I do not recommend going with this company at all if you aren't already one of their 'approved friends' They post new dogs every week and when I applied the first thing I saw was a bounce message in my email. So I applied again, another bounce message. I called the number it said to send an email via the website. So I sent an email via the website. No Call back So I left a message AGAINST what they say to do on it, no call back. I finally went to the FB site and found they post dogs there as well (and it's currently updated more than the website). I find their 'FB friends' are applying there and getting dogs BEFORE they even hit the website (And those same dogs appear on the site as well as available). So I don't feel this place is a good place for a 'outsider' to come in and apply for a dog. They don't even call you back (And it's been a month since I applied) read more

Caring people who try to do an outstanding job. The animals who arrive here are lucky. They will be safe and loved until they find a forever home. The number of negative reviews is concerning. I can empathize with the people trying to adopt. But I can only imagine how much time and effort it takes to operate and care for so many animals. Rudeness is never good on either side. Maybe more helpful volunteers would improve the process. read more

Only gave 1 Star because Yelp made me!! Waste of time. 'Liz' never respond back to emails. What a joke! Yea some kind of 'rescue' you are. read more

My application was denied because I live in apartment without a fenced yard and said I would take the lab I was applying to adopt for runs/walks/and to play at dog beaches. The response I got was from Liz was "Thank you for your application. We are looking for a home for (dog's name) with a securely fenced yard for safe off leash play. We know that many dogs parks and dog beaches have many fights and germs. We always advise against going." I understand the concern, but there's a health risk when taking your dog anywhere in San Diego, considering it's a very dog friendly city and there could be all sorts of doggo germs anywhere. To limit your dog to just a backyard for exercise for the rest of it's life is pretty depressing. It's unfortunate that this seems to be the fate of any of the dogs adopted from this rescue group. Poor things. read more

Review based on interactions with Liz & Nancy. Here's a true and accurate recap of how I applied to adopt one of the available dogs (5 options to be exact) on their website, completed an application, answered several follow-up questions (sometimes they same exact question multiple times) sent pictures, set up an in home visit, more questions, get APPROVED to adopt, get told ALL the dogs I was interested in "were already in the process of getting adopted", get told which dog I can adopt in a "take it or leave it" way, when I inquire about a different dog I get referred to Pet Finder! After months and months of research, I narrowed my search down to a breed I was very interested in adopting. That search led me to Retriever and Friends. On their site they showed multiple dogs for the specific breed I was looking for (over 10 or so). I saw 5 that I was very interested in and since the application asked for a specific name of dog I wanted, I listed my first choice. I submitted the application and a few days later I get an email asking if I was previously a pet owner. I advised them "yes years ago but its been a while". The next day (important to note NOT the first time they emailed me) I get another email saying the dog you were interested in has been adopted and if I was interested in any other dog (another important note ANY other dog). I provide them with the names of FOUR other dogs that were all the same exact breed. I get an email back right away asking for pictures of my patio which I provide right away. They reply back and say my patio looks secure and that they would like to set up a home visit. Mind you at this point I've now expressed interest in 4 dogs that are available on their site and we're not setting up a home visit for one of those dogs. So 07/01/18 a very lovely lady (Bobbi) came and conducted the in home visit, asked a few questions, took a couple of pictures. She also asked if I previously had any pets and I let her know years ago when I was younger a family pet. two days later I got an email back saying "I have a nice home for one of their rescues " but now 2 of the 5 I wanted have been adopted and the other 3 have "homes pending " for "most of the cockapoos". Wait. What? We're this far along in the adoption process and just now being told "pending homes" for all the dogs I'm interested in? I get asked if there's another dog on their site I'm interested in and I remind them the 5th dog I selected wasn't a cockapoo so theoretically the 5th one should be available right?? 5th option being a maltipoo. I ask if there's anyway someone can call me (number on their site goes right to voicemail) so Nancy calls me. Confirms yes ALL cockapoos have pending adoptions and asks what I want in a dog. I advise one that doesn't shed and less than 2 years old. I ask about the maltipoo, I'm asked for the 3 time about being a previous pet owner, I repeat, and Nancy says she's going to talk to Liz and see which dog is best suited for me. Hmm, interesting. So I get an email with a picture of a Maltese and get told this is the dog we think is best for you. I email back and ask what about the 5th dog I was interested in ( despite asking 100 times no one has answered this question). I get a reply back today 7/5/18 saying "we dont have a match for you at this time try pet finder". WOW! Really? I went through this entire process, wait over 2 weeks to hear the dogs I'm interested aren't available, then pretty much get told what dog I do get sort of like "take it or leave it" and when I ask about the one I was interested in I'm redirected to pet finder? I saw the reviews here and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm so disappointed that all the negative comments were 100% accurate. Let's not confuse the fact I don't mind the selective manner that they approve people and appreciate the fact that they care about their dogs so much - thats great! What is total horse crap is the fact that they have "pending homes" for dogs that they show available on their site. Perhaps to eliminate any interpretation of bias or discriminatory behavior you guys can simply put a "pending adoption" on the dogs page so going into the process the person knows "hey this might not work". I understand these are volunteers who work for free but I also understand that they're humans so they should have the ability to empathize with other humans and that their actions play with peoples emotions. Getting people excited, moving them along the process, etc. all to shut them down for no apparent reason at the end is crap. Their selection method though thorough in some ways is very biased, preferential and discriminatory in other ways. P.S. as of now, 2 of the dogs I originally expressed interest in are still shown as available on their site. read more

