received a call to arrange to go meet with the cat and just when we are getting ready to make plans we were informed that cat is being adopted by someone else and will no longer be available. The following two days a picture goes up of the cat that we wanted and she received a call that the person who initially was suppose to pick up the cat can not make it till next week and set an appt for us to go in and adopt the cat this is the area that I was not too happy about and found it to be unfair yet my daughters heart was set and we went to meet with "SKY" and immediately fell in love only to be told we could not take her because she hasn't been medically cleared which was baffling since she was supposedly adopted last week. Now here is where I give 5 stars and that was to Kate who was committed to ensuring that "Sky" received a loving home and could see that we immediately feel in love with her. It was heartbreaking to leave without the cat especially since it was my daughters birthday and she had her hopes set on getting her that day. It was like getting a new baby toys, litter, everything was already bought. On that evening Kate called her and accepted the application. Kate thank you for going the extra mile. Now Sky is home and she is beautiful and happy to have her as part of our family. read more

Animal Haven - Blue Bell now " Sky" - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

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While I recognize that saving animals is a tricky and tough business, NYC has many different organizations doing this work. Please go else where. I had a HORRIBLE experience with my adoption. I was rushed into adopting a very sick dog. I should have researched Animal Haven but I didn't... a truly heart breaking lesson I still cry about. I wish I had the option to give negative 5 stars in this review. Animal Haven told me the dog was in perfect condition "except for a few things that would clear up quickly" and they hid crucial details about the dog... the dog required 24 hr care, multiple follow up surgeries, and when I asked for help, there was no support. After 1 week I was told to surrender the dog instead of having any other care options. When I surrendered the dog, I also donated $300 to help the organization give the dog the support that was needed. Instead, they put a very sick animal back online 24 hrs later and didn't even change the dog information (not letting others know this dog is a special needs animal.) Be aware adopting from them. I hope my experience is not the norm and just an unfortunate cluster fuck that they have since learned from... who knows. Do your homework and don't rush into things with them. Get the backstory on the pet, interview them, ask questions if things seem too fast moving and make sure they don't start changing details... I feel that they lied to me to get a dog adopted that was at their facility longer than they anticipated. They are not good with senior pets. read more

Incredible staff at this location. They were very informative throughout the adoption process and very transparent. They were so kind and the animals were SOOO CUTE! read more

I've always shrugged off what to me seemed like a ludicrously convoluted adoption process here. I wanted a dog desperately and was prepared to do what they wanted to adopt a pooch in need. I am a diehard and long-standing adopter of homeless, sick dogs in the senior and geriatric range. Just this morning I saw at least two of their "adoptable" dogs dressed up in "fashionable" ladies' clothing. There may have been more. There's a large nine-year-old male dog wrapped in a gold lamé shawl, and a female dog trussed up in a teal crisscross going-out dress where you can see where a bra would go. There's a big difference between putting a bow on a dog or a seasonal kerchief and exhibiting these poor animals as the butt of cruel jokes. What did they have to do to these poor dogs to fit them into these clothes? How long were they forced to stay in these clothes? Were these clothes of medical value and if not, where did they come off putting them on these captive animals? These questions need to be answered to gauge Animal Haven's purported humane treatment of dogs. Animal Haven has scraped bottom. These stunts bespeak the subnormal judgment of the Animal Haven staff and are a nauseating insult to the public. Don't take any of their excuses. They are responsible for the face of the organization. read more

