I so lo this place..they gave me a great Cat..thank yall so much

This is a wonderful shelter. I was able to get a senior shih-tzu who had an orthopedic problem, which only got worse. She paid me back with lots of love and lived for several years, giving me wonderful company. They had a foster home which took care of her before I adopted her. The foster family took great care of her and was willing to tell me all about her. No surprises! Love, love, love this group. read more

Humane Rescue Alliance - My sweet Missy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Communication is not their strong suit. I have been working with them to take care of a community cat. There's been miscommunication in every step of the process. They provide no instructions regarding drop off and pick up despite the fact that they are still restricting access to the building. Everytime I called no one knew when I should bring the cat in for a follow up, how long he needs to stay inside, etc. And I haven't gotten my have a heart trap returned from the animal control officer who borrowed it to take the cat in, despite me calling her twice & leaving VMs. read more

I had been feeding and during cold built a shelter for a stray cat. I arranged from him to eat at level with one of my windows. A while ago he started to look beaten lots of scratches and then a wound on its leg. Just feeding was not sufficient but the cat was very fearful. I called HRA they sent an officer, trapped the cat, neutered, shots, chipped and attended his medical needs. I called everyday. Ok, trust issues! I didn't not want my efforts to help to result in its death. They kept him for a week and returned him to the neighborhood. He looked healthy and is coming daily for his meals and eating like a champ. He even stopped in the yard sat and let me talk to him - from a distance but still. I believe it understood about the help. What a wonderful reaffirming group. They cared for this animal with compassion ( fielded my nervous calls will patience). Absolutely Excellent service! read more

It's a tragedy that the board and management staff are not making changes to fix the considerable problems. When speaking to staff (which in itself is a challenge) there is a general acknowledgment that things are a mess. So terribly sad that a valuable resource lie this is being torn down. Change is needed badly before it's too late. read more

I came here for the vaccine clinic and was extremely impressed by the ease and structure of the process and the friendliness of every staff member I encountered. My cat was well handled by both the tech and the doctor. I was in and out within an hour. Excellent experience. read more

We adopted our sweet Willow from Humane Rescue Alliance and they were so kind! They gave us every bit of information about her (even the negative) to ensure we had full knowledge of our dog before we adopted her. They were extremely encouraging, even when we were feeling nervous about getting our first dog! They provided us with so much information and the proper ways to transition her into her home, as well as directed us towards so many helpful resources! They were lovely. read more

Humane Rescue Alliance - Animal Shelters Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I met a WARL volunteer at one of their outreach sessions at a pet store. They only had kittens, and when I told the volunteer I was looking for a calm, adult cat, she immediately wrote down several names for me and encouraged me to go to the shelter and meet them. So my friend I went to the shelter and met some of the cats. I went back a week later to visit Tiffany again - she was the first name on the list the volunteer made for me. Then I put in an application, went through the interview, and took her home about a week later. They rescued my cat from an abusive shelter in North Carolina. What's more, they have special programs to encourage people to adopt older cats and cats with health problems (waived adoption fees, free medical care) and sliding-scale vet care for income-qualified people. My cat's adoption fee was waived (as she hadn't had any luck getting adopted for over a year), and I gave them a donation anyway because they're that awesome. And now I have a very sweet kitty. I changed her name to Murphy, though, as I felt like the name Tiffany would increase the chances that she'd someday run away from home and become a stripper. read more

The place itself is fantastic - a great facility for animals, and you can see that the staff and volunteers are pretty passionate about what they do. My gripe is that their adoption process is ill-defined, badly managed and has a single weak link that is probably reducing the number of animals these guys can place. We were waiting for weeks to get the final approval for the cat we wanted, the cat the kids has seen, we even brought the dog to meet the cat, we made several trips. We never got to the final interview as that had to be done by one person who was never available. Of course it is possible that they did not want us to adopt one of their animals, they did not think we were a fit or the dog would eat it or whatever - all possible - but they never conveyed that information to us. We ended up going to Petsmart and getting a rescue cat from there. read more

