First time visiting the San Diego Humane Society. I came in the clear the shelter event on August…read more29, 2026. Pros: -lots of parking -extremely clean kennels -pets looked well cared for with soft blankets, cute toys, and items to keep them occupied -I was worried about the heat but was pleasantly surprised that the pets for adoption were inside and air conditioned. -they use digital screens outside of each room to describe the animal's behavior and preferences Cons: -n/a

We are truly blessed to have such an amazing Humane Society in San Diego…read more They provide so many essential services to our community: spay/neuter, a free community pet pantry, pet training, dog licensing, lost‑and‑found support, humane euthanasia, rehoming assistance, and so much more. Their impact is huge, and there are countless ways to help -- no contribution is too big or too small. One thing I deeply appreciate is their Adoption Guarantee: If for any reason an adopter decides their new pet isn't the right fit for their home, the Humane Society will schedule an appointment to welcome the pet back -- without judgment or criticism. This level of compassion and support is rare and shows how committed they are to both animals and adopters. Some meaningful ways to get involved include: Donating money Volunteering Participating in the Dog Day Out program Supporting the Community Cat Program Fostering Adopting instead of shopping Spaying/neutering your pets Sharing or reposting their information to spread awareness The San Diego campus is next‑level -- very clean, modern, and thoughtfully designed. Across the county, they have four campuses: San Diego, Escondido, El Cajon, and Oceanside (Escondido has a great setup for livestock and farm animals). Every staff member I've interacted with has been compassionate and patient. They deal with animals in distress every single day, so a little grace goes a long way.

This was my first time adopting boys from this establishment. I was going to the humane society…read morebefore. The biggest difference between the two is that they are experts at what they do. They help bond your current rats w/ the new ones, a service I've never experienced before. I am so incredibly thankful that they are able to facilitate this, so that you don't get all the way home only to find out no one wants to be friends. They also have everything you could possibly need for your pets at amazing prices. AND they offer board and care which is so hard to find for small animals! I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely be back many, many more times.

We had such a wonderful experience here today and I felt compelled to share. Our family has been…read moregoing through a challenging time, and we were hoping to give my daughter a small moment of joy by seeing some animals. Fanila (I hope I'm spelling that correctly!), Elizabeth and the entire team were incredibly kind, patient, and welcoming. They went above and beyond to make my kids feel comfortable and special, taking the time to let them safely see and interact with the guinea pig, hamster, chinchilla, bunny, and even a chicken. You could tell how much they genuinely care -- not just about the animals, but about the people who walk through their doors. Thank you Magnifico, Daddy Hamster, Chichi, Chili, Dave and Grace Omali In a time where we really needed a little lightness, this meant more than I can fully express. Their compassion and warmth did not go unnoticed. Thank you again for creating such a special moment for our family. We will always remember it! Carolina, Sam, Amelia and Sammy

We met our fur baby through TAP at an adoption event in San Diego, and it was such a special…read moreexperience. The event was great. We got to meet a lot of adorable dogs, and one little guy instantly stole our hearts. What really stood out was how thoughtful and thorough TAP's process is. There was no pressure to adopt on the spot, which we really appreciated. After the event, we completed an application and received clear next steps. The following week, our foster brought him to our home so we could spend more time together. That confirmed everything we felt at the event. TAP conducted a home visit and checked our references, and it was clear throughout the process that they truly care about the well being of their animals and making the right match. Our foster was amazing, so kind and supportive. When we brought our little guy home, she sent him with his toys, some food, and a sweet note, which meant so much to us. Such a wonderful experience overall, and now our home is filled with love, laughter, and lots of snuggles.

I would not recommend adopting from The Animal Pad based on my experience…read more I recently adopted an older dog from them, and it became clear very quickly that some of his medical needs had not been adequately addressed. His medications had not been given consistently, and serious dental issues were left untreated. Since adopting him, I've had to constantly push just to get action taken on problems that should have been addressed much earlier. This past week, his gums became infected, likely related to his ongoing dental problems. It has been one medical issue after another, and what makes this so frustrating is that I believe many of these problems could have been prevented or better managed with consistent care. I understand that rescues rely heavily on fosters and have limited resources. But when you take responsibility for an older dog with significant medical needs, that responsibility includes making sure medications are given consistently, necessary veterinary and dental care is provided, and medical problems are followed up on. I'm exhausted from having to fight for this dog to receive the care he needs. Had his medical needs been managed properly and consistently, I believe his quality of life could have been significantly better.

BAS is an amazing organization they give the most loving care to every animal they rescue. I have…read moreadopted several precious kitties from them and every one of them were the most loving we have ever had. There dogs are also amazing.

They take in all abandoned animals, injured, sick etc. they keep them safe until adopted. They're…read morefree to socialize and not in cages A spay and neuter program is offered at very low cost for people living there. It's an amazing group of caring loving people. Lucky to adopt my pup from them 6 years. She's a blessing. If you're approved for adoption SD people will meet you in SD. They bring dogs to a convenient place. Cats??? Yes many needing homes. Please support BAS. They've got my heart for their dedication to save them all. Check them out on line. All sizes all ages all kinds.

