after adopting three wonderful dogs about 6 years ago... and was ready to adopt again...saw a dog i wanted to see.. came up and donna did not allow me to see the one year old dog... i came with a friend and had a hurt ankle and used a rolling walker and she said because of that i was not capable of handling a young dog.....really? she brough not one old dog aand his bonded buddy and said this was the ones for me.. i have always stated no dog with any food aggression... she said none... brought the dogs home...i make this human evening stew aone when the large dog gulped his down he went after my standard food... teeth barred..i kicked the bowl with my foot away from he and he jumped me.. and i fell..i called donna stating this was not accectable and she claimed the dog had zero food aggression but the dogs did go back... also in the paperwork was the first health exam and it showed heart issues and liver issues of over three times the top rate... a sick dog... when i approached her on that point she pulled out her vets papers that all levels were normal... in about three weeks how could an outside vet state severe issues and her vet that all was well... i wanted to see another dog...i had in time adopted three from her and she refused...because i was wrong regarding the two issues..two months later the dogs showed up on their there adoptable page...states dog has food aggression.. dog has elevated liver...i would have thought i would have gotten a thank you as imagine my then 1 1/2 grand baby drop a cookie and the dog would have attacked him... now 10 months later there were two dogs i wanted to see.. my email was that my environment did not fit criteria? really...my environment was good for three dogs then in march for two dogs but today my environment is bad.. and these dogs were a year olds. in the interium in april from a breeder i bought a 11 week labdradooble...now eight months.. very well trained...by me.. so if you have any handicap or appear to have one.... you get disqualified except to take a sick aggressive dog... i had so much respect for this group but it has severley changed and in my opinion and in my experience for the worse and i feel it discriminates against someone who at times needs a walker in public...as stated by donna....i have asked via email for an understanding of my environment does not quality... and cannot get a response via phone or email.... it saddens me that after so many adoptees through the years that all of a sudden i am unexeptable except for old unhealthy dogs. read more

I can't say enough good about this organization and it's director Donna Ezzell. I investigated similar organizations before joining the CPR online community and positioning myself to adopt through them. This group impressed me from the start. Their goals are clearly defined, their mission is to assist and place dogs (and a few cats) or to provide stable end-of-life care for those who are not suited for adoption, and their ability to mobilize and utilize their support group is phenomenal. CPR goes the extra mile for the welfare of the animals they serve -- and they serve A LOT of animals (not all poodles in spite of the name). CPR received my dog from a shelter after an owner surrender. At 5 years old, this dog had lost the use of her back legs from an unknown cause. CPR did everything possible to find a medical solution for this girl in addition to addressing a variety of general health issues. That included an evaluation by a canine neurosurgeon. Preparations were made for her to continue her life as a paraplegic with a cart and a drag-bag. CPR felt a good, accepting, supportive home could be found for her. After I went through the interview process, we suspected that this dog might be the right one for me. Then when I went to adopt, the dog and I were introduced and given time to interact. ALL of the dog's health concerns, including her poor prognosis, were explained. My rights and responsibilities (including financial issues) were explained very clearly. There was no pressure for me to take her. I was offered the opportunity to meet other dogs. She came home with me, and we were/are a perfect match. I have not had a moment's regret in the more than 2 years that she and I have been a family. An unexpected bonus of adoption through CPR was the community that exists among the adopters, volunteers, staff, and supporters of this group. We talk. We share stories and support. We have events. We know about dogs coming to the group, dogs adopted from the group, and dogs from the group who pass away. We share our joys, hopes, triumphs, fears, sadness, losses. We know that no matter what we face with our pets, we are not facing it alone. My biggest comfort is the knowledge that CPR will take care of and insure the welfare of my little one if anything should happen to me. CPR is committed to both of us. I didn't adopt one of their dogs. CPR adopted me into their family. read more

Disheartening and unprofessional--a year of wasted time and indifference. I am writing this review with deep disappointment after a year of attempting to get help for a poodle I rescued from Craigslist. I initially turned to Carolina Poodle Rescue (CPR) hoping they would be a compassionate resource for a poodle in great need, but my experience was disheartening and unprofessional from start to finish. For almost a year, I sent repeated emails explaining the situation and my dog's specific needs. Each time, the response was a short, unfeeling reply promising that CPR could help in "about a month." After months of this runaround, the situation became more urgent. When I started emailing daily to follow up, the rescue finally gave a definitive, but incredibly cold, response. The final email stated that they could not take the dog, but what was most upsetting was the total lack of care. The response did not even refer to my dog by his name and showed no sign of sympathy for his difficult situation and called him, "this dog". The message was dry, dismissive, and lacked any of the compassion you would expect from an animal rescue. A rescue organization that claims to prioritize the well-being of dogs should be skilled and trained to respond to urgent cases with empathy and a plan, even if they cannot take the animal. Foster opportunities are available with better suited environments. A humane society, in stark contrast, actually wrote back, expressing concern for my dog's welfare, confirming his name, and explaining that they would make room for him. This entire ordeal with CPR felt like a complete waste of time. They repeatedly misled me with false promises, only to shut me down with an unsympathetic and impersonal email. Their conduct suggests a profound lack of training and concern for the animals they claim to serve. I would caution anyone against relying on them, especially in a time of great need. read more

