Pet Match Rescue is an awesome organization, giving so many loving dogs a chance in life, rescuing them from loneliness, risk of euthanasia, and placing them in well deserved loving homes! This was my family's first experience with pet adoption. Pet Match Rescue (PMR) made the experience smooth and organized, by having the adoptable pets online for review and applications available online so that you can prepare one in advance. You can look at their events list for an opportunity to meet the dog and talk with someone from the Pet Match organization. I love how Pet Match cares for its animals and focuses primarily on what is in the best interest in each of its dogs. They want to meet everyone in your family, talk with you and ensure there will be plenty of love and good compatibility between you and your future pet. If you want an organization where you just give them money and get a dog, no questions asked...this is not the place for you! They truly love their dogs and want them to have the best possible home. On the day of the event, we arrived at Petco and followed the Pet Match signs to visit Beverly, the beautiful little Yorkie/Pomeranian that we previously viewed on the website. We found a pen with some of the adoptable dogs in it, along with Phyllis, their foster mom. There we had an opportunity to visit with Beverly and chat with Phyllis about the dog. We found Phyllis to be a very friendly, caring foster mom for these dogs, with a very loving heart. She told us all about the little dog, including how she likes to play, her personality and eating habits. We were given an opportunity to take the dog for a short walk and get acquainted with our possible new companion. Along the walk our family spoke with Phyllis and shared what our home would be like for Beverly. After our brief walk and visit with Beverly, we decided that we would love for her to be a member of the family. We took our completed adoption papers to the table where we met Linda. We were a bit nervous when we talked with Linda, since we were anxiously hoping that we would be accepted as a match for Beverly. We talked about our home, told her a little about ourselves and even showed her pictures of our home. I thought bringing pictures of our home and the neighborhood where we would walk her, with lush greenbelts would help show Pet Match what it would be like for Beverly to live with us. The next morning, we received a call from Pet Match confirming that our family was matched with Beverly and that they would like to come with Beverly to visit our home. The next day, Linda brought Beverly to our home along with a big bag of toys and treats. Together we watched as Beverly played in our home and became comfortable in her new surroundings. Linda is very compassionate about their dogs and before we knew it, hours had gone by. She gave us lots of good advice on how to care for Beverly and showed us which food products were the best and which ones were not recommended. Linda talked to us about Beverly's feeding schedule and showed us all of the products, treats and coupons in the goodie bag. We enjoyed Linda's visit and appreciated all the advice that she provided about Beverly. She is an exceptional member of the Pet Match team and really goes the extra length to successfully adopt a pet. Beverly has been a wonderful addition to our family and has brought us much love and happiness. We couldn't be more pleased! read more

See all

We could not be happier with our new family member. By the looks of the reviews here, you either give 5 stars for an amazing experience or you give 1 star if you are turned down for adoption. I get it. Here is my story.... We looked on petfinder.com for a new puppy and we see a litter of six havanese mix puppies that are as adorable as can be. I submit an application and am told via email that we cannot see them unless we show up at a public viewing the following Sunday at the Petco in Newport Beach. It was Father's Day so we had to change our plans around to make it in time. They were showing them from noon to 3pm and we showed up at 2:30. The place was a mad-house. Totally mobbed with people from all over So Cal waiting around to get their 5 minutes in the play pen with the gorgeous puppies. There were literally over 100 people there during our stay. Our turn came and, after being handled all day, the puppies were all exhausted and taking naps. Still cute but it was way too difficult to request any one in particular. We needed to submit the names of our requested puppy(s) on the application, and then wait for a call. We figured there was no way we would "make the cut" but I did get a call on the following Tuesday. We were told that, based on our application (we listed that we had a kitten at home) we would best be matched with one named "Agate". We would need to agree to that one in particular but that was not one that we asked for. Based on Agate's personality, he would most likely have the best chance in a home with a kitten. We were thrilled to get any of the six and certainly welcomed their recommendation. They were going to stop by and do a home inspection later in the week. We did the recommended shopping for the right food, toys, playpen, etc. and awaited our meeting. We knew from experience that they wanted no dog door, locks on all of the side gates, a good perimeter fence, a nice yard with grass and someone home most of the day. Not great to lock up a puppy all day while mom and dad are working. Hence some of the bad reviews. Hey, I get it. When the puppies are cute and close to pure bread, these places can afford to be picky. Anyone can go to a shelter and pick up a chihuahua or pit bull and will cost next to nothing. A cute, almost pure bread, puppy will require different rules and a higher adoption fee. This is not a for-profit enterprise but they do charge more where they can and use the extra funds to help defray costs of running their program. What they do here is amazing. For example, we were ready to adopt Agate right away but we could not bring him home for two more weeks while he was battling an ear infection. The foster family, who was housing and raising all six puppies, was making sure he was strong and healthy before placement, and not looking to turn a quick buck. Our adoption fee was $625 (I think) which was a lot more than a dog from a pound and a lot less than a pure bread puppy from a breeder. Agate, now called Oliver, is a lovable healthy adorable little guy and were are lucky to have him. The folks here are all amazing, caring volunteers and they run a wonderful service. read more

See all

Yeah I agree with other reviewers. I don't know how they pick people to adopt their dogs but it is questionable. I saw a puppy name rosemary this little tiny poodle puppy 2 weeks ago in Newport Beach, I filled out their long application. And I got no phone call, so I figured she was adopted by some nice loving family by now. NOPE. I saw her again advertised -They are still searching for a someone to take her. You can apply for rosemary this Sunday March 25 , 2018 at petco in Newport Beach. I mean I believe Rosemary got over 30 applications including me just 2 weeks ago. I mean I'm not perfect but ARE YOU REALLY A NON PROFIT???? some question they ask on their application that I think qualify me but shit they are looking for someone better than me?? Hahahah On their applications - Some questions/ my answers - yes I own my own home, yes I have a huge ass backyard that is fenced, yes I have a small dog living in my house (which I brought with me on adoption day 2 weeks ago), yes I have had other dogs, yes I work in the legal field, yes my current dog lives indoor , no I don't have doggy door, will I get a dog door?? yeah sure, yes I have a veterinarian that I take my current dog to, no I don't have kids, etc And not on the application but you saw my face at petco in Newport Beach filing out the application - so yes I'm Asian, I'm Korean. Yes I'm insinuating here... Talking to the employees (not volunteers) I felt RACE DISCRIMINATION!! How do I feel it?? I've been my race all my life lol, I just know. Just from listening to the employees talk- This company prefers to adopt to white people, and WT is fine too. Lol. They won't adopt to Asians - no Chinese , no Japanese, no Koreans etc and you know no Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, etc. no Asians. Oh goodness how fun it would be to do discovery on this company to confirm my belief. Lol Anyways not going back to these people. Something shady is going on with them. It is people / non profits like this that I hate!!!! I was gonna adopt I need all the tax deductions i can get but shit i change my mind!!! Hahaha read more

