UPDATE: 3:27am Mar 2, 2026 I ENDED UP WITH A KITTEN. LOL…read moreI don't know how, but one minute I was just the moral support, hours layer I call ba k for the little fella, then 3 days later I'm picking up a little black kitten. The last week has been a whirlwind and as I write this I am sitting in a rest stop off 85 with my kitten in tow. He's amazing. I've managed to train him so he loves riding in cars. He's our official "road dawg" lol.

The whole experience was a walk in the park. I adopted a cat named Flip 4 weeks ago. He had alot of…read moreissues. They explained everything to me & gave me his medicine. Flip is doing really well & has flourished.

I first learned about this location from an Instagram post about them advertising their Staycation…read moreprogram over the holidays where you can foster a cat or dog over the holidays for a few days. Super conveniently located off the ACE line too at Canal St. They provide all the materials and your preference and they help match you with a furry friend. They were advertising a specific pick up and drop off date for the animals for this program, but i wanted to participate for a bit longer so I called a few days before to see if they're able to accommodate. The staff who answered didn't know the answer so they took down my info and told me someone would call me back. Days passed and I didn't hear back so I had to make a trek down there to ask in-person so that was a bit inconvenient. I wanted some time to prep my home. Anyway when I let them know that I'm a beginner foster and would prefer a cat that is generally friendly with no behavior problems, they helped me match with an adorable adult cream kitty. I picked her up with no issues. They provided me with all the supplies (and more) that I'd need for my week-long foster commitment. They also provided a number that I could text with any concerns should any issues come up. My whole experience was very positive. I'm glad to see that they have now expanded their program with allowing folks to take a dog out for a walk. I've seen further Instagram posts posting about these excursion experiences, but I think you have to come early during the day as only a limited number of dogs are eligible candidates daily. I've done similar excursions at Sean Casey in Brooklyn (no appointment necessary) and ACC (booking required a few days in advance online) so I'm excited this opportunity exists here in a more centrally located place in Manhattan. The shelter also allows visitors to come and view and play with their cats. You just need to make sure you wash your hands before interacting with them. I love this but also hope this doesn't overwhelm the cats too much.

I wanted to share my lovely experience a Best Friends!! It's been one whole month since we brought…read moreour kitten, Juni (short for Juniper) home. We were looking for a cat for our cat. We wanted a playmate for our sweet 1 year old cat, and a friend recommended Best Friends. I came by and the staff were all so sweet and welcoming. They were super informative and encouraged me to play with the cats. During my first visit, I came across the cutest orange female (RARE!) kitten. I had dinner plans and couldn't bring her with me. I came back an hour or so later and she was in the process of getting adopted :,) happy for her but sad for me. It's ok! I just thought that maybe it wasn't meant to be. A week later, I came back to Best Friends with my boyfriend on a mission to adopt a cat. They had an additional room towards the back that housed kittens!!! There were so many to choose from. We chose Juni because she was very cuddly and had a little quirky mustache. The staff made the adoption process so quick and easy. They even provided us a care package with all the necessities (kitten litter, wet and dry food). I expressed my concerns about introducing Juni to our cat at home, and they provided a step by step guide. They even followed up 2 weeks later with our progress. The employees and volunteers here really love what they do.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Adorable cat cafe with adoptable cats and cat merch…read more Totally stumbled upon this place after leaving the Clockwork Bar next door! Can't believe we didn't notice this place on the way to the bar, but perhaps their sandwich board wasn't out yet? Anyhoo, the hubby and I are crazy cat people so of course we had to go in. Apparently this is the first cat cafe in NYC! All the kitties are rescues and adoptable, and there was quite a crowd in the visiting room, visible through a window from the lobby. We were short on time so we didn't play with the kitties, but we chatted with one of the super-friendly staffers for a bit and bought some merch to support. So glad we found out about this place--long may they live!

Cute cafe where you can book 50 min spots to play with kitties. Was super excited for this session…read moreas I have a cat back home and have grown up around a lot of cats but was a little disappointed because these cats weren't as friendly or are just sleeping. Makes sense since there are so many people coming in and out throughout the day.

Jeff is the real deal - the man is in the trenches confronting the most horrific cruelty and…read morerefusing to turn away. Those of us who support Jeff understand that extraordinarily few people could undertake this kind of rescue effort under the most dire of circumstances and maintain their sanity. But Jeff emerges intact and more committed than ever to ending the dog-meat trade once and for all. He is made of better stuff, as is his team. Not all heroes wear capes.

