Just brought our new dog Sammy home from BATS on 7/17/22 and our experience adopting from this rescue was nothing short of wonderful. My past experience with other animal rescues were shaky at best- often I would see a dog online and inquire but the dog was already adopted, or I would put an application in and get called to come meet the dog, but because I couldn't drop what I was doing and come in at that exact moment the dog went to the next available person. So when I applied at BATS I didn't expect much but I was so pleasantly surprised. I applied online for a couple of different dogs, and within a day or two my personal references told me they had been called. I assume they also spoke with my landlords and my vet, and they then called me to see when I could come meet a specific dog they had in mind. I believe they take the information on your application and match you to a dog that they think is a good fit, which is great! My fiancé and I were paired with a dog who was sweet but VERY frightened of people, so BATS had us come twice to meet with the dog and then a third time to meet the dog with our dog present. They let me know from the beginning that there were other people being considered for this baby, but I never felt strung along- after the second meeting they made it clear that we were at the top of the list. They also told me that had we not been selected, they would've shown us other dogs that would've been a good fit. I don't know if three meet and greet visits is standard for all their animals or if it was just the protocol for my guy because he was such a nervous baby, but regardless we didn't mind at all. There was also a virtual home visit which was fairly painless- I was nervous because I live in an apartment which I thought would count against me but BATS just wants to ensure the home and yard are safe. The day we came to pick up our boy, we were given a folder with medical information, and microchip information. We were given a goody bag filled with treats, toys, and a bag of the food the dog was eating so we could transition him slowly to the food we had. So thoughtful. But what struck me most of all is several of the shelter workers came to see the dog off, and asked to exchange phone numbers with me in hopes of hearing about the dog's progress. One woman actually gave me a little gift and a beautiful heartfelt card about what a good dog he is and how happy they all are to see him go to a good home. It was heartwarming! TL;DR: as the other reviews mention, yes its a process to be approved but I personally think that's a great thing. It is CLEAR that this shelter is deeply committed to the welfare of their animals and wants to ensure they go to the perfect home- how can anyone be mad at that? Yes, the adoption fee is on the higher side- but it really isn't when you consider that its covering neutering, vaccines, microchip. Also, most of the shelter workers are volunteers. Considering all that, and considering that a good dog is absolutely PRICELESS, I was happy to pay what they asked. Thank you Bobbi & all the volunteers and workers for being such caring people and for such a wonderful adoption experience!! read more

Wonderful place filled with truly caring and dedicated staff! My family and I had been looking for an adult dog to keep our dog Pepe company after the loss of our two other elderly dogs (Lola and Sophia) this past year and a half. After not having had much luck finding a dog that would be a good fit for our home, we decided to try Bobbi and The Strays and that is when we met Millie (formerly Amarette). The adoption process, though thorough, was very easy. We were able to spend time getting to know Millie and schedule a meet and greet with our dog. Once that went well we were scheduled for a home visit ~ 1 week later ( FYI: if you live on the North Shore it may take a little longer for them to find someone to get out there due to staffing so don't get discouraged!). During the home inspection, some holes were found our fence which we were told to fix before we could proceed with the adoption. In hind-sight we are grateful for this since Millie is a little sneaky dog and we probably would have lost her through the gap in our fence. Everyone at the shelter was friendly and you could really tell the great love they have for the animals. They are sometimes short staffed so having patience is important but they do their best. Bobbi (the owner) really wants to make sure the dogs are going to forever homes so the time they invest in screening potential adopters is really admirable. Other rescues that give puppies away only after brief reference checks are not doing the dogs justice and a good portion of them will end up back in shelters when they are older and no longer as "cute". Millie has adjusted to our home more quickly than expected so much so it is hard to believe we have only had her for a short time. I would HIGHLY recommend Bobbi and The Strays to anyone looking for a dog or cat. read more

