Just adopted my new little bestie from Border Tails Rescue and had a wonderful experience, with Destiny and Yanarie as the standout team members. The team was warm, knowledgable about my new pet's history, how to make her feel at home and clearly showed her a lot love and affection. I would HIGHLY recommend working with this rescue as they put me at ease as I made this big decision. read more

Is where I adapted my dog and it was very good experience with them. I just wish it would be a little cheaper to adapt. read more

It smelled so horrible in there, like ammonia and cat urine. I could barely stand being there . I can't imagine how the animals feel. The dogs were stacked up in small cages . It was super gross in there and I felt so horrible for the dogs. We only saw the puppies and that was bad enough that I had to get out of there . They had a huge yard for the dogs to play and I didn't see one in there . Someone needs to go rescue all those dogs , poor babies. 100 percent don't recommend read more

I just rescued a bonded pair of pups after Mother's Day. I had just said goodbye to my 16 year old dachshund and needed to fill the hole in my heart. I originally went CACC but all they have is pitties. I don't have the energy level to exhaust a dog so they won't be bored or destuctive. I've always had dachshunds and i saw one on their website. This was part of a bonded pair. I was so happy to find that my application was approved and brought them home. One of them was needing a little extra care after the adoption. They kept in touch and saw her again after the adoption. I highly recommend this rescue, they really care about the dogs and adopters. Now i have two 11 year olds. A dachshund and a pug/ chihuahua. I prefer older dogs. I just want to love on them and they definitely give it back. read more

Yelp removed my review that has been up for 2.5 years, claiming I'm either an employee or related to one, but neither of those things are true. My only affiliation with Border Tails, is that I adopted my dog from there in April 2021, and I am forever grateful to them. I also feel very protective over them, because I've seen how much they help both dogs and people, and there are some really crazy things said about them that don't even make sense. I haven't personally experienced or witnessed anyone, especially Harleigh, being rude. However, even if that's true, you're rescuing a dog, not eating a five course meal in a fine dining restaurant. I didn't choose my dog from here because I had any expectations of customer service. If that's how you choose where your dog is from, I think you should probably ask yourself if your dog is really the priority. Anyway, my dog was found as a stray in Arkansas with another Mom dog, and two litters of puppies. Both Moms were Heartworm positive, and had intestinal parasites. Border Tails paid for two Moms, plus eight puppies to come to Chicago, for spay and neuter for all of them, vetting, deworming, and even covered the full Heartworm treatment for the two Mom dogs, which would have been thousands of dollars that I didn't have! Border Tails even went to bat for me when we had some issues with the Heartworm treatment clinic. In addition, we got to reunite with the other Mom dog, as well as one of my dog's puppies, thanks to Border Tails connecting us! Say what you want, but Border Tails is adopting out way more dogs than other larger and more established rescues, so they are obviously doing a lot of things right. Does that mean they are perfect? Doubtful, as I have yet to meet any human that is. But that's no reason to avoid them. They do give a disclaimer that they can't guarantee that the dogs are healthy. But I know they do their best to get the dogs healthy. At least they are honest about it. My family has had to put down two pets within the first year and a half of getting them because the rescue was dishonest (this is another Chicago area rescue that shall remain nameless). I've also heard so many horror stories about rescues lying about the dogs being Heartworm positive, intentionally not testing them, or cheating out on paying for the treatment. This is not what Border Tails does. They are also attached to a well established vet now, so they can literally walk the dogs next door for vet appointments. I will never be able to repay Border Tails for everything they have done for me. I dream about the day I can adopt a second dog. Even though I have moved out of Illinois, I will absolutely come back to BTR to adopt again, because I know how much they care about both their dogs and their human adopters. The negative reviews on here really make me angry. I wish you could see in BTR what I see in them. read more

Border Tails Rescue - My girl and her son reunited, thanks to Border Tails - Pet Adoption Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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I am OBSESSED with Border Tails Rescue. I can't save enough good things about Border Tails. They have the best staff and dogs (incredible variety of ages, sizes, breeds). I adopted from them about 6 months ago, and have had the best experience. The staff truly works so hard and cares about each dog. They are helpful, responsive and you can tell the entire shelter cares about ensuring you and your adopted pet are set up for success not just before, and during the adoption process, but long after too. TLDR version: you'd be an idiot not to check out BTR, seriously. read more

