Shelters are always so sad to visit, but I really love this one! And they are a no-kill shelter...which makes a huge difference to me when I donate to them! They are opening a brand new building thanks to a man who left his money to them when he passed away! Open house for the new building is 7-18-19...I belie 4-6pm...Adopt! Don't shop!!! read more

Manager was extremely rude. We've adopted 2 dogs from them in the past. I wanted to adopted a kitten and told them multiple times that our dog was in the car. They never ask for a meet in greet for the two pets. After we adopted the kitty and went back to the car the two were very aggressive to one another. Kitten was in a crate. So we realized it was a bad situation for them both. Our fault for not introducing them correctly. So we brought the kitten back in and got banned from the place. Could have been handled much more professionally. read more

This shelter is great and cares so much about their animals and community. Staff is helpful and makes the adoption process simple! read more

Cocheco Valley Humane Society - Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

First of all, this is NOT a no-kill shelter. Their definition is very skewed and claims they only euthanize if it's requested by the pet owners. Sadly, that's far from the truth and will reject any cats (especially) if they are sick or need to be rescued. Outside of that, communication is non-existent. Phone calls, voicemail, nor emails seem to get all ignored. There is far better shelter than this place that supposedly gets monetary support from the community which I'm starting to wonder where the money goes. read more

EXTREMELY disappointed in the way CVHS handled themselves today. I work with a young disabled women who was seeking a cat to help support her with her anxiety. After a few days of visiting we finally found one that was a great match. Individual and I both submitted applications on Sunday. Monday CVHS was closed; and we were there at 11:15 on Tuesday. Staff and Supervisor were fully aware of the cat we wanted to adopt; but channels needed to be completed. Returned at 1PM and CVHS Staff and Supervisor allowed an adoption of this cat to another person. Its hard enough to be let down without disabilities; but when you have someone with a disability and the need for this pet is to help support this individual with their disability, then to yank the rug out from underneath this person is plan old "HEARTLESS" If you have someone who wants an animal and they have a disability "BEWARE!" CVHS does not care!!!!!!!! read more

Director took the time to reach out to me after a mishap. Appreciate her time and commitment.

For years I have heard about Cocheco Valley Humane Society via the local radio stations. So today when I was out with a family member looking for a cat to adopt, this was where we decided to go. First, I was surprised when I drove up to the facility. It was kinda run down looking, and just didn't seem like a well kept place. But I know that these places tend to run on donations and minimal funds, so I overlooked it and pulled in. I arrived there and as I was walking up, I was still just shocked by the look of the exterior of the place. We walked in and the front desk staff just wasn't welcoming at all. Asked about a cat and they told us where to go look. So we did. Ended up going to look at more cats in the cat room next to the main office. There was quite a strong smell, which again is to be expected however I have been in many other animal shelters and they didn't quite have this strong of a smell. There was a really nice volunteer in the cat room who talked to us, and gave us a lot of information. When we thought we had found the cat we wanted, we went out to fill out a application. The desk ladies pretty much ignored us. Finally after a few minutes, they gave us a application to fill out. Filled out the paper work and 2 other ladies came in and began talking to the front desk lady, and they just kept on with a convo while we were just standing there twiddling our thumbs. Decided then and there that we were done and left. Being someone who works with customers, you have to engage with them, and be at least courteous. Still looking for a new member of the family, and MAY consider going back if we find just the right kitty, but it would NOT be my first choice. read more

I recently adopted a wonderful dog at the con Cocheco Valley Humane Society. The dog has turned out to be a perfect fit for me and my family. Yes, the building is old, it's cramped but take a look on the wall and you will see architectural drawings of the new site they hope to have ready to occupy later this year. After talking to the person in charge of adoptions and talking to several of the workers, many of them volunteers, there is no doubt in my mind that they are some of the most wonderful animal lovers I have talk to. Whether you want to adopt a dog, a cat or any other type of animals such as a guinea pig I would highly, highly recommend that you visit this facility. Jim Lawson read more