Pet Match Rescue - This company is a collector of applications. Do not adopt from them. They also like to adopt to white people. Just saying. Be Real - Animal Shelters Near Me

They are scammers. 1. This place doesn't have real address (there is only Petsmart). 2. To apply for adoption you must to donate first and that's why they always have bunch of nice puppies. You never find so many puppies in a real adoption center. 3. Pictures of puppies are fake. So the fraud scheme is - put fake pictures of cute puppies online add fake reviews and collect donations from people who want to apply for adoption. read more

When my husband and I began searching for dogs about two years ago. We wanted to rescue a dog, but the time was never quite right. We also had our own criteria based on the size of our home and our lifestyle. We continued to look, hoping that the right dog would show up. As we began our search we also were looking at rescue organizations that really cared for dogs that had been rescued from some unimaginable circumstances. We stumbled upon Pet Match Rescue when I began looking up rescues that have 501(c)3 status. Not only are all the dogs they rescue fostered in homes, but they take great care to place the dogs with the right owners. Once we began looking at the dogs, we knew that Pet Match Rescue would have the right dog for us. When we started to looking at the dogs they currently had in foster, we saw one that we became infatuated with. A 10 month-old Schnoodle was exactly what we were looking for. I sent an email and Julie invited us to meet him in person at the Petco in Newport Beach. We went and took him for a walk. With so much energy and power, he was just a little too much for us. We went back inside to see if there were any other dogs that we might be interested in. In the cage to the right was another Schnoodle. He was 3 years old and a bit bigger, but his sweet face was one we couldn't pass up. My husband sat on the floor next to him and the pup crawled into his lap. That was is! The next day we got a call letting us know that they would like to bring the dog to our home to see how he would react and to make sure it was safe. Once again, the dog crawled right into my husband's lap. We've had Hammy (née Edmund) for a week now and while we are dealing with a transition for both hammy and us, we are so grateful for the smooth and safe handling of this adoption. We will forever be in debt to Julie, Linda, and everyone at Pet Match Rescue for bringing Hammy into our lives. read more

Pet Match Rescue - Our Hammy (née Edmund) and his daddy! - Animal Shelters Near Me

Had family go meet a few dogs and the lady helping was extremely rude. Called us liars right off the bat because she didn't believe our dog was really 11 years old (just because she was healthy). Kept commenting she didn't see any signs of aging like "cloudiness in her eyes." Told us we shouldn't rescue a dog when our dog is "already so old". I'm a veterinarian technician and I know this kind of behavior and attitude toward pet owners (even potential) should not be tolerated. Extremely unprofessional. We loved the dogs but it's an extreme disappointment that they may potentially not find a home because of unprofessional behavior that turns families away. Please do something about this. I forgot to additionally add that after she told us to not adopt she refused to acknowledge us afterwards, blatantly ignoring my family. She also racially profiled the person after me saying she won't let people whose race is known for eating dogs look at their dogs. Yeah, great service read more

Horrible at communicating. I've applied for a few dogs and when I go check on the dog a few days later it states "adoption pending." It would be nice to get an email from them, even if it's a you haven't been chosen email. Very disappointed. read more

Pet Match Rescue is the way to go if you want to adopt a new friend for your family! Although I may be completely biased, as my wife and I volunteer for Pet Match Rescue, I think they're a fantastic organization that really cares for each and every animal they place. We've been fostering for almost a year now, and every dog that's come through our house has been a joy to work with, and it's been awesome to get to see them adopted out to loving families. Pet Match does a great job thoroughly screening applicants to make sure it's a match for both the family AND the pet, so everyone will be happy in the long run. We will continue to foster and support this organization, since they know how to do adoptions and rescue the right way. I know from the inside perspective that 100% of the funds go to the animals and their care, and when you adopt from Pet Match, you're getting an animal that's spayed/neutered, microchipped, and current on all vaccinations. Many of these animals are rescued from kill shelters where they would not otherwise have a chance at life if it were not for this great group. I'd highly recommend dropping by their adoptions at Petco (MacArthur & Bison in Newport Beach) to support this group, see some animals, and maybe even take one home! :) read more

See all

I wish I could give zero stars. This a terrible company! They must delete the negative comments on facebook. I was told I was approved for a puppy. Once approved, you get invited to a chat where you are "allowed to openly ask questions." A few legitimate questions came up, things about what medications the dogs would be on/why, and people wanting more photos (you only receive one) - and the volunteers' responses were so rude and degrading. These people weren't saying anything wrong, I honestly couldn't wrap my head around why the volunteers were being so harsh. Well in the chat, we were told we would have to pay the full amount for the puppy in cash, before ever even seeing it in person. (Which is different than what the website says). This to me sounds like a scam and made me nervous. I wrote in the chat, "Does anyone else feel uncomfortable having to pay $800 without seeing the dog first?" Within a minute a volunteer replies "this chat is for people who are VERY EXCITED for their dog. Your comment does not portray that, so you will be deleted." And just like that I was removed from the chat. With no further explanation. I spent the day SO upset and confused. I felt I was justified to ask this question, and it absolutely did not mean I was not excited. Heartbroken, I call my "dog matcher," to see if I am still getting the dog because it had been hours and I heard nothing. She answers the phone and says, "I'm really not supposed to talk to you," and hangs up. As if I did something terrible! Late that night they send me my deposit back - still no explanation or communication. I had been so excited about this puppy for weeks, and within a minute of one snap judgement, she was taken from me. Moral of the story - if these people don't treat humans with respect, I guarantee they don't treat dogs with respect. I bet they didn't want me in the chat anymore because they were scared that I was bringing an awareness to people, that something didn't feel right about this company. You would never buy a house without going to see it in person. Especially with cash only. Owning a dog is life changing, it is only fair to the future owners and to the dog to see if there is chemistry and connection. Fully purchasing a dog based on one photo is irresponsible. I feel it was a blessing in disguise to not get a dog with Matchdog. I hope this review warns you to not make the same mistake. Ps. The person who matched me with the dog was initially SO nice and friendly, and so kind to all of my references. Don't let that fool you. As soon as you submit the payment for the deposit, those kind attitudes are gone. read more