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This is an amazing rescue which was started by a young woman with a passion for saving animals and at her young age, she has saved the lives of many rescues. Fostering with Border Tails (or adopting) is an easy process and the staff are great at communicating with you and making sure the rescue is the right fit for your family. Prior to applying to Border Tails to foster, I lost my tripod schnauzer Frankie and wanted to help either a senior or special needs dog, like my beloved Frankie. Border Tails really has a lot of pups (and cool cats) to chose from and meet at the shelter. I can't praise the staff there enough, they really love what they do and it shows! It's awesome to support such a great rescue. Check out their website and their founder, great story. read more

After trying to help my MIL adopt a dog in the wake of my FIL's death, we eventually connected with Border Tails and had a great experience. Great staff and my MIL is so happy to have a loving companion (Glenn). We also went back for a Read With Rescues event that was fun and such a good idea. The people there obviously love animals and the adoption process was not as frantic as it was at another big popular rescue in the Chicago area. read more

I've been volunteering at BTR for a little more than a year. I've always been interested in animal rescue and was looking for an area shelter that needed support. A friend suggested BTR and I'm so glad I found them. Please don't judge this shelter by its austere, physical, structure. It's the people and dogs in it that count. Every single person working there is pouring their heart and soul into the care of the dogs. They are well fed, provided medical care, and are treated with love and compassion. One of the things I love most about BTR is that they aren't afraid to take on difficult-to-adopt dogs. It's not just overflowing with puppies. It also takes in seniors, those with special medical needs, pit bulls, Rottweilers, giant breeds like Mastiffs and Great Danes, etc. They believe every dog is worth saving and don't just pay lip service to that ideal. At the risk of revealing the inner workings of the shelter, we get alerts whenever a dog finds its forever home. Behind the scenes, every staff member is joyful because they actually know the dog. They know their name, age, where they came from, what toys they like, what treats they prefer, etc. There's a very real sense of momentary sadness that they're gone followed by overwhelming happiness and gratitude that someone has given them a second chance and they've found a home. The point being is that they truly care. If you're considering adopting or fostering a dog, please consider Border Tails Rescue! read more

I completed the adoption application and was told we were approved. In the application it asked which animal we wanted We were interested in Tap (Yorkie puppy) and were told that puppy still needed to be medically evaluated and monitored. That he would then be listed on their website for adoption. We were told to keep checking their website. I checked multiple times a day, no Tap. Then they posted him adopted on their FB page. What was the purpose of the adoption process if it didn't place a hold on the dog? Not to mention the phone interview. The adoption and process doesn't seem to be very transparent. If I could only rate you a Zero Star instead of a 1 Star read more

Ok so I'm reviewing this place because the owner and I did have a conversation. After careful review while I'm not going to fully rescind my other review, in the end they made it right and I would give this place another look down the road and would recommend to others to give it an honest review and look read more

Border Tails Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

I adopted Spicey. What a beautiful delightful loving little girl she is. Today her name is Ginger Terrrier mix 1.5 yrs with a horrible past case of abuse Well no more!!! Today she is the princess in the house and sleeps with me with all her needs taken care of. I adore her & she knows it read more

we rescued Dino (ripp) last year from btr. we first noticed at a very young age that he bunny hops everywhere. they said it was normal and he was in great shape. well we noticed a few weeks later that his left hip wasnt looking right. so we took him to our vet for a look at it. found out right there that he was born with out a left hip socket from birth. so we talked a few times with izzy and they decided to have there specialist look at his and perform a fho ( btr had agreed to pay for this surgery completely) well we drove 2 hours to the surgery center and they declined the surgery because he was to big and to young for it and recommended a total hip replacement surgery when he got near 2. Well we had been in constant contact with izzy about this and they suggested rehab on dino. (they had agreed to pay for the rehab) so after the first consulation with the rehab they sent the bill to btr which they paid, but wanted us to immediately pay them back for it. i have pictures of his xrays which i will post on this. if you are thinking about rescuing from them spend the money and get them xrayed so you wont be shocked when we have to shell out 20,000 to get his hip fixed. they lie and backtrack and blame us for his injury. read more