I feel sorry for the animals at this so called rescue, they are missing out on loving homes. Their application process is ridiculous & they misinterpret your answers and come back with rude comments instead of picking up the phone & asking. They ? Where dogs will sleep at night. My answer was the house or garage, (I happen to have a nice garage with a doggie door in between) Her reply was "who would make their dog sleep in the garage! then automatically denied the application. read more

***PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW*** My family and I were looking to adopt a new family member , aka Pomeranian, and we spent time doing research to find the right organization to adopt from. I was drawn to Retrievers and Friends, in Menifee, due to the legitimacy of the background checks they provide on each and every potential family interested in their rescue animals. The process RFSC completes is in depth, as they truly want to make sure each and every pet goes to the right family/individual. After reading the negative reviews on Yelp, I quickly realized they were constructed by people who were unable to adopt (eg. Homes with unsecured fences, individuals who work long hours and will ultimately leave their animal in a cage all day, etc). The reviews are from anger from the inability to adopt, rather than an execution of the entire process. I reached out to RFSC and was connected to Liz. Liz was very prompt with her email communication, and was honest with her responses. I knew going into the process, I had to be transparent and honest with our goals. My wife, two daughters, and I made the trip to Menifee today to visit a Pomeranian they had in their care. Upon arrival, I was blown away with their facilities. The grounds were immaculate, the animals were respectful, and the amenities for their animals were safe and secure. My family and I not only had an instant connection with our new family member (FiFi), but we also connected with Liz and Cassie. The work Liz and her team do is a labor of love. They work tireless hours to support animals in need. When you see the connection they have with each and every animal on their property, you will notice they treat every animal as if it is their own. Our darling FiFi was groomed and smelled amazing when we picked her up today. She was spayed, provided all of her vaccinations, and vet work information. If you are looking to adopt an animal from a reputable organization, and feel you have what it takes to be a responsible owner/family... this is the place. Thank you RFSC for providing us with a new family member... she is laying on the couch her pink blanket, with a full belly :). Love and Respect. Dustin, Michelle, Gaby, Katy, Bijou, Mimi, and Fifi read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

These folks are very picky. I would say idealist to the point of extremism. Not everyone with a yard will make a good home for a dog and not everyone without a yard will make a bad home. But you better have a yard with these folks. Just FYI. Also, don't tell them you'll take a dog to a dog park because they think the dogs will get infected by germs... I could only laugh at that one. read more