100 stars to this incredible, caring and compassionate team of volunteers! My heart was set on…read moreadopting a rescue, and I am so glad I discovered Second Chance. It's easy to see from the many different fur-babies on the Second Chance website--different sizes, ages, colors, breeds and needs--that these dedicated folks are committed to their mission of saving and re-homing homeless dogs. My overall experience with Second Chance was excellent. Staff responded quickly to my application for a particular pup, and I very much appreciated their responsiveness and encouragement when I was too late applying for a few different doggies. When I expressed interest in a couple of dogs that were still awaiting a loving home, Second Chance quickly put me in touch with the foster moms so I could learn more about those particular dogs. The foster moms were amazing. They were very patient with me and generous with their time in answering all my questions. By working with Second Chance, I found exactly the right fur-baby for me. It's not just my little Izzy who has been given a second chance at a wonderful life. Izzy, thanks to Second Chance, has given the same chance to me.

The most amazing group of volunteers. 100% volunteers. I've adopted from Second Chance Dog Rescue 4…read moretimes since 2013. I will continue to adopt from this organization that rescues dogs around SoCal shelters and TJ. My favorite adoption was Roscoe, a 10 yo diabetic min pin chi. I was happy to take on his medical needs and give him the best last days of his life. Never asked the rescue for a dime because they had already done their best for him. These volunteers put their own money and time while working with donations and the adoption fees. It's all 100 % done in the name of dogs. They are truly doing God's work. Saving lives is what the Lord does. And we as humans can help by adopting, fostering, donating, and volunteering. Thank you Second Chance Dog Rescue

** Birthday Party Review **…read more We had our daughter's 5th birthday party here and it was fantastic! Definitely great value for the rental cost. Shoutout to Connor who took great care of us. We booked the pollinator playground and it was beautiful. All we did was bring in some balloons, snacks and drinks and we were all set. We had lunch easily delivered as well. The event space was brand new with plenty of seating and the strong air conditioning was a saving grace from the recent heat we've been having. The refrigerator and sink in the room were very useful. We had about 35 guests and the space did not feel crowded at all. The experience is perfect for elementary aged kids, 4 to 9 year olds. Any younger and I think sitting down quietly to learn about the animals would not be that interesting to them. Lots of great information was shared and many of the grownups enjoyed being able to interact with the animals too! Tip: I suggest doing a mix of outdoor/indoor animals. If you purely do indoor animals, the kiddos have to stay seated for pretty much an hour. Mixing indoor/outdoor gives the group a welcome change of scenery. We'd definitely come back again if our younger daughter is as much of an animal lover as her big sister. :) Thank you Helen Woodward Education Team!

We adopted a puppy. This puppy was ill from the moment we took him home. He had recurring UTi's and…read moreringworm. They were not transparent about why the puppy was not in a foster with his siblings. And obviously the puppy was not well enough to be adopted. He was in near liver failure, and our vet was not optimistic but recommended we return him to the shelter since it had only been a couple of weeks. We adores the puppy and spent thousands of dollars on his care, when we made the heart wrenching decision to return him for extensive care. We would love to take him back but they will not allow us and were not nice on the phone. This isn't a decision we took lightly. We have 3 other pets so we are not irresponsible owners. They sent us home with a very sick puppy. And ruined our shelter experience. (My daughter was a volunteer there as well, but no longer)

I had been looking for quite a while when I filled out an application @ A New Life Charitable…read moreFoundation. I was contacted by Marialyn, who was both very professional and so helpful. I called about one dog, but after hearing I had young grandchildren, she suggested another one. I cannot tell you how incredibly grateful I am that she did! I've had my darling fur baby for two weeks and I could not be more appreciative. Adopting a dog can be hard, but Marialyn guided me perfectly through the process!

I found this rescue online as I was searching for a new pet to add to our home! I submitted an…read moreapplication and just a few hours later I got a text to setup a video call. We did the video call that night and learned we were a match for Molly! We scheduled her pickup for that Saturday. Saturday morning everything went as planned. We were provided with her full medical record as well as suggestions for making her transition as smooth as possible. We already love Molly and are so happy with our adoption experience!! Thank you to Marialyn and A New Life Rescue!

We adopted Azula (honey) she is so good, now she is a picky eater but that's our fault‍ she has…read moregained about 5 pounds we are so happy ty

Incredible how good the counselors are. They make sure we are the right one for the pet. Love that…read morethey make you feel at home. All.of the staff was great.

I haven't finished looking yet. I'm seeing love, compassion, commitment, generosity, sacrifice, and…read morevery hard work. But I can't figure out how to get myself a doggie yet. I need and want a cute furry small doggie. When I get one I will give five stars, and then I will say thank you.

Please use this rescue with caution, we where promised a dog, only to be notified 30 minutes before…read morethey where to arrive, that they had changed their minds and did not want to adopt out this dog. To say we where heartbroken is an understatement, as we had spent the morning securing a crate and purchasing a new dog bed . Wish they would have let us known sooner, feeling like I was taken advantage of.

Super small rescue supported by dedicated volunteers. They have their kittens' and cats' best…read moreinterests at heart.

We have been blessed with 4 furry babies from Purrchance Rescue and would refer any of our friends…read morewishing for a new family member.