We entrusted Brandywine Valley ASPCA with our 5-month-old, 8-pound toy poodle, Cali, for her spay…read moresurgery. While the surgery itself appears to have gone well and Cali is doing fine, our experience surrounding her care and the follow-up afterward was deeply disappointing. When checking in, we were specifically asked whether Cali needed any vaccines. We clearly said no. The front desk staff even told us that her records indicated she did not need a rabies vaccine, as she had received her final rabies vaccination just three weeks earlier. When we picked Cali up, we were shocked to learn that she had been given another rabies vaccine anyway and that we had been charged for it. Mistakes can happen, but what has been most frustrating is what happened afterward. We asked to speak with a manager before leaving and were told none was available. Over the following week, we called four separate times and spoke with two receptionists, Emily and Beta, requesting a call from Crystal or Barbara. Despite being assured our concerns would be passed along, no one has ever returned our calls. ASPCA did offer us a credit for the cost of the unnecessary vaccine-$30, but we respectfully requested a reimbursement instead. To date, we have received neither a reimbursement nor any communication from management. We would have appreciated a simple phone call, an acknowledgment of the mistake, and a reasonable effort to resolve the issue.

I wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived at this location but the ladies that work here were…read moreamazing. They were kind, knowledgeable, and happy about caring for the dogs receiving microchips. We were in and out in less than 5 minutes. They are running a well oiled machine. Thank you ladies! Thank you for caring for my dog and your service to the community.

We just adopted a dog through AHOTO. Everyone on the organization that we interacted with was kind,…read moreprofessional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. We highly recommend them!

I adopted my cat through AHOTO. They asked me to foster and it was obviously a fail. The…read morecommunications and support were great. Natalie is very attentive to all their cats and kittens and super helpful with adoption. She knows which cat to pair which human with, and is always spot on. I would 100% always adopt from them.

I adopted two kittens (brother and sister) last Thursday. Bread Crust is now Angus, and Un…read morecrustables, now Caly. The entire process was a great experience. Thank you so much for everything you do. Angus and Caly are doing great. Martha Martinez, Alexandria, VA

My husband and I we adopted (kiki) what we named her 12yrs ago. We loved her like our first child…read more She was genuinely happy and loved. She lived with us an till she was 17yrs old sins we adopted her from Animal Welfare league Alexandria. We are truly blessed to have her and to be given a chance. Sadly we lost Kiki THIS February. Since then my husband and felt so empty since we both can't have a family our own. This is where Bella comes in to our open heart to be a part of the family. Bella is full of loving and full of energy. She loves to be pet, play with us and her squeaky toys. Bella enjoys walking and adventure the out side neber hood with us. She also love her chicken with some vegetables and her dry food alongside couple of trees especially stick cheese. Bella is only nine months old and needs a little bit guidance as any child does. Overall we are extremely happy and blessed to have Bella into our home and open heart with us.

I give one star because there is no zero to choose from. I haven't seen a rescue or shelter so…read moredifficult to deal with. I am 100% sure they kidnapped my cat from my community and hostage her for donation and selling as a business rather than a non profit organization. Pure intention matters! I have donated to multiple organizations monthly base, raising fund for good purpose, money is not a problem for me. However, I don't want to reward bad behaviors. The missing time for my cat and the one they posted online matches and the very detailed stripes pattern matches. It's questionable that one employee said she from North Carolina, another one said she from West Virginia. I have my cat since she was born, I can recognize this cat from eye contact. Well, if you know your children, you know them by the spirit, right? I sent them many details to JUST take a look, they refused. It's not built to help ppl or animals at all. I will show how my cat look like and how sick she is now in their foster home. I'm deeply saddened and worried about her. She is territorial as a cat does. She has been a happy cat in her own home, wtf they think this is a rescue. Now I have to either kiss their ass or be assertive to fight against this negativity just to get her rescued from these horrible ppl. F that! If they don't practice as ethical as it should be, this is a big big issue! I put the photos of how my cat looked before and how she looks now in their foster homes(one with name caption) I am seriously furious and frustrated about this. If they couldn't give me an explanation why they made it so difficult to meet the cat. I have to say I will use my popularity and influence to the extreme to make things right!!!

Still have great things to say several years later! In addition to a thorough process and a…read morereasonable fee, City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue maintains a Facebook group for adopters to communicate and swap tips and share photos. And our cat is still the best, an incredibly affectionate and well-tempered pet. So glad we could rescue him!

Wonderful Shelter with extremely caring veterinarians, onsite staff and volunteers! The animals…read moreare always treated with tender loving care. If there's the slightest indication of a health issue, the lil' guys are treated immediately. There is no better Shelter in northern Va.

