One of the greatest joys of my life was my Mattie Mae. She was a beautiful Great Pyrenees. She came to us Jan. 2006 and left us Dec. 22, 2016. And here we are at 2026 and I still grieve her loss. Big Fluffy Dog and Jean particularly selected her for my needs. Mattie was perfect, funny, clever and could play deaf in an instant. During this time my Mother died, then Mattie and my Father . I cried the same for all three. Mattie was mine and had my heart. I kept loosely in touch with Jean because Mattie wanted to send a few thank you donations. Should you be considering taking a rescue dog, don't wait. Especially consider using Big Fluffy Dog Rescue because they vet the dogs, the adopters and have safeguards in place to keep everyone happy and safe with the match. They are knowledgeable and special people homing these large babies. It helps to have large heart and a large lap. read more

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I Had to surrender 3 dogs and they were the only rescue that was willing to help me. If it weren't for them, I would have had to take those babies to a kill shelter which I did not want to do. I highly recommend this rescue! read more

Great experience adopting our Great Pyr mix pup. They provided thorough information on his temperament, level of training, and what he needed in a home. The foster family was lovely and took the time to make sure it was a match for us. Our pup has been a great addition to our home, and we are so thankful! Plus, their Facebook posts are often very entertaining while advocating for dogs in need of homes and educating people on the often desperate conditions they come from. read more

IF I COULD POST A NEGATIVE REVIEW I WOULD. They hide behind the words "non-profit" using that term to excuse not only rudeness but also incompetence. We picked up our pup. Prior to picking up they asked if we could foster another dog over the weekend until the new parents were available. We agreed. Brought both dogs home and one was clearly ill. We tried to reach out to BFD. The local person was gone for the weekend. The owner (out of Tennessee) wasn't answering. We brought the dog to a vet. She had pneumonia and was having trouble breathing. The vet, in order to care for her, needed to take out a $2K holder on our credit card. We agreed. Sunday morning we're trying like crazy to contact Big Fluffy Dogs. We get in touch with the owner (a LAWYER) who answers and says she'll call us back...she's in a field chasing Great Pyrs. She's laughing and hangs up. By Sunday afternoon we get a call back from the local contact who has been camping for the weekend. She admonishes us because, hey, we're a nonprofit and volunteering, she says...."I don't need this shit." But she ultimately says the owner will be in touch and that they'd never stick us with a bill like that. I asked her to put that in writing. The writing never came. Monday morning rolls around and we call the local person who says the owner not only is a LAWYER (caps intended this time) but also has cancer. So please give her a break. I tell the local person that if they don't provide the vet with their own credit card within an hour I'll be calling the press and my own lawyer. They contact the vet, add their own credit card and we never hear from them again. Ever. DO NOT EVER DEAL WITH BIG FLUFFY DOGS. read more

This is the worst place to adopt a dog especially if you lost one prior. THEY DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T ADOPT!!!! which is sad. Kristen Harding pretends as if she is a vet herself and knows absolutely nothing!!!!! Plus the dog she was adopting out was 8 months old on 1 pic, then I saw another page where the dog looked old. If I could give a -10 review it would be more fit. SKIP RUN ALL OF THE ABOVE. DON'T SAY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED!!!! read more

I really hate giving a dog rescue one star, but this rescue should no longer be allowed to operate. They are understaffed & overwhelmed with the number of dogs they have in their care. Therefore, they neglect their dogs & rush to adopt them out. I adopted from them last July. My adoption coordinator, Roxy, assured me my dog was in perfect health & would be the "ideal" fit for apartment living. I had to beg for her medical records. I didn't receive them for well over 2 weeks after adoption. I love my dog, but she is not an apt dog - she is a terrier mix & needs a large backyard. Additionally, she was spade at a very young age - too young - according to my vet. She's is, unfortunately, experiencing severe incotinence & urine leakage which my vet attributes to the age at which she was spade. Additionally, she was spade in a way that her vulva is exposed making her prone to UTIs (she's had 3 this year). She's now on medication that she'll likely be on for life. My dog's medical records showed severe allergies & a heart murmur - things my adoption coordinator did not mention when we spoke, at length, about my dog. I lost my previous dog to a long term illness & I asked a lot of questions regarding health before adopting. I appreciate the desire to take in abandoned, sick, stray dogs but when you do so in a way that's sloppy & careless & effects the long term life of a dog, you're being as neglectful as those who have abandoned the dogs you are trying to say. read more