We couldn't be happier with Bobbi and the Strays and their amazing team of volunteers. From the first time I walked into their facility, I was greeted by such warm and genuine people that truly care about the well being of their dogs and cats. We absolutely love our new family member and look forward to having her for the rest of her life. Yes the process is rigorous and takes time. But if you want a place that puts the animal's well being first than you must be patient. They won't just release the animal to anyone. Yes you need ID when you want to see any animals. Yes they will do a home check, both inside and out. Yes if your yard isn't fully fenced in with a tall fence, they may have issue with it. If you truly want to adopt, invest in the proper fencing prior to your home check. Most of these dogs and cats are in a shelter because prior owners were negligent in securing a safe space for them. Don't expect them to place the animal in your home if there is a high chance of another escape. The home check is very thorough! It will take some time for the inspection, so make sure you arrange a day/time that allows for this. They will want you to do a meet and greet, possibly a few times to make sure there is a connection. You MUST bring all members of the household so they can meet everyone. I read these negative reviews on here and can only assume that you just didn't meet the requirements. While you may not have been able to adopt, just be happy that there is a place that takes this seriously. We chose Bobbi and the Strays over so many other places because we knew it was a rigorous and stringent process and not just a place that quickly releases only to clear the kennels. If you want a place to find your furever love, this place has my stamp of approval. read more

CON-ARTISTS I can at least draw some comfort in reading the reviews of others who that share the misfortune of interacting with this furry cult. I inquired about a kitten. My request my promptly answered by someone identified as "Bobbi Staff"stating that they only adopt kittens out in pairs unless there is another cat/kitten already in the home. Then he/she invited me to come to the shelter with all members of my household to meet the kitten. This is a bunch of non-sense. This kitten or another cat or kitten in their shelter just lost out on the chance to be in a loving home with a seasoned cat owner because I am interested adopting one kitten instead of their mandatory 2. Their true concern is not for getting these animals into permanent homes but rather getting into our wallets. From the other reviews I read it seems to me that Bobbi and her followers are nothing but plain old con-artists. They are probably the same bunch of cons that were in that facility before called the "The Long Island Humane Society". The description in other reviews was pretty much the same except "Bobbi" was named "Millie". I've got news for you Bobbi there is no shortage of kittens on Long Island or anywhere else for that matter. You and your stray people with the collective IQ of a spoon at best should consider crawling back under whatever rock (or sewer) that you came out from under or find your way to the to the psychiatric portion of the Nassau County Jail take your Thorazine or Haldol and let real animal lovers find homes for those innocent lives. TO ALL OF THOSE READING THIS REVIEW ADOPT FROM A TOWN SHELTER AND SAVE THE LIFE OF AN INNOCENT ANIMAL FROM BEING EUTHANIZED read more

I understand why some people might have felt put off because Bobbi did not allow them to accept a certain dog but she is very particular about finding homes appropriate for the dog that is being placed. When we applied for a dog, Bobbi visited our home and inspected the backyard because the dog had a history of running away. She also wanted to know who was residing here because the dog we were looking at was nervous and would not fit well into an active household. We have had 5 dogs over the years, some were challenging in the beginning and one required the help of a professional trainer but all eventually became loyal and loving pets. Not every dog is suitable for every household and I appreciated Bobbi's frankness about the challenges we would face with this dog. Rescues are not always easy. It has been more than a year since we adopted and we are still working on certain behaviors. Our circumstances now allow us time to devote to behavior modification which can be a slow process. Ten years ago would have been an entirely different story and we would not have been able to properly handle a rescue with behavior issues. So, thank you to Bobbi for her dedication to finding the right home for the right animal. read more

This place is a god send I had nowhere to take my furbaby yanni the people I had holding her till I found a apt they wanted her out and I hadn't found anything due to COVID-19 so friend of said she used this animal shelter before she gave such great reviews I called wailing my eyes out because I had my baby 11 years I didn't want to let her go I wanna bring her home with me so I spoke to Bobbi told them my baby was get thrown out could they help me I wanted to keep her they took her immediately was so caring felt for me I was so heartbroken I had to hand her over they told me bring her in when I got there it hit I really had to hand her over I had a meltdown couldn't handle it Myra alisa Bobbi were great they felt my pain they work with me I it gave comfort to know that my dog yanni is gonna be ok Bobbi and the strays I'm no longer a wreck they are going to hold my baby until I find housing people no lies if you need to surrender you pet get pet adopted or even get pet housed until you do Bobbi and the strays is where to go they are the bomb.com I love you Bobbi and the strays I'm even going to volunteer there so is my fiancé it's a really amazing animal shelter can't go wrong there a god send thank you so much read more

