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We adopted two rescue kittens from Puerto Rico from Paws4Survival and they are the definitely the two happiest cats in the world! We are the happiest family too! They definitely were extremely skittish as pretty sure they were feral but the foster Tracy let us know all about their background. We didn't interact with them much when we visited but to me that is a welcomed challenge - you could see they just needed love and a forever home and we were just the peeps to give it to them! Now they snuggle and cuddle with us all the time - didn't take long at all! : ) We have 2 older Labs and 2 other cats and these guys fit right in from day one with zero issues. As far as the adoption goes - it was straightforward and went smoothly. Traci sent over the vet records from PR right away and my vet met them shortly after and adored the two fellas - Benny and Louie! Thank you so much Paws4Survival!!

We recently had to have our dog euthanized due to cancer and a number of other maladies. She had been our constant companion for 14 years and we absolutely adored her. After that loss, we knew we needed another furry companion but didn't want another dog because we were getting our house ready to put on the market and still reeling from the loss of the sweetest, most precious dog we've ever shared a house with. We figured if we got a cat there would be fewer comparisons to the dog we just lost, we were of course wrong, but that's another story. It seems there was a shortage of shelter animals and we were put on many waiting lists in hopes of something turning up at a shelter. We came across Paws4Survival Rescue and they proved to be the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel we were spiraling into. Nicole is a godsend! She cares both about the animals and the people looking for their companionship. She was so wonderful and understanding. She helped us navigate the necessary paperwork, showed us images of the various cats being fostered, and arranged for us to visit one of the homes fostering kittens. The process was very involved, which we saw as a good thing, they want to make sure all parties involved are making the right decisions. We visited one of the foster homes and spent a few hours playing with, and getting to know all of the cats, this home had recently gotten in two batches of kittens. We fell in love with two beautiful kittens from different litters, they were all too young to come home with us but we were permitted to visit the kittens as often as we liked until they were ready to come home. The foster mom even put the two together as much as possible, to help them form a bond We've had our kitties for a few months now and they are happy, healthy and the lights of our lives. Little bundles of joy. And we owe our renewed happiness to Nicole and Paws4survival. I could not recommend a pet rescue more highly than Paws4Survival!

I just adopted a second pet from Paws for survival. I am so thankful to the volunteers who foster and care for these pets till they find their forever homes. I had the opportunity to talk to one of the fosters who works full time, while fostering cats and pups. I'm not sure how she does it. I am so happy my application was accepted. I spoke to my vet and they confirmed that this foster does a background check. if you want a responsible rescue look no further.
3 months ago
Zira at Paws4Survival was so great to work with!! She was so honest about the cat we were interested in and really went above and beyond to make sure the cat was the right fit for us and vice versa. They love their animals so much and the time and care Zira gave us - both pre and post adoption - has been amazing!!! They are all volunteers and they work SO hard to save as many cats and dogs as they can. It's a wonderful organization and group of people!! We're so grateful to have found our Nala cat through them!!! I should also mention I live an hour away from their location and I have 2 senior rescue dogs. It's hard to find the right cat to introduce to a 2-dog situation and Zira addressed all my concerns, multiple phone calls, answered all my questions, and even entertained the "what if?" stress I had. Paperwork and scheduling was super easy. Highly recommend. read more
7 days ago
Nicole rescued my dog, Adam, in Puerto Rico when he was lost due to Hurricane Maria. Adam has been my best friend and just passed recently. I am having so much trouble trying to reach her as she is most likely in PR now. I wanted her to know that he had passed because she did so much to get him to Massachusetts and she would want to know. She has done so much to provide dogs and cats with forever homes and needs recognition for that. Thank You. read more
15 days ago
I've adopted two dogs through Paws4survival and both experiences have been amazing. The volunteers clearly care so much about the animals and were honest, kind, and patient while I asked a million questions. The adoption process was organized and thorough without being overwhelming, and they made sure each dog was a good fit for my home and other pets. I'm so grateful for the love and care they gave my pups before they came to me and would absolutely adopt from them again. read more
28 days ago
Zira is awesome. I got my dream cat at Paws4Survival and that's thanks to her! She answered all my questions and provided all the information she could before and after adoption. She really put my mind at ease as a first-time cat owner and everything was easy and straightforward. Thank you for all you do! read more
1 year ago
hi all this was a great experience through and through our boy Malcolm is acclimating very well to his new home! been with us for months, he was very well taken care of! thank you to all here. read more
1 year ago
I have adopted three dogs from this incredible rescue. The work they do is nothing short of amazing. The dogs I adopted (deliberately) were definitely works in progress, but they are worth every minute of training and patience. Not every dog requires as much time, but they all deserve the chance to become their best selves. At one time the adoption process seemed to be more difficult, but it's gotten much better! read more
1 year ago
Staff was more than accommodating. She really knew each animal's personality very well, after spending a lot of time with them and getting to know them. We got our sweet cat there, and our lives are so different in the few months we have had her home! She is the best cat for us, and she is happy to be in a loving home now. read more
1 year ago