This is one of the best dog rescues in the country. They are based out of Tennessee but help throughout the eastern US. I wanted a Great Pyrenees, but reading Jean's stories on Facebook made me decide I was definitely going to adopt a big fluffy dog. They don't limit to their help to big dogs, but also take in any dog in need. If anyone wants to help rescue a dog or donate to a shelter that will put every penny of your donation to use, this is a rescue you should definitely look into. read more

I was denied adoption for a couple of reasons. First, my longtime vet has a one person office and is hard to reach. Second, they want a full two years of records for every animal in the house (is this an IRS audit?). Also, they want my healthy, strictly indoor cats to have a full battery of vaccinations and regular flea treatments. In other words, pump all my babies full of chemicals just to have the chance to adopt a dog. I didn't balk at the $500 adoption fee since they are out of state, but I won't jeopardize my current fur babies. I adopted a malnourished kitten with parasites while on vacation and got it all the treatments it needed, so I don't object when necessary. BFDR's guidelines are so strict that it seems they don't want to adopt out dogs at all. read more

Tried multiple times to adopt a Great Pyrenees from this rescue. They are very judgmental specifically in my circumstances which is too complicated to get into. I've owned Pyrs, know their temperament and their stubbornness re:training. The lat time I tried to adopt I was essentially called an animal abuser due to the fact the woman interviewing me either didn't ay attention or misinterpreted my words. I had excellent vet references. Stay clear of this rescue as they will put you through hell. There are plenty of kill shelters in TN. My suggestion is to try and rescue a dog on the euthanasia list. I can't as I live in the North. read more

(NEGATIVE STARS) There's a reason they're a non profit. Don't let that fool you. I, like many others in here, have had an experience like no other with this organization. They chose to deny my application and when I asked why it was because I had misunderstood a question or two. So instead of answering "no, no dogs live w me" I decided to fill it out w my girlfriends two pups whom the dog would be spending a lot of time w on account of us being engaged. Good intentions right? WRONG. Due to "inconsistency" of the couple questions I answered I was clearly hiding something. So instead of clarifying what they were looking for from the questions, they decided to ignore me and then when I reached out to them after two weeks (which I was waiting very earnestly for a response in that time) they told me I was denied and sent me screen shots of my application and acted like they caught me red handed in the act of trying to lie to them. Even after clarifying what the answers meant and what the intention was, it was already too late. Big Fluffy Dogs had already labeled me an enemy of the state and continued to go back and forth with me telling me they were not going to "spoon feed" me or "coddle" me. To which they then blocked me. Or more specifically an individual named Kimberly did. This organization has put a terrible taste in my mouth for rescuing animals and made me realize it's literally easier to buy a gun then it is to get a simple dog from these people. Don't deal w them if you don't have to. They will remind you that you are an adult and you should be smarter, not them. read more

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We had a great experience adopting from this rescue. They do ask for a lot of information to make sure you will be a good fit for the dog you're adopting. We adopted an 11 week out half great dane/half australian cattle dog. The foster took great care of him, bottle feeding his litter from one day old(their mom passed in birth). We keep in touch with the foster and the other families who adopted his siblings. So grateful to BFDR for taking in these puppies! Highly recommend following them on facebook too - read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Winston - Animal Shelters Near Me

Private messaged owner to try and clarify things. She responded hatefully, condescendingly and any other negative way you can think of and has since blocked me. Here is my final response to her: We didn't abandon our dog, but we were moving, hence ONE of the reasons I was initially upset - I thought you were twisting our story. I was at peace with our decision, until I saw your character. Your bitterness & hatefulness is truly appalling. So many reviews of former workers saying how many dogs have died in your care -- I wish I had seen them before ever reaching out to you. I have never let a dog die on my watch, so perhaps I'm not the one needing to "grow up". Responsibility is hard! I see many posts you've made saying you have $0 in your account and need donations. Maybe don't take so many dogs on if you can't handle them properly. read more

