When my cat showed up last Saturday with a broken tail, the vet informed me that an amputation was the only option. Facing the high cost of the procedure while already in a difficult financial position, I felt completely overwhelmed and started desperately searching for any avenues or options that could help. ​After hitting dead ends elsewhere, I finally made contact with the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Not only did they step in to help me out financially, but they also showed genuine compassion, love, and care that completely carried me through one of the hardest moments I've faced. ​There is simply no way I could have gotten through this without them. Their kindness has had a profound impact on me, and I can honestly say it's going to make me a better person moving forward. There are not enough kind words in the world to express my gratitude. I am forever indebted to this organization. ​Thank you for the financial help, and thank you for showing such deep compassion, love, and care when we needed it most. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

UPDATE: My experience with HSSV has opened my eyes to a deeply disappointing reality. As someone interacting with a major animal shelter non-profit for the first time, I am amazed by the sheer bureaucracy and fragile egos you have to navigate just to ask for kindness, context, and empathy. After posting my initial honest feedback, a supervisor called to apologize. I do want to acknowledge that Marianne from the adoption team was kind, apologetic, and took the time to listen to my concerns, which I genuinely appreciated. But the Community Services Manager, Denise, subsequently called me back. In an incredibly condescending tone, she flatly denied my newly adopted kitten his standard 14-day post-adoption medical care (routinely offered to all adopters), in what I believe was direct retaliation following my review and complaints about my experience. When a shelter manager chooses to withhold a juvenile animal's healthcare safety net in a way that felt punitive rather than centered on the welfare of the newly adopted kitten, the system is fundamentally broken. No wonder well-meaning people are forced to avoid places like this, and in the process, the innocent animals are the ones who suffer. To the donors funding this organization: please look closely at both sides of the coin. The frontline reality does not match the compassionate mission they sell you. ------------ My main interaction was with Hailey, the adoption supervisor. I understand why HSSV reviews an adopter's history and wants animals in stable homes. What disappointed me was the lack of context, empathy, and actual counseling. I had previously adopted two kittens who were later rehomed together with friends who already knew and loved them. Later, I adopted two more. I kept one, who is still with me and thriving. The other already had significant diarrhea when I adopted her. I cared for her for about ten days until it resolved, paid for her shots, and later returned her after realizing a single-kitten household was a better fit for me. She was adopted within the hour. They don't notice that the kitten went back better than she came from the shelter. About a month later, I returned because I wanted a second kitten. I was choosing between two, but one had active diarrhea. Having just gone through that experience, I asked about her medical notes, how long it might last, the recommended recheck, and what support would be available if it continued. Instead of those questions being treated as part of an informed decision, I felt they were interpreted as evidence that I was "unsure." I was repeatedly asked whether I was sure, warned that another return could affect future adoptions, and told no kitten would be adopted to me that day. I understood being asked to go home and think; what troubled me was that even returning the next day with a clear decision might not be enough. I explicitly asked for help deciding which kitten might be the better fit based on temperament, medical needs, and my circumstances. Instead, the focus stayed on whether I was "sure enough." The previous day was almost the opposite. I was interested in several long-haired kittens still in crates and difficult to assess. I asked to spend time with them in a room and was told no. After about ten minutes, the counselor told me to decide or go to the back of the line. I had to ask for one more minute while she watched the time as I tried to decide about an animal I could care for for the next 15-20 years. That contradiction is my main concern: adopters are expected to make thoughtful, permanent commitments and may be scrutinized if a placement does not work out, yet there can also be pressure to decide quickly without enough opportunity to understand an animal's temperament or medical situation. My issue is not that HSSV screens adopters or has safeguards. It is how those safeguards are implemented. Asking questions, reading medical records, understanding temperament, or needing time to think should not be treated as lack of commitment. I wish the process had felt more supportive. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

got my second cat here, remi! she was the smallest kitten at the time and knew i needed her. the facility is ran by amazing people and they are truly looking out for both the prospective owners and the animals of course. facility is clean and if you are seeing this in july 2026 they have A LOT of puppies! read more

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These people are fantastic. They really care about your pets and their doctors do a great job for a reasonable price .