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We finalized our puppy's adoption today (Olympus formerly Harvey Wallbanger) and we are so happy we adopted through Border tails! Our entire foster to adopt process went smoothly and the staff here was super friendly and caring throughout. We got a thorough walk through to meet all of the available dogs when we first came to visit and we were given play time with our puppy to get to know him before making a decision The dogs here are very well taken care of and I am so grateful they have such big hearts to help so many pets find loving homes! I'm hoping to foster in the future when my puppy is older and i will definitely go through Border tails when that time comes! Thanks again to everyone at Border tails for all that you do!! read more

Border Tails Rescue - Our sweet Olympus (formerly "Harvey Wallbanger")! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

**FULL REVIEW IN SCREENSHOTS** We had a bad experience adopting from Border Tails (BT) for various reasons. I've rescued dogs my entire life (Wright Way, Anti-Cruelty, 4Paws, Treasured Animal Rescue) and have never had any issues with these shelters. Rescuing from Border Tails was a mistake, other than getting Ernie (previously "Sidney") from there & we love him dearly. I wouldn't recommend this rescue & would instead recommend one listed above. 1. There is no background check - they didn't ask us anything about our home or abilities. It makes me fear for the dogs going to other homes We provided all of Ernie's needs, despite him being a "foster" before us adopting him. 2. They did not communicate with us about Ernie's well-being during the foster. They took our money and left it at that. 3. With BT permission, we took Ernie to our vet. We requested his updated vaccination records be sent to our vet multiple times before our appointment with him. They promised they'd get there in time, and they never did. 4. BT said they set up a neuter appt. for Ernie on the 11th in Lisle (30 min away). We got there at 7am, nothing was set up. We called the BT emergency number and the woman apologized multiple times. We waited 45 minutes at Spay Illinois and were both late for work. 5. Accountability 1: They stated that them not sending his up to date vaccination records was their vet's fault, despite them being responsible for his vaccinations and providing them at the rescue. 6. Accountability 2: They stated that it was Spay Illinois' fault for the mix-up Thursday morning and that they missed the information. Hard to believe because: Spay Illinois does this every single day and brought up every communication with BT they had and found nothing about Ernie; BT never confirmed our appointment when we requested it; and BT texted us that Thursday morning for Ernie's weight, breed, and our information (which they would have had if they had already sent the information to Spay Illinois when they claim to have before we were there). Overall: BT did not reach out to us to check on Ernie once throughout his foster time, nor were they responsive when we needed them. BT did not provide any compassion or anything additional to make up for their mistakes, nor did they take accountability for them. They said the $500 adoption fee had to stand because that's how they rescue more dogs. That being said.. I'm not sure they should be rescuing more dogs when they do not have the resources to effectively/safely rescue the ones that they have. Had the conversation gone like this: "We take responsibility for our mistakes with you in the last few weeks and apologize for the role we played in making this a bumpy process for you. We should have sent the vaccination records as we promised, and we should have confirmed the appointment like you requested. That being said, the $500 adoption fee allows us to rescue dogs and find them safe homes, so that will stand. We will make sure that these issues don't happen in the future to any of our families" then this review would look extremely different. But here we are. read more

Tammy Lefkowitz 3 reviews an hour ago NEW My experience with border tails was life changing. Every single person there could answer questions, if not, they quickly find the answer. They are amazing people doing amazing things!! They know the dog's personalities and can even help you decide the best pet for you. The application process was super simple. I adopted a dog with a special medical condition. They were so good at showing me the ropes and gave me all the medication I needed to get started. You can feel the love of animals in the air. I will forever be grateful to you all for showing Kermit the way to me. They are always available for questions. The coolest thing I learned is that if you go to Mexico on vacation, you can help to bring homeless dogs back to Chicago. Super simple. They do all the work!!! Check it out on their website!! A vacation in Mexico and saving dogs lives. What could be better??? I am FOREVER GRATEFUL!! read more