I really want to like WARL. I really do. But I've just about had it at this point... First of all I took my female cat to them to get her fixed. About a year later, I found her in heat when she shouldn't be... I contacted WARL again, they told me it is most likely because they hadn't taken all her hormonal tissues out. They agreed to take a blood sample free of charge to make sure that was infact the case before operating on her for the second time. I took her 4 weeks ago, they took the blood sample. They contacted me back in 4 days to tell me they took the wrong test. 3 or 4 days later, I take her again. They told me the head vet would be there to make sure they take the right test. She was absent and another vet took the test on her behalf. I was contacted about a week later and was told they took the wrong test... AGAIN! At this point I asked the vets to come to my house to pick her up. They called me back and told me they plan on drawing the blood at my house. They arrive at my house and try to draw blood 3 times, they fail. They take my cat and to the vet, draw the blood and tell me I'll hear back in 2 days. 9 days later I finally heard from them today. They told me they didn't take one of her ovaries out on her first operation and that they must operate on her only when she is in heat again. Now I'm waiting until my cat is in heat so I can take her again. I hope this is over soon. Agh :( read more

1. This is NOT a no kill facility. They euthanized a dog, 'Taxi' my bosses had met wanted to adopt because of alleged 'aggression' issues. They did not call to tell my bosses- my bosses had to call them and be told. The dog had lost its home during hurricane Sandy. It probably needed some training classes, not to be killed. 2. It would not bother me that they are a kill facility if they didn't capitalize on the public's misconception that they are a no kill facility each chance they get. 3. It's way easier to mostly not euthanize if you hand pick and choose each animal you take in, making sure it can be adopted. The extra star is because this does seem to be a great facility for the dogs and cats miraculously lucky enough to make the cut. 4. They make volunteers pay to volunteer. They say you have to pay to do so to cover the cost of your volunteering. I am sorry, but the work you do as a volunteer, ensuring that they don't need to actually hire someone and pay them minimum wage, is what covers the cost of your volunteering. In addition, I think this fee is borderline prohibitively high for a lot of people. 5. I have taken myself and my talents down to the Washington Humane Society instead, and highly suggest that if you really want to save a life or make a difference, you go there. read more

My fiance and I recently adopted a gorgeous 3 and a half month old puppy from the WARL a few weeks back. First, the adoption itself: Reading the reviews here we thought it would be several visits over a week or two before we could bring our puppy home. We filled out the adoption paperwork on a Tuesday night, had a phone interview Thursday afternoon and picked her up Friday night. We were surprised at the speed of everything start to finish. I don't understand how some people we're complaining about how long the adoption process was taking, or how the WARL workers wanted to check out the person's house first given our experience. Talking with the adoption coordinator about this, she told me that those instances involve people that don't seem to be a good fit for animals. This actually makes me feel better that they won't just send a dog home with someone to free up space unless that person is actually able to care for a pet. We looked at other shelters and what I liked about WARL is that the adoption fee ($225) was not only less than most of the other groups we looked at, but what was included with that fee. Other rescue groups we looked at wanted $350+ for adoption fees (nothing else included). WARL not only made sure Juno was up to date on all of her shots, but she was also spayed and micro chipped! All that and depending on where you go, the first vet visit is payed for by WARL. Juno had a few minor health issues that were being cleared up with medication and before we took her home the WARL staff took the time to make sure we understood everything and answered all of our questions. It's reassuring knowing that if we have any questions or issues we can take her back there for a check up. Now the WARL: The building is amazing and I like how they can keep all the pets separated so that there is less of a chance of them catching something from a sick pet. I like how you can open the door and pet most of the dogs so that you can get an idea about the dog. If you want to spend some time with any of them, they will bring the dog out back for you to play with it. We liked them so much that we currently have Juno enrolled in one of the obedience classes that the WARL offers and so far it seems well worth the price. We plan on getting a second dog in 2 years after we move and given this experience it will definitely be from the WARL. I'm not sure how adopting a dog from them goes when you already have one but I'm sure it will be just as smooth and enjoyable as it was getting our puppy! Another note is that I noticed that they keep their website up to date with what dogs are available for adoption. Within a few hours of our adoption being approved Juno was taken off of the website and I've noticed that the dogs online change on a daily basis. This way you know a dog you looked at online will be available unles the dog has a pending adoption hold on it. Definitely a 5 star place. read more