Great training classes thus far! We attended the puppy social for our 5month old Aussie and Carolyn, Cecilia and Quill have been so amazing and patient with us being first time dog owners. Definitely excited to attend more classes and get vaccines for her soon. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

I had to cremate our arowana that had died back in April. I didn't know where to start as it was a weekend and most Animal clinics were closed. Sally and Sophie, who were working at the Humane Society at the time were really helpful and assisted me through the process. Thank you so much! read more

Good folks, very pro animal and support. Vaccine clinic staff is awesome, as are the folks who helped my old dog pass over.

I have nothing but good things to say about HSSV, after having 5 rescued kittens for 1 week they were able to take them in. Shout out to Sophie, very sweet, kind and helpful. She knows how to treat folks! Also Ive had to put 4 of my dgs down over the last 15 years, its affordable and the treat you so kind there, let you stay with the animal a very positive exprience for such a hard time! read more

If you think these people love animals... they don't!!! I brought in an injured kitten who was definitely appropriate for rehabilitation and they wouldn't take him. They told me just to drop him back off where I found him. There had to be eight people working in the office and I guess none of them wanted to work today. What a joke. read more

There is a large cat population where I currently live, and our community has been working with HSSV in getting these cats TNR'ed to maintain the population for some time now. I brought in 3 cats this year for TNR and had no issues requesting TNR appointments in the beginning. I drop off the cat between 7:00AM to 7:30AM and pick cat up around 2:00PM to 4:00PM. HSSV staff members have all been professional and respectful. read more

I'm dealing with a older dog who is near the end of his life. As you can imagine it's a difficult situation. I talked to a employee name Mel And she was simply awesome. She made me feel at ease about my choices and gave me different options. I'll be back when it's time to Adopting my new family member when the time is right. read more

Amazing people there who care deeply for animals and the people who love them. Helped my wife and I through a very hard time with dignity and compassion. read more

Wonderful experience the nice lady had my son give the puppies treats while I finished the adoption process. Kenny is doing great and getting along with his new sister. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Albert now Kent with my girly Stormy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Not only was adopting super easy but all of the trainings we've done through the humane society have been great. We've done beginner puppy, intermediate and just finished top dogs one. I really appreciate the positive reinforcement training and stressing that our dogs don't have to perfect. Every dog has their own personality and quirks just like people. There's so much misinformation about dog training online that's confusing and often contradictory. I have confidence and assurance that the trainers here are providing the best advice for our situation and our pup's unique needs. read more

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Just a great place. You can tell from the second you walk in that they care about animals here. Firstly, the property is gorgeous but the animals quarters are all just perfect. Not cramped tiny little cages - rather spacious cat condos. Anyhoo, we had our eye on a one eyed cat and went to get it a few weeks ago. Found it and adopted it. Probably took under an hour. Our poor kitty had lost an eye and a bunch of teeth due to an infection before they took her in. She made it through all of those surgeries just a little before we got her - no consequences or after effects - just a beautiful loving kitty for us. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Mary, our one eyed cat. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

Had to put my dog to sleep. Fill out form online, they follow up with emails. Setup appointment date and time, they send detailed instructions on where to drive in and park and call in. Staff very friendly and kind. The room is separate from the rest of the building and very clean and nice. Staff will explain all the steps. I've had two dogs brought to hssv for end of life services before and it was also very good for such hard times. I waited too long once and another dog passed away over night, don't wait too long to let your loved one go. read more

This review is honestly long overdue. What a special experience I had at HSSV! I have worked and volunteered at many animal shelters around the U.S. but this is by far the most gorgeous campus I ever stepped foot on. The animals all had sparkling clean enclosures, tons of room, and even outdoor access (SO COOL!!). The adoption counselors, trainers, and all other staff were all so friendly. I called about meeting with a little blind puppy that I saw online and spoke to Juniper, who was absolutely amazing and took so much time answering my questions. I decided to take the plunge and drove 2 hours to meet little Ingrid. As soon as I met her it was love. Everyone was so kind, patient, and took so much time to let my dog meet her new little sister. These people really care about each and every animal and from start to finish was the best experience I've ever had adopting. It was inspiring personally as an adoption counselor of 7 years. Thank you HSSC for everything. Toph (formerly Ingrid) is just about the best thing that's happened to me and my crotchety old rescue dog. read more