If I could give them a 0 I would! I first applied May 8 and applied 4 times after up to July 27...I applied for a total of 12 dogs and of course paid all the application fees. Horrible communication. It was heartbreaking for me! I fell in love with many of their pets at first sight and kept checking and waiting only to find the "ADOPTION PENDING" notes on those dogs within a day or two. NO COMMUNICATION with their applicants! After 3 months of applying, I finally gave up! Then I applied with another rescue July 28 and picked up my beautiful pup on August 6! They knew how to communicate and find the right homes for their dogs in a timely manner. Forget Matchdog...they are the worst! Good luck read more

I couldn't agree less with the negative reviews about this group. I got my dog Charlie (formerly Marbles) from this group in mid-November of 2014. While the adoption events are a little hectic, they do a great job of putting info up on online about all their available dogs. I found the info to be very accurate and helpful, such that when we arrived to the adoption event we had narrowed down our interest to two dogs. It's true volunteers are busy, but I found them to be very sweet and helpful, and they are obviously concerned with finding the dogs a good home that will be a good fit for BOTH the dog and the owner. I actually still email with them, letting them know how Charlie is doing, and they are always very responsive and sweet. As for the dog, Charlie is just wonderful. We love him so so much and he has been an amazing addition to our family! I can't imagine my life without him now. They are a wonderful organization and they do great work. For the people complaining, these people are all volunteers who do this out of the kindness of their hearts. These events can't be seamless quiet events that cater to every person who walks in the door of a busy Pet Store on a Saturday afternoon! read more

Pet Match Rescue - Charlie, who we got from Pet Match Rescue. He is the best dog! Obviously, since he lets me put him in a bunny suit :) - Animal Shelters Near Me

We'd seen some of the fosters and rescues from Pet Match Rescues and decided they would be our first choice in finding our new family member. The dogs are obviously treated like the precious little gems that they deserve to be. As far as I can tell, no dog is just placed with a new family just because there is no other choice for that dog. They scrutinize every application and each individual. I guess we were lucky, because after filling out the paperwork ahead of time, choosing from the descriptions on the website, attending a rescue event and deciding on one of the more popular pups...we were chosen to parent "Olive" (new name). She is as precious as her picture portrayed. She's been well socialized and obviously loved by her foster parents. After only a week she recognizes and responds to her new name, is potty-training like a little champ and loves her big (doodle) sister. As with everything in life, there were a couple of paperwork snafus that come with running such an important, emotionally draining, heartfelt, and busy organization...but Julie and Linda couldn't have been sweeter from beginning to end. After reading some of the other reviews, I'm more convinced than ever that they can "feel" loving, committed puppy parents. These dogs have already been through so much...why put them with people that won't be able to spend every waking moment protecting and cherishing them. They can see individuals looking for a temporary "toy" for their children from a mile away. If you're REALLY ready for a new family member, be patient. They'll find you the puppy that needs you. read more

Pet Match Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

God is so good to not let me adopt a dog from these people. They are shady only in it for the money. I emailed Pet Match Rescue regarding this cute little dog named Rosemary. Told them my story. My finance was diagnosed with testicular cancer, a doggie would be a great addition to us. They said that we need to apply I completely understand and respect that. They gave me the date and time to go see the dog. Keep in mind I am from El Segundo and I drove to Newport Beach to go meet and hopefully be able to adopt Rosemary. When I got there I quickly noticed that these people were looking for more than paring the dog with the perfect people it's definitely more of a money. It was almost $600 to adopt Rosemary! They saw a latina girl and didn't even bother asking me any additional questions. I hate using the Race card but this is a must. Don't go here unless you are a white person and look like you have unlimited money. They make everyone feel like you are competing to who is the best wealthiest person. Anyway poor dog still haven't found a home. Ugh I ended up going to the South LA Animal Shelter where I found this beautiful little boy I named him Leo and paid $100! I'd tell you I feel much better, like I really rescued a dog. These people should not even be in business. There is a reason why this organization has a couple of bad reviews. Most of the dogs that they try to connect to the right people are from the shelter not to mention the get an additional discount! These people are making so much money Go to non profit shelters! They have amazing dogs! read more

See all

When I was searching around Petfinder I saw a dog that took my breath away. He belonged to this rescue. We recently adopted our second dog, Sterling (formerly Barton) from Pet Match. As all other reviewers have stated, the adoption event is a bit of a zoo. Just come ready for chaos and make sure you are there early, to get as much one on one time as possible. As far as the "attitudes" of the volunteers mentioned in other reviews- I couldn't agree less. Everyone was so kind and sweet, and Julie (owner) was incredible. They let us take a lot of time with Sterling, and his foster parent answered my 10,526 questions. My husband wasn't there, but I brought my mom and my Golden Retriever puppy, Jasmine. They hit it off right away. Julie actually took some time with just my puppy to evaluate her. It was VERY clear to me that finding the right home FOR THE DOG is important. It turns out Sterling had a ton of applications on him, and although he had attended a few events, no family was picked because it wasn't the right fit. I like that before a home check, the family/dog compatibility is determined. It saves everyone a lot of time and false hope. We ended up getting the call at around 5 pm Sunday...the LONGEST 26 hours of my life! He came to us Thursday of that week, as we live in San Diego and it was difficult with transport. The only area of improvement would be customer responses. I emailed and received a form letter back telling me to come to the event. I also called and emailed after the event and got no response. Their voicemail states they will not call people back. I get that they are busy, and have many people interested (attend an event and you'll agree), but a quick email or call would go a long way. Either way, DOGS COME FIRST at this rescue, and that is how it should be! read more

Pet Match Rescue - Sterling...our baby from Pet Match Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

