Thank you HART, especially Kim, for your efforts in matching homeless cats with their furrever…read morehomes.

Our experience with Homeless Animals Rescue Team was extremely disappointing. We were interested in…read moreadopting a blind cat named Melon after meeting her at a PetSmart event. The rescue has no physical location and no working phone number, so all communication was limited to email. The adoption application was excessively long and invasive. Despite promptly providing vet records after an initial denial, our application continued to be dismissed without meaningful discussion. Kim, the point of contact, refused phone communication and was curt and dismissive in her responses. We were encouraged to attend an in-person adoption event, where we answered extensive questions and explained that we had a dedicated room and accommodations for Melon. Even then, Kim remained hesitant. We later learned Melon has been in foster care for 18 months, which raises serious concerns about this rescue's adoption practices. Kim made a condescending remark suggesting Melon's foster would have "more to say after we left," which was unprofessional and inappropriate. We were then asked to foster Melon temporarily, agreed, and have since heard nothing back. Based on this experience--and after reading similar complaints on Yelp--I will be contacting the PetSmart in Sterling regarding this rescue's conduct. This appears to be a pattern, and it is unacceptable. I would not recommend this organization to anyone looking to adopt.

So after we went on Saturday to adopt our cat . The staff mixed up the paperwork and when we went…read moreto pick the cat up at the vet it was the wrong cat!!!!! Then they are closed Monday's so we called on Tuesday and the cat we adopted is gone!!! I'm so heartbroken that the cat is gone and they won't do anything to resolve the situation. Someone "adopted" the cat after us and they refused to call and have them return the cat. They offered to take the cat we picked up back but let's take in account they wasted our time going to a vet and now we have to go to a vet again and shelter again to get another cat. I had to change my review after this because me and my husband are so upset at the carelessness of the paperwork. We really had our hearts set on that cat. They also said they will pay the vet bill to get a new cat neutered but how is that compensation when we just paid to neuter one of there cats!? We also had to drive back and forth to centerville to pick this cat up. I'm sure some future person will get told to pay to neuter that cat and then they will pocket the money since that's how corrupt this place is.

This shelter is always full of wonderful animals waiting for homes. We adopted our Ragdoll cat…read morethere last weekend. The shelter is running a special throughout the month of June (2016) where all cats are $20 (this includes micro chipping, neutering/spaying, and shots). The facility is clean, the caretakers are nice, and the process is easy. Visit during the week if you dislike crowds, because on weekends they get packed. Pro-tip: they take cash or check only. No credit cards. Be prepared because you'll probably find at least one animal here that'll capture your heart!!

Reading the comments saddens me, I am with a rescue group and just like shelters, we pick up the…read morepieces of irresponsible people. Dogs are in the shelter because an owner failed them, then we as rescue, as well as shelters, do the best we can to pick up the pieces from that. Any dog not on monthly heartworm prevention is going to have worms, we have seen a ton of hookworms this year and they are resistant - sometimes up to 4 treatments to get rid of them. Dogs may not be in the shelter or with a rescue group long enough for them to test negative. If you are adopting from a rescue or shelter then you have to go into that with the aspect of you want to save a dog. You may need to do a little extra work to get that dog healthy. In rescue a dog can stay in foster care for a bit, shelters don't have that luxury as there are too many animals in need. I always say there are more irresponsible people with pets than there are those of us trying to remedy the problem. Hard to win when you are outnumbered. Have a little patience because dealing with the need day in and day out can wear on you. Rescue has the benefit of any dog we take in we have evaluated and we will find a good home for that dog, but working at a shelter has to be difficult, you see nice dogs get put to sleep probably on a daily basis, you have to harden yourself a little to sustain that. Walk into the shelter with love in your heart to save a pet and give it a good life, these animals have had enough drama already.