My parents went through the foster to adopt process here and the whole family loves the pup. Overall, it seems like a good, small organization dedicated to rescuing dogs. With more funding and more experience, this has the potential to be a great rescue. The process could be more clearly explained, and more information could be shared with clients. The office is small and does smell strongly of urine; several dogs were in crates in the front office who were sick and so separated from the pack. Clients are asked to return with the pet to officially adopt, and I understand why, but it's not a good experience for the dog. read more

I was considering adopting one of their dogs who had a cute picture online and a great bio but what I found when I got there was an animal living in horrendous conditions. He was filthy with his fur completely matted. He barely had the strength to lift his head and when I sat him on the ground he struggled to even walk. I'm not sure if they regularly exercise the animals or if they just keep them in tiny cages until someone wants to meet them. I was shocked because I had read the great reviews before I went there but I seriously couldn't get out fast enough. It was horrible. I would not recommend this organization. UPDATE: Stacy from Border Tails called me shortly after my review was posted to explain that the dog I met had recently arrived from a hoarding situation and he had not been groomed or seen by a vet yet and that he was scared and shut down in the rescue environment. She assured me that they would have bathed and probably shaved him because he was so matted before I took him home but no one ever explained any of this to me before or during my appointment. They just handed me a filthy dog who was in shock, left me alone with him for about 10 minutes and came back and said "so what do you think". Stacy seemed genuinely sorry about my experience and said she would be talking to the staff to remind them that while they get busy dealing with this day in and day out, it could very well be the customer's first visit and they should slow down and explain the process. Even if they don't know much about the dog, they should share that plus anything they do know. Had someone told me any of this dog's story or what to expect when I met him, the visit may have ended much differently. I have changed my one star to three for the explanation that came a day too late. I appreciate the effort and know it was a learning experience for me. I can only hope someone else learns and benefits from my experience. read more

Border Tails Rescue is amazing. I was looking into a puppy from a litter and emailed them about it. They were quick to call back and make an appointment for me to go in. I was in and out of there with the puppy in less than an hour. They went over everything with me to foster-adopt the puppy and they made the process extremely smooth! I will definitely rescue here in the future again! read more

Border Tails Rescue - Pantera (fka: French Toast) - Pet Adoption Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

I have had quite a few awesome experiences with BTR. 1st off, I fostered for them! They were responsive, kept in touch and provided all the medical care that my foster puppy needed, which included a few vet visits for an upset tummy and in no time he was as good as new! They then found him the perfect adoptive home. I really liked the textable medical emergency line, and that they were available by phone and email at the main line for other questions! After fostering and having such a great experience, I decided to volunteer. After just a few volunteer visits, I have nothing but the utmost respect for the staff there. They have a full staff that works around the clock to ensure that the dogs are taken care of. Seeing first hand how incredibly hard the staff works and just how many dogs they save really blows me away. I have been to a few other rescues and to say that the staff is friendly is an understatement. Previous experiences at other rescues deterred me from volunteering but BTR made me feel so welcome, made sure I was trained and now I am a valued member of their volunteer team. At just 1 year old, they have accomplished so many things! I am 100% going to adopt from here in the future and encourage anyone looking to foster, volunteer, donate or adopt to check out BTR. One of the coolest things I think is their foster to adopt program, which is a lot different than most shelters. read more

Got my little pup Chelsea from them-they did an excellent job of introducing our very aged dog to the new puppy. Transition was smooth and easy. Chelsea is a delight. read more

Cutest rescue location in Chicago ! Genuinely cares for their dogs and workers are so kind and genuine. Great pricing! Would recommend to anyone. read more

Border Tails Rescue - My new furry friend! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

I am saddened by this organization. I have only adopted dogs from rescues but will never recommend this place. Apparently they are more concerned about the numbers then they are about the dogs and the people who adopt. There have been dogs adopted out without being assessed who are biters and have bitten the human. Border Tails takes in far too many dogs and doesn't have the staff or the place to keep them. They claim to keep dogs "co-Housed" because it transforms the dogs. They are co-housed due to lack of space. There aren't enough crates or foster homes for the number of dogs taken in. The dogs are filthy and they will tell you that they "just came from a hoarder" or another bad situation. They are not groomed or walked regularly. Do your research before adopting. This place gives rescue a bad name. read more