Recently my family and I adopted a puppy from this rescue and we are so incredibly thankful. It amazed me how much they truly cared to find the perfect home for every animal they rescue. After the adoption process I learned that they are volunteer based and I wanted to commend all their efforts and passion. This is such a unique organization that I am grateful to have come in contact with. read more

Best care for animals in need. You feel the love when you visit. It's clean and inviting. Our new pup was very happy and healthy. Thanks to Liz, Nancy, and the whole team! Blu will not forget you and we won't either. read more

Was so disappointed. Found a couple dogs I was interested in, I was told one was too shy??? So I inquired about another one and did the whole filling out the application and they ask a lot of questions, which I didn't mind, after about 4 hours I received an email saying they wouldn't adopt to me because I had a pit bull. They never asked to meet her or what her temperament was they just said no. That's really sad for the poor dog who needs a good home. Considering my last dog I had for 16 1/2 years. All I know is rescues like this ruin adoption for not only me but I'm sure many other decent people who want to save a dog. Shame on you guys. You preach "Adopt don't shop" but you steer us right to the pet store. I will still save a dog but obviously not from you. read more

We have nothing but good things to say about our experience. Everyone that was involved in the process was very kind and responsive. This was our first dog and we did our research on how long it can take to adopt a rescue pet, so we knew the wait time. Adopting a dog requires patience and running a rescue home takes a lot of work. The process takes time because these pets need to be matched with the right owners, who are willing to do anything for these pets. Filling out the application was easy and the home inspection was an enjoyable experience. We have a balcony that had a chair and table which needed to be removed because of the possible danger to the dog. So we removed it without any questions. We wanted to make sure the dog that we were trying to adopt met all the requirements for Retrievers and Friends. At the end, we were approved and adopted Jimmy, 2 year old Pomeranian. So please understand that this process takes time because of the amount of dogs that are taken in by Retriever and Friends and picking out of the right family for these pets must be the prefect match. If you don't get a response within a certain time frame, send a friendly reminder. Whatever is asked to be done by you for the safety of these pets are for certain reasons. We would highly recommend Retrievers and Friends to anyone who is looking to adopt a pet. Once again, we thank Retriever and Friends for giving us the opportunity in adopting a Jimmy (aka Gizmo) and can't stop saying how much we LOVE our new edition to our family. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Our Pomeranian that we adopted January 2017. We are beyond happy with our new dog and experience with Retriever and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

Fabulous people doing the right thing for the animals and the people :-) we rescued the most amazing dog almost two weeks ago, she has changed our life and we plan to do the same for her! read more

There's a big racial discrimination going on here. Thats the only reason I am left to believe as to why I'm clearly being treated different. Email responses are super shallow and at some point, no response at all, anymore. This is definitely a No No for me or friends that I know are looking into giving a pet a new home and a better life. Whoever the rep was wouldn't give me any reason as to why she thinks I'm not fit to adopt one of their pets, I sent numerous pictures of my apartments both the day and night views and yet her replies were just very rude. After speaking to a friend of color like me, she told me she had the same experience. Very very sad! read more

I have been in contact with Liz White for about a week now and I am shocked at how unprofessional this business is run. I have never felt more victimized by anyone that I have Liz. I was continuously given the 5th degree and given incorrect information after requesting to set up an appointment to have the company "inspect my property" for "suitability." I agreed to comply with just about everything that was asked of us to accommodate the dogs needs. I was referred out to another company called Pet finder because "they have lots of nice dogs." I found it odd that I would be referred to another company. I mentioned to Liz that the dog would be my partners and my responsibility and I feel as if because we are gay she wanted nothing to do with me. This experience has affected me in so many different ways that I cannot even describe; all I can say is I would recommend ANYONE and EVERYONE to not use this company. I don't know if they use our info for fraud or whatever the case is but I do know they don't use our info to find a dog a home. Hope this helps anyone out there considering using this company in the future. Thank you for Responding. I will gladly post the emails on here if you would like. My application clearly stated that I would always have the puppy inside and MY APPLICATION also said I would accommodate the dog with a doggy door if she would behave properly outside! The line of communication within your business seems fogged and for that we have come to a loss. So again you guys are wrong and making accusations that just are not true. read more

