we adopted from Ruff Start back in October. from the get go, communication was great with Ruff Start and with our dog's foster. we had some logistical issues (planned trip) and were able to work with them to accommodate us. there was an issue with getting her rabies tag and vax certificate, but that was on the vet (they forgot to send it). one of the post adoption people at Ruff Start did all the leg work and we had the tag/certificate with a few days. i'd definitely adopt from them again and encourage you to look at their available animals list if you are thinking of adding a furry member to your household! one thing to note: they do not keep animals at their facility. all dogs are fostered. read more

Ruff Start Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

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We adopted two dogs through Ruff Start Rescue. (We had a really bad/nightmare experience with another rescue previously.) Everyone was great and really care about the animals. Thank you for being so awesome! read more

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i visited this rescue for the first time 7/5/2024. i met the staff and toured the building. i was amazed by its size, organization, and animal numbers it adopts out. i donated some dog crates, kitten food, pee pads and misc items. im glad to support this great rescue. please support this rescue! read more

Ruff Start Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

Wish we wouldn't have adopted from Ruff Start. Our dog came from Tennessee. We were told he was fully vetted, about 6 years old, a picky eater but his teeth looked good. He seemed friendly and happy when we met him so we adopted and the foster gave us his food and a toy. The food was cheap fake burger patties that expired 6 months earlier. The dog weighed 11 lbs - should have been closer to 15. We started feeding premium food soaked in warm water, which he loved, and he put some weight on. Ruff Start gives 10 days for a return, but it was 3 weeks and multiple phone calls before I received his vet info. He wasn't vetted by Ruff Start. He had an exam by the shelter vet in Tennessee. He didn't have all his shots. The documents also showed that his adoption fee was $99 in Tennessee. Less than 2 weeks later, we were charged $450 for his adoption. We took him to our vet for an actual checkup and the missing shots. That's when we found out he was at least 8 years old and he had a mouth full of gum disease and bad teeth. The exam and dental surgery cost just shy of $1,000. He had 14 extractions. Within a year he lost another 5 teeth which cost us another $300. During this time his true nature started to show. He was fear aggressive. If we picked him up he flew into a rage. He never slept, just dozed for a few minutes, then would wake up glassy-eyed and growling. We would talk him down, he'd relax and doze again, then a few minutes later wake up growling again. This would go on for hours, especially at night. He also had severe digestive issues, diarrhea and vomiting several times a week. Then he developed heart disease, the result of gum disease and malnutrition when he was younger. He needs 3 heart medications twice daily and prescription food. His 2 bouts of pancreatitis cost nearly $1,000 each time. As he ages and his sight and hearing are less acute, and his fear and aggression have escalated. He has bitten on several occasions, not nips but painful bloody bites. We have to muzzle him for grooming and vet appointments. No one can approach him on walks. So we were saddled with a senior dog, costly health problems and dangerous behavior issues. He snarls and growls when he is petted, and he can't be held or handled without a muzzle. Be careful when adopting from Ruff Start. read more

Wow.. The service here was amazing!! Cassie allowed us time with the 2 cats they had in house and my grandma fell IN LOVE with him. This rescue was amazing and I highly recommend going through them. read more

Ruff Start Rescue - Zen - Animal Shelters Near Me

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We are currently fostering a dog through Ruff Start Rescue and it's been a good experience so far! Even though our foster has a few challenges, the rescue is willing to help set us up with a trainer. The process to get into fostering is pretty easy and straightforward and I'm glad we were able to select the specific dog we wanted to foster. Overall very well organized and easy to get the info you need once you figure out which person is best to contact. During weekdays they are generally very quick to respond to emails, much faster than past experiences with rescues we've adopted from. read more

I've fostered for and adopted from RSR. This is an excellent organization that works hard to give dogs with a rough start in life a second (or third and sometimes fourth) chance. Whether I've needed training, medical, or just emotional support with the dogs who have come into my home, they came through. Highly recommend. read more

Great organization that does an excellent job matching the each animal with the right family. We really had a fantastic experience, from the application process, to the great communication from Ruff Start, to dealing with an absolutely great foster mom, Brandy! Our dog Cloee has been a perfect addition to our family! Keep up the great work! read more

Found a friend at Ruff start. Make sure to ask questions, they didn't paint a true picture of Jorja's past. Torn ACL 3 weeks after her adoption date. No help from Ruff Start. $4,000. I was warned she had allergies, as an 8 year old canine, was the reason she was given up. I dug deeper and found reports of things not explained to me. She was clearly abused or threatened by her previous owner. Having 2 younger children, which I made obvious when they inspected my home, that would have been nice to know! Anyways, Jorja has her forever home now. read more