Recently adopted a puppy from this shelter. I would not recommend them! The puppy was very sick. They sent us home with an antibiotic for a respiratory infection. When we asked about the risk to our other dog at home, we were assured the puppy's cough was not contagious since he was on his second antibiotic. in the following days his cough developed into pneumonia. The puppy is currently on 2 more antibiotics and we hope he is able to fully recover, We also discovered he has parasites that we are treating him for with 2 additional medications. Now our other dog is sick as well. It turns out the puppy's cough was very contagious. Not sure anything they told us was true. read more

This place is full of a bunch of liars and people who will not respect you or your pet. They left out CRUCIAL Information about my roommates dog, lied to us on multiple occasions, gave us the dog sick and Injured, didn't mention a thing, and the place is a dump. They are a great example as to why people are so scared to adopt. Shame... read more

I'm from Milwaukee, WI. Like many people who find themselves adopting a pet, it all started while bored at work flipping through adoptable pets. I came across the only photo available of my now puppy Mochi's sister. I had to reserve her for the day and with cold feet I abstained, and she shortly was adopted a couple hours later. I was told she had a brother, named Gravy, who they didn't have a photo of. I immediately reserved him and left work early to do the 2hr drive to the shelter. I fell in love. but I was so nervous. Caroline was my adoption counselor, and she spent maybe two hours with me talking through all of my scares and worries, pros and cons. I'm a single 30-yo professional. I had just left a serious relationship. I had re enough resources to share and a serious gap in my heart. I had so much love to give. Anyway, it was the best decision I made. The entire staff was cordial and so kind. Compared to the humane society here, they were quick in comparison to finalize the adoption. My puppy had a cloudy eye and their vet wanted to check him over before so brought him home. The outsourced vet where they had his neuter did an amazingly great job--my local vet applauded them. There was some miscommunication with Gravy's shots but that was because his sister and him look so alike, but the staff fixed it while i was there for a shot visit. My only gripe which it being a shelter and in regards to Illinois' adoption laws, I wish he didn't have to get neutered so young as he is a Chow Chow. Regardless, he is loved and healthy and I am so grateful for the staff, Caroline, and the vets. read more

This place is absolutely horrible in my experience. I understand others have had pleasant experiences with this place but I have not. The staff is extremely rude specifically the owner Harleigh. I can understand all of the bad reviews and also the 40+ others that aren't popping up as recommended when they very well should be. They hold dogs for their friends instead of talking with people who actually take the time to fill out applications. They won't hold dogs for people who fill out applications. The owner is stuck up and entitled. read more

What more can I say but this rescue is AMAZING. great website, I was able to complete a form online for application. They even have open hours to come meet and greet the animals. You can tell the staff cares about the dogs and having them sent to the right homes. Happy to see some rescues that put their time and effort into the hearts of these animals. They were able to help me find a dog for my needs and one that I instantly bonded with. Quick selection and gave me lots of info too about puppy training. I love Koby so much and he will be a great addition to me and my husbands growing family read more

I am so impressed by the love and care every pet receives at this incredible place. Everyone at Border Tails is kind, caring, and devoted to finding loving homes for each animal that walks through their door. Every pup deserves a best friend and a good life. The quality care they receive at Border Tails sets them up for success! read more