So as many of you know, I've adopted my Pitbull Mix from Animal Haven about 2.5 years ago... she recently turned 8 years old! BEST DOG EVER... but that's just me being a proud mommy. Anyway, a few months ago, I made a year long commitment to volunteer at Animal Haven for 2 hours a week. It is fitting that I update this review because I never realized how much goes into caring for the animals. My first few volunteer session, I spent the entire 2 hours scrubbing down the walls of corrals and cages. It was not a fun or pretty site as there are lots and lots of corrals and cages with lots and lots of urine and poop*. With the high turnover of dogs getting adopted and dogs coming in, the cleaning process isn't easy either. The rule of thumb is to disinfect and then disinfect again. If I touch one dog... I have to wash my hands again before touching another dog to reduce the spread of diseases, if any. Yikes... and my poor dry hands. *I've been stocking up on Bath & Body Works lotions* Generally speaking, the reviews here on Yelp are pretty accurate. The staff at Animal Haven has their good days and bad days. Bad days include when a volunteer gets into a cab to take a sick dog to the vet... the cab driver takes a wrong turn... and drops the volunteer off at a hotel instead of the vet's office. The cab driver then charges the full amount of the cab fare, even though he never took the volunteer to the correct destination. The cab driver was more worried about the dog getting the inside of his cab dirty. As I briefly contemplate about changing my profession from a desk job, I realized that I could never work at an animal shelter as a career. My emotions would be so tied to the place...I would want to save every animal possible, which is impossible to do. Lack of funds. Lack of space. Responsibility to match the right owners with the right animal - which I must say Animal Haven does a pretty good filtering people out. I am surprised at how many people come into the store just to "look" but with no real intention to adopt. It gets old... and I've only volunteer for 2 hours per week for the past few weeks. Can you imagine how many people walk into the shop? Can you imagine what the staff has to go through? Long story short, I admire the staff. Passionate. Caring. Despite their bad days... it takes a strong back and rock hard emotions to work at an animal shelter as a profession. Something that I could never do... but I get my dose of helpfulness out of my system on a weekly basis. As sad as it is to see the animals... I can't feel bad. It doesn't help the animal when I feel sorry for it. I'm there to do my volunteer responsibilities and hope for the best that they get adopted out to a great owner/family. My proud moment last week was to calm down a super stressed dog. He was a 3 year old rat terrier who was afraid of his cage. Great cuddle buddy. It took an hour plus of holding him like a baby, putting him into the cage, then leaving the door open, holding him again (and the routine goes on) before he finally calmed down and realized the cage wasn't so scary! He finally laid down on his side and just relaxed for the rest of time that I was there on my volunteer shift. Maybe I'm a budding Cesar Millan at heart, and I just don't know yet! ;] Long story short... it's tough to be in the animal shelter environment.. I admire the staff.. and I'm lucky to be sharing my time with the staff and other volunteers. Passion to be helpful at its best. ----- *Hey - maybe this is why I'm petrified of having kids!* read more

Nice people who seem to truly care about the animals. Its nice to see people dedicated to a noble cause.

Im a volunteer here and the staff are so caring and do literally everything in their power to make sure the animals are safe, happy, and healthy. They also make sure the pets are doing to the best possible home. If its not a perfect fit, theyd rather have the animals stay at the shelter. We are currently OVER CAPACITY!!! If you can foster or are interested in adopting, please don't hesitate! We have so many amazing cats and dogs looking for loving homes. read more

I forgot to mention - they also charge volunteers to volunteer there, as if they're doing some sort of favor to you by letting you into their dirty, smelly, boring facility. If you're looking for an animal shelter in this area, just go over to Best Friends on West Broadway - they're nicer and cheaper - and they know how to communicate when needed. Or if you can't afford adoption fees but still want to adopt, go to the ASPCA on 92nd Street between 1st and York Avenue. read more

I cannot recommend this place enough. I went here in August looking for a kitten after many other shelters either misrepresented the amount of kittens they had or required 2-3 week adoption processes. The environment here was very welcoming and the staff was professional and kind. We were able to spend about 20 minutes alone with the 4 kittens there. They had a wide variety of cats and the second time we went for our official visit, we were able to take our kitten home the same day. She's been thriving and if I ever have to adopt or recommend a shelter, Animal Haven is my first choice! read more