My husband and I saw a dog we were interested in meeting and possibly adopting so we reached out…read morethrough Instagram to get more details. We got a quick response, which was nice. They let us know that based on the dog's profile, they recommended that we do a meet and greet with any family dogs we already have at home. So we get ready, load up our pup, and go to the center. When we walked in, we felt like the vibes were pretty off immediately. The front desk staff seemed to be pretty unfriendly, barely addressed us, and barely made eye contact with us. But we moved on and I tried giving them some grace... We then told them which dog we were interested in meeting and they let us go back to the kennel for a first glance. We came back out and when we asked for a meet and greet, the one worker seemed super hesitant in even allowing that. Lots of "ummm, yea, I guess you can" vibes. My mother-in-law waited in the lobby with our pup and they led my husband and I to their yard for a visit which went well and I asked if I could switch out with my mother-in-law and were told that it'd be best not to have the dog meet too many people in one instance since it has a "stranger danger" personality. What if the people after us wanted to meet him, would they have turned them down because it was "too many people"??? We then asked to have our pup meet since our meeting went well and were met with more hesitation. We let the staff know that we also have kids at home and they recommended that we come back with them so the adoptable pup could meet everyone at once instead of letting our dog meet in that moment.... we thought that was odd since we were already there and prepared. My husband was already over it and left and I went back in to ask if the dog we were interested in could be adopted that day or before we were able to come back. They let us know that they couldn't guarentee he'd still be there. Never once did they really walk us through the process or even offered that we could essentially put the dog on "hold" until I kept asking more questions. They finally directly us to a QR code that went to an interest form. I filled out the whole thing and then they were like, "oh, BTW, its a nonrefundable $50 fee/donation to put an animal hold on". So... fine.... because we really wanted to make sure he was still there when we came back. Fast forward to the next day, we bring our kids and our dog back in. They then tell us they they're going to have our dog meet their dog 1st and if that goes well, we can introduced the kids. What the actual crap since we already had our dog in the day before! So the meet and greet with the pups didn't go the best which isn't anyone's fault. We understand and recognize that is out of everyone's control and don't fault the staff for that interaction. One of the other workers who wasn't there the first day tried helping and made some suggestions to have us adopt and older dog but at that point we were ready to go. We were so frustrated with the entire process. They wasted our time, weren't upfront about the fee/donation, and the staff either didn't understand the process themselves OR they really didn't want it to actually work out with us from the moment we walked in there. We've adopted from Wolftrap Animal Rescue twice and had wonderful interactions. We also visited the Lorton Animal Shelter and everyone there was really kind and friendly so I'd recommend others going through one of those other agencies instead. We just hope our nonrefundable $50 donation goes to good use...

I reached out to Tails High in Spetember 2023, as I had finally decided I had the resources to…read moreadopt a cat. I worked with Cacie to go over the screening items, as well as what I was hoping for, and she immediately had a pair of cats come into mind. It was a bonded pair, with one 2 year old cat and one 5 month old kitten. She immediately set up a time for me to meet the kitties at the fosters home, and I absolutely fell in live with them when I met them. As this was my first time having pets of my own, I was nervous and unsure, so I loved that they offer a 30 day foster-to-adopt period. Cacie also made it clear to me that they were dedicated to ensuring it was a right fit all around and that there was flexibility. Not long after adopting, we ran into a couple medical issues (though I believe Tails High did everything in their power to ensure both kitties were healthy and okay for adoption, and they were as transparent as possible with me). When I shared a couple concerns about the issues the cats were having, Cacie was very responsive and really took the time to help, despite the fact that she and Tails High are overloaded. I wound up becoming a long-term medical foster for the older cat due to some complications and I fully adopted the kitten. Cacie was extremely patient and helpful and made sure that I had as much information as possible to make informed decisions. It is so clear how much she cares about not only the animals but the fosters and adopters, as well. And I only continue to reference her because that is mostly who I have interacted with, but I'm sure this is a blanket statement for the entire rescue. They do really phenomenal work. I am so happy that I took the plunge with these kitties, as I couldn't have asked for a better fit. I highly recommend Tails High to anyone who is looking to foster or adopt a cat!

Can't believe I haven't written a review yet about this amazing place!…read more Let's go back to the beginning *record scratch* I've always loved cats since I can remember and I also grew up with them (as my mom was a cat lady.) I felt like it was finally time for me to adopt my very own fur baby. I looked up some adoption events in the area and I noticed there was one that day at the Petco in Columbia Heights. I rushed down there in excitement, hoping to find my future cat child. There were three cats left, one had just been adopted and was on their way to their furrever home. There was one pretty tabby and a very shy black cat. I was so focused on this black cat named Starling. He just looked so scared and uncomfortable (who would blame him!) I started talking to one of the volunteers, Eileen (AMAZING woman) and she let me pet Starling. I sat there speaking to him softly and gently petting him. I felt like this cat needed to come home with me and enjoy his very own space. I adopted him right then and there! Eileen was so kind and helpful the entire time. She took me around Petco and helped me shop, she even drove me down the street to my apartment with Starling! For about two weeks, Starling hid under my bed and was pretty scared of everything around him. I gave him space and continued to speak to him softly, reassuring him he was in a good place. He finally broke out of his shell and became the goofiest, cuddliest, most lovable boy. It'll be a year in April since I adopted Starling (now Lil Beefy lol!) and we are inseparable! We are always cuddling or playing and I couldn't imagine life without my furry child! Thank you Tails High! For giving me the chance at adopting such a wonderful boy who makes my life better everyday. Most adoption places are so political and intense about adoptions. But you made the process so comfortable and easy. I will be back to adopt another baby soon! Please enjoy the photoshoot!