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Big Fluffy Dog Rescue - one of the good guys. This rescue organization focuses on large mixed breed dogs (aka "big fluffies') primarily in the South where fewer dog owners spay or neuter. They are made healthy then sent to fosters in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic where there are more potential adopters. They do have some 'honorary fluffies' who are not big or fluffy. They rescue from shelters, abuse/neglect cases, a very few owner surrenders and some stray animal rescues. They have no shelter, relying on a network of fosters, vets and boarding facilities. Last year they took in 1500 dogs and placed 1200 of them. Two things I love: They really care for these dogs medically, physically, spiritually. We have adopted one of their Big Fluffies, one of a group that came from a pretty horrific abuse situation. She had heart worm, intestinal worms, mange, malnutrition and her previous scumbag owner had kicked in her teeth - they were broken and painful. Three months were spent treating all her many medical conditions, giving her spay and dental surgery and restoring her to health. She spent two months of that with amazing fosters who showed this terrified dog that humans are not all bad. Second, they know how to write and really can convey the dog's personality to you. Even if you never adopt a Big Fluffy, Jean Harrison's "Late Night Post" on Facebook is not to be missed. They can be funny, sad, uplifting, and sometimes all three at once. I have to say if it wasn't for her writing ability, this dog may never have come to us. You see, we were not looking for another dog. We were content with one. OK I was content with one. Rev. Dr. Steak always wants lots of dogs. He is a huge dog lover. I am good at resisting his wily charms and perfect puppy dog eyes routine though. Then, a post from Jean. One of many I read, but this one was different. Something 'clicked'. This might be our dog. But was the write up true to the dog? We hesitantly made contact, applied, and met her. Oh my she was all that was that write up and more. She is now with us over a month, happily laying at my feet. She will always carry the scars of her abuse - she is not fond of crowds and takes a while to warm up to men. Being nuzzled by her is like being kissed by a horse as all her front teeth are now gone, leaving just her molars to help her eat. She is however a gentle soul that stands as testament to the amazing ability of the soul to heal, and I am so grateful to have her with us to remind us of that. Rescuing from BFDR is not inexpensive, however the cost of the adoption fee was a fraction of the cost to rehabilitate this and many other dogs. For those who don't care about the breeding, who love those big mutt dogs and even those not so big mutts, BFDR is a great place to work with. They care about the dog, and it shows. read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Our BFD taking over my hobby upholstery project. - Animal Shelters Near Me

We adopted our dog through BFDR several years ago and had a very good experience. They take in dogs who have been abused and neglected horribly-so when you adopt from them-you need to know you are not getting a teddy bear but rather a living, breathing creature that will need time, patience and training. the organization does the very best they can to match you with the right dogs. I would adopt from them again; I just ran across the negative reviews and felt the need to offer a different perspective! read more

The faster they can pump out sick dogs from the south to bleeding hearts at 500 or 600 a pup, they will! Be careful! Even if your previous experience wasn't a nightmare, an adoption through BFDR can QUICKLY turn into one! read more

After I agreed to adopt a dog from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue, I went online and found all the negative reviews posted there. I have to tell you, it made me a little nervous. But my experience was excellent. They were very easy to work with, and all the people I dealt with were gracious and supportive. The operation was well organized, and my dog arrived in good shape with lots of supporting medical records. The dog adoption world often treats prospective parents with distrust, but I didn't experience that with BFDR and would recommend them to others. read more

This rescue was advertising for a new home for a 4 year old dog that had been returned to them. The dog was exactly what I was looking for and my profile was exactly what they were looking for. 1) Good with females (me) 2) No kids ( Retired teacher) 3) Fenced in yard. (mine is 100 fenced with big shade trees. 4) Laid back other dog ( I have a 6 y/o Aussie who is a lap-baby. 5) Roam the house. ( I let my dog sleep where she wants (on my bed) and no crates. So I get an email saying that I'm not a good fit because she is to be the only dog in the house. What? I am copying the ad at the bottom. If you notice the ad said two times that she would be good to have a companion dog to learn from. I think they are a scammer because since I live in the same city they would not have to charge me the $150 transport fee or the state-line bet fee of $100. I think I was rejected because my fees to adopt would be $250 lower than for someone out of state. I am 9 miles away. The ad (Meet Jada! Jada is a 4-year-old Great Pyrenees mixed with something smaller. She only weighs 45 lbs. and she needs a very special home. Jada was adopted as a puppy and due to life changes, she was returned to us 4 years later. We don't judge them as they did the best they could by her. When Jada was a puppy, she was very shy. She didn't come out of her shell much, but we expect in the right home, she may. Jada is shy, timid, and fearful of life. She needs someone that understands she will never be the life of the party and won't crowd her space but will show her love, patience, and that she is safe. We think another well-adjusted dog in the home would be great for her and they will show her the ropes on what it's like to be a loved family dog but they will need super slow introductions. She would also be just fine as an only dog. Jada is house and crate trained. She will require a fenced yard and a safe space with an open-door crate. She is good with other dogs and fine with the cats she has met and she prefers the female human variety. Homes with little kids that won't respect her space should pass.) read more