Okay some of these reviews are baffling to me, like I see a reviewer claiming that petmatch is racist to Asians. I admit it's been over three years since I adopted through them and things may have changed, but I had a blissfully smooth experience adopting my schnoodle and I'm an Asian girl, first time dog owner. At the time they were holding their weekly adoption fairs in Irvine. I scoured their available dogs and loved how their descriptions were thorough and personal. I had my heart set on a little guy named Sheldon but when I got there, he was swamped with people waiting to meet him so I put my name down and walked around. That's when I saw her: a sad looking, scruffy white dog with a nub tail and stomach darkened from puppy breeding. I signed up to meet her and then went back to meet Sheldon. No spark. Then they brought scruffy dog over and the moment I cupped her face in my hands, we knew it was special. Even the volunteer exclaimed "Oh you two have such a great connection!" That day, I applied for little "Lorraine". The following day, I got the call saying Lorraine was mine. And then that Tuesday, they brought her over. I forget the lady's name but she went over some information with us and then left us with some dog toys (which she still has haha) and a harness and leash. Suddenly I was a dog owner. We renamed our baby Mochi, and she's made my world a better place. She needed to be housebroken and had some anxiety with men and passing trucks but she's blossomed, her stomach has gone back to normal, and she is my best friend. Instagram @mynamemochi for anyone who's curious. The only reason I give petmatch 4 stars instead of 5 was they never followed up? I mean, it turned out to be a perfect adoption but what if it hadn't been? I see another reviewer who felt petmatch left her high and dry with an aggressive dog, but I can say from firsthand experience I saw no racism or unnecessary red tape with this agency, it was a smooth seamless process, and I'm so thankful for the thoughtfulness they put into finding these puppers the right home. Kudos to any of you looking to bring a homeless pupper into your heart and home and best of luck! read more

I must say I was very impressed with Pet Match Rescue's operation. I had been searching for a rescue for a couple weeks and went to a few different adoption events. While searching online I was interested in one PMR's pups. I emailed to see if he was still available and I got a response within two days. They told me to show up at the event at Petco in Irvine. I printed out the application prior to the event filling it out completely. I got to the event early in hopes to spend as much time with "Dolittle" as I possibly could. The first volunteer I met was Phyllis. She is absolutely amazing. She is a foster mom and and really takes great care of all of her pups. Yes the event is a bit chaotic. You have all of these foster parents coming with all of the foster fur babies and then you have all of these people coming to look at all the different animals. I have never seen an event so organized with so many people coming to look at dogs I think it says a lot for Linda, Julie and the volunteers. They take great pride and care in reviewing every application they receive and making sure the rescue is placed in the best possible home. You can spend as much time as you want with whatever rescue you are interested in. They do tell you that if you are not chosen you will not get a callback. You know that upfront. I was on pins and needles waiting for a call back when I received the good news the following day on Mother's Day. Linda set up an appointment for that Tuesday to bring my little guy to the house and spent over an hour reviewing everything I needed to know about my little guy. She checked out the house and the backyard to make sure it was safe. This organization is very passionate about what they do. You can tell by their website, their volunteers, their approach, and the fact that they go all over the state to rescue adoptable babies. One of the reviewers on this site mentioned the cost being high for adoption. Understand that some of these babies are spayed or neutered, microchip, fed until they are adopted and some require medical attention. All of that cost money. I think the adoption fee is more than reasonable. Look at it as a donation to one of your favorite charities. You would probably spend that much anyway if you have the means to take care of an animal. I can't say enough wonderful things about this organization. Thank you very much for rescuing me! read more

Pet Match Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

I agree they discriminate against perfect loving people who want to adopt. If you're over 50 years old & don't have a backyard & another dog.,.forget it. I see this rescue group as snooty Newport beach! We live in newport so we are very familiar with these types. Unfortunately it's the dogs that are neglected & handled in a stressful situation, week after week they recycle the same dogs for all to view but Not adopt. shame on Pet Rescue & Petco for allowing this kind of abuse to these sweet dogs. read more

I got the sweetest dog and they gave me a lot of support and knowledge. They really run a great rescue! Sarah Gunther read more

Pet Match Rescue - Formerly named Sylvana I adopted this little angel and changed her name to Vanna!! Sarah and Rick G - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

I feel that I must warn others against adopting from Pet Match Rescue. I adopted an adorable terrier mix 2-1/2 months ago. We went to an adoption event 2-1/2 months ago. We were accepted and Honey (formerly known as Peaches) came the next day to our home. I am retired and wanted a dog that I could take on long walks and enjoy in my home. We don't have a big back yard and Pet Match Rescue knew this. I was told that she does NOT bark at all, and that she is great with other dogs. THESE WERE TOTAL LIES on their part. No sooner did they drop her off that she started barking when someone passed our door, made a noise outside, or upstairs neighbors did anything at all. It wasn't a huge issue as talking to her calmed her down and she has limited her barks a great deal. I want to say that she is the perfect dog INSIDE our home. She is my cuddly and adorable companion and I have grown to love her very much, HOWEVER, taking her for walks is a TOTAL NIGHTMARE. She is aggressive towards other dogs. She has gotten out of her halters/leash and this is our fourth one which says 'it is escape-proof' but she got out of that also and went after a dog being walked by an elderly woman with a cane. To get her to stop, I had to throw myself on top of her in the weeds and mud! Luckily no one was bitten or hurt, but this isn't an isolated incident. I think the foster people had her in the backyard with another dog or two so she was okay but NEVER walked her to see if she could get along with other dogs. I did contact Pet Match Rescue and spoke to the lady that brought her over to us. I was told that I wasn't exercising her enough and that I should take her to the Dog Park many times a week and she would be so tired that she wouldn't be aggressive. Silly me for believing that!! I started taking Honey to the dog park 4-5 times a week. I'm over 60 and wanted my retirement to be relaxing, allowing me to have a life also. Honey was okay with the majority of dogs there but on 3 separate occasions, she went after dogs so that I had to stop going to Dog Parks. Linda, who decided we should have Honey said she had been hesitant to give her to us because of our ages So why did she??? Was it the almost $500.00 fee we paid for her? We are now at the point where we do love her very much (inside) but I am spending money and hired a trainer to help us as well as going to our VET who gave her anti-anxiety meds to try to manage the aggression and I went online to read anything and everything that might help us. I find it unbelievable that there was no knowledge of this on the part of Pet Match. Granted, these adoption services are filled with kind hearted people who have NO TRAINING EXPERIENCE. They dump dogs off on people and have no FOLLOW-UP on how it is going. It's like they don't want to know if it isn't working out! Our lives have been turned upside-down because of this and, if you are thinking about adopting a rescue dog, you would be better off getting a dog from an organization who tells you the truth about the dog you want to adopt. SHAME ON YOU PET MATCH RESCUE. I asked for help and got none. If there was a way to give you a rating of 0 stars, I would!! read more