Disclosure: we have had Bradley as part of our family for 5 years. Bradley is from Carolina Poodle Rescue (CPR) where he was found as a stray in SC as a very young dog, estimated age was 9 months. We are active volunteers for CPR based on the quality of people we have met through the organization, all adopters, all thrilled with their family member from CPR, all determined that each dog deserves a supportive family to love. We were closely vetted before we were allowed to adopt from CPR, including personal and Vet references and a detailed dialog with an adoption counselor. The objective was simple, to understand us and our situation so to best match us with a dog that would integrate into our family. We have had Bradley as part of our family for over 5 years. He was a stray found in SC at around 9 months old. He had medical issues that were clearly explained to us. We accepted the responsibility for Bradley's care. If, for any reason, any reason at all, we determined that we could not care for Bradley, he would be immediately returned to CPR. No dog should be part of a family where they are not loved or their needs could not be met. We have been to the CPR sanctuary in SC several times over the years. We have seen how the dogs at the sanctuary are cared for. We have met the care givers. We can attest that these dogs get the care they need and the love they deserve. If you want to add a dog to your family, not just "get a dog" but add a family member, CPR is an excellent place to start. read more

My experience with Carolina Poodle has been one of the best things that ever happened to me. The adoption screening process was thorough, and it was obvious they took great care in making sure their dogs find the best furever homes. I have allergies, with some breeds more than others, and I explained this during the screening process. When I went for my initial visit, I ended up taking a sweet dog home and was delighted except for the fact I found out the next day that I was allergic to her. I gave it a couple more days to be sure, then contacted Donna to let her know the problem. No questions asked, I was told to bring the dog back and they would continue to look for a more suitable dog for me. A few weeks later, I was contacted to come for a visit as they had a few possible matches. I end up with what I consider to be one of the best parts of my life, my constant buddy Bekou -- seriously the best dog ever! It gives me so much peace knowing that CPR puts the care of their dogs first and will take a dog back if an owner can no longer care for the dog. I know for my elderly aunt, one of her big concerns is who will care for her dog when she no longer can? She doesn't have a CPR dog, so if a family member doesn't step up, the dog will be surrendered to a shelter. CPR commits to their dogs for life, and they also give troubled dogs or dogs too senior to adopt a place to live out their lives comfortably at the CPR farm. I can't say enough good things about this organization!!! read more

Rescue checked me out thoroughly as should be done. i came for 1 pup Feb -18, saw three, but the 1 pup Franklin i'd seen and actually came for, there for 6 months from hurricane Irma relief, was the cats meow. Worked through him being with two kitties at home, although he was supposed to be good with cats, not quite if vying for my attention, snap chomp. kitties are fine, just an intro to new animals in his domain so be careful. These furry pups often come from who knows where, with hidden ailments that appear afterward. after he came home, he had a mole growing near eye to be removed that just came up, not there when i got him. Then he had bronchitis or maybe kennel cough appearing in June. and then stomach issue, probably from eating junk on roadway. This all is not related to the care given to him from Carolina Poodle rescue. He's graduated from pre-school and Kindergarten at Canine Academy in Boliva Nc. now doing additional agility training in backyard and survived trip to Atlanta with kitties for evacuation from hurricane florence. he's a pip. When you adopt from anywhere, there are so many unknowns of past history and health so don't be mad if the health of the pup is not excellent. the poodle rescue is excellent in gathering, caring for, and vetting. they can't know everything about a pup though, who can??? read more

We just had our first experience adopting dogs this Christmas. It was definitely a difficult process to find a smaller poodle that met the standards for A hypoallergenic dog for my son and one that fit our lifestyle. I felt very strongly about adopting a rescue dog as opposed to getting one from a breeder.Carolina poodle rescue or CPR had a wide variety of ages and sizes of dogs, not just poodles. Although the adoption process was long, it was worth it. I also learned the reason they had the lengthy adoption process was to make the best matches on both sides. And it worked! When we came for our appointment they showed us the dogs they were thinking would work for us based upon our interview. It was love at first sight and we ended up taking home two dogs that day. And in the six weeks that followed they have become an Intercal part of our family and we have started to be supporters and donators to CPR as well. We believe in their mission and are so glad that Donna and the other volunteers are there. They make a point of rescuing dogs from kill shelters or other bad situations. In my search for a rescue dog I had come across many other rescue organizations and though I applied or called, never got any answer back. CPR is a well oiled machine and I highly recommend you use them if in search of a rescue dog read more