This was a few years ago now but I was approved for adopting a badger faced Great Pyrenees puppy and told it would be a few weeks until I could pick up the puppy. Then I was told a few more weeks and that went on until it was months down the road. Finally 5 MONTHS later they admitted that very early on that they had given the puppy to someone else. Meaning that they repeatedly lied to me in every single message, over and over again. I understand fostering is hard, I understand that this entire process is difficult, however, there is NO excuse for what they did to me and I will never ever deal with them again nor will I let any one I know or care about deal with them either. They simply cannot be trusted in my humble opinion. Oh and I'm speaking out now because I've heard a few others have had bad experiences as well. read more

My husband and l were permitted to a dog named Champ from BFDR. I saw his sad little face on FB & I instantly knew he was the dog for us. We had a very thorough interview with two of the leaders, and several phone meetings with the lovely foster mom for Champ. Their advice was just fantastic. Champ was being fostered in a home in Pittsburgh, PA & we live on an island not far from Savannah GA. Volunteers from BFDR drive him ALL THE WAY from Pittsburgh, with an O/N stay in Raleigh NC. The next day, Champ and Kate were waiting at a meet at a park near the border of NC with SC. It was love at first sight. Kate & l feel like friends sharing the love of beautiful Champ. He had a wonderful 4.5 years with us until he sustained a terrible injury in Feb 2023 & his anguished, non-ending piercing cries meant that 5 different vets advised he must have a severe spinal injury. We We are not going to ever be okay but thankfully the vet ensured he had a pain free death in my arms. Our family (extended) family have adopted a total of 3 dogs from BFDR and none of us would go anywhere else for a loving pet! read more

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My whole experience with this rescue has been entirely pleasant and professional. My application was dealt with quickly and efficiently. I felt they asked great challenging questions -which made me really appreciate that they wanted this dog to go to the right family (hopefully my home)! The transition to the foster carer / communication / my collecting her were perfect. The puppy had had a visit with a vet and was up to date on all vaccinations. Second day in, and she's already begun to settle in. Despite a few peeing accidents probably due to anxiety I'm really impressed with our great new addition. We are off for our new puppy/ vet visit later today as that's the way we roll. read more

I never write reviews but my hope is that this review will save others the absolute heartbreak that was my experience with big fluffy dog rescue. I adopted a beautiful great Pyrenees in 2015. The story of the adoption started off oddly but I wanted the dog so badly I was willing to let it go. I picked him up from a family that it only had him for a week. The rescue organization told me that he was great with everyone: kids, dogs, cats. This family had a young daughter. The exchange was brief when I arrived and the family told me nothing about the dog other than it just wasn't working for them. So I was a proud owner of a 90 pound great Pyrenees that I assumed was wonderful with everyone. I named him Aslan. The first three weeks went smoothly and he was a lovely addition to my home. A neighbor of mine who was planning to go to vet school would walk him every day during the day while I was at work. Everything was great until one day it wasn't. My friend called me one afternoon and said that she was getting him ready for their walk as usual. She grabbed a bag of treats and when she turned around Aslan was standing there, all teeth bared. A week later he bit one of my cleaning women and a week after that a contractor that I had working at my house. I was devastated and totally floored. How could this be happening? I called it an expert animal behaviorist to work with me and Aslan. After describing his behavior to her she was unconvinced that things would change. I really was dedicated to finding a solution to whatever was going on so for the next two months we worked together but his behavior was just increasingly unpredictable. My family was coming in town for Christmas and I was worried about everyone's safety. I took the instructions of my dog trainer very seriously and introduce Aslan to my mom as she had suggested but nothing seem to work. The animal behaviorist suggested that I put him down because his behavior was unpredictable and dangerous. It had only been a few months but I loved the him and just couldn't stomach putting him down. So I made the decision to send him back to the rescue. I was beside myself with grief. My partner and I drove to Connecticut on Christmas Eve to drop him off at a foster house. My trainer gave me explicit instructions about how he was to be contained before somebody could pick him up. She said he was to be in the crate for the safety of of him and the foster woman. So we dropped him off. I tried to be strong for him and waited until we got back in the car before I started to sob. I learned later that the foster woman didn't take the advice of the animal behaviorist. And Aslan stalked her through her house and attacked her causing her multiple injuries. I was told later that big fluffy dog rescue consulted with my trainer and she had given them the advice to put him down because he was dangerous and unpredictable. Maybe I should have just taken responsibility and done it myself. I checked in multiple times with the rescue to see how he was doing and they said that he struggled in the beginning but was doing better. That's when I saw his Petfinder ad up again. It said that he was great with all people including kids. I was completely shocked. I ended up writing a comment on their Facebook page about how important it was that people know that he had a bite history! He stalked someone and attacked them! I just couldn't believe that they were willing to not only put more people at risk but also set another family up for heartbreak. The whole experience was was a nightmare. Here's a link to the animal behaviorist's right up on the situation: https://petbehaviorconsulting.com/deciding-to-adopt-a-rescue-dog/ I imagine that some people might get lucky with big fluffy dog rescue but for the people that don't it's truly devastating. Please be careful. It's 5 years later and it's still hard for me to talk about. read more

