We found a young sparrow that seemed injured and unable to move much. We sent them videos of current condition of the bird. They were very responsive and asked us to take bird in to them for care. We gladly will be handing bird over to them for medical observation & care. I'm so glad we have organizations like this on our community. read more

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA - Animal Shelters Near Me - San Jose, California

I called for an injured crow from Fremont since our rehabilitation center here is temporarily closed for a while. Authorities and resources centers instructed me to contact this facility and a very rude receptionist picked up. I understood that the location could not take in a "Fremont bird" asked her kindly if there are any recommendations of what my next steps would be and she straight up told me "No I can't help you." I hung up and received a message to contact the same place for help and again, was met with the same rude tone from the lady. "Yes you called earlier no we cannot take your bird." lasked her what I should do for overnight care since all of the sites near me are closed and again refused to help me. I am left dumbfounded with the lack of assistance, care, and actual work being put into this. Why hire this person in the first place? read more

I'm really not sure about this place. At first I was very happy with them. They answered the phone, advised me to drop off the young dove that fell out of the nest, and I was happy about them being available to care for animals. Like other reviewers here...it made me feel great that there was a service to take care of in distress animals. Unfortunately, after reading other reviews about euthanizing animals I had cause to question their services. I've called now three times (once leaving a voicemail asking for a return call) for a status update and not once have they answered their phones nor returned my voicemail. So as of right now, I feel like I drove out of my way to East Side San Jose to take a young bird to it's death... read more

Found an animal is distress...went to the organizations website and saw they perform animal intakes daily. Thanks to this organization, the injured bird could be saved. read more

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA - Recently posted in June 2023. Great info for the community - Animal Shelters Near Me - San Jose, California

Took a baby opossum there and about two months later received a notice that they released the baby back in the wild. Not all wildlife rescues work out as positive as this but there is at least a way to give animals like this a fighting chance. read more

This review is for the animal drop-off process. My 4 yr old son and I found an injured hummingbird on the sidewalk. We put it in a box and I called the wildlife center of SV to find out what to do. They told us the hours and said to bring it in. The center was a bit hard to find coming from the 680 direction as the center's sign is facing the other direction and it looks like a dirt road but I was able to make a u turn and find it. As I was getting out of the car an employee was coming out of the building ready to take the bird. He was wearing mask and gloves. He asked what type of animal then instructed me to fill out a short form with basic info regarding name, address, phone #, type of animal, location animal was found. There was a container with clean pens and one for used pens and there was only one form. There is an option to give a donation and they list the type of animals and how much it costs to take care of each one per week which was interesting. The employee came back out and brought a couple of their newsletter magazines for my son and showed him the type of hummingbird we had found. It was really nice and it made my son really happy. Glad we decided to take the bird here. It was a really easy and safe process and good to know for the future. read more

A racing pigeon came to my front door to be rescued. The Peninsula SPCA opened at 11am so I found The Wildlife Center in San Jose. They opened at 9am. The pigeon and I raced (no pun intended) down and They told me that they only take wildlife. Bummer. This guy was going to have to sit in a box in my car while I went to work. Thankfully, the wonderful people at the center said they would take him and figure something out. I left a small donation and bounced. As I left I said, "thank you so much. I appreciate you guys." The Woman at the front desk said, "it's what we do!" All 3 ladies who helped me were friendly problem solvers. Now I know where to bring injured wild animals. And if I find another domesticated scared pigeon (shame on you people), I'll know to take them to Peninsula SPCA. read more

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA - Animal Shelters Near Me - San Jose, California

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Warning! They are quick to euthanize and I don't think they care one bit about healing or rehabilitating the animals they see. Clearly, they have forgotten what their purpose is. They literally tricked us to hand over our rescued opossum to them under the guise of the vet will see him and "...it will only take three minutes...". After two hours and my husband banging on their door, they refused to give him back and euthanized a sweet and innocent animal without giving us a chance to seek a second opinion or take him elsewhere for treatment. They refuse to release his medical records to us. They are horrible and I hope they lose all of their funding and their license. I hope they never feel the pain they cause others. They are terrible. read more