On the fence. I've been a fan, visitor and donator to WARL for 3+ years. My uncle got his dog from there and I planned on getting my dog from there. This past January I put in my request for adoption for one of the few German Shorthair pointers they had JUST received. It was somewhat an amazing coincidence because I had been doing research on GSP's and really wanted one. I spent time with each of the GSP's from the same litter to get a better feel for their personality and finally decided on one. I returned the next day for a round two. The staff was nice and helpful - no problems there. The next day Monday, I stopped by at lunch to official apply for my puppy and was surprisingly approved on the spot. I was a little surprised but very happy. I initially planned on picking her up on Friday but was told I needed to get her by Thursday the latest. Additionally she was in the process of being spayed that same day. Although I couldn't wait to get her home, I felt as if they were trying to get her out asap. I realize they need the space, but still... I picked her up on Thursday and was given a day and half worth of medicine for pain/inflammation from being spayed. I was a little concerned as taking on a new puppy is a huge responsibility but felt even more out of place knowing that she still needed meds. I was also told I cannot exercise her (a 5 month old puppy) for 10 days and that I need to watch her stomach for swelling. Still excited I walked off, put her in car and drove home. Of course the first thing she does in her crate is poop - it would have been nice for WARL to have walked her for relief for me or told me I should have done so. Oh well its my puppy and my responsibility. EDIT- I should add that on the day I picked her up I was informed that she was not full GSP but a mix of some sort. Again a bit misleading, though I realize its hard to determine a breed mix, she was initially labeled as GSP only. I got her home and she definitely seemed out of it which is understandable - meds, surgery, new home, new face etc etc. After 3 days we took her to vet for a checkup. We had concerns about her coughing, sneezing and colored phlegm from her nose. Also, she stomach had started to swell some. We were told she has kennel cough, Giardia and a pretty bad seroma. This began a 1 month ordeal of worries about her health, CONSTANT antibiotics, no exercise (not even extended walks). Because of this we couldn't take her to training or have her around other dogs. For the record she was ALWAYS a sweet loving dog and we honestly wouldn't of had it any other way, however I just kept thinking the entire time how much of this could have been avoided with better care from WARL prior to giving her (or any other dog) up for adoption. I did call WARL back and informed them of all the issues and was told that other new adopters had the same issue - so it was not just my dog. From the many visits, I always heard a staff member mention the state of the art facility with separate ventilation to keep animals from passing on disease, but clearly it didnt make much of a difference for me. This was very discouraging but we continued with her treatments, monitoring and care and I am happy to say shes a great, happy, smart puppy! I still support WARL but wonder about how things are done there since my experience. I would have preferred to give 2.5 stars but 3 is fine. read more

I have adopted five times over the years from the NY Ave location, and for the most part it's been a great experience. My last adoption has been less than great, however. The kitten we adopted has a chronic upper respiratory condition that, it seems clear to me now, was known to them, but they weren't transparent about. If you are thinking of adopting, bear in mind that when you sign the agreement for adoption, it's an "as is" agreement. I accepted that, and I wouldn't give him up for the world, but it would have been far better (and more ethical) if they had been up front about the potential for long-term, costly treatment. read more

I wanted to elaborate on my previous review. My experience with this agency was so negative because the adoption team seemed annoyed that i visited a dog i was interested in every weekend to check on him while he was getting treatment before being ready for adoption. Their irritation was very transparent and they gave me attitude every time I visited. In addition, my interview with the adoption manager was less than Pleasant. The adoption manager started the interview with attitude towards me. She said I was too young, unprepared and immature to adopt the dog on my own. The interview was the first and only time she and i had ever spoken, so i was baffled to hear that she had come to that conclusion in 5 mins. Also, who says that over the phone to someone and then quickly hangs up?? I was 24 at the time And active duty military, with my own home and a fenced in back yard. She had also said "Dyson" (now Mason) would never do well in a home with other ppl, dogs or children. She said he was too frightful to be around moving cars and he needed special care from someone who knew what they were doing. She could not have been more wrong about all of it. I am 27, own a home and now own three dogs, two of which are difficult Japanese breeds. All of three have been trained by Dauntless Dogs. Mason is the love of my life and we do everything together. He is the happiest pup who loves people, children and other dogs. He also runs 3-5 miles with me on a regular basis. He is not fearful and does not require special care. He just needed lots of love and friends. He has that now, and i will never forget the team that tried to keep us apart because of some unknown personal vendetta. I adore Mason, but stand by my prior statement. I will never step foot in that organization again. I truly hope the adoption team today, 3 yrs later, is better than the one in summer 2015. read more