I've been a foster for BFDR for a year now (Foster failed twice) and will vouch for them as being a wonderful rescue! I'm not sure if a different person ran the rescue before I came along, but all of my dealings with kennel staff and coordinators has been pleasant. In my humble opinion, any group willing to take on the stress of so many unwanted, abused, neglected dogs deserves nothing but praise. It is a thankless, non-paying and many times heartbreaking calling to help so many. Also, It is not cheap to vet animals...& they take in some that are on deaths door. These cases are not broadcast to the masses either (or Petfinder), but I see them and have taken care of several. I understand we get our hopes up when we land on a dog online that seems perfect. It's tough when our hopes are let down, but that's just life when dealing with any rescue. The process of helping and "rescuing" dogs involves time and patience. If you don't want to put those two things in the equation, then you should probably "shop" for your perfect dog. Otherwise, be patient - the perfect dog is waiting! Out of the 15 dogs I've fostered this year, I've always been asked to tell the potential adopter about ANY negatives. Never once have I been asked to lie in order to get a dog adopted. To those that left a bad review, I hope you can give this group some grace and compassion. The negatives on here remind me why I love the phrase "People suck, Dogs Rule" read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

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I personally did not have any of the problems described here. I adopted in 2016, received a ton of support from the coordinator and fosters, and ended up with an amazing dog that had already received extensive veterinary care to rehabilitate her. I have seen the Facebook page and I can totally see how the people running BFDR can be condescending and possibly unhinged. I have also gone through application processes at multiple rescues and I don't think BFDR is unique in making you feel like a criminal- they all do that. I acknowledge that the organization could be run better, but I would implore people to keep the ultimate mission in mind. My advice? Don't adopt a dog because you want to be coddled, seen as a savior, or treated like a "valued customer." Adopt a dog because the dog deserves a home and a family and you can provide that. Again, my experience was great, but even if it wasn't, adopting a dog isn't about me and my ego. BFDR provides phenomenal care to dogs that would likely die otherwise. They provide foster homes so these dogs don't sit in cages waiting to be adopted. They take the dogs nobody else will rescue. Please stop whining that somebody wasn't nice to you. read more

I applied to adopt a dog, the checked all of my references and building. Received an email from Roxy on Saturday at 11:41pm asking when's a good time this week to speak to complete my application. Gave her a very open timetable. Haven't heard anything back and I don't think I will. I've been wanting to a dog for as long as I could remember and instead of buying, I figured I do my part and adopt but I think I'll just buy. Adoption agencies play too much. While I'm grateful that I got this far, my emotions are shot after falling in love with numerous dogs and not getting callbacks or the dog no longer being available...will buy now. read more

Absolutely horrible experience with this rescue group. Similar experience to another person on here, aggression problem. The rescue group was horrible in dealing with the situation. A lot of heartbreak and hurt, almost a year later. I do not recommend this organization and for the amount of research they do for you to adopt, the same amount of data and research is not collected about your poor dog. My poor rescue but my son and attacked my other rescue dog multiple times. They wanted me to hire a behaviorist, when really they should be consulting one before adopting out, especially with an abused dog. Solving food aggression with a maze bowl and sending them on their way to a home with another dog and children, not such a great idea. My kids and I think about our former rescue everyday still and miss him dearly. We should not have had to go through such a horrible experience. read more