Our family adopted a dog from one of NDLB's Chinese Sanctuaries in East Asia 7 months ago. I have…read morenothing but praise for all of the staff encountered throughout our adoption process, (which from start to finish took a little more than three months). NDLB is an incredible 501(c) (3) non-profit and their global mission of rescuing dogs and cats from immense suffering and complete abandonment, along with their exceptional care and concern for each survivor (no matter the gravity of each animal's injuries), is nothing short of outstanding. The dog we happened to adopt is a Japanese Akita Inu and happens to go by the name Romeo because he happened to be saved from slaughter on Valentine's Day (on February 14, 2020). The founder of NDLB , Jeff Beri, and his crew actually risked their lives twice to save our dog. Once (due to the strict Covid-19 Restrictions in China at that time and a second time to challenge the people who were about to slaughter him). I personally found all of the NDLB staff I interfaced with during the adoption process very personable and easy to connect with. More importantly, I found the staff demonstrated great care and concern for their animals throughout the adoption process. While waiting for Romeo's freedom flight to New York, we received multiple videos and photo's along with ongoing communication from the NDLB Chinese staff who were with him daily. The New York staff made sure I (along with my husband), understood all the possible challenges that came with adopting a dog from overseas and wanted to make sure we were up for this type of challenge. All I can say is Romeo has completely changed our family's life. Our family over the years has had three dogs. Romeo was our first overseas adoption, by far, he is the most considerate dog we have ever had the pleasure of owning, and is always looking out for our well-being. One last positive has been, over the past months, being able to maintain on going contact with Romeo's team in China, and being able to send photos and videos of him here having all sorts of fun in the USA. (See Romeo enjoying sunbathing below).

The entire event (Union Square Petco Adoption Event 6/7/26) was amazing. Every interaction with the…read moreMuddy Paws Team was simply flawless. I appreciate how they were so attentive to the people and the pets! Even escorted me to an uber and helped with my packages! I can not say enough how great full I am to the staff and how I have a new best friend to make new memories with...you all Rock!

We rescued Cheesecake from Muddypaws this summer. Cheesy is the BEST senior pup!…read more Cheesecake is the HAPPIEST BOY! He bounces, skips and dances to express his happiness! Cheesecake is 10 years old and had never been neutered. The Vet team at Muddypaws are terrific! Cheesy kept getting UTIs because his prostate gland was inflamed. He went on antibiotics several times and we had to reschedule his procedure 3 times! Dr. Miller was great! He understood and accommodated our situation. Dr. Miller neutered Cheesecake on 11/13. Everything went well.

We had an outstanding experience adopting a pair of kittens from Des, the director of Uptown Cats…read more He can be found outside the Barnes & Nobles on 82nd and Broadway on (most) Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Check his website for details; he's pretty good at responding to e-mails and very good at answering phone calls. Des has been great since day 1 when we adopted the kittens. He keeps in frequent touch with us and helps ensure that our kittens stay healthy, up-to-date with their vaccinations and de-worming medicine. We could not have asked for a more supportive rescue director, and most importantly, it is apparent that Des truly loves cats, especially those in his care. I feel that commenting on V C.'s review is necessary because our experience stands in sharp contrast to her's. My partner and I also work long hours, and we disclosed this during the adoption process. Needless to say, Des treated us courteously and respectfully. He was happy to discuss with us the best methods for caring for kittens despite working outside the home for the majority of the day. So, had V C. perhaps explained her profession and its time commitment to Des, I am confident that her experience would have been vastly different.

Des is THE BEST…read moreAlthough we didn't get to adopt, we fell in love with a bonded pair of brothers, and we only could take care of one. He was incredible to work with in the process. You can definitely feel his passion, care and expertise with his kitties. It was a pleasure from the moment we contacted him. He was super responsive and caring. If you can't adopt, please donate to his cause. He truly cares for his cats and his work is a blessing.