BS. Lady on the phone told me one thing about a pet I was looking to adopt, and when we got there…read morethe dog wasn't available. What killed me was the rude woman at the desk then proceeded to argue with me about it. We were disappointed but I'm guessing that it's probably a blessing given that the place was shut down 3 times in like 6 months for bacterial issues. I imagine that any pup we got could have cost us in vet bills in the long run. Just sorry to have gotten my hopes up. I'm guessing, but since it was a puppy we were after, one of the staff probably took him. Boo hiss.

If I could give a negative star I would…read more I have fostered multiple dogs back to back for this shelter but my last experience revealed a DISTURBING lack of professionalism and humanity. After providing feedback regarding a major communication discrepancy, the dog program manager acted out of spite immediately. During a phone call, Michelle W. (dog program manager) repeatedly talked over me and refused to let me finish. She continuously mispronounced my name despite multiple corrections. Even before I could finish a sentence, her final words were "you can finish but at the end of this phone call, drop off the dog at the shelter" and "I don't need to have a reason. I can ask for the dog back because I can". They attempted to force a well adjusted puppy (one I had fostered for over a month) back into a cold kennel environment as a "power trip" simply because Michelle didn't like receiving a constructive criticism. It was clear she lacked empathy for the dog's stability and was prioritizing her own authority over the animal's well being. The adoption process here is abysmal. At the adoption event, numerous potential adopters who were interested in my foster dog said that the interview process is a joke. The interviewers talked more about themselves than giving the potential family to speak. A lot of them said the interview didn't even last 10minutes. Worst of all, I witnessed firsthand they use a lottery system (that's what everybody calls it at the event). They literally pull a name out of a plastic bag to choose the final family for the dog. Lastly, I find it interesting that Dawn (the executive director) responded to my google review asking to "connect directly". During my call with Michelle, I repeatedly asked for the contact information of a supervisor. Michelle lied and told me there was nobody above and she was the final authority. While the rescue claims their decision to pull the dog was for "safety" that concern only appeared AFTER I voiced my frustrations with their non existent communication which resulted me and my foster dog to stay at the vet for over 4hours. Was the "safety" they were worried about actually the safety of their own egos? As a rescue using an animal's placement as a tool for retaliation against a foster is very very disturbing and unacceptable. This organization is not what they market themselves to be. They claim to appreciate their fosters, but their actions prove they view them as disposable and animals as leverage. If you want to support a rescue that values animal welfare and basic human decency, this is not the right place. I would stay far away from this one.

I cannot recommend this agency under any circumstances. My experience with this rescue was…read moreextremely disappointing, distressing, and frankly unacceptable. They have absolutely broken my heart and I was already going through hell. I was actively fostering a dog (Charcoal) and had clearly communicated my intent to adopt him. I coordinated with staff regarding timing and transportation for adoption events and explained that I was recovering from serious injuries following a semi-truck accident. Despite this, the organization removed the dog from my care under the understanding that he would be taken for a neuter appointment and temporary holding. Instead, he was placed at an adoption event the very next day and adopted out--without any notification to me. I had to physically come in to find out he was gone. When I was directed to call for clarification, both Dawn and Michelle laughed on the phone when I asked about the situation. During that same conversation, after I explained my accident, Dawn referred to it as a "terrific" situation before correcting herself and dismissively stating that "life just happens." I was also told they did not "owe me any communication," despite the fact that I had expressed clear intent to adopt and had complied with what was asked of me. This reflects a severe lack of professionalism, empathy, and basic human respect. Fosters invest time, energy, and care into these animals. To remove a dog from a foster home, adopt him out immediately, and then respond with laughter and dismissal when asked for clarity is completely unacceptable. This agency's behavior shows no regard for the wellbeing of their fosters, adopters, or even the animals themselves. Treating a 22-year-old injured student in this manner--while she is actively trying to adopt and provide a stable home--is beyond inappropriate. Do not trust this organization with your time, your money, or your care.

A-Plus Pets has been taking care of my cats and dog for 15 years, the staff is caring,…read moreknowledgeable and always reliable. I highly recommend A-Plus Pets! Margo T.