We got our second kitty from here! The staff is all volunteer and clearly very passionate about what they do. They are very hands-on with the adoption process and will stay in touch with you as you adjust to your new lifestyle with your new furry friend. They truly go above and beyond. Love them! read more
1 year ago
Very unorganized! Paperwork terrible and most animals not checked by vets! This rescue has burned bridges with many other shelters, volunteers, fosters, veterinarians etc. The state has had to investigate them multiple times :( So many better rescues out there! PLEASE PLEASE do not adopt from this rescue! read more
2 years ago
I have been looking for a cat and Zira at Paws4survival has been so amazing along the way. She is there to always answer any questions I have in my search to find the right cat for me. She is very kind and dedicated to the animals. I highly suggest going to paws4survival to adopt a pet. read more
3 years ago
Best care takers and they find great homes for the animals. I had sent many cats there and my rescues are very happy with their new parents
3 years ago
Nothing but a positive experience with this organization. Nicole, Meryl, fosters Maddy and Evan were wonderful to deal with. read more
3 years ago
We adopted two rescue kittens from Puerto Rico from Paws4Survival and they are the definitely the two happiest cats in the world! We are the happiest family too! They definitely were extremely skittish as pretty sure they were feral but the foster Tracy let us know all about their background. We didn't interact with them much when we visited but to me that is a welcomed challenge - you could see they just needed love and a forever home and we were just the peeps to give it to them! Now they snuggle and cuddle with us all the time - didn't take long at all! : ) We have 2 older Labs and 2 other cats and these guys fit right in from day one with zero issues. As far as the adoption goes - it was straightforward and went smoothly. Traci sent over the vet records from PR right away and my vet met them shortly after and adored the two fellas - Benny and Louie! Thank you so much Paws4Survival!! read more
3 years ago
I just adopted the best dog ever. The owner Nicole truly cares for all the animals. Meryl was very nice and helpful. I had to wait a while because life is different in Puerto Rico but Joy was worth the wait. I love my dog and couldn't be happier read more
5 years ago
We recently had to have our dog euthanized due to cancer and a number of other maladies. She had been our constant companion for 14 years and we absolutely adored her. After that loss, we knew we needed another furry companion but didn't want another dog because we were getting our house ready to put on the market and still reeling from the loss of the sweetest, most precious dog we've ever shared a house with. We figured if we got a cat there would be fewer comparisons to the dog we just lost, we were of course wrong, but that's another story. It seems there was a shortage of shelter animals and we were put on many waiting lists in hopes of something turning up at a shelter. We came across Paws4Survival Rescue and they proved to be the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel we were spiraling into. Nicole is a godsend! She cares both about the animals and the people looking for their companionship. She was so wonderful and understanding. She helped us navigate the necessary paperwork, showed us images of the various cats being fostered, and arranged for us to visit one of the homes fostering kittens. The process was very involved, which we saw as a good thing, they want to make sure all parties involved are making the right decisions. We visited one of the foster homes and spent a few hours playing with, and getting to know all of the cats, this home had recently gotten in two batches of kittens. We fell in love with two beautiful kittens from different litters, they were all too young to come home with us but we were permitted to visit the kittens as often as we liked until they were ready to come home. The foster mom even put the two together as much as possible, to help them form a bond We've had our kitties for a few months now and they are happy, healthy and the lights of our lives. Little bundles of joy. And we owe our renewed happiness to Nicole and Paws4survival. I could not recommend a pet rescue more highly than Paws4Survival! read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Hank - thank you so much for your kind words of support. It means…
4 years ago
I found my dream cat at their page, I just lost my cat of 17 years. I'm always home since I'm handicapped with a weak leg due to an car accident and the cat I have found has a insured paw. So I really identified with him. I have filled up the application and I can't wait to hear from them. read more
3 years ago
I just adopted a second pet from Paws for survival. I am so thankful to the volunteers who foster and care for these pets till they find their forever homes. I had the opportunity to talk to one of the fosters who works full time, while fostering cats and pups. I'm not sure how she does it. I am so happy my application was accepted. I spoke to my vet and they confirmed that this foster does a background check. if you want a responsible rescue look no further. read more
3 years ago
I write this review to caution anyone who is considering adopting from Paws4Survival. I adopted an 8 month old kitten, Dorothy, in June 2022. I worked with a Paws4Survival volunteer who was fostering Dorothy and many other cats at the time. The volunteer shared Dorothy's vet records with me and said that Dorothy had no health issues, but she may develop a cold as is common with cats adjusting to a new home and that this would subside after a few days. The morning after I brought Dorothy home, I noticed that she did have cold symptoms but, unfortunately, they only got worse. Dorothy developed a very loud snort and wheeze that sounded like she was having a hard time breathing. I brought her into an emergency vet, and over the following months to numerous additional vets to find the cause. An x-ray at the emergency vet showed that she had lung damage from a past case of pneumonia, and my current vet suspects that a nasopharyngeal polyp is causing her snorting, though he was not able to visualize this during a sedated exam. Throughout this period, I repeatedly reached out to the Paws4Survival volunteer who I had worked with; I asked if they had any additional information about her health history or if she could be seen again by the adoption agency's vet who was the first to examine her. The volunteer said that she reached out to the business owner, Nicole, to