Animal Haven - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

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Five stars is an insult in my book. Animal haven deserves infinite stars... At this shelter, the staff is all about the animals. The love and care that goes into the animals that find their way to animal haven, is indescribable. My daughter and I adopted two cats from animal haven and can tell you that their love and care for these animals continues on, even after they are adopted. If you are planning on adopting an animal, I truly urge you to make this your first stop. We will be back next June to inquire about our third little bundle. read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Animal Haven! My boyfriend and I got our cat Southside Johnny from here, and aside from him being the best cat ever (I'm serious!), the staff was amazing and helped up get him right away. I saw a lot of complaints about the staff here, and honestly don't know what people are complaining about. I submitted a request on their website to visit a special needs cat of theirs, Walter Pickles. Kendra immediately got back to me with availability and said to come whenever we could that week. When we got there, we were immediately impressed by the facilities - great space with room for all of the animals, nice people everywhere, and an especially clean shelter. We went up the stairs to meet Walter there, and three different staff members met with us to tell us the ins and outs of caring for him. After thinking about Walter for a couple of days, we didn't think we were the ideal fit for him, and emailed Kendra telling her that we would still be interested in another cat. When we were originally visiting, there was a really sweet looking orange and white tabby across the hall from Walter, who my boyfriend and I both said looked sweet and friendly. Low and behold, after emailing Kendra she replied saying that she noticed that we had liked that cat, and that he was brand new to the shelter and wasn't on the website yet. She added that she thought he could be a great fit for us instead of Walter, and was one of the sweetest cats she's ever met (true!), so we obviously rushed back over there before the weekend so we didn't miss out on him. After arriving at the shelter again, Kendra took us straight to Johnny and let us interact a bit with him. We were sold and filled out the application and got approved that day. I could not be happier with this cat - he is so people friendly, sweet and well behaved - which is so crazy given that he came from a hoarding situation with 100 other cats, poor guy! We've only had him for a week but feel like he's been with us for ages and love the new addition to our family. Animal Haven was also very helpful with his follow up vet appointments as he has some outstanding allergies. Again, I could not recommend Animal Haven enough, and am sending a special thanks to Kendra and Mika for helping us with everything with Johnny! He's amazing. I'll definitely continue to donate and maybe even volunteer here in the future. Wonderful pets and caring staff - we could not have had a better experience. Thank you Animal Haven! read more

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A truly amazing shelter. These folks really care about the animals they rescue . We adopted a sweet, smart puppy named Quad and their team helped us through every aspect of his adoption process. Thank you! read more

Animal Haven - Quad our adopted puppy! - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

Animal Haven totally rocks in terms of the community outreach they do, and the activities they have available. (Drag bingo? Veganized drag bingo? Yes, please!) Admittedly, I've only gone once for the drag bingo, but it was totally a great time, and people were allowed to bring their dogs! How cool is that? Any organization that actively promotes adopting stray animals rather than breeding new ones is A-OK in my book--actually, more than A-OK. read more

Animal Haven - This dog (chihuahua/jack russell mix) is a total sweetheart and is up for adoption. - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

These people rock! I found a senior dog who had been cruelly abandoned and I reached out to them because I couldn't care for him. They took him into their clean facility with open arms and kisses. They are able to provide 24 hr care which I cannot. Most rescues didn't even offer any help or respond to my requests for assistance. Donate to Animal Haven if you can. They are truly doing Gods work. read more

Adopted my puppy from AH - they handled all her puppy vaccines, medications, and spay (that cost well over $1k at the vet). I adopted my other dog from a different shelter and they didn't handle any of this. Love Animal Haven!! read more

I first found out about Animal Haven through a friend of mine, who is a longtime volunteer there. I've visited AH multiple times across the years, attended their events, and, since losing my kitty this past winter, kept a close eye on their animal list. In addition to a wonderful, state of the art facility, this shelter offers its cats and dogs the very best attention and care. It's obvious how much the staff and volunteers are invested in the animals and their wellbeing. I want to give a shoutout to Kate, a regular staff member who has always maintained incredible professionalism, who is extremely knowledgable, and is helpful and kind to everyone visiting the shelter. What especially impressed me is the genuine compassion she showed when I found out that a dog I wanted to apply for had been approved for adoption the day his picture went live. It was obvious in her response to me that she is invested not only in the animals in her care, but also the humans who are hoping to love them. Another shoutout goes to Rose, who is equally helpful. She very carefully answered my questions about another animal I was considering--a senior cat with some medical issues--and was very thorough and patient throughout our chat, not to mention friendly, which makes all the difference. Finally, the volunteers at Animal Haven could not be nicer! My personal favorite is my wonderful friend, Cheryl, whose heart and generosity know no bounds when it comes to the many animals who cross her path. She gives to Animal Haven in countless ways. They are so lucky to have her! Thank you, Animal Haven, for all you do! read more