There is no question that Bobbi and her staff are truly dedicated to helping animals in need!!! My husband and I found a little kitten that was attached by a much larger cat earlier today. We took the kitten in to our home as not to leave it alone in the cold and protect it. Being badly hurt we realized we could not keep it and the kitten was too small and also was in need of a professional, we then tried calling several vets in our area some were closed being of the situation with covid 19 and the others denied taking the kitten. Then I decided to look into Bobbi and the Strays which I had heard about in the past. When I called I spoke to Bobbi in person, she was very understanding and kind. She said bring the kitten to my Freeport office. Her compassionate staff not only accepted the kitten, but stayed past their closing time to wait for us! We finally left the kitten in great hands these ladies were so gentle and caring I know this was the best place!!! Thank you Bobbi and your staff keep up the great job you are doing!!! read more

We went here because we wanted to adopt a lap cat. The staff couldn't be more friendly! We fell in love with an older Calico cat. We filled out the application and waited for the references and home visit to go well which after about a week of everything being checked out it did. Bobbi herself did the home inspection. She's a tough little cookie but it's good that she's that way because it shows she really wants her animals to go to good loving homes.Kudos to you Bobbi! We were able to bring our new cat Amber home with us. Never thought it would be possible to fall in love with a cat but we did. I don't know why she wasn't adopted sooner. Shes such a sweet cat. Im so happy we were the lucky ones that got to adopt her! This place definitely cares about their animals. The place is kept clean and they have such a loving group of people that work and volunteer there. Thank you Marc/Mark for showing us Amber. We love her TONS!!!! read more

This review is by Judy who adopted cat Toby from Bobbi and the Strays recently. She needed assistance in posting it. 10/12/21: I was saddened upon the passing of my sweet cat, Dreidel, of 15 years. I applied to Bobbi and the Strays and was amazed by the warmth and compassion of their dedicated volunteers whose only goal is to find loving and caring homes for their animals. I adopted Toby, a loving and caring tabby cat. I was drawn to him when the attendant went to pet him and he lifted his head for more petting. I looked at his beautiful face with dreamy green eyes and looked no further. You will be asked many questions and have to submit your home for a virtual visit and all was done by volunteers. They are thorough, ensuring that their pets have loving and caring homes before releasing them. Toby has filled my home with joy and pleasure... Judy read more

I just adopted my second dog from BATS. People need to understand that the process is intended to match the right dog to the right people. Even tho we adopted before we still had to go thru the whole process including a house check. Again, this is for the protection of the pet you want to adopt. Just because you walk in doesnt mean you will get want you immediately request. There are reference checks and meet and greets if you have another pet. We did all that and now have a wonderful little black poodle to add to our family. Stick with the process and if you have a problem with any of it, then perhaps you arent meant to adopt that particular animal. Bobbi and her volunteers give their all to rescue and find new homes for their fur babies. read more

My dog was stolen 9 years after he was adopted from Bobbi and the Strays. I searched everywhere and out of desperation called Bobbi, who was incredibly sympathetic and willing to help and support me in my search in any way she could. If this isn't the sign of a true animal lover, I don't know what is! Bobbi and her staff are amazing! She gave me her cell and home number and said to call her if I heard anything and that she would assist with the police as well in getting him returned! My dog is everything to me, so I can't thank Bobbi and her team enough. They are truly willing to go above and beyond for their rescues. Anyone who is considering adopting should be so lucky as to have the opportunity as to adopt from Bobbi and her team! read more