Adding onto other reviews, all interactions I have had with SPCA have been marked with passive…read moreaggressiveness and hostility. I understand the need to properly vet adoptees but do not believe their passive aggressive disposition is warranted at all. I was interested in adopting an adult cat from them and all they did was send me an email borderline disparaging me, making unwarranted assumptions about me, and insinuating that I didn't read the online bio well enough. I ended up adopting a cat from AWLA instead, and they were much more seamless to work with and friendly. I am concerned for the animals that aren't able to find their homes sooner as a result of SPCA staff's nasty and unprofessional attitudes towards adoptees, but I can't stress potential adoptees avoiding this organization enough.

As others noted, the application process was overly arduous and their standards for adoptees are…read moreimpossibly high. My husband and I both work full time but from home 1-2 days a week, we own our house and have a fenced in yard. Last year, we attempted to adopt a dog from them, which entailed a level of paperwork and in-person interviews that rivaled a job application. We showed up to a pet store to meet the potential dog at the specified time but they basically booked a whole bunch of people for that same time, so about a dozen of us were meeting the dog together in a sort of awkward group interview. The dog was about an hour late arriving and seemed stressed out by all the people. After, we waited as they individually interviewed us one by one. It took half a day and we didn't end up getting the dog we applied for. It was a waste of time for us, the other families, and certainly the dogs, who looked pretty stressed out meeting a huge group of people for the first time. Disheartened, we asked around and found another organization that rescues dogs from kill shelters in the south (Pet Rescue Alliance) and brought home our wonderful beagle mix same day. He's the sweetest dog and the joy of my life.

The Humane Society has been the model for decades of an organization concerned with the welfare of…read moreanimals, though probably not an animal rights organization per se. One example of the work they do is providing a free kit entitled "Providing for Your Pet's Future Without You," which contains a 6-page fact sheet , wallet alert cards, decals, and caregiver information forms. As pets usually have shorter life spans than their human caregivers, it is nice to be able to provide for your pet's future in case you become ill or die. Visit www.hsus.org/petsinwills for more information on this topic.

Oh Humane Society. I hate to take away stars from you, but I just have to do it. You do so much…read moregood work. I have given you lots of donations over the years to help the critters, especially post-Katrina. I really admire your recent campaign against the evil Michael Vick. However, you simply send too much useless crap in the mail. Socks, key chains, stationery, labels, note cards, piggy banks, umbrellas, t-shirts - you name it, I have received it all. When I see said things arrive in the mail, I think to myself - but I already have an umbrella (and socks and a key chain....) I would prefer my money be used to support the animals, not to mass produce trinkets. Sadly, it has gotten so out of control, that I have started sending my money elsewhere.

We went to Sunshine friends cats & Dogs Rescue and adopted two adorable kittens. The staff were…read moreincredibly friendly, professional, and clearly dedicated to giving back to the community. Our kittens were well-cared for, healthy, and had received all their necessary vaccinations. We are so grateful for the new additions to our family! Thank you, Sunshine Friends, for making the process smooth and for your commitment to animal welfare."

Loving, caring and so professional. Lovely, caring people. If you are considering a pet adoption…read moreplease check here. You will have a pet who was cared for by a fantastic couple, just waiting for you!

We switched from Cherrydale Vet to Clarendon Animal Care North last year, and we have been…read moreextremely happy with them. Cherrydale was more convenient for us, but we found it to be smaller and less comfortable overall (while prices were actually higher). CAC has offered a much better experience so far.  Their entry is warm and inviting, and has plenty of room for owners and their pets to make their way inside on their own terms as much as possible. They have a separate entrance for pets who are particularly anxious and/or otherwise in need of solo entry into the facility to ensure their comfort and security and make sure they have as fear free a visit as possible. They also have a separate waiting area for cats for the same "fear free" reason. The people at the front desk are all extremely welcoming and smile at all who enter. The entire experience is warm and inviting for pets and people alike. The waiting areas and exam rooms are also wonderfully clean, cheerful and comfortable for all. They have carpet on the floor and a couch in every room so all have a place to sit during visits. Soft classical music plays in the background, and the walls are tastefully decorated with artwork and unobtrusive signage containing helpful information about their practice and basic veterinary content. They accomplish their "fear free" goals very well. Most importantly, the veterinarians there are awesome. They're great with both pets and people, and they take time to conduct thorough and caring exams and provide detailed information about what they're doing the whole time. They also answer all questions clearly and explain everything incredibly well, without ever appearing condescending or impatient in any way (as we have experienced with some vets at various places in the past). My dog and I leave feeling great and well taken care of every time. Excellent veterinary practice in every way.

Just imagine. You're a good boy and you're a little old and a little nervous in general. And you…read morehave this appointment with CAC and you know a lot of people are going to poke and prod and basically infringe on your personal space. Maxx was stressed just like any of us would be. Thankfully Dr Fitzgerel and his crew of Caitlin and Jules were so awesome. They were patient and careful with him and took plenty of time to get to know Maxx, and his history and present situation. This was his first visit here so extra time and attention was needed.