Tried to adopt a cat here. Volunteers were nice and friendly but the staff there sitting at the front desk was not helpful at all. The staff looked like she doesn't care if people are interested in adopting. After filling out the application form, she told us the application normally takes 2-3 days and will call back to us. We have waited for more than 2 weeks and no one calls back. Ended up adopting 2 cats at the ACC weekend event where staffs are 10 time better than this place. read more

Animal haven made my dreams come true!! I adopted Tabitha in January and she is the best friend I've ever had. She is a pitbull puppy and I have never had a puppy before! I now understand how much work it takes to raise a pup! I called almost twice a day the first two weeks, and every time I called kristen and mika were very nice and informative about how to handle a pup. I couldn't be happier! Thank you animal haven!!! We will come to visit soon ;) read more

Animal Haven - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

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I've had a great experience with Animal Haven. Two other dear friends of mine have adopted cats from here and now I have my own cat Coco (formerly Gnome) which I love. They care a lot for their animals and with what they have in terms of resources and space, they do very well as a shelter. They put their animals' well-being first, which includes selecting the best candidates for adoption. All the staff I met with during the entire process were very informative and were always happy to answer any questions I had, this includes the lead cat specialist, all the volunteers and the receptionists. I was able to come to a decision for my application based on all the great information and advice I received from everyone. The adoption process was simple and to-the-point. They have two cat rooms, one of the ground floor and a separate one upstairs along with kittens spread around. The main cattery on the ground floor contains a large group of cats together while upstairs has separated quarters for each individual cats and cat cabana for them to spend time in (and also meet you). All their dogs are downstairs, which get walked pretty often. My recommendation is that you shouldn't come here unless you are really sure you have a strong intention of finding and adopting a dog or cat, and realistic expectations of maybe not finding your soulmate pet, since they do have a limited capability for resident pets. For that reason Animal Haven can't afford to give and take back pets if adopters are not sure or serious about committing, especially since the upkeep can also be strenuous. But if you come in with an open mind, and really take the time to see if the right pet is here for you, it should be a pleasant experience. I'm very happy with my cat Coco, and I do hope for everyone out there that's looking for a pet can be able to find him/her at Animal Haven. read more

Animal Haven - Coco (formerly known as Gnome) was adopted from Animal Haven and we couldn't be happier together :) Thanks! - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

This place is not good they drink and hang out and you hear the dogs barking and it's crazy how they lie about the dogs age to get more money in adoption fee they are bad on there costumer service they have no respect at all I felt I was doing the right thing but I was told one thing and they did another I was told my dogs would be together and the separate them I am highly up set they call cops for no reason when you just trying to talk to them like a normal person will do I regret this place read more

I mostly just want to give an update on Bowser, formerly Otis!! He's doing amazing and I'm so thankful to animal haven for taking care of him before he came to me!! We've worked so much on his guarding and his "destroyer of trees/sticks" behavior with lots of treats and positive reinforcement, and he's come so far in only a couple weeks. He and I walk together now as opposed to him "walking me" haha. He still has his moments but don't we all. He's incredibly eager to learn and grow with the right motivation. Thank you guys!!! read more