This was the only place in the area that would take my baby skunk. They said they would do their best to keep it alive. I really hope they did. The people really seemed to care about the poor little thing. I don't know if they liked me but hey, hardly matters as long as they took good care of the little skunk. read more

-1000 for this place. After bringing a baby squirrel in for care to be re-released they put him down for nothing more than an "overbite." If Id have known that I would have just kept him . Heartbreaking. read more

I rescued a young squirrel from crow attack and couldn't find the Mom. Was referred to SVWC and I'm so glad I went there! They accept rescued wildlife 7 days/week, 9am-3pm. Very helpful folks! They will rehab the young squirrel and release to the wild. The young man I spoke with said that they get hundreds of young squirrels, birds, ducks, possum, and other wildlife every spring and summer. Such a needed service and a great organization. They are non-profit. I donated $$ to help take care of my rescued squirrel. read more

I took some baby possums that were in my yard. While they were not infants, they were fairly small and immature and no mom to be found. I was handed a pamphlet with a regrettable shake of the head ... no, they weren't going to take the animals. My problem is twofold: no staff member even looked at them to assess their ages and (here's the bigger problem) nowhere on the organization's website does it say *not* to bring animals to them. In fact, the site clearly states its mission is to provide care for injured, sick AND orphaned wildlife. I live extremely close to a major expressway and didn't feel it was in the best interest of these young animals to be in such close proximity to it. The staff member I dealt with told me that possums were 'pretty nimble' and 'nocturnal' and brushed off my concerns about the street. Nimble. So I guess the dead ones I regularly see on the sides of the roads were just unlucky. Maybe the organization should consider adding a disclaimer to its web site so people like me don't waste their time trying to save animals or change its mission statement to reflect that they only take animals that photograph well. read more

We had found an injured squirrel and did not know what to do with it. We found this wildlife center and decided to keep watch of the squirrel overnight until it opened the next morning. I'm so glad we did because this center was so kind and informative! I knew right then and there and that the center and the individuals working here would do everything they can. Thank you to everyone who volunteers. Makes such a big difference! read more

Update to my last review. Im beyond disappointed and feel horrible to have just found out this center euthanized the bird I brought for them that was slightly sick but still very active. It broke my heart that I would bring many sick looking birds here trying to save them and I think every single one of them are euthanized. They did this to my bird a few hours after I brought him over there. They didn't even try to give him antibiotics/medication or wait and try to help him recover and heal. I know the bird I caught wasn't feeling that bad and my thinking was I catch him early in his sickness and they're going to cure him but I was wrong. They put him down without even trying to heal him and give it time. So just letting everyone know that they don't really want to deal with sick birds, they don't care as much as they seem to care, there's a good chance they put them down. Another example of them being horrible is I brought this bird that looked sick to them few weeks ago and they instantly told me "Our Vet thinks this bird is okay can you take him back?" After taking him back he died after few hours and the bird was obviously sick. State of California really needs to monitor wildlife centers better and make sure euthanizing is the last source not the first. It really doesn't seem like they have a vet at this place. Shame on you and shame on the state for doing terrible saving wildlife and every false advertisement you do and pretending to care for wildlife. read more

They were a lifesaver when two baby hummingbirds mother didn't return. It was overly 100 degrees, they were panting and no momma. I panicked, caledl the Wildlife Center and they instructed me on how to put them safely in a box and then bring them in right away. The let me know that they would take good care of them and would keep me up to date on how they were doing. Which they did. In about a month or so, I got a post card saying that the two hummingbirds were released. This was good news to my heart. Great service by great people. read more

A baby bird had fallen from its nest and likely broken a leg outside our office complex, and I was able to bring him here today. I'm so grateful for centers like these that give wildlife a second chance. The front desk staff was extremely accommodating and even gave me a reference number so I could check up on the little sparrow I brought in. I'm immensely thankful for that as well, or else I'd be wondering how he did for a very long time. This place is also very humble-looking, like they pour their money into truly helping animals. The setting is very infused with nature. I felt I was doing the best thing I possibly could do to help the bird by bringing him here, and felt wonderful about it for the rest of the day. If you ever find an injured animal and are willing to help, bringing it here is a wonderful option. You of course have to get it here to begin with, they obviously can't help animals that aren't brought there (here's looking at you, review down below). read more