share my phone number and that Nicole would call me about this. I also called the Paws4Survival phone number numerous times, leaving messages for Nicole to please call me. Neither the volunteer nor Nicole ever followed up with me about my messages. Dorothy has turned out to be the most wonderful cat, a happy, social butterfly who is loved by everyone she meets, but this experience has been extremely stressful for both of us. I have spent $2000+ on vet care to find the source of her respiratory issues, and she has endured many uncomfortable vet visits, exams, and medications. While the severity of her respiratory issues have lessened, I believe the lack of communication and support from Paws4Survival only made this experience worse for us both. I've struggled to write this review over the past two years because I do support Paws4Survival's core purpose to connect animals with loving homes and because Dorothy has ultimately been a wonderful addition to my life. However, I will never adopt from Paws4Survival again and would strongly caution anyone who does. I recognize that adopting a pet comes with risks, however I feel it is important to choose an adoption agency that is trustworthy and will support owners if they face challenges. Do not assume that this organization will be honest about the health history of their pets, and do not assume that they will communicate with you or support you if you discover a health issue. I do hope that future adopters who choose to adopt from them will have a more positive experience, but please be prepared for possible challenges, as many other reviewers have also described, before adopting from Paws4Survival. read more
4 years ago
I absolutely loved every minute of my experience here! They were very fast responding to my application and helpful and kind all along the way. I also love that they don't allow adopters to declaw or have outdoor cats, that shows that they really care about the animals! When I went in person, all the cats were happy and well cared for, including the cat I was adopting!! She was described as affectionate and loving attention on her bio and that couldn't be more true. She is also in perfect health. The volunteer present also went above and beyond by giving me a bag of the food the cats were eating when I expressed concerns about switching to the brand I would be using without a smooth transition. All around a lovely experience and I would definitely recommend this organization if anyone asked! read more
4 years ago
Hello, I'm Ariel. This is an update from my last review a few weeks ago. The sick cat has FeLV. We were not told upon adoption, it was not listed on the PetFinder post, so I'm assuming they never bothered testing them. Don't adopt from this rescue. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Ariel, we have provided you with screenshots that show our testing…
5 years ago
My mother in law had a problem contacting them. Her calls to Paws4Survival went to a filled mailbox day after day. I do hear they do good work. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Robert, we apologize for the confusion with Petsmart and did not…
5 years ago
I'll first say that the dog I got from this place is the most wonderful sweet boy. As was his foster mom, Jesse. My experience with Meryl during the application process was upsetting. As a dog owner that lost her boy of 14 years, I was taken aback to the tone and attitude I was given through the process. Understanding that ppl want to be cautious when placing animals with new homes, however everything about my family indicated that we are a great family that would love this boy. They never let us feel this joy knowing we just saved a dog. While I would always adopt, I can see why people choose to buy. They don't have to be treated poorly. When this feedback was provided to the foster mom, Meryl proceeded to send me a rude text. I've since blocked her. I will follow my contract as indicated and take care of my new boy. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Jessica - we always welcome feedback and while we are sorry to…
3 years ago
I'm glad I checked these reviews after my communication with Paws4Survival, because they fully validate the experience I had. My boyfriend and I began the process of adopting a pup, but due to very personal reasons that I was not comfortable disclosing, we had to cancel the process before meeting the dog. In my email, I apologized for wasting the organization's time (them calling my vet and property management) and yet I received a very rude response. I am VERY aware that people volunteer their time to do this work, and have their own jobs and lives going on. That is why I apologized. But generally people understand that WE have our own lives going on as well, and unpredicted things happen. Please do not spend any more of your precious time responding to my review. I can see from other comments that your responses continue to be rude, defensive, and unprofessional. Instead, maybe spend the time reflecting on how your attitude is affecting your rescue agency. I genuinely hope this dog finds a wonderful home, and we will certainly steer clear of this place when we continue our search in the future. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
If you are going to post a review trying telling the whole truth.…
5 years ago
I've adopted 2 cats, helped at the shelter, groomed many of Paws4survival animals and have loved every minute of it!! Both of my cats came from Puerto Rico, as many of the animals do, and the pure gratitude they express is unmatched. I actually can't believe there's negative reviews and that anyone has anything bad to say about Nicole. A woman who is a mother, that works a full time job but still finds time in her life to run a rescue and foster animals that haven't found fosters/homes yet! There's no one I'd trust more with an animals life than her, she cares more than anyone I've known. If you're looking for a rescue baby or to volunteer PLEASE consider Paws4survival, I promise you won't regret it! read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Jill - thank you so very much for your kind words. Your ongoing…
3 years ago