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I came here a few months ago with my boyfriend looking to adopt a dog. I already have a dog and a cat at home, and I was interested in growing our fur family. I've been here a few times before, but the most recent visit I had left me so bitter that I'd rather not look inside that facility again. We had set our eyes on this one specific dog and I had set in an application for him. The volunteer that gave us the tour was amazing, but the lady at the desk was extremely rude and condescending. While I was filling out my application, I heard her tell another family that if they were there to just look around and not adopt that day, then they were wasting everyone's time and loudly denied them the tour. What if they were curious about adopting and would've eventually changed their minds? Instead she had already made that decision for them to never consider it again. After filling out my application, she asked me basic questions on how to take care of a dog, and what my job schedule consisted of. She had absolutely no knowledge about the dog we were trying to adopt, because she spent more time on the computer reading off the website that I had already looked at earlier and even I had more knowledge from the thorough introduction of him from the volunteer. She was also extremely judgmental based on the little boxes I filled out about my dog and my cat, and essentially guilt lectured me on how to care for my dog by bringing up things like how I'll be the cause for my dogs cancer and eventual and soon death. Despite all of this, I was here to give this dog a new home, not deal with terrible people. I waited days and weeks and I never received a single call or email that he was adopted. I had to learn that he was adopted by looking at the website myself to see if his photo was still there. Nothing about this experience has been great. There are beautiful fur babies in there looking for a great home, but adoption representatives that treat people this way make it so difficult for me to even want to step in that place ever again. It's so unfortunate because the volunteers are super passionate and enthusiastic during their tours and the fur babies they rescue are incredibly loving deserving of great homes. It's really unfortunate that it's the desk representatives that get in the way of letting people try to make a difference. read more

I LOVE AH they helped us pick our baby CHULETA formally known as Polly. Aka Chu chi! She is the light of our life. AH helped us with her because she has FIV.. NO NEED TO BE scared! They educated us the it and it is fine!! Fiv - Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that affects cats worldwide. And is more closely related to human immunodeficiency virus HIV. FIV is the only non-primate lentivirus to cause an AIDS-like syndrome, but FIV is not typically fatal for cats, as they can live relatively healthily as carriers and transmitters of the disease for many years. A vaccine is available although its efficacy remains uncertain. Cats will test positive for FIV antibodies after vaccination. AH was so helpful with educating us on fiv .. The office was clean surprisingly because dealing with all those animals... Is hard! ;) I would recommend you go visit and donate $$ to help the animals!!! ;) read more

Animal Haven - Save a cat with fiv today!!! ;) - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

Really disappointed at this place! put an application for a cat with my two kids.. have adopted many rescues in the past perfect safe home put all info on the application. Never even heard back.. now my kids are wondering what happened and are upset.. since when did it become hard to rescue animals?? Anyway I hate to say it but try to avoid this place and adopt from a real adoption agency like Bidewee.. read more

animal haven is wonderful!!! I had two recommendations independently for this shelter and it turns out both were absolutely true. Everyone is very sweet and watching really out for the best of the cat (or dog). after hanging out with Capt Marvel (sweetest kitten :-)) on Sunday for an hour and filing all paperwork, we received the happy phone call on Monday (when animal haven is closed) and had her move in with us on Tuesday. The entire experience was great! It's very clean, well-organized, and small which makes it more personal. Fantastic! read more

When I first came here, I will admit that I drank the Kool-aid. They have a beautiful, clean facility and all of the dogs (only looked at dogs so cannot speak to cats) have plenty of space to roam in their rooms (not even crates!) and have all been taken from extremely tragic situations, so you can't help but feel warm and fuzzy about what they are doing here. Honestly, my boyfriend and I were trying to adopt a dog and I was considering volunteering after walking through! Our volunteer guide was great and she told us all about each animal and introduced us to two we were interested in. And that's where it goes south. Like other reviewers have mentioned, their adoption process is so over the top and makes me feel like this is what it would be like to enroll my child in a NYC preschool. It feels competitive and you constantly have to nag people to get an answer. Other people here have mentioned that they have put in applications on animals that have already had applications on them and then they walk away with the animal. That is lovely, but the question then becomes, what about the other people who applied? I realize that some people are not fits for certain dogs, but in my experience, we applied for two dogs on a Saturday and heard nothing until Wednesday, and this is after my boyfriend called several times on Tuesday and Wednesday and his calls were NEVER returned. He only was able to get in touch with an employee via email. She finally gave us the information but told us that one dog was taken because someone who knew the person who brought her in was approved (but we were told the person who brought her in was homeless?? Why was she taken to the shelter at all if they were planning to adopt?). Regarding the second dog, we only heard back on Friday after we had already adopted another dog from Bideawee. What makes this even more ridiculous is that we were told they wanted her to go to a home with another dog to help her socialize. That is fine, but why were we even allowed to apply for this dog? As I mentioned, we got a lovely puppy from Bideawee with a SAME DAY adoption process. We were obviously vetted by adoption counselor and found to be fit (this took several hours), but my point is that there is no need for the process to be this secretive and unwelcoming. Don't waste your time here and check out Bideawee on 38th Street. They are amazing. (Three stars for the fact that their animals are obviously well taken care of and they are doing the work that many people can't do). read more