Such a great organisation! I am so thankful to everyone who is a part or it. I dropped-off a baby bird this week and I feel blessed to know she is doing great. "We are all in this together" read more

Definitely a lack of compassion at this place. Just called to report a duck that's been sitting in the street (and almost caused a couple of accidents). He's injured and walks extremely slow, so when he gets tired he sits. Anyways, I called to ask for some advice as to what to do. The woman I spoke to said that I could bring the duck in or I could call animal control. I let her know that I had already called animal control and they said they don't deal with ducks. She said that my only option was to catch it myself. I don't know about everyone else but I have absolutely no idea how to catch a duck and I have no cage for the duck. I let her know that and she said "well if you're not going to catch the duck, how can you expect anyone else to?" What?! First off, I would expect anyone who works with WILDLIFE to be able to know (to some extent) how to catch an injured wild animal. Secondly, the issue was not me not wanting to chase after the duck. He sits in the middle of the street when a car is coming towards him. I doubt there will be much of a "chase". My concern is hurting him further with my lack of knowledge of how to catch a duck. To treat me with such a lack of compassion, a person who is trying to find aid for an injured animal and trying to prevent a potential car accident, was just awful. All I was calling for was advice and now they have this review. read more

The SVWC are no good company because SVWC employee had killed the rescue baby bird instead rescue a baby bird because a baby bird had injury in one eyes. SVWC suppose to rescue any kind animals but instead they had kill a baby bird that we rescue it. Should not happen to other rescue baby birds. SVWC should fire the employee who had kill a baby bird because it is deceiving title Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. Gina A. read more

I'm beyond pissed at this so called wild life center who claims to have a mission for high quality care. I was referred to this place after my family found an abandoned baby squirrel. We initially left it there where we first spotted it, but returned the next day to find the squirrel lethargic and covered in insects which appeared to be eating him alive. My sister nursed the poor little squirrel back to life. It was truly a miracle he even survived. At this point we didn't even have any type of wild life facility in mind. We just completely forgot they existed until a friend reminded us, and eventually referred us to this place. My 2 kids and my sister literally fed and played with this little guy for two weeks. Then today she decided to take him to this dreadful place who claims to have high quality care. High quality care to not allow my sister and kids to say good-bye to the little guy who grew to them for the past couple weeks. Seriously? To the point you make my kids (6 and 8) and her cry? Seriously, high quality care for no compassion towards the family who went beyond their means get this squirrel back on his feet? Not even a simple last look? Not even a simple last good-bye? High quality care? Yea right! What makes you think we'll send another animal your way after you treat people who are compassionate towards animals the way you do? in addition to making my kids cry because you wouldn't allow a simple good-bye. I can only imagine the "high quality care" you treat your animals. The reason they couldn't let them say good-bye?because once they take the squirrel back to the exam room they can't take them out. What?? Really? Then why didn't you say that at first?! You clearly saw the squirrel was fully taken care of and even had a comfortable temporary home we brought him in. You couldn't tell that maybe, just maybe, with your mission of high quality care in your radar, that perhaps this person who did the same "high quality care" for this squirrel deserved a last good-bye? Or last glance? I mean, don't you deserve a good-bye or last glance after you work with an animal to rehabilitate then set them free? Or do you just treat them like an unimportant number like how you treated my sister and kids? For God sakes, what pisses me off about all this is my kids were in tears crying all the way home. We drove all the way from Foster City to San Jose. I wouldn't be going through all this trouble to yelp about this, but trust me, after seeing how distraught my family was from returning from your center. I assure you that people will be aware of how your staff treats people. Specifically Stephanie, Holly, Alex, Janet and Rachel. If you thought not giving us your name after we asked was going to prevent this yelp review about you, then you were wrong. Please be retrained at what you do for the sake of humanity. Or, find another line of business in collections with your cold attitude and manners. read more