WARL continues to be "the" leader in animal rescue and sheltering. They are continually expanding their reach and supporting their mission. Despite the desperate economic situation WARL is unrelenting in providing low-cost or free veterinary care to those in need. They provide free or low-cost spay/neuter services to anyone. They are innovative and creative with programs like the Shelter Animal Relief Effort (SHARE) which expands their reach by taking in animals for shelters across the country. If not for WARL, these animals would likely be humanely euthanized because of the strain and constraints put on shelters. Most importantly, the dedicated professional and volunteer staff at WARL goes above and beyond the call of duty in providing a safe, humane, and ultimately "temporary" home to those animals who need it the most! You can be assured that WARL does take extensive precautions and efforts to screen and place animals with the best and most appropriate homes. Even with budget cutbacks, WARL staff has continued to work, for free when necessary, to ensure the success of the shelter. The animals are depending on them. While this may seem like "overkill" or inconvenient, there is a clear and appropriate reason. The "return" rate of animals at shelters nationally is something like 50%, at WARL it is rumored to be about 2-3%. When they talk about finding a "forever home" for an animal, be sure they mean it! However, WARL is balanced in their evaluation of both the adopter and the adoptee. While they may err on the side of the animal (as is their mission) their comprehensive adaption process is both helpful and effective for potential owners. The extra time, and perhaps disappointment, has to be worth it if an animal wouldn't be a good fit for your home. After all, would you really want to fall in love with a dog or cat, only to return him/her later because of some factor that could have been screened out early on? It's all for a purpose. I cannot think of an organization that I am more in love with. The dedication, care, and concern for the animals is something of which to be proud. Whenever I look at that smiling beagle/lab face I think of WARL. Their hard work and dedication gave me a best friend and furry companion who would have never survived elsewhere. If you are of the right mindset, please consider visit the shelter, if only to see how amazing it is! Thanks for listening and supporting this wonderful organization. P.S. I am not an employee, nor a volunteer (yet) of WARL. I'm just a satisfied customer and everyday donor. :-) read more

Phenomenal shelter! Facilities are very well maintained and the staff is exceptional. Adopted from here a few weeks ago and it was truly a great experience. Joey was more than helpful and did a wonderful job walking me thru the process. They have a low cost clinic as well! Can't say enough good things about this place! read more

Humane Rescue Alliance - New family member! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't have enough positive things to say about this place. Really I'm so happy this place exists. I've introduced my elderly neighbors to the WARL. If you are working class person, struggling student,just down on your luck their fees are exceptionally reasonable. As we all know life is full of curveballs and some of those affected are your darling family pets. Of the 10 spay and neuters I've seen preformed they all went well. None of them had complications. As always before a spay neuter please pay close attention to your pet. I'm not sure what the income brackets are however it's definitely worth it to call ahead or research online. I brought in my disabled grandmothers pets, they were able to do the verifications over the phone which was a wonderful help. Also if you need information's about potential animal adoptions this is the place. They are a vast information Bank regarding your furry friends. I'm not an animal lover but if our adoption would be the way to go. Also if you are an animal lover, if you can donate a few bucks go ahead it's worth it. read more

After we euthanized our previous cat, the Missus and I were looking to adopt a new one. We had really never been through the process before. Our previous cat was a stray that stuck to us and the cats my wife had before we married were either strays or give aways. We looked all over the Internet. We went to Petsmart. We really tried to find a good place that took care of their animals and also had a reasonable adoption fee. WARL was great. They had an adopt-a-thon going on and the facility is really great. Clean and well maintained. The descriptions of the various cats were more bullet points than the narratives we had been encountering but it was enough to let us know about the cat. They had separate rooms you could interact with the animal to see if you got along with it OK. Everyone was very friendly and the process of adoption was very simple and straightforward. They even have a little store where you can buy pet goodies and they give you a little "starter" kit with some food and a toy. I was really impressed and the adoption fee was very, very reasonable. If you're looking to adopt a pet, this is the place to go. No question. read more