I really, truly think that choosing to adopt from Paws4Survival is one of the worst decisions I've ever made. I would steer anyone and everyone away from this shelter. My experience: We had been looking for a second cat for a while, and they had 4 or 5 cats that fit our criteria (an adult male good with other cats), so we took the 45 min drive to meet them. We met all the cats there, and fell for this tiny guy that was hiding in a corner. We asked the volunteer on scene how old he was, how he was with other cats, where he had come from, if he was healthy. Everything she said was positive, no red flags, and we decided to adopt Rui. I was really surprised that there was no spiel about taking care of him, no information for us about his personality/what he might need, we didn't even get a copy of the contract I signed. We were just sent on our way, and the volunteer honestly seemed like she had other places she wanted to be. Not a good feeling when you've made the big decision to adopt a new family member! Long story short-ish, after being told I would be emailed his medical records, not being emailed them and having to ask many times for them, I found out in his records that he had pretty major dental issues and had had a previous home that gave him up because he peed/pooped outside of the litter box. Definitely things I would expect to be told by a shelter! We took him to vet within 3 days of adoption, and the dental work estimate was around $2,000+. And he did indeed, start to pee and poop all over the room he was in. I was unable to reach the number on the Paws4Survival website, or anyone other than Lexi, the volunteer who had been there when we adopted Rui. Lexi clearly was not very invested in the success of this adoption, but she would not give me the number of anyone else at the shelter to speak to about the issues with our cat. When I expressed to her that we were struggling and at the point that we might have to take him back, instead of providing support or advice, she told me to just bring him back ASAP. In the end, we had to take Rui back to the shelter. I am devastated, because nothing about this experience made me feel like they will try/care to find him a home that will love him properly and help him thrive. He is such a sweet cat, and I wish we could be the right home for him. We just don't have the capability right now to handle a cat with known, preexisting health and behavioral issues. The whole situation really broke our hearts. Adopting rescue animals is always a calculated risk, but you should be able to trust that an animal shelter is giving you all the information they can, doing their due diligence, and matching you with an animal that you can take care of. Paws4Survival doesn't do any of these. read more
5 years ago
We have adopted the best 2 dogs we have had, and we have always had rescues. Someone must have given them a lot of TLC between the streets of Puerto Rico and our home. We got a lot of information from the fosters which proved to be accurate. Yes, they did seem to be picky about adopters, but I appreciate how they care about the placement of every single rescue. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to adopt. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Marcia - thank you to you and your husband for all your love and…
4 years ago
Very disappointed in the lack of communication. I submitted an application, sent an email, and left a voicemail and have yet to receive any correspondence from this rescue. I gave three stars simply because anyone who helps rescue and care for animals deserves some extra kudos. (Unfortunately I did lower down to one star as I was hoping to see the other reviews not hold true, but their disrespect for others and poor communication skills/ aggressive and defensive speech cannot warrant three stars.) It's heartbreaking because I've been searching for a schnauzer/schnauzer mix as they're my favorite breed and I've always wanted one. My partner and I both have a career with animals and recently lost our senior pup, so we were hopeful. Unfortunately after seeing the reviews on this page I understand more about the poor operations of this shelter. Communication is the #1 business practice and goes a long way. Edited to add: I've run and organized multiple volunteer groups out west as well as volunteered and worked at animal shelters and the Sacramento Zoo. Fortunately for us we found our furever pup through a different organization. Anyone in business understands that on time communication is the epitome of respect. This review was to help prospective pup or cat owners understand how this organization is run. It is sad and unfortunate that a yelp review got a faster response than any of my prior correspondence. That alone speaks volume. However, I do wish the absolute best for all the animals in your care and hope they all find good homes :) read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi - Further update - we are not surprised with you changing your…
3 years ago
Paws 4 Survival is a very caring dedicated group of people with the best interest of its animals at it's core. Adopting a cat from them has been a great experience. Dealing with people that are so caring and wanting the match to be a success was a great experience. read more
4 years ago
I would give this rescue 0 stars if I could. We were interested in adopting a dog. We filled out the application and answered all the rescue's questions honestly. The person's tone in their email felt judgmental from the start. In the end, we were told we weren't a fit because we didn't want the dog to sleep in bed with us. Are you kidding me? We are experienced dog owners who own a home with a fenced in yard. We loved our dogs and they lived very long and loving lives. We allow dogs on our couches and have dog beds on every floor. The dog could have been rescued by a loving family that would have given him a great home but we will never get the chance. We will never consider rescuing a dog from this rescue. There are other rescues out there. Don't waste your time with this one. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Thank you for your feedback. While we respect your decision to not…
4 years ago
If I could give this organization 0 stars. My partner and I applied to adopt a dog and the person who responded to us via email was extremely rude and tactless. This person emailed, accusing us of lying rather than simply requesting the information she could not obtain. and when I tactfully responded, letting this person know that I was not pleased with how they spoke to me and provided paperwork showing that our current dog is neutered, they told me my anger was displaced. It seems that many people have had a similar experience with an employee at this rescue. It is a shame that someone like this is keeping animals from going to loving homes. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi - we are sorry that you are filled with such anger. Instead of…
5 years ago