If I had read the reviews here first, I may not have had to go through the adoption process which has left me hanging, like other reviewers. I haven't experienced the front desk being rude but they were definitely slow and seemed a little disorganized. We saw a cat we liked on Animal Haven's website so I went in to meet him. He seemed like a good fit for my family so I filled out an application on the spot. The person at the front desk went over my application and said it looked good. Then she told me they usually wait for multiple applicants and to call if I didn't heard anything from them in 2-3 days. I didn't hear back after 4 days so called them but couldn't get through and also wasn't able to leave a voicemail. Then I emailed them, with no response back. Over a week later, on a Sunday, my husband called and got through. The person there said she saw my completed application and the cat was still there but she didn't have any other information. She said someone would contact us on Tuesday (they're closed Mondays). Its now 2 1/2 weeks later and I haven't heard a word or any update. First of all, why should we have to hunt their staff down for an answer on whether we are able to adopt an animal we've applied for, and are going to pay a fee for? Secondly, this cat was senior and had a chronic health condition, wouldn't they want to have it adopted out to a good home as soon as possible? The radio silence is offputting and disappointing. The lack of care with the adoption process is borderline rude, especially for a well-known established organization. read more

Disclaimer: I'm an active volunteer here. This review is based on my personal experience. My opinions, suggestions, and input are not representative of animal haven's policies in anyway. Please ALWAYS do your own research and call the shelter if you have questions. ADOPTING: The process is straightforward and outlined on their website. Definitely check it out before stopping by. You can see who is available as well as vital info like age, breed, weight, medical conditions, history, etc. I recommend to anyone considering adoption (whether or not it's your first time) to come with questions. If you're ready to adopt soon and you find THE one, be prepared to make a case for yourself because the animals move in and out of the system quickly. Also if you're interested in someone that's been there longer, ask why and seriously think about whether you can meet their needs before you commit to putting in an application. It'll make the process quicker if you come in with a prepared but also open mind. Once you find someone that's a good fit and are fully aware of who you're getting (i.e. ask staff as much info as possible - medical, behavioral history) and you're aware of the responsibilities having them entails, you fill out an application and wait to hear back. They'll call if you've been approved and from there the staff will discuss pick up and other arrangements for your pet. Regarding what people have said about the lack of followup..I wouldn't take the lack of response personally. if you're not getting a response just go in person, send an email, or assume your application hasn't been approved. Not trying to be rude, but I'm sure they get so many applications in a day that the staff can't possibly follow up with everyone. But if it gives you piece of mind to know whats going on, do whatever you need to do to get an update. MY ADOPTION STORY: As soon as I found someone, I dropped by the shelter to see her. She hadn't been there long, but staff shared whatever they knew, made sure I understood that she already had applications in, and addressed all of concerns and questions about the adoption process. I needed some time to think it over, but it didn't take long. The next evening, I stopped by again for a visit and to put in an application. I heard back a few days later and took my fur baby home the following day. The entire process took about a week, but it's different for every dog so keep that in mind. I was allowed to adopt under the agreement that I would take her to their partner vet for her senior work up (she wasn't at the shelter long enough to have that done). It was a smooth, no fuss process. The staff were extremely professional and transparent. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity they gave me to adopt my pooch. The adoption fee was $295 by the way (for dogs over 1 year) and all inclusive (collar, leash, core vaccinations, spaying/neutering). Tip: Before you leave, ask if your dog has been fed yet so you know whether or not to feed upon bringing home. Also, if needed, ask if they can give you a couple essentials for the first few days home with your pet. FYI: They offer puppy and adult training school if you're interested and animal haven alumni get a discount on classes. This is info from last year though, so I would call to make sure! VOLUNTEERING: To volunteer, fill out an application on their website. Once approved, you'll receive an email about orientation. Attend, pass the requirements and you can start volunteering. Hours are flexible and you have the option of working with dogs, cats, or front desk. It's a wonderful experience as you'll get to take part in rescues, learn more about the animals we work with and the care involved, learn about shelter operations, and meet cool people. OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Yes, there are areas for improvement and I agree that the shelter needs better communication, but that goes for ANY establishment. Despite the complaints, it's not difficult to see the amazing things the team at animal haven does for these animals. There's a lot of man power that's required to run the shelter and care for them. If you choose to volunteer here know that it's a labor of love. You might not get praised every second, but people do acknowledge (whether its the visitors, staff, other volunteers) and appreciate your help. Show up to help and be willing to learn, don't just come to cuddle! You'll be doing everything from cleaning, leading tours, and participating in rescues. It's a shitty job (pun intended) but one of the most rewarding. Volunteer if you're looking to build leadership skills, leg and arm muscles (we're talking serious thigh burns from mopping the floors people), meet amazing people (their staff member Galaxia is awesome), and save lives. DONATING: If interested, there are several ways to give.. -monetary donations (on-site or online) -gently used dog toys and linens/towels -unopened/new products (canned food, treats) read more