Very responsive to our emails and application. We have adopted two dogs. Shay, our first beautiful dog, really needed a friend. Linda brought Shay to our house and it was love at first sight. Linda even hung out for about an hour giving me wanted advice and helpful hints. We then saw another dog of interest on their website so I went to an event with Shay and the two dogs were not a match. Linda and Julie were incredible and so kind when saying that they did not think it was a good pairing, which I was in complete agreement with. Another puppy, now known as Gus, caught my eye but seemed to be incredibly desired. I left with my one beautiful dog and hoped to find a buddy for our puppy another time. I checked their helpful website later that week ,noticed Gus was still available, emailed Julie and she immediately responded and said she too thought Shay and Gus would be a good pair. She was right!!!!!! Shay and Gus are our awesome dogs and we could not happier. While their adoption fee seemed steep, our wonderful dogs were worth every penny. I highly recommend them. Julie and Linda were always incredibly pleasant, friendly, responsive, and over all great. read more

We were lucky enough to rescue a dog through Pet Match Rescue recently. We also knew that there were many others at the time who wanted the same animal. We are grateful that our personalities, home situation and ability to care for the pet were a match. We are in love with our big pup and there is no doubt he was matched to a really good home. We are blessed! And maybe he actually rescued us, we still grieving from the loss of a pet we had for nearly 12 years. I read through all of the reviews of PMR lately, after giving their name to a friend who wanted to adopt a dog. I truly feel that some people have not paid enough attention to the process. The paperwork clearly states you will not receive a call unless you are the chosen home and we were verbally told the same. I know how nail biting it was for us waiting for the call, but we were clear that we would NOT GET A CALL if we were not chosen as a right fit or could not provide the home environment that this particular rescue organization believes is best for the animal. Every rescue organization is different with different placement parameters. We live in a nice dog-friendly neighborhood, but not Newport Beach. We have a nice open yard, but not an acre. I read that one reviewer suggested these may be parameters for adoption. One reviewer even suggested race was a factor, how silly. Not all rescue organizations are the same. Some do not even check out the home the animal is going to, scary to imagine for us. PMR does check the home when they deliver the pet and if the home deems unsafe or the information is not what has been put on the application, I imagine they have the right to change their mind and not leave the animal. Some rescue organizations charge much less, some maybe more. We knew the cost up front, there were no surprises, so I find it discouraging for people to judge PMR after the fact that they were making a huge profit and being charged a huge fee. The people working the weekends at Petco are VOLUNTEERS! Please remember this. We also felt a slight unfriendliness among some of the staff like others mentioned. But they are there for a short time trying to find the right matches for these wonderful animals and don't have the time to become our friends. To be too chatty or friendly may give the wrong impression to those of us wanting to adopt, a misunderstood assumption that we may have been chosen. We got that they had to remain neutral and maybe even a little ambivalent to the crowd. It's what they have to do. We wish everyone who goes to a PMR adoption event, or any adoption event, the best of luck finding their new pet. It's worth the work, it's worth the time and maybe it will take more than one try. But how wonderful that there are so many people out there wanting to give these animals a good home. And let's recognize that the people who do the work to find homes for these animals do it because they love it! read more

I write this review with a heavy heart. My first experience with PMR was the absolute best. My pup, Bella, came to me exactly as advertised; and, after a little over 2 years, she is the epitome of a perfect dog. That said, my parents and I recently went back to PMR to look into adopting another dog. We had one in mind, advertised as housebroken and loving. She was so freaking adorable too. With a hefty price tag of $500, my parents were able to take her home, which they did with open hearts hopeful to get another Bella. Within the first hour of her being in our home, she peed on the floor, was terrified of all of us (especially my father) and was not getting along with Bella. She absolutely would not walk on a leash with my dad, she would twist and turn and yank on the harness just to try and get away from him. It was majorly disappointing. She was also not housebroken at all. We had wee wee pads all over the house and she would find the one area there weren't any to pee, even after relieving herself outside. Most upsetting was how the two dogs weren't getting along. After about 48 hours we contacted Linda and told her it wasn't working out. Bella was clearly depressed and the new pup was NOT housebroken (which she was very clearly advertised as such). We didn't want to prolong my parents getting attached or risk the dog getting attached to them and then having to go to a new, strange foster home. So we suggested she go back. Now, here's the rub ... we spent $500 to have a dog for 48 hours. The dog wasn't as advertised and we had no way of knowing how the two dogs would react until we brought them home. So, in my mind (the mind of a lawyer) there was no meeting of the minds for there to be an enforceable contract as we did not receive the benefit of what we bargained for. Now, I understand this is a non-profit corporation, but their going to turn around and sell this same dog again, for another $500 if not more ($525 as advertised currently on their site). So, they are cheating people, like my parents, out of their money but having this "non-refundable mandatory donation" for every animal. If the animal isn't as advertised and you are allowing it to go to a home with an existing animal, there has to be wiggle room for refunds. Otherwise, you're just a well operable scam. So, in short, be VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND SELECTIVE with this rescue. Otherwise you'll be out a TON of money! read more

They gave us zero documentation or support for us during the process. We had numerous times for records regarding vaccinations. The dogs were transported with out all the vaccinations which lead to serious illness. They withheld information from us when they knew the sibling of our puppy had a very contagious disease. These dogs were fostered by matchdog together and had no records of their visits about their illness in NJ. They informed us the dogs had a slight cough but no record from a vet that indicated the information on medicine. They also gave us the wrong chip for the puppy. When we picked up the puppy we were handed a small piece of notebook paper with the wrong information for medicine for the puppy. I think what they are trying to do is great but have the resources to do it properly. I would use another rescue that has more experience with Vets on their staff. They do not communicate well during or after the process. They are not very organized. I would give it a 0 if I could. read more