CPR has won multiple awards and is one of the top dog rescues in the nation. They spare absolutely no expense to make sure the dogs in their care are healthy and able to live their best possible life. They pay to repair cataracts, shattered bones, and any other issues that arise. They will waste no time rushing a pup to the emergency vet. One of the things hat sets them apart from other rescues is their SOS, or Save our Seniors program. They have over 50 dogs who are elderly or who have special needs. I know of no other rescue that has a program like it. ANY dog at CPR can find sanctuary for life if not adopted! Their adoption process is very lengthy and includes a home visit. This shows how deeply they care about each and every dog going to a safe and loving home. I specialize in the seniors and special needs pups and have adopted many through CPR. My experiences have all been great. They take the time to really understand your family and find you a dog that will be a perfect fit. There is also a community of over 3000 people on their Facebook site. Many life long friendships have been made here and it is a supportive and amazing community. That demonstrates just how many people know and love Carolina Poodle. read more

We just adopted two wonderful dogs from Carolina Poodle Rescue, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The team at the rescue is incredibly thorough in ensuring that each dog finds the right home. They carefully check everything, like whether or not you have a fence, but they're also flexible and work with you based on the needs of the specific dog. It's clear that they truly care about the dogs and go above and beyond to make sure they're matched with the best possible families. There were no surprises with the fees--everything was laid out upfront. Both of our dogs came microchipped, neutered, and well taken care of. They even provided us with leashes and some food to get us started so the dogs could slowly acclimate to a new dog food if needed. The paperwork was very detailed, much more so than any other adoption we've done in the past. It included everything our vet would need and more. Carolina Poodle Rescue is a fantastic organization, and I highly recommend them if you're thinking about adopting or want to support a rescue that really puts the dogs first. read more

Over the past six years, I have adopted four dogs from Carolina Poodle Rescue - three Standard Poodles, all young adults, and one Shih Tzu/Pekingnese, one of the SOS (Save our Seniors) dogs. My little girl passed away of old age but my three youngsters are thriving. CPR is a wonderful refuge for dogs who have been hurt by the world for many reasons - some as simple as owners suffering health/financial issues, some as horrid as abusive and neglectful owners. CPR has a special medical fund for those who are ill or need surgery; a special program for old folks (like my Priti Sophie) who are hard to adopt out; and a sanctuary for those who can't live in families for behavioural reasons. The staff and volunteers are amazing people with patience, love, kindness and commitment that you don't see everywhere. Many of us travel long distances to adopt or just see our friends because CPR becomes family. Their matching process is rigorous - the priority is the right match for the pet. And, funny thing - what's right for the pet is right for us. Love this little bit of heaven on earth. read more

We adopted twice from Donna Ezzell and Carolina Poodle Rescue. They are an amazing and committed group. They were so careful and thorough in their review of us before we could even adopt. Our experience was so good the first time, we went back and adopted again. In fact, our second adoptee got loose just a week after we had her. We were traveling out of state. I called Donna immediately and she coached me through how to get the dog back. Fortunately it worked like a charm. Donna was ready to fly the "foster Mom" of this little dog from South Carolina to Maine to try and help find her if necessary. She and all the folks there have an unwavering commitment to better the lives of these dogs and us humans. Some dogs may have quirks but CPR does a good job of sharing this information prior to adoption. Our girls are shy but that's OK. They both had rough starts and we love and accept them just as they are. They've both grown into happy, loving members of our family. I highly recommend CPR if you're looking for a new, furry member of your family (it goes beyond Poodles). read more

I have both adopted from and been a volunteer for Carolina Poodle Rescue for almost 10 years now. Over that time, I have seen these folks do EVERYTHING right. From going above and beyond to save those animals that would otherwise be put down or continue to suffer at the hands of irresponsible owners, to launching the most competent and successful rescue teams I've ever encountered when a new adopter mistakenly allows a nervous new rescue pet to escape. They are nothing short of amazing. I have owned dogs all my life, and they are treated as my kids and as beloved members of the family. Donna Ezzell, her exemplary team of associates at CPR, and the vast network of volunteers and adopters associated with CPR have similarly become our extended beloved family. Should anything happen to my husband and myself, in the case our kids can't take our pups, into the loving arms of Carolina Poodle Rescue they will go. If you are are a true animal lover, you know how much weight that endorsement carries. read more