My boyfriend and I adopted our dog, Zoolander from WARL in May 2010. I had been frequenting the place, visiting pups for weeks. I love how each dog gets (or shares) their own space with their own filtered air and beds. There is running water that runs over the skylights on the high ceilings, which I imagine is very calming for the dogs. The puppies have running water in their room, too. They get lots of walks, and lots of love from the staff and volunteers there. The volunteers go through a pretty thorough training (a few friends have done it), and so I am confident every animal is well taken care of there. The vets did some pretty comprehensive work on our pup before we got him. He came from a dog hoarder in MS and was in pretty rough shape. Was put on anti-anxiety meds, which he definitely needed. It took nearly 9 months, but we've been able to ween him off of them as now he is a very happy healthy and stress-free dog! The adoption process was great. We visited Zooey a few times to make sure he like us. Then we brought in our other dog to meet the new one and they got to meet outdoors in a large fenced in area. We applied and after an interview we took him home with us! The best part of it all, though, was our experience with the trainers there. Our dogs got in a few scuffles the first week, so we brought them both in for evaluation. They wanted to ensure our oldest pup Beenie wasn't under stress... and to see if there was potential for more aggression. We stayed more than an hour (for FREE!) and learned a lot of great training ideas for them both. We learned that busy dogs are happy dogs, and that the two dogs really liked each other. We never had another problem after our one training session at WARL. 9 months later, we are so very happy and feel so very fortunate to have this new dog in our life. It was definitely a mutual rescue and we will be lifetime supporters of this organization for sure. Definitely check them out if you are looking to adopt or just need some puppy love. You can go in at any time to visit and pet the doggies... you just need to sign in at the front desk! read more

I had a great experience with WARL. I confess, after I read about how involved their adoption process is (it seems to be easier to get foster children in DC), my competitive side was engaged. I wanted to approved by them. I was also looking for a new cat after the death of another, and I thought that the long adoption process would be helpful with my overall mourning timetable. I went to the facility and met lots of cats. It is a great facility. I had seen several on their website that I thought might be good for my household. But as I walked through and met some of the cats, it wasn't until the last row that I finally met "my" cat. She was super playful and grabby and had a fierce under-bite. I put in an application to adopt her. After I had met and, in my head, chosen a cat, then the waiting for the adoption process seemed unbearable, even though I knew that I and my other cat still needed a little more time to adapt to our loss. The adoption manager was on vacation when I put in my app, but once he returned from vacation, everything went very quickly. I had my phone interview mid week, then they scheduled the house-visit for Saturday. The House Visitor talked to me, checked to make sure that I had a litter box, food and a plan for introducing new cat to existing cat, and I was all set. I could take her home that day. Which I did. WARL also has an in house veterinary clinic. The clinic was mostly established to give affordable care to low-income residents of the District, but is also available to anyone who adopts from WARL. I was becoming disenchanted with my vet when I adopted there so I took my WARL kitten to get her first checkup there. It worked out well since we ended up seeing the same doctor who gave her her incoming exam when she arrived at WARL. I liked the vet and appreciated the continuity of care. We also returned one year later for her annual exam. On my second vet visit to WARL, I decided that I have some conscience issues with drawing on their services when I am not a low-income person in DC. I would emphasize that I did not have any concerns about the quality of care. But I decided that I do not fit into their mission and that I should free up their time and resources for people who do not have as many resources as I do. All in all, I love WARL. I love their mission and they way they go about meeting it. And I am pretty fond of the kitten that I adopted from there. read more

Stopped by last week and had a truly rewarding experience with staff and figuring out what was the perfect fit for me. Spoke with an employee named Hollis who helped me figure out what type of dog and personality would fit into my life & would want to adopt. She was patient and insightful with all my questions. Overall had a great experience. If you're looking to adopt - this is the perfect place to start looking and the staff is incredible. read more

I love them. They work night and day to help our community with pets . They love volunteers and have some employment opportunities . I want to think the humane rescue alliance for helping me . They do so many things to help people, they help with stray animals neglected, and abused animals, I want to add they have a discount clinic for vaccines . What they would appreciate is a donation an for you to take one of those wonderful animals that are homeless . It's a great deal because when you adopt an animal with them, it has all the shots. They are check for problems and that's all included in the fee to adopt them . This is the best place to go for a pet . Please check them out if you are looking for a for ever pet . If you're a senior, and you want a pet. they will give you a discount . The last thing I want to say, please get insurance for your pet . Pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions . This is why it is important it will help cover your vet bill if something happens . Your pet looks up to you for their every needs . Thy trust us and love us . Thanks for reading this I hope this will help you on your journey of becoming a pet parent . read more