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This review is long overdue. I adopted my dog from HSSV, so this place has a very special place in my heart. My sister & I came on a Saturday afternoon to just look around. There was a wait for us to look at the dogs, but it wasn't too bad. We did a lap around the place before we made a decision of who we wanted to see. We started off with Poe (previously Whiskey) & fell in love. The adoption process was quick and easy. The staff was super helpful and we were even provided a bag of kibbles for him. We were also given a puppy training class, which I am so glad we did. We ended up doing the other trainings too because we loved it so much. Whenever my family and friends are looking for dogs, I recommend HSSV & the trainings they offer. read more

Their appointment scheduling for spay and neutering of dogs and cats is absolutely deplorable. I've had to schedule no less than three times for a spay for a dog - the online appointment was accepted and I received a confirmation only to get a rejection email a month later that the appointment slot was "full". The last time I tried, I was forced to make one in 2026, and I just recieved a rejection email again this morning that the appointment slot is unavailable! Calling is useless, as they NEVER pick up the phone, and you just get cycled through an automatic phone tree. I give up. They're doing a great service for the animals, but the need to get their s--- together! So disorganized! read more

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone there for being so gentle, supportive and compassionate. Today, was beyond upsetting for me as I had to use the HSSV end-of life-services to ease my poor little baby of her suffering. I need to say that this is the best place I could have came to do this. I've been pushing putting my cat down for the longest time because I was deeply afraid of losing her and even more afraid of the process of euthanasia. The staff at the Humane Society were the absolute best from beginning to end. This organization has a seamless system that takes away the stress for both the owners and pet during euthanasia services. The area is private and eliminates any type of stress or fear your pet may experience. I was able to hold my baby and everything happened so quickly that I'm sure she didn't feel any pain and all of her sufferings were instantly gone. The technicians are very patient and exceed in demonstrating kindness, competence and care. I felt this from the first phone call. At the time of the service, I cried a lot and bawled my eyes out because this was definitely the most difficult thing I ever had to do in my whole entire life. I'm glad that I was able to hold my baby during her last moments and how peaceful it was for her. If you need to make this tough choice for your pet then I would highly recommend coming here. read more

I am having such a hard time with the loss of my fur baby. I thought I would share her story to get some type of relief. This past Friday I made a very hard decision to euthanize my sick chihuahua and the Humane Society were amazing from beginning to end. They were very easy to reach out to, making scheduling so much easier. The day of, the front desk was fast and easy. The costs were reasonable, I was quoted twice the amount in other locations. They provided a private entrance so we wouldn't have to run into anyone else after we said our goodbyes. I was so upset that I never asked for their names, but there were two people in the room that helped with the procedure and they were amazing. They didn't rush us, treated us and my fur baby with respect. They gave us words on encouragement and plenty of time to say good bye. They provided such a calm environment in my fur baby's last moments. I have nothing but kind words to say. Thank you for making the hardest day of my life just a bit easier. I know my chihuahua Lupa is in a better place now. Edit: finally got my baby back today on 12/10 and I just have to say I will forever recommend this place. read more

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Adopted my puppy Kobe here a month ago. The process was very smooth and got all my paperwork done/ questions answered in the same day. The employees here were very friendly and easy to work with. Also, I've taken puppy socializing training sessions here as well and it's been a blast! We learned a lot about teaching our puppy new tricks and Kobe gets a chance to meet other puppies as well. The overall layout and physical space is clean, easy to navigate, and a great experience overall. read more

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Came here with my children to get them exposed to the animals with first hand experience. The place is very well kept and clean. We went to the cats area and were able to play with multitude of cats in a short period of time. While most of the rooms are small, it was just enough to hang out with the kittens and get to know them. My 2 and 6 year olds went from scared to brave in a matter of minutes with my instruction and they are no longer afraid of cats. We went into the dog area and met a puppy named Micah. He was still little and constantly chewed on either my shoelaces or my kids shoes. Needless to say the kids were a bit frightened. I personally have little experience with dogs as well so I didn't do much to help. The volunteer gave me suggestions to distract the puppy but it was hard managing 2 kids and the dog at the same time. Perhaps next time when we have more experience with dogs in general. Denver the dog was very big and friendly always jumping to the windows to greet us. Certainly scared my children at first but I believe he would make a great pet for someone with adults and teenage children to play and go outdoors with. read more