The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley is a quant-looking structure nestled on the side of Penitencia park. In spite of its small appearance, the center actually has several nice structures specifically crafted for temporary housing of wildlife, before their release. Volunteers and staff members go the extra mile to make the animals' stay is as comfortable and non-invasive as possible. There are specific diet plans, husbandry, and medication schedules efficiently set up. The people who work and volunteer at this center are amazingly passionate about the wildlife. The center is a non-profit and participates in a lot of community activities - fundraisers, training courses, community education... I've read some stories on here about animals being turned away or euthanized. The center makes the choices that best suit the quality of life and chances of survival for those animals and birds. I've never actually seen an animal put to sleep at the center, though I'm sure it does happen on occasion. If you ever find a wild animal that you feel is abandoned or in danger, reach out to the wildlife center for compassionate and valid advice! read more

I, too, find the details on the one review hard to phantom. I cannot see anyone at the center laughing about putting down an animal. I've brought several birds there and they are very professional and very helpful. Yes, the animals are given a number so you can call back later and check on them. I donate to a lot of animal agencies and I never heard of this one until the incident happened with the birds I brought it. Unfortunately, only one survived of the three. The animals have to be euthanized when they are in extreme pain. I wish they would do more advertising but guess they cannot afford it. I donate to a lot of animal agencies but I certainly will be adding this agency to my list. I can only commend the staff and the work that this agency is doing. read more

I'm relieved to know I could bring injured wild life birds, squirrels, and little animals to rescue them to save their lives. I don't know if they take large wild life animals but it's worth to call them to find out. read more

I really want to thank the workers at the wildlife Center. I found a baby squirrel, I tried to take care of him, his name is Squibbles, but he was so small I knew he needed more help in order for him to live. I gave him to the wildlife Center. I called them to check up on him, he was dehydrated and a little malnourished. They gave him fluids and fed him. He is a lot better now and he is with other squirrels. He has a chance to live with others just like him and have a beautiful life. Thank God we have a Wildlife Center, you are all angels. read more

So glad I found this place! We found a baby squirrel, and after keeping it warm at home over night, came by in the early morning. They took us without question even before their published opening times, took the squirrel and even gave us a case number for followup. These folks are heroes! read more

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA - Animal Shelters Near Me - San Jose, California

We found an injured crow with a broken wing in our neighborhood. We dropped by this place over the weekend and they were open! Yay!! These guys do great work, please donate! The staff members were helpful and caring. Donate!! read more

The staff at WCAV are super warm, caring and very helpful. I've brought 2 birds in over the past two years. They do everything they can to access, stabilize, give care and release. I was so delighted when I got a visit at home in our Garden from one of our rescues! Thank you all for the amazing and challenging work you all do! read more

Amazing place. Sent a follow up on how the injured bird rehabilitated and released. Makes you want to help wildlife even more!

A few years ago, I brought an injured crow to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. The crow had an injured wing, and could not fly--- but was not in danger of dying. I had cared for the bird three days earlier, and brought the bird to a shelter in order to "do the right thing." On the phone, they assured they would not kill the bird, who was not mortally wounded. The shelter is a VERY tiny building, filled with pamphlets but no visible animals. I should have listened to my gut instinct rather than the woman at the counter. Her name was Bonny, and although she acted hospitable at first, she killed my bird that same day. She replaced my bird's name ("Noir") with a long and impersonal number, then abruptly took my crow into a backroom where I was not allowed to enter. She returned than five minutes later to tell me the bird would be put down. Bonny explained that the injured wing could not be "fixed," so Noir would never be able to return to the wild. Apparently, this also meant my bird needed to be "put down." I was shocked! I pointed out that other shelters rescue bald eagles that can't return to the wild, then demanded to have my bird back. She refused, and told me it was illegal to keep wild birds as companion animals in California. I cried, while she smiled and told me that I could always volunteer here if I wanted to. This reaction was very disturbing, and it still creeps me out... Although the Center claims it keeps the animals overnight for surveillance, this is a lie. I called the shelter that same day, and they put me on hold for 10-15 minutes. Finally, I was put through to the "Animal Care Supervisor," who bluntly told me that my bird was "put down." Find another shelter to bring your bird to... this one only keeps high-profile "rare" animals they can show off to raise donations. They will kill your bird. read more