I am a BTR foster, volunteer, and adopter. Over the years, I have worked with a number of rescues. I wouldn't want to find fault with any of the others, but this is a very special place. In a nutshell, here are just a few of the things I appreciate about BTR. Also, this review is based upon a year and a half of consistent experience--not just one episode. 1. Welfare of the dogs (and now cats!) is the top priority here. I could go on and on with examples of how this is apparent. Moving to this location, which is much bigger and more expensive to rent than the previous spot, must have taken such a leap of faith. Just drive by, and you'll see lots of wagging tails in the outdoor space. Every dogs gets a good amount of outdoor time, and the wagging tails speak for themselves. The indoor space is also a significant improvement. I have observed that BTR has complete commitment to animal health which is often complex with rescued animals. The dogs they rescue often come with medical baggage. When BTR rescues a dog, it goes the distance. It is easy to oversimplify the medical situation, but I have seen the lengths BTR goes to over and over again. 2. The team is responsive to adopters, fosters, and volunteers. When I call, someone answers. When I text in my capacity as a foster, I get a timely response. I have seen the alternative, and BTR stands out. 3. BTR is a good citizen. It pulls dogs from Chicago Animal Care and Control. These might not be easy to adopt dogs, but they are great dogs. BTR takes on this responsibility as well as saving other less than perfect, but no less loveable pups. It works with local groups like Girl Scouts to volunteer, and it advocates on important animal welfare issues. 4. BTR has a good variety of dogs. 5. I love the team here because they love the animals. read more

For those serious in adopting a pet BTR is for you. They are quick to respond once applications are approved (I got a call back in an hour) and the staff is friendly and informative. I was given one on one time with my pup before taking him home as well as the opportunity to foster to adopt. They quickly responded to any medical concerns as well. Because of BTR we were introduced to our new family dog that loves us and our kids read more

I have been a volunteer at Border Tails, since shortly after they open their doors. I was so inspired by a new young rescue that not only took care of the animals in the states, but was willing to do international rescues also. Border Tails Does an amazing job of finding so many dogs their forever loving homes. Thank you Border Tails, for every life you save And for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it. If you're looking for a forever best friend, I highly recommend you stop in and see if that best friend is it looking for you also. read more

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I have much respect for those who work in the animal rescue industry. The staff at BT worked with me on a complicated adoption situation and although I wasn't able to adopt this time, I encourage folks to check them out. I agree with one of the reviews that there is room for improvement with communication, particularly communicating the adoption process from start to finish, but I think that will improve with more experience as they expand and grow. read more

I stayed at the highway + was the one to alert the staff that she was trying to get back across the street. I was running down the middle of the highway with staff I alerted. I did not leave until she was safely in the building. I should have read more of the poor reviews from Yelp. read more

They were very accommodating. We got to take home our fur baby the same day we visited. Stacy helped us and she was great. We wish this place good luck and commend the good work they are doing! read more

These pups and kitties all look like they are treated with the utmost respect and care. When I go to adopt a pup in the future, I am definitely coming here! read more

Such an amazing place! Everyone who works there is friendly and you can tell they all love animals. I was able to take my dog home and foster him before deciding whether I wanted to adopt- it was so helpful to see how my other dogs would respond to this new one! I would highly highly recommend! read more

As I appreciate all rescue and shelters for their efforts in saving animals, Border Tails Rescue is a poorly run rescue that I would not recommend to anyone. Their communication and customer service is terrible. The management and owner of the rescue is immature and uneducated. I have had nothing but terrible experiences with BTR. This started with getting a call to "adopt" my puppy, but getting to the facility to sign a contract to "foster to adopt". Walked into the facility without any introductions. They put my kids and I into a dirty office where a poor dog was sitting in filth. As they moved the crate out, dirty feces and water spilled onto the floor and they were not going to clean it up. An employee gave attitude when we asked him not to walk into the room because he had no mask on. The owner said nothing, actually we didn't even know she was the owner because she never introduced herself. A radio was blasting in the room where all the dogs were kept, blasting next to a poor dogs cage. They are very misleading and don't give all the correct information. Don't expect anyone to introduce themselves. I would keep records and files of all communication through Border Tails Rescue. They also seem to have poor record keeping. They did not record the last vaccine they gave my puppy. If I wasn't paying attention, he could have been vaccinated twice, or given the wrong vaccine. The facility they use for neutering also had negative things to say about Border Tails Rescue. If you adopt from Border Tails Rescue, please read your contract fully. Also, be knowledgeable and do your research about vaccines, neutering, etc. It is a shame this rescue represents the City of Des Plaines. read more

Highly recommend :))) Professional and has a passion for animals

A great rescue and we love our new puppy! Process was quick and easy, and they have a foster to adopt program that allows you to adopt quickly. Overall, they were great. read more