We love humane society Silicon Valley. All our three animal family members (two cats and one dog) are adopted from there. Adoption counselors and volunteers are so helpful at choosing the right fit. The behavioral support after adoption to make sure your pet is the best he/she can be is incredible. We adopted an under-socialized dog, Sunny recently. With the support from the behavioral team (multiple emails and phone calls), Sunny was able to blossom into an ideal family dog. There is still work to do (being a doggy mom Is work :)) and we plan to attend one of the basic manner class provided by humane society . Thank you humane society for my three fur babies. read more

Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with trying to adopt from Humane Society Silicon Valley. I really wish there were another way to go through the adoption process. I understand the policy is first-come, first-served, but I live in Santa Cruz, and unfortunately, it takes about an hour to get to Milpitas. Yesterday, I went to adopt my dog, Dora. I had called multiple times throughout the morning to make sure she was still there, since they can't do holds. When I was 5 minutes away, I checked their website and called them. She had been adopted, and I was truly devastated. I had set everything up for her at home, just to be there, and she's gone. I would really appreciate it if you could consider changing this policy for future adopters. I love visiting the pups here and truly like this place. I think it's unfair, though, to do so when someone is on their way to adopt the dog. If you could please consider accepting deposits before, or something like that, I think that would really benefit not only me but others who want to adopt but live a little farther away. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - My experience - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

Updated my review to 5 stars because after much consideration, it felt right. Thank you for my cat. The Humane Society is amazing for what they do and for blessing me with my sweetheart kitty. read more

I am extremely upset with this location. We had called just to schedule an end of life service for our dog who is suffering. And were met with a rude woman over the phone who did not help us schedule an appointment, we were told to schedule an appointment for another day which AGAIN she did not help with.. she told my girlfriend to take her to the ER and HUNG UP on her mid sentence trying to explain our situation. Unacceptable behavior an she should be fired immediately. The worst on phone experience we have ever had. Let alone trying to deal with the death of our dog. read more

Today is free adoption day for an animal. I adopted this morning Peter. I've been to this shelter for the total number of 3 times. I have NOTHING whatsoever bad to say about this place. It's very clean, the animals are very well taken care of, the staff are so friendly.. willing to help out in any way possible. There's plenty of parking, 4 parks for the dogs, training area, animal hospital and if you book in advance you can bring your pet in for shots. In addition they have a pet shop that you're able too buy many items for you or your pets. When you visit please don't hesitate to give a little donation to help out! read more

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Brought an abandoned dog to the shelter. Neighbors confirmed they saw someone just dump the dog in the streets. Shelter told me they could not take in the dog due to space, that's fine. Was then told I had to take the dog to another city or call and wait for animal control myself. I'm upset because I already did my part by bringing the abandoned dog to the shelter. The shelter should be able to coordinate with animal control to get the dog to another shelter, not tell me to do it. I was basically told: you tried to help the dog, now it's your problem, not ours. read more

Alex was a great help with adopting a kitten! Super friendly and informative I'm glad I got to adopt Pistachio read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

Great shelter and great staff. They were so sweet and made the adoption process so easy. Got my girl here and they waive fees for veterans. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

Denise was very kind and went out of her way to help resolve an issue with my experience.

On New Years Day, 1/1/26 our 17 year old dog passed away at 5am. We had planned to put him down on 1/2 but he didn't make it. We were frantic trying to find a hospital that would take him in for us to perform cremation. Our Vet in Berkeley was closed as were all other hospitals near us. My Mom has been fostering kittens and puppies through the humane society in Milpitas for years and reached out to her contact there. They immediately told us to bring our dog in. With a small holiday staff they seamlessly walked us through the paperwork and cremation options. They were absolutely amazing, and treated us with care and compassion. Thank you so, so much to your wonderful staff. read more