Our most recent pet was a dog that we had a loved for 10 years and we had adopted him from Retrievers and Friends. At 11+ years old he got cancer and was put to sleep. While we were feeling bad for losing our furkid, we started to think about maybe having a cat again. It had been many years since we had a cat and felt we were ready to try again. My wife did the online adoption form and there was some follow up to an answer on one question. We always got answers to our emails, sometimes the following day. We understand that volunteers and even paid staff sometimes work at more than one rescue. Once we were approved we made an appointment (which did a little doing to get all our schedules to line up) and went to spend time at the "cattery." The cattery had plenty of kitties to see, talk to, and see what kind of personality they have. The volunteers working that day were also could answer questions about the cats. We did want one that was used to being around dogs so if in the coming year we decide to adopt a dog it would be less stress for the animals. We did find a male cat who is older but a mellow, affectionate guy. The printouts with helpful info on helping the cat get used to his new surroundings were very useful! With dogs there is a home visit. I suggest if you live within a reasonable distance of the shelter then fill out an application. If you live far, far away then look into local shelters. Don't be hurt or disappointed if you don't end up with a pet, I have friends who are total "dog people" and have been turned down. With cats it might be easier and since we didn't want a kitten, the process was pretty easy overall. read more

I have adopted three wonderful family members (okay, dogs) from Liz & co at RETRIEVERS AND FRIENDS. They are amazing. Yes, they are a rescue, so they are doing their due diligence for these pets that have already gone through so much by losing their original families. Some people might take their questioning of your home and surroundings as an interrogation, but it is because they want to make the absolute BEST match that will result in a truly forever home for the animals in their care. They do not want to risk a bad match that will result in broken hearts for both adopters and the adoptee. I recently lost my most recent rescue lab from R&F, but as soon as we are ready to adopt, we will be back!! Thank you R&F! You truly put the needs of the animals first, and I, for one, appreciate that! read more

We adopted our English Lab from Retrievers and Friends one year ago today. Bella is an angel and such a great addition to our family. My husband and I are both retired, so we wanted an older dog that would fit our lifestyle. Liz and Nancy did such a great job matching us up with the perfect dog for us. They not only take wonderful care of their animals, but work hard to match each animal with the right family. I highly recommend Retrievers and Friends! Thank you Liz and Nancy for bringing this beautiful and loving dog into our lives. read more

I found Retrievers and Friends and friends using a Google search. I have been looking to adopt a Golden Retriever and was very excited to find their website knowing they were located within easy driving distance. I'm pretty sure these folks have the best intentions of getting their dogs adopted out to good homes, but I have a problem with the way they do it. Twice I have filled out adoption forms only to be told the dog I was interested in had already found a home even though he/she was still showing as available on their website. I wrote an email with this concern and received a reply from Liz that they have a long list of applications and are working on visiting homes to get the best match for the dog(s). So why has the dog's picture not been taken off the "available dogs" section of their website? They are getting people's hopes up and wasting their time filling out adoption forms. Just show "adoption pending" or take the dog off "available" and put them back on if the adoption doesn't work out. read more

Update: We just got Miss Snow some pampering done. She is the most loved dog in the world. read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