I was apprehensive about adopting a dog without meeting first. Toni explained that before any dog…read moreis made available for adoption, it stays with a foster for a period of time sufficient to understand their temperament and health to ensure a good match. There was never any pressure and I was told that if for any reason I was not happy with my pup, they would take her back to foster and rehome. Sadie traveled via carry on luggage on her flight from Puerto Rico to FLL, carried by a volunteer angel (thank you!). Beth came with me to the airport and was so incredibly supportive and kind. From the moment Sadie popped her head out of the carrier, tail wagging, I knew that everything Toni/Beth told me about Sadie was spot on. It's been 1 week since I got Sadie and I could not be more thrilled with Sadie. I'm still chatting with Beth from time to time, sharing happy experiences and getting great advice on various new dog owner questions. She is a mensch! If you are apprehensive about the SFTH adoption process, I hope my review is informative for you. Now that Sadie is part of my life, I am grateful and appreciative of the work Toni, Beth and their team do. I highly recommend SFTH if you are considering a rescue.

Our lives changed when our dogs came from PR via Stray from the Heart . The team was amazing -- so…read morethorough about medical histories and care back home, and full of advice and guidance. We fell in love with the photos of our first dog Paloma, and trusted Toni and her network of foster homes in their assessments of her personality and behavior. It had been our goal to have 2 dogs so they had companionship, and a few weeks later when Toni shared photos of Ollie and a bit about his personality we knew we had a match. From the moment both dogs walked out of their carriers at JFK, it was love at first sight. When they met for the first time, it was the same! They adjusted to life in NYC so easily and give us so much love on the daily. It is a leap of faith you will never regret taking. Do it today!

ACC Queens has been truly wonderful, a beautiful location and spacious. The staff there, especially…read moreStephanie, are incredibly kind, compassionate, and deeply dedicated to the animals in their care. The adoption process was fast, smooth, and easy to understand. Stephanie was very patient, kind, and helpful. I find the entire team very warm and helpful. I initially came to adopt a kitten I had rescued, but sadly received the heartbreaking news that his health had declined. The staff allowed me to see him and say goodbye, and their empathy in that moment meant more than I can express. After spending some time interacting with the cats there, another little one chose me, and now she is coming home with me. Thank you to the entire team for the care, patience, and love you show every day. I am truly grateful for both the support during a very emotional moment and for helping me bring home my new family member.

I have been there a number of times - for end of life service - I'm a…read moreTNR rescuer and last year I had 6 cats I had to bring in. The people who deal with this service are compassionate. The down side is you cannot be with your cat during their euthanasia - this is a bad thing. We who love cats or dogs (or for that matter any non-human animal that is part of our life) want to be there so they see our face last on this earth and know that we love them dearly. One other thing: I did use the ladies room while there and the hallways smell so horrendous. There is no reason for this. They need to have and should have a proper cleaner for the floors. I know how many animals they must have there for adoption but still.....this is a fairly new facility....get it clean.

My husband and I visited this shelter twice years ago. I adopted my best little buddy (meezer mix)…read morefrom here and will forever be grateful. The animals looked well cared for and loved. *I'm very sad to discover that BARC Shelter ceased operations by early 2023 due to the death of the owner(s) :(. RIP VS. I wish someone could have taken over. This is a terrible loss.

This place is in a great location and has a nice space. However they never seem to have any dogs to…read moreadopt. They get tons of donations too- what are they doing with them? Also last time I was there there was a dog who bit people and really should not be up for adoption but should be at a special rescue.

I don't understand this rescue group. My cat passed away, so I have 2 boxes from Chewy with about…read more40 cans of renal cat food. I called 3 times and no one ever got back to me. Do you not accept donations? Or is it just rudeness?

I met Keri when I was looking for a house and we immediately bonded over our love of animals. As…read moretime went on and we remained in contact, she would show me the new rescues and keep me up to date on them as well as checking on how my own cats were doing. I eventually adopted a kitten (Diana Ross) and she matched our personalities perfectly. Unfortunately, one of my cats unexpectedly passed away around the time the litter was getting fixed and she let me meet love bug Smokey Robinson where I immediately fell in love. We let him heal and my house to calm down before she brought him over and we immediately bonded, another perfect match and it was great to keep a brother and sister together (for better or worse because they are crazy now). You can tell seconds within meeting these two that their love for animals is immense and they are willing to do so much for them. They provide the best care and only have the animal's beat intentions in mind. It's not about the adopter, it's more about the adoptee as it should be. I highly recommend them whether you're ready to provide a fur-ever home or get a new home.