My family adopted our poodle from this organization and the experience could not have been better. Carolina Poodle Rescue takes great care in the interview process to screen potential adopters so they find a dog which will be the right fit for the adopting family. It was obvious the well being of the dog comes first and that's the way it should be. We adopted our dog from the facility in Pacolet, SC and were able to meet several dogs who were up for adoption. They encouraged us to bring our dog, so we would have an idea if they clicked upon first meeting or not. The dogs at the rescue were well cared for and loved by the staff. They provided vet records, which showed our dog had been spayed and was up to date on her shots. I would not hesitate to recommend Carolina Poodle Rescue and do quite often. They are the BEST! read more

I had the pleasure of adopting a dachshund mix named Chester from Carolina Poodle Rescue. He was rescued by Animal Control from a very abusive situation and was brought to CPR for adoption. Their adoption process is strict because they want their dogs to go to good homes. They are very upfront about the steps and process so there are no surprises. If someone is caught by surprise, then they didn't read the materials they are given at the beginning. They want to ensure that their dogs to go to good, loving homes and I don't blame them for wanting to take the time they need to verify the people adopting. I am so happy that there is a local, no-kill option that cares for dogs in the area. The people that work there obviously care for the dogs and are very loving towards them. I would give them 10 stars if I could. read more

Getting adoption approval is not easy and it shouldn't be. Adopting a dog is like adopting a child. It's important the dog and the family match because a dog doesn't understand a failure. All the dog understands is he had a nice family and now he doesn't. CPR follows guidelines to ensure the family and dog are the right match the first time. This amazing organization matched us to an awesome Moyen Poodle seven years ago and its the match made in heaven. Sammy is perfect. Every year we return to the CPR reunion to thank the diligent volunteers! They also have other breeds available. If you're looking for a pet, please consider this fabulous rescue. If you're looking for a good cause, please donate. If you need to fill a vacuum in your schedule, volunteer. You won't find a finer or more dedicated group. read more

We adopted Bailey from Carolina Poodle Rescue over 2 years ago after we lost our beloved doodle and Bailey had lost his people. It couldn't have been a better match. He was 9 years old. Our experience was amazing and only verified what I had seen on the internet. Their first priority is finding the animal a good home and a stable future. The process was indepth, like it should be. We stayed over in our RV on the farm the night before our meet and greet with our dog Zeke. The next day Donna introduced to some dogs she thought would be a good match. Bailey was the one and has become a beloved member of our household. If you wonder about what they do, follow them on social media and you will find a devoted group of people who love animals. I am so proud to be part of that family. read more

About 11 years ago my husband and I adopted a standard poodle named Lily. I saw her picture on the web and fell in love with her. I filled out the application and before we knew it we were contacted by the rescue group. We were checked out by a rescue group up North and they contacted the poodle rescue with their determination of our place. Our vet also spoke to the Carolina Poodle rescue. With coordination we set up a meeting in Richmond Virginia to pick up Lily. We also volunteered to bring 2 other dogs up North to their new owners. I have never regretted adopting from Carolina Poodle rescue. We still donate and support their work with rescues. We eventually adopted another standard poodle from them. Lily is now 13 years old. We are still in love with her. read more

We adopted Nicky 9 years ago. It was obvious from our first contact with CPR that the dogs and cats they rescue get the very, very best love and care possible. Donna and her team carefully screen potential pet parents, and they work to try to ensure a good match. I love the fact that Donna said if we ever decide we can't keep Nicky, she'll happily take him back. He's a little stinker and we can't picture our lives without him; but, it is comforting to know that our cranky little old man has a place to go if anything ever happens to us. CPR is a labor of love, striving to make all things work out to the best advantage of the pets and pet parents. Only by being as meticulous as they are can they hope to place each pet in a fur-ever home. Way to go CPR! read more

I visited Carolina Poodle Rescue today to pick up my missing beagle, I had gotten a call yesterday morning saying he had been picked up by one of their workers who got a call from a friend saying a stray beagle had suddenly turned up in their neighborhood. The neighborhood he turned up in is on the opposite side of town from where we live, 24 hrs after I last saw him. She had read his chip & called the chip company, who called us. Someone is dognapping dogs from our area, I suspect Sam was taken & then put out because they found out he was too old/decrepit to sell. This shelter called us pretty promptly and didn't even take an offer of a donation for keeping my dog for two and a half days. I appreciate their kindness and generosity. --Jeni read more