As a lawyer, I have worked for better treatment of animals in the State of South Carolina. I have published a book on our state's laws regarding pets and animals. I have also worked to promote legislation for better animal welfare. As an individual, I have adopted many rescue dogs over the years. At times, my wife and I have cared for as many as five dogs in our home. This past year, our registered therapy dog, Eddie, passed away due to old age. Eddie was a Great Pyrenees mix that was the gentlest giant and a wonderful companion. After his passing, my wife and I turned to Big Fluffy Dog Rescue to adopt another Pyrenees. They matched us with a Pyr named Sugar. In all my years of adopting pets, this experience was the worst, most heart-breaking scenario I've ever dealt with regarding an adoption. First, the organization's description of Sugar did not reflect Sugar's true nature. Sugar was aggressive towards both humans and other animals. Her description stated the opposite. Second, although we shared our concerns with the organization, they were completely dismissive of the feedback we gave them. Stated another way, the representative made us feel as though the mismatch between Sugar and our home was somehow our fault. My wife and I were determined to make things work. So, we kept Sugar for several weeks during which time we worked with her regarding her behaviors including bringing in a trainer to work on her aggression, socializing her nearly every day during several walks a day, clicker training her, and much more. However, because of her unpredictable behavior around children and guests in our home, with much reluctance and a heavy heart, my wife and I followed the organization's procedures to return Sugar. This is when matters became worse. Essentially, my wife attempted to coordinate the return of Sugar with the regional representative. In short, the representative accidentally CC'ed us on an email thread wherein she wrote that we were an "inconvenience." Additionally, her email revealed to us that she was misleading us regarding the travel and foster arrangements for Sugar to get us to travel a greater distance to return Sugar. When I confronted the representative with her own email, she essentially "double downed" and suggested that we were completely mistaken about what her email clearly stated. There was never an apology and no expression of concern regarding the info on Sugar we shared. Albeit I applaud all of the incredible effort that the organization puts into finding homes for some many rescues, I take issue with the lack of professionalism and absence of sensitivity the organization showed to me and my wife. To those of you who adopt a rescue that does not fit, do not be discouraged and do not blame yourself for trying. Even if the organization tries to make you feel inadequate, make the right choice for your home and for the dog in question. UPDATED: Since I posted a similar review on their Facebook page, rather than address the concerns, they simply disabled their Facebook reviews section. read more

Of all the rescues I spoke with and reached out to, Big Fluffy Dogs was the most responsive!! After I finished my application, I emailed the coordinator as it mentioned to do so on PetFinder and she emailed me back a day later. We chatted for a while and then I finally spoke to the foster mom in that same week. A couple days later she came to do a home visit with the dog and now we live happily ever after :) In all seriousness, they made the process easy and I didn't have to chance anyone like you normally would with other rescues. The coordinator and the foster mom were both wonderful and helpful. They knew all the right information to give me and really prepared me well for my new best friend! I highly recommend checking out their dogs and getting in touch with them about a dog you're interested in. They were also very honest about what he likes/issues he has/who he gets along with -which is all super helpful!!! read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

Don't trust them! First off.. they are in a law suit with the state of Massachusetts because they don't believe they should have a quarantine building in MA to adopt to MA residents. This is an adoption requirement for any MA resident adopting from another state. So they tell you it's ok to lie about your address in order to adopt to you if you live in MA. I applied for a particular dog.. never heard from them after 5 days. I reached out and someone finally emailed me back. They called my vet and told me my application was approved and asked when I could do a phone interview. I replied, and then crickets................ I was excited and couldn't wait! But nothing. I emailed them to follow up... and again NOTHING! I checked the dogs listing on petfinder to see he had been adopted. First things first.. I totally understand they get many applications for the same animal. But be honest! Tell people .. we are going through applications and we will follow up whether you do or don't get approved. This is the 3rd rescue I have applied for a new pet from and Ive had very similar experiences with them All! I understand it is all volunteer work and patience is key... but don't volunteer to help find animals good homes if you're going to let people down and make everyone chase you for answers, get their hopes up and then disappear. This is why shelters and rescues stay over capacitated. Lack of communication! It's unfair to potential adopters and also unfair to these poor animals. This is also why people end up just going to buy puppies from the pet store! Which in a sense is also rescuing an animal from a bad situation. Get it together or give the volunteer job to someone who actually has more compassion for both adopters and animals! read more