We have had a fantastic experience with A-Plus Pets. Andrew is our usual dog walker and he is so…read morekind and considerate. Our dogs love him! Not only is he a great dog walker, he also goes above and beyond to be helpful when he is at our home. Last week, Andrew came into the house and found my 14 month old screaming and crying in his playpen while I was cleaning up a shattered glass. I had bronchitis and the baby had an ear infection, so we were both super miserable. Andrew immediately jumped into action and volunteered to entertain my son while I cleaned. It was a life saver. We so appreciate Andrew and A-Plus Pets. We highly recommend them!!

This was my first experience with the Behavior & Learning Center and I'm so glad I went! I attended…read morethe 'Pit Bull Banter' seminar, hosted by Diana and Kevin.It was an quasi-lecture/ open discussion/ questions/ answer format. It began with the history of the breed, and went through characteristics and misconceptions. We watched videos of dogs to see examples of levels of arousal, predation and how those traits differ from aggression. Unfortunately, there is no Pit Bull Rescue in DC, I hope with education seminars like this, Pit Bull fans will group together to form one! Also, look for Kevin's book 'The Paw that Rocks the Cradle' to come out soon!

The staff were not friendly or helpful to adopt an animal. Filled out all of the paperwork just for…read morethem to say i couldn't take the kitten home because it was too small. No one contacted me about other options either. Rude and will never go to them to adopt! I was also talked to as if I was a child because I'm 19 and in college and asked if they had a student discount. Was told if I needed a student discount I shouldn't try to adopt. I would do a zero star review is possible.

Joyce is an excellent trainer who helped my dog that was pulling on the leash and struggled to pay…read moreattention or calm down in exciting environments. I cannot recommend her enough!

My husband and I were referred to Joyce Loebig when our vet suggested we find a dog trainer…read morecertified in the Karen Pryor method of clicker training. We found her simply through an online search on the Karen Pryor site, and we uncovered a gem of a trainer. Joyce came to our home in Cleveland Park to train Bailey. We found Joyce to be effective, thorough, and a delight to be around. She has a very calm, sincere vibe about her, and a great sense of humor. She also was not self-serious, and really approached dog training in a playful, but very effective manner that set us at ease as we began to train Bailey. Joyce worked with us to teach us the clicker training method, which reinforces a dog's good behavior by clicking and handheld clicker then providing a treat to the dog. We worked on 'touch' and 'sit' during the first session, and also our dog's small dog syndrome, where our dog barked loudly at other dogs while on leash and also our cat in our home. The clicker/positive training method is especially effective for our dog, who is still gaining self-confidence after a being rescued by Rural Dog Rescue from a high kill shelter, and then enduring months of different places to live, as she was transferred between her NC foster family to a local doggy daycare, then our home. Bailey's behavior is a work in progress, and we continue to work with Joyce, but we moved in the right direction during our session. And she managed our expectations about the pace of progress, which was important. Joyce sent us a thorough follow up email and was candid and upfront about pricing, and other dog training options. Joyce will also train your dog in your home while you work, which I think is a huge positive for DC's long work hours. She is extremely positive and professional, and I would highly recommend her.

We did a three session puppy training with Lisa and it was fantastic. She came to our home the week…read morewe brought our new dog home and set us off on the right path. Between sessions she was available for advice on training, house breaking, and general puppy life questions. Her advice and instruction accelerated the learning process for dog and humans alike - we have Lisa to thank for having a dog well on the path to the ideal companion. Can't recommend this service highly enough!

I am so great full to have found Lisa and to have her help with my adopted pandemic-pup. She has a…read moreclear depth of knowledge concerning general dog behavior but also specifically with regard to how behavior affects obedience and training. After contacting her I was relieved to have her support in helping me understand how to communicate and successfully train my new-older-dog! As no two dogs are the same, one of Lisa's strengths is diagnosing what changes in approach need to be made to accommodate a specific pup. And, as training is for the lifetime of the dog, I have confidence knowing I'll have Lisa around to work with into the future!