I recently had a really horrible experience with the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. My roommate and I went in an adopted two kittens with a really sad back story. We brought them home, and they immediately starting showing signs that they were sick. Long story short, a veterinarian recommended that we return the cats to the shelter, as there was a good chance they were terminal cases, and their care would be very expensive and may not be enough to keep them alive. We called the Cocheco Valley Humane Society to ask what we should do, and were told that no one there at the time could help us and that they would have to call us back. We waited, and never got a call back. We proceeded to call two more times and once the next day, and we always given the same answer, and with a lot of attitude. When we finally just brought the cats back to the shelter, the people there were immediately defensive and rude, making a bad situation worse. We were told that we "lied" about the phone calls, and said that they knew we were coming in. We were told that the kittens didn't seem that sick, even though a vet had told us the day before that they were sick. They even said that the veterinarian was wrong. We did not expect to be refunded for the cats, as we couldn't prove that they were terminal, but when we were discussing amongst ourselves what was going to happen to them and that one of the poor cats was probably going to have to be put down, we were told VERY rudely that we needed to talk about that outside, it was apparently offensive to one of the people working there. We gave the shelter the medication and the kitten chow that we had already purchased for them. We never once heard an any apologies or any words of sympathy for the staff, or even a thank you for the food and medicine. My roommate and I both left in tears,sad about how everything had worked out, and livid with the way we had just been treated. read more

Cocheco stepped up to help a little dog who was caught up in a complicated situation. The dog wasn't mine, but I had cared for her and was involved in helping her owner find her a new home. Through a series of missteps, the dog had ended up in a bad situation. This dog also had some special needs, but the shelter director and assistant director are knowledgeable about canine behavioral issues and the local adoption "climate" and they were confident that they could find her the right home. They did - the dog was adopted this weekend. Throughout the process, the staff at Cocheco were very professional, patient and reassuring. A few months prior, I also had experience with them when we were considering adopting a senior dog. We did not adopt him but the staff there answered all of my questions, helped with introducing the senior to my dog, and overall they were wonderful with that side of the process, too. I'm so pleased that the shelter will be expanding and hope the community will continue to support the people who do the challenging and critical work of helping animals in need. read more

I have adopted three dogs from Cocheco, and all three times the staff has been great. They care about the animals and work hard to give them what they need while in their care. As difficult as a non-profit can be to run, they have always tried to do the best they can with what they have. My dogs have brought love and companionship to my life, and it is in great part to Cocheco's good work. read more

Very very disappointed in this place. I had recently adopted a kitten from Cocheco and was reassured that I was going to have a healthy kitten with all of the correct shots and paperwork. Lies. My veterinary hospital, who is very prestigious in the area, informed me that my kitten had been given a shot that no 4 week old kitten should get. The distemp shot is not to be given to a kitten of such young age and it is absolutely useless to her in the future. Now, I am stuck paying for their mistakes and have to put my kitten through another shot. Also I was given information about my kitten that wasn't even correct, example: "long haired" she is no long hair what so ever, never got any sort of birth date nor arrived at the shelter date, never received any sort of certificate or paper work on her being spayed. My vet had told me that this was very unusual that they did not provide me with any paper work on the spaying of my cat. After all of this I called the shelter where it took me over 20 minutes and about 6 phones calls to actually get a person on the phone. When I did reach someone, I spoke with the shelter manager whom did absolutely nothing for me, other then tell me that she didn't know what I was talking about and that the vet (who already screwed up) could look at her again. I am sorry but why would I want to take my cat back to a vet or even a shelter where they had already done us wrong. The "manager" then told me that they wouldn't cover the expense of my cat having to get a vaccine that they had screwed up on. I explained to the shelter manager that I was very unhappy and that it is nonsense to have to put my kitten in the car for an hour drive when my vet is just a mile up the road from my residence. Very unhelpful, inconsiderate, unprofessional and I wouldn't recommend this shelter. The only thing good to come out of this situation is the beautiful loving cat that I was blessed with. read more