I know people say "adopt, don't shop", but after working with these people, I would rather shop! I refuse to be so disrespected by a "rescue" again. The people who work through Big Fluffy Dog Rescue need to learn some customer service, and not assume that everyone is abusive and neglectful to animals before getting the facts. They treated us like criminals at the get-go. After we decided not to work with them, they sent an accusatory, insulting and patronizing email. I definitely will steer clear of them from now on! read more

Worst rescue group I have EVER dealt with in the 12 years I've been rescuing dogs. They know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the dogs they get. Their dogs are all in boarding (not fosters) and I do not know a single dog who acts the same way in a kennel vs. a home. They will NOT give you your money back if it doesn't work out and from my experience (personal and with adoptive friends) it doesn't work out. They will tell you the dog is "perfect" and then send you your worst nightmare. Unless the rescue offers an FIA (Foster with Intent to Adopt) do NOT adopt from them. Big Fluffy Dogs is one rescue I will NEVER deal with again. A handful of dogs were killed under their watch during transport last year when the AC went out in their transport vehicles and the dogs died from the heat. I feel bad for the animals in their care. read more

Back in 2013 we were looking for our first dog. We found her on Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue. When we were adopting her, they told us that she had a small dog bite wound on her tail. They assured us it had been thoroughly checked by a vet and that it only needed a little ointment. After officially adopting her, we took her to our own vet and found out that she had been shot and was filled with shrapnel. She was practically septic and had a shattered vertebrae in her tail. They ended up amputating her tail and making an 8 inch incision to remove the shrapnel. We emailed them, concerned that we had been misled about the dog's misleading health information they had given. And, thousands of dollars in surgery later, we never received a response or any concern. Either they never had the dog checked by a vet or they misled adopters so they wouldn't have to pay for thousands worth of surgery for a dog. I would never recommend this business. If we hadn't had the money, this story would have been much more tragic. Note: the white shards in the X-ray photo are shrapnel. read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - X-ray of shrapnel. - Animal Shelters Near Me

This group lives and breathes to provide excellent care and eventually good homes for the dogs. They take in dogs from hoarding situations and shelters that euthanize dogs that don't have adopters. I can only imagine that the negative reviews are from people who were (1) not good candidates for adoption or (2) not good employees. I adopted my dog, Moo, from them several years ago, and would adopt from them again. They have great foster families that provide loving homes to dogs until they can be adopted. 5+ stars! read more

The positive: they take in a LOT of dogs. They show up when no one will show up. They keep their dogs healthy - you aren't going to get a dog on death's door unless they're saying, "We need someone to help with this dog, because she's on death's door" The negative: they take WAY more than they can handle, they are constantly in a bind because of it, their volunteers are horribly overworked and exceptionally short with people, as I'm sure our good friend Mat here will attest to. Jean, who started the rescue, brooks absolutely no disagreement with her and this starts with the people whom she works with. So, for example, if you ever say you'd hit a dog, you're ostracized from the community and you aren't coming back. She's said the words, "If one of my rescues were biting my kid, I wouldn't hit the dog." People who rescue see the worst, most heart-breaking, most nightmare-causing aspects of our pet society. It is extremely stressful and painful, and God cannot bless them enough for being on the front lines and pretty much turning their lives over to a thankless job meeting truly vile people and helping pets who would otherwise die horribly or be put down. But some go too far, they don't take a break or a breath (because they feel they can't), and like hoarders or other disaffected people, they end up chasing away people who would help them and becoming more and more extreme. My advice: help them if you can. Help them a little if you can a little. Get your dog here rather than a store - definitely. Put your big-boy pants on and handle your own problems with your own dog and when you're talking to them, remember that you're dealing with a stressed out, aggravated, irritated woman with WAY too much on her plate, with a hair-trigger. Stay off their Facebook page if you don't agree with them entirely because, let's face it, you're going to do what you do and you gain nothing rubbing their face in it and, when you get a nasty-gram email from them (and you will), delete it, sigh, and then hug your dog. read more