My husband and I visited two adoption events held by Pet Match Rescue in Newport Beach, and both times we were treated disrespectfully by the organization's leader Julie Milliken, who was judgmental, condescending, and rude. At our first visit, we selected a small young dog, who was being fostered, and submitted our application to Ms. Milliken. The following week, after we sent three inquiring emails, we heard nothing back, despite the dog still being available for adoption. We went to the next adoption event a week later and submitted our application again. Ms. Milliken was clearly prepared to brush us off a second time, until we asked why we hadn't heard anything. She responded that they receive too many emails to answer them. My husband and I are professionals, and we're also busy, but we nevertheless answer all inquiries. We asked why our application wasn't approved. She replied that it was not selected by the "committee" (i.e., her, we suspect) for reasons that had to do with our home (a large condo) and the dog's needs. We asked what those needs were, and it was simply that she (the dog) was having issues with house-training. We pointed out that we've had 12 pets between us and have house-trained many dogs. Although we don't have a yard, we have trees and grass directly out our front door and can simply carry the dog outside. Ms. Milliken really had no response. So she looked at our application again, and saw that "divorce" was cited as one of the reasons we no longer had a pet (my husband's ex denies him visitation rights). She responded "well, you see, you WOULD give up a dog." Her inexcusable criticism bordered on cruelty. We couldn't understand why we were being treated with such arbitrary disdain. (Homophobia, perhaps?) After being treated so horribly, we watched the NBC/LA investigative video from a year ago online, and it confirmed all our suspicions. (Google it.) While there are a number of well-meaning volunteer fosters, Ms. Milliken will demean you. We hope her judgmental, arrogant and patronizing attitude doesn't get in the way of providing these sweet pets with good homes. But we doubt it. A Google search shows that Pet Rescue Match Inc. has two paid employees, one of them being Ms Millken, and their annual earnings are $100,000. With their higher-than-normal adoption fees, one can't help but wonder where all the money goes. read more

I don't think they give people an honest chance for adoption. We visited their pet adoption event at least 4 times and had very much thought through the process of adopting a dog into our family (we have a job and a stay at home mom). We applied for one of 2 dogs and never got a response. We never found out why we are "unqualified" to adopt a dog in their eyes, but the dogs were still available a week later. I just find it sad, that they don't work harder to find the dogs a nice home. The people who work here are judgmental and feel holier than the Pope. Don't waste your time, if you are serious about adopting a pet. You won't find it here. Just to be clear. We are not out of state candidates. We have moved permanently to Newport Beach and that was made clear in our application. read more

Hi ... Thought it was time to update my review of Pet Match Rescue. I just want to thank you girls for my Abigail, a Havanese/Poodle mix. I adopted her in 2012 and she has been a joy. I just want to thank you for your professionalism and concern for where these precious rescues are placed. I wasn't sure I would be Abby's mom but followed the procedures and received a call from Julie and was chosen to receive Abby. Julie was careful to make sure Abby's new home would be a good fit. I am always so impressed with the dedication of this organization and all the participants, i.e. foster parents and helpers in the adoption process. Thank you again! read more

Please Yelp do not take this down. I personally read five of the negative reviews that you do not recommend. This is when qualitative analysis reigns over quantitative. Just getting a mean score is not enough. My criticisms of Pet Match Rescue is based upon three visits. My review mirrors the same as the negative reviews that you have posted as well as those who are not recommended. One poster stated well maybe those who are negative about PMR is that they got rejected from adoption. In my case, this could be not farther from the truth. Every dog I ever adopted live wonderful long lives with me, and I am the one who people come to if they need a dog to adopt. All the rescue organizations, except for a couple great ones, have been mediocre to just terrible that I have experienced. My review and others can save time for people who are sincere in adopting a dog without confronting the negative people who run this rescue organization. Pet Match Rescue are like a few I have encountered. They care about lining their pockets with money whomever they think can afford the outrageous fee they charge. Hey I can afford it and I have home trained dogs from the street and ones I have adopted from hobby breeders that cannot show some from their litter. PMR misrepresent they only give a favorable online description of the pets for adoption. It is after you have submitted your adoption form, the ladies at this organization come up with the negatives of the dog--maybe they do this if they don't want you to adopt. For example, this poor Golden Retriever they stated was 4 years old, hey I know what a 4 year old looks like. The poor lanky soul, underfed, was around 7 with a white beard and later the foster revealed his teeth were decayed. No big thing for me as I adopted a Golden from the streets on the lam, who was estimated to be 7 years old, and had equally bad teeth. I had him for five years until his death from lymphatic sarcoma. On the last three visits at PetCo Irvine adoption day, my sweetheart Bob, a Golden, accompanied me as it is important if I try to find a companion for him we need to check out if he interacts well with the dog of our choice. Generally, my Golden gets on well with everyone, kids, people, and my house trained rabbits. The two rode hard chick ladies running the show appeared jealous that he was getting more attention than their dogs for adoption. People always come up to my dogs and ask to pat them as they are approachable, friendly, and well trained. The fosters are generally nice it just these battle axes as owners of this rescue org that need an attitude check and need to get out of the dog business which is the problem. On this last go around, I filled out their application which generally takes 20 minutes to present a readable document. I have bit of arthritis in my right hand, I apologized to this Peggy chick owner that I had some work to do earlier and passed by a little late at 2:30 pm to check out a companion for my dog. Three pm is the cut off to visit with the dogs. She said she remembered me, but that they were ready to leave like she didn't want to take my application but hesitatingly she did. These ladies are always wanting to leave earlier than 3pm. I have observed them packing up at 2:45 pm. Her "hefty" friend as Tracy C points out was another winner, holding a blind dog. My dog meandered over and he had his harness on with a leash , this old battle axe freaked out and snarled at me as if my dog was going to jump her dog. I told her lady I used to train on a blind horse, and through my non verbal behavior told her to cool her jets. Last month one foster noticed like I did that an Afenpinscher bonded with my Bob, the Golden. The Peggy chick with her other rode hard partner ignored me, and then said well the Afenpinscher bites and you say on your app that you would return a biter. I said let me be clear "if he bites numerous people" Lady I don't have a choice the city does. I had a dog that was with me until death for 10 years he hated other dogs but I controlled him. Geesh you can't be honest with people they would rather see you sued. Yes, dogs who would bite occasionally, I would not surrender. Bottom line, these women should not be running a rescue organization, the dogs are the ones that should be let loose in the store and put these uptight money grabbing women in a cage so they can snarl and drool.... Free dogs from human capitalists. Don't make money on dogs, socialize the government so that well meaning dog owners can afford dogs at a reasonable price. Sorry Yelp if I interject my opinion which according to free speech allows especially when you are reviewing a vendor that do not pass the bar. read more

When I first came to the adoption I was really excited to meet all the dogs. The first lady I ran into gave me total attitude like I wasn't worthy of any of their dogs. So I left that day and thought I would come back with my husband anyways. 2nd experience was better. They were VERY busy but I thought that was a great thing because so many dogs will find homes! Didn't seem to be the case though, they are very choosy with who they let go home with dogs. I understand needing to match the dog up with a good home but this was a little TOO choosy. The dog we went to see had been up for adoption for a few weeks before we went to go see him and when we got there the lady said 4 people had already applied for him! So I didn't get my hopes up. If he's popular and finds a home then great! Well he didn't get adopted for at least 3 more weeks. Didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I know these people are doing great things in rescuing these dogs and finding them homes, I just think they could be a little less choosy and maybe they would find so many other dogs homes. Needless to say, I went to another organization and got a pup who is VERY happy in his new home. :) read more