Love this group. We adopted both of our boys from them in 2015. Since then we've worked with the group to foster and have volunteered a little too. They are wonderful to work with. Our dogs are both from the streets of Puerto Rico and are so good with our young children. They are simply the sweetest boys you'll ever meet. It doesn't take a doodle dog to be a family dog! read more
5 years ago
Don't understand a few of the negative reviews associated with this wonderful rescue organization. In my experience with them, there is no organization that cares more about placing dogs and cats with the perfect adopters. Meryl, who supervises all adoptions for the dogs rescued, works tirelessly to find the right fit for each dog and in my experience succeeds in a large majority of the times. So when I read an occasional negative review, my gut tells me that the reviewer most likely fell short in the prerequisites needed to be approved for the adoption. I am sure that Nicole who is President of the organization and Meryl share the philosophy that just adopting out an animal is not the goal. The goal is making sure that the prospective adopter is the right adopter for each animal looking to be adopted. Paws4survival keep on doing it the way you are doing it. There are so many dogs and cats that will be grateful you did. read more
3 years ago
Our 13 yr old very high maintenance boston terrier passed 2 years ago. (He was not a rescue, we got him from a breeder at 9weeks old. ) We have tried the last year to adopt from other rescues and had terrible experiences that left me in tears with no dog even though we come highly recommended as pet parents from our last vet, doggy daycare, friends and family. We have a clean house with a fenced in yard, no kids, a perfect resume for adopting a dog you would think. Finally I was on petfinder.com and fell in love with a sweet little soul with paws4survival. This was the BEST experience and we are so happy to have been approved to take home our new dog. Understanding that rescues screen people for the safety of the animals we filled out yet another application and I was so happy to get a fast response from the most amazing coordinator, Meryl. Having never rescued before, Meryl had great patience with all of my questions and walked me through the process. She even let me call her multiple times. Me and my husband went to Randolph to meet the dog within a week and it was love at first sight. We spent about half an hour talking to Nicole who was so nice, so transparent and so loving and caring that this special pup get the right home. We are thrilled that we got to pick him up a week later. I want people to remember that when you commit to a rescue , you are saving a soul, i wouldn't dream of "giving them back" under any circumstances. My new dog is 5yrs old, came from neglect so we assume no training and therefore pees in the house sometimes. We just tell him no , clean it up and give him lots of opportunities and praise to go outside. We know with some training, love and understanding he is going to be great! We have babygated off a small room where he has a bed, toys and training pee pads to help him learn about accidents in the house. I am honored to help this little love. We are slowly earning his trust and teaching him that all people arent bad. Lastly, if you want a perfect animal go to a toystore , if you want a perfect rescue that supports you as you help save a life go to paws4survival. The best people who are doing it right for the animals with patience kindness and real heart to give the animals good homes. Other rescues dont have the animals best interests at heart. They are playing God with little souls who need to be in their forever homes. Ive heard so many bad stories about rescues and experienced it myself. Thats why I just joined yelp to write this review so you all know to adopt from paws4survival. They are the real deal, loving and homing animals selflessly. Thank you Nicole and Meryl for all of your hard work. You are angels helping angels and I hope this review helps you to forever home more animals and continue your great work. sincerely- Susanne, Ricky & Iggy read more
5 years ago
I usually take yelp reviews with a grain of salt, but there is clearly a reason why this place has such terrible reviews. The other reviews are spot on. This business is unhelpful, unresponsive, and immediately rejected us based on false information. I tried to contact them many times via phone and email to provide the correct information but they never responded. It's really upsetting that they would rather keep an animal boarded at petsmart than move forward with the adoption process to give the cat a loving and welcoming home. Unimpressive and 100% would not recommend. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
On Feb 7th, the vets office you listed as a reference advised us that…
4 years ago
I recently adopted a cat from Paws4Survial and was not a good experienc. The only good thing I can say is the volunteer at the shelter was wonderful. Adoption was delayed for 3 weeks due to "stuffy nose". Couple days after I took him home stuffy nose was back and he had diarrhea,which turned out to be giardia. After many vet visits and a visit to ENT specialist he was diagnosed with a large polyp. Reached out to organization for some financial assistance as I had already spent over $2,000 for vet visits and treatment for polyp removal is very expensive. They were rude,demeaning and shading my vets. They said it was apparent that I was unable to car for the cat and he had to be surrendered back them. In end and thousands of dollars later polyp has been removed and he is a very happy cat. read more
4 years ago
I had a great experience with this rescue! I fell in love with one of the cats based on her bio on pet finder. I put in an application on a Tuesday night and got an email the next day from them asking for a vets reference. After they called my vet they sent me another email that same day asking to speak. That same night I spoke with Tracy who was so nice and enthusiastic. She asked me a few questions and she must have known we would be a good match because she facilitated a meeting with the cat. I ended up meeting the cat that Saturday and took her home the same day. The entire process was quick and easy and I have an amazing cat that I love so much. I think they are a great organization. read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Sarah - thanks so much for taking the time to write a review on…
5 years ago
I have submitted multiple applications for cats and kittens to this organization and have never gotten a response. It would be nice to get a "thanks, but no thanks !" read more
Business owner information
Nicole D.