Rescues: dogs (particularly the big, fluffy kind) Rescue location type: foster network I'm fostering 2 puppies through Big Fluffy Dog's rescue and these guys are great! The puppies are ADORABLE! and I'm getting ready to foster an adult dog after these little fluff balls. Fostering is really fun so if you're interested in helping out, contact Jean@bigfluffydogs.com or Tarin@bigfluffydogs.com. Both ladies are really nice and they really need more foster homes. They also have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/CTMEVTNHTNKY/Big-Fluffy-Dog-Rescue/28214716181), Twitter page (https://twitter.com/bigfluffydogs/) and blog page (bigfluffydogrescue.blogspot.com) if you just wanna see cute puppy pictures or help out in other ways. Lastly, they have a photo album online of mostly adult dogs at https://picasaweb.google.com/110436127678722938418. They need transporters, fosters, adopters, and donations- monetary or food or other. They also could probably use more administrative people, although they do have a lot of them. They take in sooo many dogs and the coordinators have jobs so they are basically working two full time jobs which is why a lot of times they get a bit frazzled. This week, they had a HUGE influx of puppies from surrender cases, hoarder cases, abuse cases and so on and that amounted to about 200 homeless puppies that they have to find temporary housing for!!! If you can foster 1 dog or at least 2 puppies for at least a 4 day weekend, they would really appreciate it! This is the one group that i know that is this flexible with foster people. Over labor day weekend, they were looking for fosters for just 4 days. So 4 days to up to 3 weeks, whatever you can handle (as long as you tell them what your boundaries are). Anyway, I wish they had a physical location as opposed to just coordinators' homes. This is solely a foster network that puts dogs in adopters home in the Southeast but also in New England. There are a lot of vets involved and boarders involved since Big Fluffy doesn't have enough foster homes. Its actually a really big organization and like many nonprofits that could use much more volunteers and financial support. (Its expensive to save lives!). Visit their main webpage at http://www.bigfluffydogs.com. If you email Tarin, she usually gets back to you within 24 hours but usually sooner or you can write on their wall on facebook and somehow they respond usually within an hour. so yeah... they're on top of things for sure! read more

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Reached out to them for assistance on finding dog a new home due to unforseen circumstances with my current pets. Their suggestion was to rehome my other pets who I've owned for 5+ years and keep the newly adopted dog. read more

Yelp seems like a very strange place to rate a dog rescue but as we just rescued our dog from here 6 weeks ago I feel like I have to set the record straight. This poor rescue has bad reviews seemingly from the same family and I understand everyone is going to have a different experience but we had the best most seamless adoption of our big fluffy from this rescue. We worked with rescue coordinator Nicole who found us the most perfect second dog who seamlessly fit into our family. We wanted a Pyr mix and we let our current dog Lucille meet all of the contenders and she picked out our newest addition Theo! (Formerly Leyon). Nicole had great information on all of the dogs and great insight. Once she brought Theo out it was love at first sight between all of us and we brought him home that day. A rescue has NO IDEA what the dog is going to do once you bring him home. Whatever happens when you leave the rescue is out of their control and at the end of the day dogs are animals- big fluffy cannot guarantee how they will behave. That being said, adding Theo to our family was a great choice. He adds a sense of protection for me when I'm home alone and my current dog Lucille plays with him all day. He is very smart and was immediately very cuddly and loyal. I would do it again if I could fit a third dog in my home, thank you big fluffy!! read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Theo in his new back yard - Animal Shelters Near Me

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WOW !!! I LOVE THIS RESCUE !!!! They put a lot into the dogs. Our dog ELLA was one of the BEST DOGS we will ever have. Big Fluffy was well within their rights to have euthanized her before entering into saving her for thousands of dollars. They have foolish hearts and helped her with everything it took. Eventually we adopted the most loving, fun, devoted dog in Massachusetts. No Problems Big Fluffy takes seriously their moment to move a dog into its best home. They deserve to sleep at night knowing all is right in the World. read more

I have fostered for, and adopted from this rescue several times through the years, and have had a consistently positive experience from a rescue that truly puts the needs of the animals above profit. They will NOT adopt to families not suited to the needs of the animal. read more

I can't say enough good things about this organization. They thoroughly vetted us as applicants ensuring the best possible match for the dog we were interested in. In addition they truly care about these animals. Our dog needed some medical (minor) attention and Whitney wasted no time springing in to action to help without hesitation. When the day comes again to expand our family I will certainly be back. Thank you for all you do Big Fluffy Dog Rescue and team! read more

The amount of energy these people commit to saving dogs is outstanding. They face the most heartbreaking of cases that most can't even fathom and turn them into happily ever afters. This organization cares deeply. Wonderful organization. Wonderful people. read more

Big Fluffy Dogs Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me