After seeing a dog I was interested in adopting on adoptapet.com, I contacted Pet Match Rescue for more info and an application. The email seemed generic but clear on the steps to proceed. When I attended their adoption event at Petco, I was overwhelmed. I couldn't imagine how the dogs were feeling. There were a lot of people (about 3 different organizations were also there) milling around. Many were there to inquire about the same dog I was interested in. My husband and I waited patiently for our turn to spend time with him and ask questions. The person assisting us was helpful enough, even allowing us to walk with him outside. From my impression, however, some applicants were very pushy and tried to cut in from our time. While we received helpful information about the dog, we didn't feel as if we had quality time with the dog due to all the commotion. After the event, I didn't think I had a shot since I got the impression that they were looking for an older couple more likely to be able to spend more time at home with the dog. Lo and behold, I got a missed call from them. Unfortunately, what happened after was identical to what happened to Tracey C. from her review below. I understand the organization needs to be speedy in order to spend their time and energy on other dogs that need rescuing. However, they could definitely be more clear in their voice message and be more responsive when people call back. Pet Match Rescue seems to do good work and is very busy saving dogs' lives. I do wish that they could treat people interested in their dogs better, since a lot of us are very emotionally vested in the adoption process as well. read more

We like being a two dog family and after having lost our beloved Baxter and Chico we got a Jack Russell puppy. We not only wanted him to be a friendly dog to people AND other dogs.. but wanted a second dog who had the same energy level, friendliness, and would be a true playmate. I love how carefully Pet Match fosters and screens these dogs. And how carefully they screen us as adopters. Pearl's profile was so perfect for our needs and they even insisted she be placed in a home with another young playful dog- we had that for sure. Well, look below at the results. This photo was taken just a couple of days after we got her and Huey and Pearl are best friends and are never apart. We are so happy and can't talk enough about this non-profit which I whole heartedly supported with my donation. Linda was awesome as was Pearl's other foster mom. Here they are... Huey and Pearl. read more

Pet Match Rescue - Pearl cuddling up to her new brother Huey! - Animal Shelters Near Me

Several weeks ago we adopted our new puggle Lola from Pet Match and couldn't be happier. I found her online and she looked like a good match for our chug Diablo. I reached out and communicated with the ladies at Pet Match and they were very helpful, providing all of the info we needed. We drove down from LA to Newport Beach for their adoption event and the dogs seemed to hit it off. It was love at first sight. Linda was very helpful and told us we would hear back within a few days. We heard back that night! Linda brought Lola (at the time she was called Alana) up to West Hollywood the very next day. She is a happy vivacious 2 year old and we are thrilled! Lola was found at a kill shelter in San Diego. It looks like she may have been bred and then dumped. All of the dogs from Pet Match come from kill shelters. The volunteers of Pet Match Rescue are doing such important work. Lola was spayed, given a checkup and shots and microchipped by the shelter. If you are looking for a new pet, please consider them. They have a broad assortment of furry friends. Young and old. Big and small. All in need of a good forever home! Thank you Pet Match for bringing us so much happiness! read more

We grade on how well a 'shelter' cares for those in its care, nothing else. These guys get an absolute 5 star from us. They are awesome, absolutely awesome. We're glad these folks carefully review all potential adoptions - their experience is that failure to do careful review only results in dogs 'bouncing' back to the shelter and stealing from the chances for a happy adoption that all dogs have. We were rejected by them once. Fortunately, we weren't deeply wounded. Besides, go stand around one of their adoption events - you'll understand their point pretty quickly. There's a reason why many of us hope to go to doggie heaven when we die - not human heaven. We adopted a beautiful pair this past week. Absolutely 5 star happy with the whole process, Hooray for Pet Match that they're as careful as they are. read more

My husband and I were looking to adopt a new dog after our sweet dog passed away. Since we wanted to get a breed that was hypoallergenic, we decided to get a Havanese. In June 2017, after looking online for three weeks, we found that Pet Match Rescue (PMR) was showing some Havanese puppies at Petco in Newport Beach that were born in one of their rescue homes. Along with dozens of others looking to adopt, we had 10 minutes to meet the dogs in a small group playpen setting (about ten dogs and ten people at a time). Since PMR has a great web site describing the dogs along with pictures we were able to focus on the puppies that we were most interested in. After our time meeting the puppies we turned in our three-page application and spoke with Julie briefly. We listed three dogs we were most drawn to in order of preference. The next day we were thrilled to find we had been matched with our first choice. We were given a list of items that would be good to acquire before we got our new puppy. Linda brought our baby to us down in San Diego County at the end of the week. PMR likes to check out the home and yard to be sure it is a safe environment for the dog. Phyllis, the foster mom, had typed out two pages of information that would be helpful to us, specifically about our puppy. Linda brought that along with several toys, pages of helpful information, and a leash and harness. I am so grateful to PMR for being so caring and thoughtful in bringing dogs and new owners together. About three months later we had our puppy spayed at the pet hospital PMR uses and pays for. She is now healed and doing great. We had a great experience with PMR and couldn't be happier with our new puppy. read more

Located at Petco, this organization is well run: really nice caring volunteers with great customer service. They are very helpful, friendly and welcoming. I went here in search of a dog I found on pet finder, everyone else had the same idea and the place was crowded. Everyone was greeted, question answered, no one was ignored. There is an adoption process where they match you to the dog and the volunteers are very nice about it. There was literally a waiting list to meet this dog of interest, knowing most people won't get her, the volunteers still encourage you to apply as well as look at other dogs and gently explain to each family if they don't get picked it's not that they don't qualify but that there was a better match with another family. They never made anyone feel bad or not qualified. Honestly very nice people who clearly cared about their foster dogs. Only negative is that they don't let you adopt if you live far away because they do house visits to check on how the dog is doing and we live too far. But that's understandable because they show they really care about the dog to even do house visits after the adoption, which I'm totally open to and agree with the principle. It's just too bad there's not such a nice organization with the dog breed Coton de tulear near us. I really want to help a rescue, but may have to go to a breeder. I hope to help others adopt a rescue. This organization have a great selection of beautiful dogs with good temperaments that would make great pets. read more