Business Owner
Hi Dee - we sincerely apologize if you never received a response. We…
4 years ago
I adopted a dog from this rescue and they have been an absolute nightmare. DONT ADOPT FROM THEM. The dog I adopted was from the Newark ahs shelter in New Jersey. By law, the rescue was required to get a USDA travel certificate, in order to transport the dog into Massachusetts, the cert process requires a number of negative tests and proof of vaccinations, and it must be signed off by a veterinarian, the rescue did NOT get the required documentation (travel cert) by law to import the dog into mass for rescue purposes. The state of Massachusetts also requires all dogs to go to 48 hour quarantine, and the rescue did not put the dog in quarantine of the law requires . When I adopted the dog the rescue had not given the dog preventatives. The dog was overdue for preventatives and vaccines. The rescue did not give the dog the required vaccines and did not give the dog boosters. The dog never saw a veterinarian in Massachusetts, and by law they were required to have the dog seen by a veterinarian and provide at travel cert, prior to transferring to an adopter who's out of state, and they were required to provide a travel certificate to the adopter. The rescue must be licensed in New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Maine in order to adopt dogs to residents in those states. The rescue was and is not licensed in the state of New Hampshire, and therefore broke law by placing a dog in the state of New Hampshire. The law is that the rescue must be licensed in the state where the dog is placed (The rescue will argue that they are licensed in Massachusetts and the adopter picks the dog up in Massachusetts therefore meets requirements of the law but not true! The law requires the rescue to be licensed in the state where the dog is going to reside) This rescue uses a rigorous list of requirements that an adopter must meet in order to be approved, the rescue in fact falls short and doesn't vet their own dogs. The dog I adopted, never saw a veterinarian NEVER when it was in the rescues care. The adoption process was a nightmare. The adoption counselor Merrill, who is not even in Massachusetts, but lives in New York, was rude, abusive, demeaning, derogatory, and dismissive. Her vetting standards exceeds what the rescue does for their own dogs malong them hypocrites. For example, and there are many, the rescue requires the adopters resident dog to be vaccinated with Lyme and lepto vaccines, But the rescue doesn't vaccinate their own dogs to that standard. The adoption counselor would text me at 6 AM and that was absolutely unacceptable. Even though the president of the rescue is aware of many applicants complaints, just read them on yelp, about the adoption counselor Meryl, she dismisses the complaints. This is why a rescue that's been around for over a decade. Can't maintain fosters because nobody wants to work with Merrill This is why a rescue that's been around for over a decade. Can't maintain fosters because nobody wants to work with Meryl and a president Who dismisses, honest, heartfelt complaints and concerns. Well, I might do great things like put a puppy in a box when they're in Puerto Rico rescuing dogs, They may wanna tighten up their vetting and hire a more respectful adoption counselor. read more
4 years ago
I don't understand all the bad ratings for this rescue--my experience was amazing. I was put in contact with the foster mom a day after my application was sent in and the foster was SO nice. She was very flexible with our schedule and gave us time to make our decision. It was such a great experience and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a rescue in the MA area. Our new cat is such a gem and the foster did a wonderful job with him for over two months to get him ready for adoption and now he's adapting so quickly! This rescue truly loves its animals and deserves better reviews than what it's received. read more
3 years ago
This rescue isn't even a rescue at this point. I've been keeping up daily to see if they repost the cat I had to bring back because I still care about that cat and want what's best for him. I also keep checking the reviews as well waiting to see if the President comments back like she has on other reviews. Which I strongly recommend you look at her comments back to anyone that gives a negative review because they get a lecture on how terrible of a person THEY are so that alone shows her character. Though I haven't received a comment YET... I have been seeing sooo many people say the same thing. This rescue doesn't do the proper vet care before giving away their animals as well as them just immediately saying to bring the pets back instead of offering resources to keep them in the home they were placed into. They would rather you bring the pet back so they can relist the pet and keep getting more and more money. When the pet is relisted they never say that it was brought back previously or mention previous issues and then they tell you to immediately bring the pet back if there are any issues instead of trying to make sure they do everything in their power to try to make sure that the home that this pet went to is their forever home. And that's truly upsetting knowing that you would rather keep stressing these animals out by preferring them to be brought back to the rescue over trying to help make the home you DEEMED AS A GOOD FIT FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE PLACED IN the one they stay in forever. You'd rather the pets keep being brought back to the rescue to make more profit off them. Absolute insanity! Not to mention they are endangering homes that have other pets in them by either knowing the proper vet care hasn't happened, or they don't disclose the previous issues of the pet in question. I am basing this off my own experience plus all the comments that scream the exact same thing. This rescue is a joke and should be shut down. read more
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Review Highlights - Paws4Survival Rescue
“They love their animals so much and the time and care Zira gave us - both pre and post adoption - has been amazing!!!”