Pros: - lots of dogs compared to other shelters in DC. - Friendly & informative staff (they talked to us about our situation and were honest about which dogs were likely to be good fits, even telling us a couple of the ones we were most into may not be good fits. They also accompanied us to play with one of the dogs and give advice about being owners). - intuitive system of organizing dog personality and availability. They color-coded each dog's info by personality type and energy level so you could figure out which might be.good fits for your interest. They also had colors for which dogs were too new or recently adopted to avoid confusion. Cons: - with so many dogs, the kennel area can get noisy as dogs are taken out and some of the animals get riled up, so it's hard to completely gauge how a dog tends to behave in a home environment - if you're coming from VA, this place is in northernmost DC so it's a hike! Haven't come away with a dog after our first visit but can see why people referred us to this place! read more

Put down your computer. Stop scrolling through cute cat pictures. Get yourself to WARL and cover yourself with cats. I've adopted both of my beloved kitties from WARL and the process and facilities are fantastic. It is hard to comment on the "quality" of the cats because obviously all cats are beautiful and special and deserving of a loving home. But WARL makes it clear that they love cats as much as you do. The cat area is clean and smells decent. Each cat has a little cubby with a note card on their personality. There are little rooms you can take them into to get to know them better. The kindly ladies who volunteer there will tell you all about the various residents. Sometimes, when I have free time, I come here and just play with the cats. You can take each of them out of their cubbies and cuddle them and just have a feline fiesta. You can sit down on the floor and have cats walk all over you. My only hope for WARL is that they someday they get a permit to serve food and drink in there and just open a full on Japanese cat cafe. I would love to be able to use my laptop, drink tea, and enjoy the cats. read more

Great! Great! Great!! I got my dog Lucky from here and the whoe expreience was jut wonderful. From the home visits by the staff, to how we picked him up to bring him home... I highly recommend this shelter as they truly believe in helping man's best friend! Get a dog today! read more

My boyfriend and I unexpectedly found ourselves the parents of an 8 week old Pit Bull puppy. We were very excited to have her but our vet was going to charge us more than a paycheck's worth to get her spayed. We had managed to put sufficient money away for all her medical bills but did not predict this price tag to be so high. So we found out about WARL's great once a month clinic free spay/neuter clinic. This is for Pit Bulls, American bullys, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Presa Canarios and American Staffordshire Terriers. This clinic is for owners who make less than 45k a year and live in DC and some surrounding MD counties. We brought our baby in early (a little before 8am) because the clinic is first come first serve. They took our information, greeted our little one and promptly took her back. They told us to come get her around 3. When we showed up the receptionist gave us her after care pain killers (they do not automatically provide antibiotics) and an info sheet for any signs of problems etc. Not 2 minutes later our girl was brought out looking awake and excited to go home. Once home, she had no problem with eating or swelling. Her stitches looked well done and have healed nicely. The quality of work and her recovery exceeded my expectations of a free clinic. Our experience was fantastic however I want to add one warning: Be cautious if your dog doesn't look purebred. While waiting in the lobby 2 owners were turned away because their Pit Bulls were visibly mixed. Nowhere on the website does it say "purebred dogs only" but the staff said they were no longer accepting mixed breeds. And it seemed like if they were the authority on deciding which dogs were mix breeds and which were not. read more

I got the lights of my life here. I adopted two, very small toy poodle mixes. They had the same human before they got me. They came bonded and full of fun. I credit WARL for helping me determine the right dog for me. I hadn't had a dog since I was a tween and I was adopting my dogs in my mid-forties. My idea of a good dog was based on fantasy. I thought I wanted a tough-looking, german shepherd or pit-bull mix for hiking in the mountains. WARL was very patient and gave me time to really think things through. After I selected my 5 and 6 pound boys to give me companionship in my little condo, the transition from shelter to home was smooth and immediate. I plan to go back to WARL for yearly checkups. They are cheap and they are available to all dogs, not just WARL dogs. read more

Humane Rescue Alliance is an amazing group of the kindest people who try their best to help all animals. They rescue kittens and dogs and they get them the help they need. After they are recovered fully you are able to adopt. They have done a phenomenal job keeping people safe and figuring how to work around the pandemic. It's hard and we aren't allowed to meet the animals in person yet but they are doing their best. read more

My wife and I have adopted twice from this shelter in the past 2 years and had a phenomenal experience both times. So much so that we have been back recently looking for a third to add to our pack. I have had nothing but great experiences with both the Oglethorpe and NY Ave locations and they always have some of the best little bully breed dogs in here as well. Even if you read some reviews below claiming poor service (again, I've seen nothing but 5 star service and have been through the adoption process with the Oglethorpe location on two separate locations) please do yourself a favor and go see the animals. Even if someone was peeved at a singular instance of customer service, don't take it out on these animals who are in need of forever homes! read more