Before I started the adoption application with Retrievers and Friends (RFSC), I saw a lot of 1-star reviews. After reading through them, I noticed certain patterns: most people gave negative reviews are frustrated by the adoption process, while most people who provided 5-star reviews have successfully adopted the pets they were looking for. I do understand people's frustration and disappointment when their adoption application got declined. I have to admit that their adoption process is more strict and complicated than most other shelters. On the other hand, I can also see why they are so cautious about their decisions. Their intention is to ensure the animals will be in good hands. So I still decided to submit an application and see what happens. After an online application, a few emails and a few phone calls, we finally got approved for an appointment to visit the shelter. However, we were not sure which one will be the best fit for our family, since we already have 2 kittens and 1 puppy. So we requested to meet with 3 dogs we were interested. By the time we arrived, all 3 of them were bathed, groomed and put in the same room waiting for us. I was very impressed by the preparation work. We ended up spending more than an hour there to let our puppy get familiar with them. Everyone worked there was very nice, friendly and helpful. We were finally able to select our favorite one - Max, based on their personalities and behaviors. They even sent us his bed, blanket, a bag of dry food, a bag of salmon treats, and a few toys. Once again, I can feel they truly care for the animals, not only for their physical well-being but also for their emotional wellness. We were very happy about the whole adoption experience. Max came home with us on the same day. It turned out Max is a perfect addition to our family. He is the sweetest and cutest dog. Ever since the moment he walked into our house, he just could not stop smiling and showing us his gratefulness. He respects all the other pets in the house, while tries to fit in. As a formal breeder dog, he spent most of his life in a cage. What he had gone through might be beyond my imagination. I am so blessed to give his a second chance to learn to how to love and trust. Thank you Liz, Nancy and RFSC for being part of this! read more

I cannot praise this rescue enough. From the beginning of my adoption process (filling out the application), to meeting and picking up my new dog, I was treated with professionalism and courtesy. I was shocked at the negative reviews that some people have left, until I remembered how the reviews of veterinary practices usually go. When someone does not get the dog they have been hoping for, they become angry and that anger often takes the form of a negative review. Retrievers and Friends takes great pains to make sure the dog being adopted, goes to a good home that is suitable for the individual dog. Do you have children? Some dogs are not comfortable around children. Are you away from home a lot? Then a very young dog or one with separation anxiety are probably not a good choice. Just because someone wants a particular dog does not make it a good match. Liz knows the dogs and what the requirements for that animal are. She will not let one go without a pretty good idea that the dog will have a great future. In my own case, I filled out the application and was contacted promptly to arrange a home visit. I was visited within a couple of days by Nancy and her husband, who looked around my home and yard to make sure that the environment was suitable and safe for the dog I was interested in adopting. They asked a few questions to clarify things like how often someone was home, where the dog would sleep, who my vet was, etc. Fortunately, they were not interested in my house keeping skills. I think I was contacted by Liz the same day and told that I had been approved. The entire process was painless and each step made perfect sense, when you consider that you are taking responsible for another life that could live for a dozen or more years. I'd encourage anyone looking for a new 4-legged family member to visit their website. read more

This is an updated review. We adopted Dolly from RFSC on Valentine's day, 2014. We exchanged e-mails and telephone calls. It took almost a month from the time I first contacted them to the day we met Dolly. They were thorough and careful, which I appreciated. We saw that Liz and Nancy were very dedicated to the animals under their care. Even a person like me who owned dogs for the last 40 years can make a mistake. Regarding fences, we have tall brick walls on the west side of the house and iron gates are covered as well. It is very secure. However, on the east side of the house, the patio is fenced in by a standard sized iron fence. We own standard Dachshunds, who are 19-28 lbs. I went out to the east side patio to water roses for a minute, and my dogs followed me out. After a quick watering, I called them, but only two of them returned to me. I looked and called the third one everywhere around the house, inside the house, the west yard, but no Dachshund. We sometimes have rabbits on our property and in the desert, and the dog must have gotten excited and went through the iron fence chasing after a rabbit. I noticed something dark move in the desert. I grabbed her leash and dashed out toward her. By the time I found her, 45 minutes had passed; it was in the middle of the day in July, and she was very hot and had drooping tongue when I found her. I would have been devastated if I couldn't have found her, or if she had died in the desert. Yes, there are cayotes here too. Now, I don't let my dogs out on the east side patio. That was several years ago. It's amazing how animals can squeeze through fences. read more

Fabulous dog rescue. These folks truly care about finding a good home for the dogs that they have rescued. We have had our retriever mix puppy for six weeks and Ruby was nine months old when we adopted her. Professional and easy dog rescue to work with. read more