We have adopted two dogs from Pet Match. They are so perfect for our family. We originally wanted a dog that no one else was interested in, because we felt bad. They actually matched us with Dudley, who is such a joy!! Vanessa is our other amazing, sweet dog. I can't imagine our lives without them. Pet match came to our home both times to make sure it was acceptable and that we were appropriate "parents" I remember thinking how hard it was to get our dog, but then I understood that they are just protecting the animals. Such a wonderful group of volunteers! We are so grateful for Pet Match and the beautiful animals they have allowed our family to adopt. read more

I thought I was the only one who had a bad experience with PMR, but after reading their page on Yelp, I can relate to many other reviews and decided to write on myself. I've been looking for a dog to adopt for about 6 months. Let me give you a little more background information. Around 2 months ago, I was prescribed an emotional support animal by my psychiatrist for mental health reasons. I am a 20 year old student who lives in a university apartment (owned by the university and run by university policy). I live in a 1 bedroom apartment alone, and while there is no fenced yard, there are plenty of outdoor areas where I live. I have approval from my university's disability services center to have a pet in my apartment, and an official letter from my psychiatrist. The pet would also be protected by FEDERAL LAW under the Fair Housing Act. Now, all that being said, I don't understand why PMR would reject me due to my housing. If they want a yard where the dog could go unattended, maybe they should read up on how common coyotes and foxtails are in the OC and how dogs should never be left unattended. If housing was not the reason I was rejected, perhaps it was my age. Seems likely since I've seen another review from someone over 70 that was discriminated against because of age. I've been living alone, financially independent from my parents for 3 years. I am on a prestigious scholarship that offer me a generous monthly stipend, leaving lots of money to care for a dog. Maybe instead of my athletic wear and sneakers, I should've worn designer shoes and a Louis Vuitton bag. Maybe I was rejected for my lack of experience with dogs, because volunteering hours a week at an animal shelter training and walking dogs isn't considered experience. Maybe I just wasn't a good fit for the dog I applied for... fine. Then how do you explain this: I emailed my application for two dogs a week prior to the adoption event at PETCO. In the email, I attached the letter from my psychiatrist, a letter from my university's DSC, and two full applications. When I went to the event, I asked the lady at the desk if she had received my application online, as I hadn't received a reply. She said they don't usually receive them, and to fill one out manually. So I did, making it very clear that the dog would be my ESA, since I didn't have my documents on hand. I stood in line for over 10 minutes to turn it in, watching her ask questions and conversations with the families ahead of me. I was preparing myself to answer all those questions and was glad that they were asking more than what was on the application, because that would give the opportunity to explain in detail. When my turn came, she took my application, shoved in into the box they have, and gave me a dismissive smile. I didn't ask her anything because there was still a line behind me. I met the two dogs I wanted to adopt, and the fosters were sweethearts. I was able to spend time with the dogs and ask the foster moms questions about their dogs. They were so helpful, and the yorkie's foster mom even thought we had great chemistry and that I was a good match. So I thought, great, now maybe I'll have more of a chance! Apparently not. What really bothered me, is that the poor yorkie wasn't adopted by anyone for another few weeks! These people would rather have dogs not have homes, than give them to people who don't own multimillion dollar houses on tons of acres of land. The only reason I'm giving 2 starts instead of 1 is because the fosters are so great. Some advice for you if you want to adopt from PMR: 1. Have $100 million in the bank. 2. Stay home all day. 3. Make sure your dog is able to be killed by a coyote. Some advice to PMR: 1. Educate yourselves about disability discrimination laws and the fair housing act. 2. Educate yourselves about dangers of leaving dogs unattended. 4. DO NOT tell people they can submit their applications by email when you know you won't receive them. 3. Quit the snobby rude attitude. read more

I'm sure these people are nice and all. They need to bring some "real" dogs to adopt out when they have events. We went to go look at puppies today and they were all little, white and fluffy and wearing clothes. Also, one was taking a giant dump in its crate. That is gross. Not the dogs fault, I know, however maybe let them situate their business a little more often. If you want a yappy and fluffy little rat dog, these are the people for you! read more

Update the dog I originally wanted to adopt from them, still not adopted. Meanwhile my little one I adopted from pardon me Inc rescue is loving her home! read more

This place requires you to make donation just to apply for a dog. We applied for 8 different dogs and donated with each application. Never heard a word from anyone and wasted our time and money on them. Looking into how to get refunded. Stay away from this place, they don't want to help animals, they just want your money. read more

Excited to adopt a furry friend, my husband and I found a cute Havanese mix named Jayden that is cared for by Pet Match Rescue. We are a young couple in our early thirties, don't have children, own a house with a yard and, I being the homemaker, have plenty of time and resources to devote to Jayden. We read and researched everything we can about Jayden and Havanese mixes in preparation for applying to adopt him. On Sunday, June 17, we attended Pet Match Rescue's adoption event at the Petco in Newport Beach. We were traveling from out of town that day, so got up at 5:30 am that Sunday morning to be the first ones to arrive, a few minutes before the event started at noon. We spent time getting to know Jayden and filled out the application to adopt as accurately and completely as possible. Although the re-homing fee was relatively steep for a 1-year old dog (at $525) and we were a bit uneasy at the answer we got from Pet Match Rescue about how they go about determining who gets to adopt (we were told they place dogs with who they feel is best for the dog, which seemed pretty subjective to us), we crossed our finger that either us (or another of the many families that were there) would give Jayden a good home. We were saddened to learn that neither happened. Our application was denied, and when we asked for a reason why, we didn't get any explanation whatsoever. We would expect a reputable rescue to offer some concrete reason (for example, if we had children, and a particular dog or breed doesn't do well with children, or some other objective criteria), but that wasn't the case for us. Much worse, however, is the fact that we saw Jayden being advertised for the following week's event - meaning that not only did they deny our application, but they denied everybody else's, and poor Jayden would have to wait longer still for a forever home. Since I was never given a reason for the rejection of my application, I can only speculate - I did find it odd that they wanted us to first submit the application in person (and not online before meeting the dog). I wondered if they judged my appearance (I was wearing sweats with my hair up after all) or my husband's Middle Eastern background. Reading other people's reviews on Yelp, I guess my experience is not unique. Sadly, it's the dogs that suffer when they are denied the opportunity to be adopted by good families. read more