Another huge review, if you're up for it. Here's our dog adoption process from start to finish. Thursday 4:15 PM: We show up at WARL with an eye for adopting a dog. First impressions through the doors is that the lobby is clean, bright, and well organized. If you've been to other shelters in the area, there is typically one overwhelmed staff at the desk and a bunch of clueless volunteers milling around the back. This was not the experience at WARL. We were told to head straight on back to the dogs. The dogs are back in their runs, which also are clean and mess free. Other shelters I went to had dogs, some of which had just been spayed or neutered, sitting in their own filth. The staff at WARL work actively to house train all the dogs. The dogs are color coded into three personality categories, which gives you a better idea of which dog would be a good fit for your family. Some of the dogs are paired together -- people oriented dogs with shy and timid dogs. The dogs are split into a medium-large set and a small dog and teensy puppy set. We walked around the dog runs -- which ran the gambit of dogs from 4-100 lbs. Admittedly, the dogs weren't the severe problem cases, but there were plenty of dogs that weren't good with kids, or cats, or were leash reactive. We found a 1 yr old lab mix, and asked to see her out of her run. Instead of meeting in a small ammonia filled room, we met with our new dog in the league's 'dog park' -- giving her plenty of room to run and play fetch. Thursday 4:45: We exit the dog runs and fill out an application. It was a whole page front and back, and all it required was our driver's license and our lease since we were renters. It didn't require personal references, a donation, or my first born child like some other places I applied to adopt. They asked us to bring our other dog in, to see how the two interacted. Luckily we live right down the road. Thursday 6:00: We show up with our current dog and are directed to a smaller, separate park. The dogs play and we chat up one of the staff members about the dog and other visitors. He explains that he sees a lot of poorly trained dogs with even worse 'doggy manners' and that is why applications typically get delayed in hopes that the adopters will go elsewhere instead of adopting another dog to end up poorly trained and poorly socialized. Friday 2:30: I get a call from the shelter, asking about our current dog and if we had any final questions about integrating a dog into our home or about obedience classes or crate training. She also explained a bit more about my dogs history, since each volunteer that I talked to knew different bits about it. Friday 6:00: We walk out with our new dog. The entire process took just a little over 24 hours. read more

This review is for the staff worker in the blue shirt that is a older white male that is over weight and short. I came here for vaccinations and he walked past my dog twice not saying excuse me or anything. He proceeded to push past us stepping on my dog and no apology or anything. If this is a example of how the staff (not volunteers) treat animals he should not be working here and this place should be under investigation for animal cruelty. If he treats my dog like this in front of me god only knows how they are treated in the back out of the public eye. read more

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this place. I'm really happy it exists and offers quality veterinarian care at such affordable prices. Their wellness clinic on Wednesday is a amazing! The staff is competent, experienced and knowledgeable. Every time I come here, they are always so patient with my sometimes skittish furbaby. Where else can you get a 3 year rabies vaccination for $15? They are a little slow, but it's because they are taking time with each patient and being careful. I've only gone on wellness wednesday which my wait times have varied from 45mins to two hours but it's by walk-in. I'm sure if you made an appointment, you'd be seen sooner. read more

I adopted a wonderful dog from WARL. I also took a basic manners class with my Pup and found the instructors to be helpful. There were 2 instructors for a class of 6 dogs. The facility is breath taking. The only problem I had was that WARL estimated my dog to be 5 Years old and the vet later said he is Likely 1 year old. How could there be such a discrepancy? Either way...love the WARL and love my pup read more

My fiancé and I came here after checking out a different shelter with no luck. We were instantly met with happy and helpful employees, and their facility was very clean and welcoming. The doggie visit room is great, having half doors you can open so you can interact with the dogs. We adopted our second dog, Leo (previously known as Cody) and we couldn't be happier! They gave us a big folder with any information we needed, advice for the "meet and greet" with our other dog at home, and a decent sized sample bag of the food he has been having. We happened to get him on a day where they waived the adoption fees (which means more toys!!) But the adoption prices were totally reasonable regardless. We we're very happy with our visit here and would recommend this rescue to anyone searching for their new etc read more

no way to speak to anyone, the number just goes to a full voice mailbox.... I have called everyday this week I guess it's the wrong number