I should have came to the comments before even wasting my time with these people they are a joke , what these comments say are so accurate it seems like they want to just hoard all of the animals. They did not let me adopt a cat for my special needs daughter because I have 1 dog outside like OUTSIDE like as in far, far away from the cat they were "concerned" about the big dog outside harming the cat inside not sure how that could even happen ‍. Instead they gave me a lecture about dogs thankfully I took my money and open loving home elsewhere and with no problem at all adopted a wonderful cat for my daughter who has been through 3 spinal surgery's since July and asked me for a little kitten. Absolutely do not waste your time with these jokesters! read more

They say that they want to give these dogs a happy home but they don't contact you to let you know if you got the dog or not. Even if you have all the requirements they still try to tell you a reason why you should not adopt the dog. I don't expect the process to be easy but they definitely make it so difficult to find a dog that you actually want or that your looking for. read more

We had an excellent experience adopting our puppy from Retrievers and Friends. Everyone was professional & helpful. This rescue does such important work. I highly recommend working with Retrievers and Friends to adopt a dog who needs a home. read more

My wife and I cannot express enough gratitude for the loving and caring nature shown for all of their animals, and that is at the heart of Retrievers and Friends mission. In particular we wish to thank Liz and Nancy for such a wonderful adoption experience--from our initial inquiry through the adoption process we found their level of professionalism second to none. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking animals that have been treated with love and attention while they are looking for their forever homes. read more

Sent several emails with interest in adopting. Asked about the process and when I could visit and get to know them a lil more. I havent received any response back from my emails or calls I made. It seems to be very difficult to adopt here. So unfortunate. I will go elsewhere. read more

A big shout out to Retrievers and Friends. We were looking for a senior cat after ours unexpectedly died a few months prior and widened our search to include rescues further from our area. We filled out the long application and then waited to hear back. Liz contacted us within a couple of days and we drove out to meet Louie, an 11-year-old Turkish Van abandoned by his family. We decided on the spot to make him part of our family and what touched us the most is that while they were happy that Louie found a forever home, they were also sad to see a part of their family leaving. Liz asked if I could please send pictures and updates so that they can see how well Louie was adjusting and of course I agreed. He came home with a big box of his favorite food, toys, and a blanket, and now after two weeks, he's doing quite well. Thank you guys for all that you do to help these abandoned animals. You are truly amazing! read more

Retrievers and Friends - Pet Adoption Near Me

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I can't say enough good things about this rescue group. I just adopted a Doberman from them, and it was the most pleasant experience I've had. Liz and her team were wonderful, they never rushed through the process, they were up front about the dog's quirks, and there's no doubt that they're passionate about what they do. If you're looking to adopt, please consider them, they are excellent. read more

This definitely does appear to be another one star unsatisfied customer. I'm sure it's difficult to believe the reviews of those who were told they can't adopt- surely there has to be a reason!!! This place is incredibly difficult to get ahold of, and once you do, unless you are in their 'good ole boy's' club be prepared to be denied. It was very upsetting to find out they don't adopt to military families- which we are- and then that they don't adopt puppies to families with young children. We had our hearts set on one of the female Bulldog puppies that weeks later still sits at their rescue, and was told no because of this. Ironically bulldogs are some of the best family pets for this exact reason and a puppy versus and older rescue who may have had a lifetime of physical abuse is even more ideal for a family with young children. I will be contacting a much more reputable rescue, SoCal bulldog rescue, to work with them on a placement. And additionally reporting and warning other regarding this rescues policy on adoption to military families and families with young children. read more

What a great organization. We adopted a shihz zhu/terrier mix yesterday. He is adorable and lovable having been bottle fed since day one. They must have wonderful volunteers to take on that task. After processing us including a home visit, we went to the facility in Menifee which had lots of volunteers, big areas for dog play in, artificial lawn for the dogs Our dog came chipped, nuetered, with vacicnations fully up to date. You can just tell they really care about what they do. read more

My wife and I are very pleased with Retrievers and Friends Rescue. We love our new dog Willow and from start to finish everything was handled professionally. Kudos to Liz, Nancy and Bobbi. God bless you all for what you do for these wonderful companions. read more