Mentioned in 3 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
21 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
5 years ago
The owner of this small rescue organization is one of the most incredible people I've met. The passion and dedication that goes into saving dogs and cats off the streets of Puerto Rico is beyond apparent when you get your dog or cat from this group. There are so many animals and such few volunteers but yet they are adamant about matching the rescue pet with the right family/person. When I applied for a dog I saw on Pet Finder I saw that he had been available for over a month and wondered why he was still available. Nicole (president and owner) who was fostering the dog said that he (the dog) indeed had had many applications but that not one had felt right. She said he was a very shy and timid dog that would need a lot of patience and she had yet to find the right applicant. How she knew I would be that person after she met me once with the dog I don't know but turns out he was just the perfect dog for me! The two of us are inseparable and in just 6 short months he has made tremendous progress. I had no prior dog experience but Nicole had some sort of gut instinct that I was a match for the dog and she was 100% right and for that I'm eternally grateful! Please be patient when trying to adopt from these small organizations, they are just volunteers and doing the best they can responding to everyone and at the same time making sure the right dog/cat is matched with the best new home for them. read more
3 years ago
So my pup I had for 15 yrs and few months ago it was time to walk the Rainbow so waited thinking I could do it on my own but it was beyond impossible not to have a furry friend to come home to. Looked around many places different rescue group till I ran into the Paws4survival_rescue page I immediately begin my search running or finding this 2 beautiful pups one senior and one just 2 years of age ! I didn't think I still had it in me to love as I loved my old guy but the minute we met we bonded . It was like love at 1st sight ! From day one they picked a spot in my bed and they made themselves at home ! We watch TV together we have breakfast and dinner together thank you Nicole D. For your continuous hard work you do in the island of Puerto Rico you and your organization brought so much joy to my heart I am forever grateful God bless you and your family and may he continue to strengthen your heart so you could rescue as many as you can and find them a forever home ! I am truly touched and I am feeling wholesome and Blessed. Sincerely thanks Brian S. read more
2 years ago
Be prepared for a dressing down that makes you question if you are even qualified to care for a house plant. You didn't know you were a liar, that your current pets were hostage to criminal levels of abuse and neglect. But Meryl knows. Like the petty bureaucrat who dominates her small sphere of power with arbitrary ferocity, she seizes upon an incorrectly-filled form or mildly-delayed grooming schedule to expose the chasm-like depths of your inability to care for any and all life. She does not miss an opportunity to misunderstand you if it means she can assume the worst intentions. What recourse does your animal-loving heart have against the self-righteous cruelty of a crusader? Some people join pet rescues because they care for all living things. Others join to crush the bones of their enemies. Update: Either the owner is confusing me with someone else, or is fabricating details to discredit the victims of Meryl's bullying. read more
5 years ago
Horrible establishment that acts like they are there for the animals, but doesn't seem to want to actually place them in loving homes. First the application process/questionnaire was absolutely ridiculous and included a question regarding if I'd allow a home visit prior to adopting. No, I wouldn't let any human into my home just to attempt to adopt a dog, but further more the response I received after (finally) getting to the end of this long winded application was curt and rude. I completely understand wanting the best home possible for the animal, but when you treat every potential adopter like an a$$hole it doesn't give you a good look nor lend to your credibility. Wish I had read the other reviews here before even attempting to deal with these people. read more
5 years ago
I originally reached out to Paws about fostering and have since foster failed with our beautiful senior cat, Razzle. We've continued to foster both cats and dogs and have never had a bad experience. They are extremely thorough with finding the right pet for you and help you with your new pet in the transition of homes. The President, Nicole, is the most incredible and caring woman and she consistently amazes us with all she can accomplish for these animals. On many occasions have I seen her nursing baby ducks or squirrels she found abandoned outside on top of a full house of pups! If you ever want to adopt or foster this is by far the best organization in MA to work with!! read more
5 years ago
After mourning the loss of our beloved dog for a year, we were blessed to find our new baby through Paws4Survival! Nicole and her team were very thorough in their background check of us as pet parents by calling reference and our vet (which I really appreciate!) not only did they provide guidance, records for our new dog and basic supplies, but they have been incredibly supportive through the struggles of adjusting and training him. They love to hear how their animals are doing post-adoption and showcase these stories to other foster and adoptive families. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to adopt, and fosters are ALWAYS needed as there is so much need. read more