This place is terrible. I'd like to explain. I wanted to adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy because it is a better thing to do. I kept walking in week after week looking for the right match. After about a month there was a dog we loved - we submitted the application. We felt as though we werent given the full story - every employee of this establishment was giving us a different story about the dog's origin and assessment - both imperative when adopting. He was a troubled animal, zero training. However, we really liked him so we didn't care. The lady at the front desk told us they needed our info, she said she needed to check our backgrounds and would give us a call. 2 weeks later - no phone call, no nothing. You would think they were decent enough to at least let us know especially since they knew we were coming in and out every week. read more

Volunteer here for the love of dogs. The staff seems disinterested, uninformed, and lazy. I have been volunteering for quite some time. The kennels are filthy. The staff do nothing to clean them and depend on the volunteers to mop the place up. They sit and chat with each other while the volunteers are walking dogs and cleaning. The staff seems untrained. The head of volunteering makes no effort to get to know anyone. He just walks around doing nothing. The signs on the kennels are not accurate. The staff mumble so its really difficult to know which dogs need attention. While walking the dogs, they should wear something to indicate that they are available for adoption. Sorry, I wish I didn't have to be so harsh but something must be done! read more

This weekend, Nico was thisclose to getting a brother. I even got to the point of thinking up names (Vinnie for a boy because there was a cute white cat and Vinnie seems like the masculine version of Vanna -- as in "Vanna White" -- yeah, I'm a dork) when I realized I was talking semi-loco talk. Upon considering how comfortable Nico is right now, how shy and reserved he used to be when I first saw him at his foster home and when I initially brought him home, and how curmudgeony I can only envision him to be were he to have any competition for my admittedly already-limited time, however, I decided he would 99% likely be opposed to the idea. Even so, that didn't stop me from cooing over the little kittens and coming nigh to breaking my heart over the adult cats who stood (or lazed) so majestically behind their glass partitions. I adopted Nico as an adult after having heard that adult cats are harder to place than kittens, and it makes me so sad to think that these guys and gals were likely just abandoned once a family decided the grown cats weren't nearly as cute as they were as kittens. Ridiculous, I tell you. Anyway, this store in SoHo is not just a shelter; there is a pet store in front that offers a number of yummy treats and pet food brands, along with toys, leashes, collars, books, greeting cards, and the like, for sale at reasonable prices. The Wellness 5.5 ounce cans, which are $1.25 at Beasty Feast (in my neighborhood and that's WITH a 10% discount for bulk purchases), are instead $1.12 per can here at Animal Haven SoHo. On top of that, whatever money they make at the store is used to help keep the shelter running. Think about it -- instead of supporting some store owner, you're actually helping to support this wonderful cause -- a no-kill shelter that even has an animal sanctuary upstate for hard-to-place animals that likely will never find "fur-ever" homes elsewhere. I'm gushing, aren't I? I can't help it -- I just got a big warm & fuzzy just thinking about this place. Almost as big of a warm & fuzzy as when I watch Christian the Lion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U Anyway, I digress....this place is pretty great. It's clean and spacious and carries stuff for dogs and cats alike. It doesn't have a HUGE selection of food, but what they do have is of high quality. They also offer pet training classes (I saw a few people come in for the "small dog training course," which they hold upstairs), and they are open seven days a week. I couldn't walk out of there empty-handed, so I sidled up to the counter with a packet of freeze-dried shrimp that Nico, in his burgeoning tubbiness, definitely didn't need. However, a little treat now and again doesn't hurt, I feel. Soooo...yes.....GO HERE!! Or....in lolcat fashion....diz stoor iz TEH AWWSUMZ!!!1!!!~@! read more