It's taken me awhile to write a review. I'm still in shock that Retrievers and Friends is really a legit facility. I have rescued/adopted 5 animals in the past 16 years at various shelters and rescues. I came across a dog here that would of fit perfectly into our home. I've never been to Retrievers and friends before, but was excited to meet the pup and talk with Liz. We'll, needless to say, this was one of the worst experiences I have ever encounter. Staff was insanely rude, made you feel like you had to hurry up, felt like I was bothering the workers if I asked a question, treated my 12 year old daughter rudely as well. We really liked the dog, but Liz told me that I took to long and told us that we couldn't adopt & pretty much kicked my daughter and I out. I felt the minute I pulled in I was being judged and that she had no intentions of ever letting my family adopt. Sadly, she made a huge mistake as I know our family would of been perfect for this rescue. I feel sorry for these animals & how Liz treats potential adoptees. I wish she could of seen how upset my daughter was on our drive home and how upset my whole family was. Don't fall in love with an animal there, she will rip your heart out without hesitation. read more

We just adopted our 2nd Golden Retriever today from Retrievers and Friends. Finn (we will be changing that as soon as we can come up with the best name on that fits him) is a beautiful boy that we saw on the website. My thanks to Liz, Nancy and the entire staff for making our experience very pleasant and smooth. This is a great place to find a dog that needs a permanent home that is run by dog loving volunteers who are great at what they do. Thanks again from myself and my family! read more

In 2016, after a few months of marriage we decided to adopt a dog. As many reviews say, it is a laborious process and at the time seemed to be a bit extreme. But I can truly tell you that the process is for a reason. An inordinate amount of people decide to open up their hearts to a dog in need and when they don't "fit" perfectly, they are re-homed. Retrievers and Friends goes above and beyond to make sure that their dogs are given to homes that will truly love and keep them forever. They will be honest if they don't think certain dogs will be a good fit for your home, which should be appreciated not criticized. They want what's best for the dogs in their care. They are invested in your dogs life even after adoption. Nancy would check in every so often so see how we were doing. I sent pictures, emails, and even Christmas cards over the years. Our sweet boy lived his best life and passed suddenly a few weeks ago. I know that when our hearts have healed we will return to Retrievers and Friends to find another member of our family. I am forever grateful to them for finding our perfect match and the six years of love we had with our baby boy. read more

One of the best pet adoption facilities in Southern California. I've adopted two dogs there and they are awesome. The volunteers are able to tell you everything about the pet you choose. They'll tell you whether it's good with children, if it's house or crate trained -- Basically everything you need to know about your new pet. Awesome place with awesome volunteers. Many thanks to them for my new dogs. read more

An excellent rescue organization, with the welfare of the animals of primary importance! After reading some negative reviews, I was cautious when I visited RFSC but I was immediately put at ease when I met the staff, saw how they interact with the animals, and saw what a great facility it is. I believe that those leaving negative reviews don't realize that these rescue pets have special needs, especially during the first months, and the prospective adopters should not be offended when they are told that they are not the best option for a particular animal. I brought my new Molly home two days ago and I can see that my particular circumstances are going to be great to help her gain confidence and be the best she can be. I can see that a different home (a different home, not a "bad" home) would not be good for Molly. So Kudos to RFSC for doing their homework and looking out for the welfare of the pet as well as the new guardian! read more

My wife & I recently lost one of our two dogs. She was a beautiful shih tzu. We have a chihuahua and wanted to get him a play mate. We filled out the contact form for Retrievers and friends. We also filled out the online application. We emailed them and also called and left voicemails. No response from them what so ever. I think it is sad when people who love animals and want to adopt one don't get ANY response from a place that is supposedly in the business of finding homes for animals. So, we adopted a great dog from another rescue. That rescue returned our phone call and were genuinely interested in the fact we wanted to adopt one of their dogs. Wow, what a concept. After reading some of the other comments here I am not surprised by the rude and unprofessional behavior of Retrievers and Friends. read more