WARL is a great organization for working class folks in the DC area! They offer a 25% discount on veterinary services if you make less than $55,000 a year meaning a vet visit there is only $45. They're great with the animals, too. I took my cat in because she had an eye problem and the vet did a whole exam on her. He was great with her and he stayed in the room for 15-20 min rather than letting the techs do everything. He gave me a lot of suggestions for what to feed her on a budget and he explained everything very well. He was honest about the cost of future potential procedures and helpful in telling me how to avoid them. They also offer a vaccine clinic on Wednesday evenings which you can go to after work without an appointment. You can walk in and get many vaccines or even a microchip at a reasonable price. They also have a pet food bank where qualified pet owners can get free pet food and toys. read more

Be careful who you talk. People that work here don't always give the right info, and it seems like everyone is a step or two behind DC standards. This place does great work, but those who work here are space cases. read more

We just adopted the loveliest dog & are so thrilled! I do, however, have to agree w/ Grace M. on some of the frustrations of the system, but, if you are reading this, knowledge is power, so I will share a few things that helped us out. We too lost out on a couple dogs and were frustrated by not being able to submit a backup application. I emailed to check on the status, but nobody responded, and even though that app fell through, another came in before I could apply again. I talked to several staff people at WARL, & here's what they told me & what I figured out. 1) New dogs are posted online either 7pm the night before or just before they open day of. 2) They are more responsive to phone (don't email), better yet, come in person 3) Be OK w/ the idea of putting in an app on a dog that your family hasn't met. An app here isn't a commitment, think of it as a Hold. They will give you time to bring your family back, and then say if you want to go ahead. 4) Be prepared to get there as soon as they open if there is a dog(s) you really want to check out. (esp if it's Saturday)! We ended up with the BEST dog. Such a sweetie!! I had actually seen another dog that wasn't eligible yet and initially went to check on her status. I thought she would have been available that Wed. from a phone call chat, but I didn't see her pic. I did see another cute dog (the one we got) & decided to head down in case he was the One or if the other just didn't make it on the webpage. Got there at 12:05, saw him curled up in his room, & he jumped into my arms as I opened the door. I put in an app on behalf of our family, & they said they'd hold to the end of the next day for us. We all came back the next day, & everyone loved him. I also saw a staff member who raved about his behavior assessment & let me know that the other dog's had not been so family-friendly. I filled out the forms, we did a thoughtful but painless phone interview the next day, & he was ours to pick up! And, now, he dotes on us & we on him, and we all live happily ever after. Now that I know how to work w/this system, I am OK with it, but I think it would be great if adopters knew how to play this game beforehand & better if they could take back up apps. But, compared to some other rescue groups, they are great. We have dealt w/ groups who question the veracity of our app b/c our home sale wasn't showing in the tax system yet, take 3+ weeks to approve apps after many checks, have 6 pg contracts, tell you that they will remain the primary contact for the microchip after you adopt the dog (forever), and who bring dogs to a public event that are earmarked for specific potential applicants but don't tell you that. Seems that many rescue people think this is all about them. Not WARL, they get that it is about the dogs. They take great care of the dogs, & the volunteers do a lot to help them (my friend and her daughter were reading to puppies there today -- sweet). Despite the app craziness, they do a lot of good & are great to have in the community! Thank you, WARL! read more

Humane Rescue Alliance - Animal Shelters Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been wanting to adopt a dog for years, and after my bf started working from home and could be with the dog during the day, I finally decided it was time. I contacted the popular rescue agencies in DC (lucky dog, city dog, etc) and was not super impressed by their responsiveness and very elaborate application processes. (I totally understand these orgs want to find responsibly pet owners, but they are a little over the top.) I drove up to WARL on whim one afternoon and was super impressed by the whole operation. The separate dog and cat areas are well maintained and comfortable, and I love how you can open the top part of the door and interact with the dogs. All the staff/volunteers were super helpful and friendly, and it was nice to be able to go outside and play with our pup for a bit before adopting her. The adoption fee is reasonable ($200), they set you up with your DC tags, which is super convenient, offer you 1 month of pet insurance, and give you a flyer for a free vet wellness check up at a vet of your choosing. If you are looking to adopt, head over to WARL. If you dont meet the pup of your dreams the first time, keep going back (or looking online), they adopt dogs pretty quickly and get new ones all the time! read more