Animal Haven is a weird place to me. M. and I gathered a crap load of towels+sheets donated by our close friends and headed here to drop it off. The staff were very cold and just wanted to stare at the computer screens. We were not expecting a medal or a pat on the back. But, really? You can't provide a warm smile and look at us in the eyes to say a thank you. Or help us unload the towels... Maybe the staff is jaded, maybe because we are not the celebrities who lives in the area. We just know that we won't be coming here anymore, there are other non-kill shelters with friendlier staff in NYC... read more

Animal Haven is a rescue shelter for cats and dogs in Soho/Little Italy. The storefront is more like a small pet store than a shelter. You don't see any animals when you walk in--they're all kept upstairs. Everything is clean, neat and orderly. I went there on different days and found the workers mixed--some were friendly and others not so much. While there's no question that the workers care a great deal about the animals, I also think they could do a better job of managing the prospective owners. We went in to look for a dog and this was the process: you are invited to browse their website on a large screen next to the front desk and a volunteer will bring down the dog you're interested in. (Obviously you can also view the site at home). Before you can apply, the entire household must come in and meet the dog. This gives the workers the opportunity to check you out, and it also means you are bonding with the dog. You then submit an application and wait one or two days. The shelter will accept multiple applications for the same dog and then decide which household, in their view, is the most suitable to adopt it. If you did not get that dog, you will find out by checking their website and seeing an "Adopted" banner across its picture. You will get no communication from the shelter, so no feedback about why you didn't get the dog, any indication of your suitability, or whether you should keep trying. You will then have to decide whether you want to repeat the same process. That is what we went through. After a heartbreaking turndown and frustration about the opaque process, we decided to go elsewhere. We were looking for a popular breed of dog and we knew there would always be multiple applications. We had no idea if we would ever be selected and weren't willing to invest the time and emotional energy to potentially be turned down repeatedly. We went to the Associated Humane Society in Newark. It's not as nice a facility as Animal Haven, but the people are equally as committed to their animals. We experienced the process the way it should be: we picked a dog that also had multiple applications, waited there while they made a decision, and were told that it was close but we would not be getting that dog. They then told us that we had a strong application and they really wanted us to adopt from their shelter. They worked with us to get the dog we wanted and the following week we took home a beautiful dog as our new pet. I totally agree that adoption should not be a "first come, first served" process. And I admire Animal Haven's commitment to look out for the best interest of the pets. But Animal Haven seems to feel that putting the animals first means they don't have to be considerate about the time and emotions of prospective owners. Perhaps they think that if we aren't willing to run their gauntlet then there are plenty of people who are (a very NYC mindset). With the population of unwanted dogs and cats far exceeding the number of prospective owners, they would do well to rethink that attitude. read more