5 years ago
I couldn't ask for a better rescue to support than Paws4Survival! Knowing how very much this family is invested in the care, safety, and placement of each and every animal, not only made my decision to adopt from them easy, but we have adopted from them twice! I can't even comprehend the ENORMOUS undertaking it is to run a rescue, nevermind one that is saving animals from the streets of PR. On top of it all, the president also has a full time job and a family!!!! I can't thank this rescue enough for all the incredible work they do for all the animals they come across and could not recommend a better place to get your next companion from! read more
5 years ago
Horrible company that is more concerned with keeping animal than getting them adopted. If you do go through the arduous process of filling out their ridiculous application prepare to be ridiculed and even sent harassing text messages. Indeed even if you are "approved" to adopt from them the rudeness does not stop: You'll be ridiculed from the time you're scheduled to pick up your pup until well after you leave. Avoid at all costs and try your local shelter instead: Cheaper adoption fees and animals that genuinely need it, as opposed to this place that will talk condescendingly to you and then ship the dog back to Puerto Rico anyway. read more
3 years ago
I adopted a very sweet kitty from this rescue on 3/10/23; his name is Tom. The volunteer I worked with was very nice, professional and easy to relate to! Although my new cat was displaying some upper respiratory symptoms (and was dx with Calicivirus) when I took him home, we quickly went to the vet and got proper medications. As of today he is very strong and healthy, and eats quite a bit!. It is not unusual for shelter cats to have URI's because they are exposed to many other cats. Not a problem! I would definitely recommend adopting from this rescue and providing them with donations. The work that they do is amazing. read more
5 years ago
I just want to give a shout out to this rescue organization.. they are AWESOME! I have a wonderful lil kitty (well actually now an adult cat) that they saved, nurtured back to health and is now mine. I just want to say thank you to them ALL for all the hard work they do to save and find homes for SO many 'throw away' pets that so deserve a second chance. Sending LOVE to you all and God bless you for the wonderful work you do! We 'adopters' love and appreciate you, please know that. XOXO read more
5 years ago
I fostered a dog through them a few months back. Nicole was amazing in terms of the care she takes with the animals, and the person working on selecting the forever family was amazing in terms of due diligence and care for the animals. Nicole does this in her extra time in addition to a full time job, and just helps so many animals. This is a great organization really dedicated to helping animals in need. If you have time to foster or adopt a dog or cat, I highly recommend this agency. read more
5 years ago
Nicole and her team are amazing. I adopted my little guy in December in the heart of the pandemic and they were so accommodating. We met up in a public place after completing all the verification steps and all precautions were followed. Pup got a physical right after we got him and he was in perfect health. They do amazing work here rescuing these dogs from Puerto Rico. Don't think twice about adopting from them! read more
5 years ago
I highly recommend Paws4Survival! Nicole puts her whole heart into helping animals find their forever homes. Her team drove our new guy (who flew in from Puerto Rico) up from Miami during the gas shortage in the south. They carried their own gasoline with them so they could make sure that the animals were able to get up north. We are grateful for her and her whole team! read more
5 years ago
What a wonderful organization to adopt from very easy application to fill out and the amount of time to process the application with my personal references, calling my vets office, and our interview was smooth and flawless. Nicole was upfront about the process and it went just like she said. We are so happy with our pup! Thank you Paws4survival read more
5 years ago
Nicole and her team are absolutely amazing. We have adopted three fantastic dogs from them and we couldn't be more thankful. The team shows such love, compassion and care for each and every one of these rescues. We would highly recommend Paws4Survival to anyone looking for a dog or cat! read more
5 years ago
Absolutely forever grateful for this organization. They brought us our baby rico. What this organization does is absolutely amazing and they have saved so many animals lives. If you are in search for a pet, please consider adopting for P4S if a rescue is fitting for your family read more
5 years ago
Paws4survival is a great organization that helps pets in need and helps them find a home. I have volunteered with them and see firsthand how much they truly care for animals and giving them the best chance possible. read more
5 years ago
I have been fostering and volunteering with this rescue a little over a year and can't express how amazing this organization is! They go above and beyond for all the fur babies! read more
5 years ago
Paws4 Survival has being saving Cats and Dogs from Puerto Rico for the last 5 years....they took thousands animals from PR.we can only said Thanks Thanks! Great job! read more
5 years ago
I got my cat from this shelter and Nicole and her team were nothing but awesome! He is the little fuzzy love of my life!
Paws4Survival Rescue - petadoption - Updated August 2026
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