I went to cremate my cat Mr. Food today at The Humane Society of Silicon Valley and initially I had a horrible time there but now looking back on it it was OK so please keep in mind my state of mind at the time as you read this review. I walked through the door and went to the counter and told the attedants I had come to cremate my cat. The attendants were very understanding and polite and I was prompted to fill out the paperwork necessary for the cremation which I did and I was given the options for the cremation and burial. The lady attending me ( I was led to believe her name was Billie ) was very polite and doing her job well and explained to me what my options were and I was going over them. I asked her repeatedly ( 3 times to be exact ) about the high-end, very beautiful urns available and their cost and she replied, 3 times, that they were " very expensive ". I finally asked her the ACTUAL PRICE and when she told me what it was I stated I wanted that option as an urn for my cat. My Mother, who always gets in my way and has to have something to say about everything I do like she controls my life, said to me " oh I'm paying for it and I don't want to pay that " but in point of fact all she did was pay for it INITIALLY and I would have to pay her back, so it really wasn't her decision at all. My Mother is elderly and she won't live much longer ( just stating fact, not being a jerk ) and seeing as how the normal human lifespan is about 80 years these days and I conceivably will live another 30 years and have that urn in my possession I was very pertrubed at her comportment, and seeing as how I was already fed up by what I believed was condescending behavior from Billie, I said something very curt in Spanish to my Mother about Billie and my Mother's comportment in the situation. Billie became upset and went to the back and a few minutes Jamie came out and told me Billie was upset about what I had said in Spanish and she would be helping me, and calmly reassured me that she knew I was upset and she knew it was a difficult time for me. Another attendant, Sophie, took care of the rest of the proceedings and left. I do apologize for upsetting Billie and now that I do look back on the situation I do realize I was very upset about losing my cat Mr. Food and I didn't even realize it at the time. This was 3 hours ago and I am still processing it and I realize now I was upset because of the death of my cat and just the situation overall regarding how my Mother had to butt in and give her two cents. I thank the Humane Society of Silicon Valley for providing such an excellent service for the poor animals who don't have a home and taking them in and taking care of them. I thank Billie, Jamie, Sophie and the rest of the staff for their help and I apologize for being upset and acting out. Thank You from the bottom of my heart for the service you will provide for me and I do appreciate it immensely and more than you will ever know. read more

This place deserves a million stars. After loosing my baby, Champ, last year In December, we finally felt ready get a new family member in the summer. After filing many applications for other shelters in the bay and massive disappointments, we decided to check out HSSV in Milpitas. On our way the shelter, I checked out their site and spotted a puppy I instantly fell in love with. Upon our arrival, I was impressed with the facility. They had a huge outside play area (more about this later) and the inside of the facilities was clean and modern. I love that the dogs were not in cages but were in actual rooms with glass windows, giving the pups some peace and the humans a way to observe. The team there was super kind. After spotting my baby, they set up a little gated area to help us get acquainted. I was instantly smitten when the shy pup crawled over and gave me his belly. There was no going back and we decided to take him on the spot. The adoption fee was steep ($300+), but it was totally worth it. I'm not sure if they provide this for all dogs, but I also got a 6-week puppy training package for free. The classes took place outside in their play area where our amazing trainer helped us teach our pups the basic commands and also answered many puppy-related questions. I would highly recommend this place for your pup adoption needs. read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - Welcome home, Oakley - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

Came in just to look, and left with those 2 guys What more can I say? But for real, the staff were super nice and helpful. We even got to speak with the kittens foster mom who seemed to genuinely love the cats so much Will definitely be supporting this shelter in the future read more

Humane Society Silicon Valley - the two brothers at home - Animal Shelters Near Me - Milpitas, California

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I found a stray kitten in the rain and reached out to this organization for help. Before arriving, I called and their voicemail clearly stated, "We will provide medical help if you can foster." When I arrived and explained the situation, they immediately shut me down. I asked if there were any resources available, but they told me they couldn't help and that I should go to a vet and pay out of pocket. While I was in the lobby trying to find a vet to take the kitten to, they sprayed disinfectant and asked me to leave. It was a disappointing and disheartening experience, especially since I was just trying to get help for a helpless animal. read more

Always crowded. Can't take in more animals. They be like it's cat season and too many cats have been taken in we can't take more.

Adopted my kitten here. Friendly staff and clean facility. Cats are in a good facilities and well taken care of. read more

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Went for dog license at the San Mateo location. Great customer service quick routine license issued right then.