We adopted our second fur baby from BATS this past summer and thought we understood the process of acclimating a rescue dog into our home. Unfortunately five months later, we are still trying to help our chihuahua Molly feel at home. I decided to call Bobbi & The Strays to see if they could be of any assistance. I was put in touch with a fantastic trainer who spent at least an hour on the phone with me to discuss the issues we were having. I was also able to speak with Christina, one of their wonderful volunteers, about our situation. Knowing that a rescue organization is always there to help you is priceless! Thank you BATS for taking the time to assist us. You truly are a caring and compassionate organization. read more

To bad you can post negative stars! A dog that they clam as good with children attacked my 2 y/o son unpovoked . Then was posted back up on the internet as great with children . Really!!!!!! Tell that to my son that freaks out when he sees dogs now or the next child that poochy malls ! Just because you pick a dog up on the side of the road give it a dirty shelter to stay in and call it a rescue dosnt qualify you Bobbi as having a clue about animals ,what you and your animal freaks are doing or evaluating the mental state of an animal. But I guess my lawyer can look into all of that! If you want an animal go someplace else!! Bobbi and the strays are not to be trusted read more

The worst experience I've ever had with a shelter. No one answers the phone, no one ever knows what's going on. I come for a "meet a greet" and stand outside in the cold for 20 minutes waiting. After the meet and greet went well I have a home visit that also seemed to have gone well. The next day we call several times and get no response other than "the manager isn't in." Days pass with more of the same and then finally we get told our application was denied due to home visit. No other information, no elaboration. Just a big waste of time and getting attached to a dog for no reason because your shitty shelter is unorganized. read more

This is such a great group of caring people that I prefer to call angels. They definitely make a big difference in this world. Bobbie Rosen and Myra guide me thr in one of the worst times of my life when at the beginning of 2021, I lost my best friend and companion Diego. As a result of their advices, I got into several fb lost and found dogs groups and in one of those groups, I found Diego. Someone have found him and was looking for his owner, as well. My search was over since yesterday afternoon and I feel so thankful and so happy. Many blessings to all of you! Never dismay in your noble labor!! read more

We couldn't be happier .... our family is blesssed with the most amazing dog ! We are so thankful to everyone at Bobbi and the strays in Freeport for helping. After everyone in the family met George ( formally know as Flint ) they did a home check and we went to pick up our baby. We are stopped everywhere we go .... first they are amazed by his size 3.5 lbs and then his age ... 10 years old. Everyone thinks he's a puppy. He has brought so much happiness to our home. Thank You Bobbi and the strays ... keep up the amazing work you do for the animals. #foreveryoung @georgie.the.yorkie and family read more

Bobbi rescued 3 puppies from a hoarding situation. Unfortunately it was discovered that 2 of them had the parvo virus, and needed intense medical care to save their lives. Bobbi did not hesitate to take on this emotional and financial responsibility. After 2 weeks of around the clock care at the vet, these puppies now needed to be quarantined for 2 additional weeks. I was asked to foster them while Bobbi searched for their forever homes. Soon after, these now healthy happy puppies were placed with wonderful loving families. Thank you Bobbi for saving the lives of these adorable babies! read more

Love love love this place!! Such an amazing rescue. The staff there are so friendly and helpful. We adopted our puppy last week and our family is now finally complete. They rescue is extremely clean and have such cute animals to adopt. The animals are cared for with so much love and acceptance. I wish I could give them a 10 star review. Anyone who is thinking about becoming a pet owner please ADOPT don't shop and your first stop should be Bobbi and The Strays. I will definitely come back when I am ready for a second dog!!! read more

Come adopt a furry lovable friend at Bobbi and The strays. Bobbi and the strays staff is very nice and give 100 percent of their time to these beAutiful animals. I adopted a beautiful beagle from them. I support and donate to this shelter because I see their true compassion and caring they give to these animals and make sure each of their shelter animals go to loving and caring homes. The shelter environment is well kept. So come and adopt, support, volunteer and donate to this shelter to help animals. read more