This center does not go pick up animals, the volunteers that work there are for drop offs. If you can get the animal in a blanket and bring it ~ the animal has the best chance of living and then being released back into the wild. They are awesome. If you drop off an animal to make a donation as they need supplies for animals. BTW, the one star duck girl below: There is huge compassion at this place, go back to the mall. You do have to be able to catch an animal to help it. She could have used a blanket. You know the soft thing that's square. read more

We are so fortunate to have this organization nearby. Over the years, we have dropped off a juvenile squirrel, a baby bird and most recently three young raccoons that were orphaned after their mom was killed. The staff at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley are professional and kind. They take their job seriously- rehabilitating wild animals and releasing them once they are ready. We love following them on social media and hearing about their great work! read more

Despite their low staffing level, they provide a good place for concerned people to bring wildlife. They do not have the amount of staff to go out and get an injured animal, but will accept many types - especially birds - if you bring them. A friend found a baby bird that had fallen from a nest in a South San Jose park. We brought it to them and I had a good feeling that they would do their best to raise it and release it in appropriate habitat. read more

Nestled amongst a park like area I stumbled upon a fantastic discovery! An Amazing foundation preserving wildlife in our community! This sanctuary helps lost and injured animals, and is desperately seeking donate-able items. I stopped in last week to see how I could help, and was given a link via their website to an Amazon wish list. When I went onto the list it was very simple items that are very affordable, they also made me think. How many times have I seen an injured bird, raccoon, squirrel, etc? Ive also then felt hopeless. Not any more! Its amazing to me to know that resources like these exist, that they are donation based and are still chugging along. Im a fan for sure! read more

My cat dragged home a house sparrow..it was a young one and it was bitten and looked like it had a broken leg and wing. I immediately found the Wildlife Center on Yelp with the help of my brother and it turned out to be very close by. We sent the young bird to the Wildlife Center and it's still doing great with lotsof other birds! I loove this place! I hope they keep on doing great things for Mother Nature. read more

We found an injured hen on the side of a road and though they couldn't take her in since she was a domestic animal, the receptionist called back with detailed instructions on who to turn to in the Bay Area to take care of the hen. Wish they had been open at night to take the call, however--had to wait until morning to get help. read more

The WCSV is amazing!!! They rehabilitate injured or sick animals then release them!

Wildlife centers are very important in helping to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. Great work being done at the WCSV. I just had to comment on a reviewer below, Roxy M. Wildlife rehabilitation/rescue centers are not designated to save every bird or animal. Rather, they must evaluate every case that comes in. Think about it--wildlife need certain skills to survive in the wild to avoid being eaten or harmed. Squirrels need to run and climb, birds need to fly. If a bird goes into a wildlife center and it is deemed that they are unable to be released back into the wild due to their prior injury (ie: a wing was broken and is unable to be fixed), they need to be euthanized. It is inhumane to release an animal back into the wild if they are unable to survive and every wildlife center does their best to evaluate and rehabilitate these animals and there is usually a very good reason for the euthanasia of any animal. read more

I absolutely adore this place. I have taken a handful of found injured birds here. The people here are wonderful and I love everything they do to take gentle care of the animals and they are very good about keeping you updated. I call back every time and they are very thorough, clear and understanding. I hope to be able to share some of my time volunteering here in the future, wonderful place doing wonderful things. read more

I volunteer here and all the staff are very friendly and helpful when you need help with something. I love animals and it's amazing to see places like this willing to take time to help wildlife! read more

Can't recommend this place enough. We rescued an abandoned gosling, and they took her in happily. They've handled many goslings and ducklings over the years, and I fully trust we passed our little friend over to the right people. They were so friendly and understanding. read more