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Love my beautiful little puppy dog we took from Ruff Start Rescue. At the beginning felt like the best team ever... and then we found out: 1. We paid as soon as they asked us 2. We got a puppy that wasn't spay although they sign on they contract they all dogs are... 3. When we approached with our own Vet to take care of spaying that little one, we were informed that Ruff Start Rescue will take her from us (although we paid!!!!!! it was kind of a threaten) if we don't want them to do it. And who wants people that "forgot" spaying your dog to do it?!? Again...?!!? 4. We got a puppy that wasn't micro chipped although they sign on they contract they all dogs are... Its nice to help and contribute for this amazing organization but there is a way to do so. No one (although i asked for several time!!) picked up the phone and called to settle things down. Even the president of this organization that was emailing only... At the end of the day, we paid a decent amount of money over things we should have been receive from the very beginning. Not sure where the money we paid for this adoption went as with all do respect - we didn't get the very basic service we should have. Sorry Ruff Start Rescue - you are not recommended by me to any of my friends or enemies! read more

Awful place! Get shown a picture of a dog. Then not even 10 minutes later i get a response then to find out the dog has already been taken.

I couldn't have asked for a better place to adopt my baby from. Even 1.5 years after his adoption I still keep in touch with his foster and if I ever have questions they are ready to help! They will do ANYTHING for their dogs and cats, yes sometimes things are slower than an anxious adopter would like, it is volunteer based. But they truly care for each person and animal they come in contact with. I'm so lucky I found my best friend with them! The rescue only continues to grow and become better! read more

Horrible experience. Had my little gizzy for almost 3 months and nearly a dozen emails, still no verification of vet records. When I went to pick up my old fella, I was assured that he would be groomed, but he was dirty and reeked of cigarette smoke. His 'gear' was shoved into a ripped paper bag, donated cat food was expired, his bedding and clothes were dirty and smelt of cat urine. The foster mom all but threw everything into my car and walked off saying she was so busy with her kids sleep over. It was very sad. I am grateful I got him out, wish I could help the rest. read more

This is the worst place ever... Our first dog we rescued was deaf! Took us a few weeks to figure it out but was deaf as can be.... Decided to try again couple years later. Next puppy we rescued had kidney damage and died 3 months after we got him and costed me over $2000 in vet visits trying to figure out what was wrong before he died. Then had to explain to my children why our new puppy wasn't going to be around.... They need to figure something out because this was one of the worst experiences of my life!!! read more

A No KIll Shelter that takes wonderful care of animals through fostering & adoption. Animals are kept in foster homes, not cages in a shelter. read more

This rescue is a foster home based operation, so the animals live in homes with families which allows them to really get to know the animal. They spend a great deal of time matching up people and pets, working to make sure each match will last over time. All vetting is included and their responses to questions and concerns are handled in a timely fashion. Job well done. read more

This rescue doesn't have a facility, it's more like a group of people who foster animals in their homes. Sounds like a good idea, but it's not. Every pet listed on Petfinder has their location as being Princeton. That's not true because the foster homes are spread out all over. The organization is also not clear on what pets have adoptions pending. I contacted Ruff Start about a dog I found on Petfinder. They replied to me saying that the dog was under review with another person, even thought the Petfinder page said that the dog was open for adoption. So I contacted them about a different dog. This one was actually available and I got in contact with the foster. I was apparently the first person to inquire about this dog and had dibs on him. I was surprised, though, to find out that the foster was located in St. Cloud (2 hour drive) and not Princeton (close). Anyway, we had 2 home visit appointments set up. The only way you can meet a pet from Ruff Start is through a home visit. You can't even drive to the foster's house, they have to go to yours. The foster broke both of our appointments. So I scheduled a third one, but unfortunately I had to cancel that one. I was going to schedule a fourth one, but... Ruff Start contacted me and said that someone else inquired about the dog, went through with the home visit and adopted him. I thought I was first in line. It's not my fault that the foster cancelled my first 2 appointments. I'm very upset with this rescue, to say the least. read more

This shelter was OK up until the point after your adoption was finalized. I misplaced my dog's rabies vet records and it took them OVER 3 WEEKS to respond to my email and that was ONLY AFTER I contacted the foster parent directly. I tried everything to get to talk to someone to release the records at the vet. I called, emailed multiple email accounts, left a contact me on the website. It took FOREVER to get them to respond. They did respond but seriously, that is awful service. I understand a week or so if busy but not over 3 weeks. Won't deal with again. Just be aware of what could happen after adoption if you happen to need anything further. read more

Horrible! Despite multiple applications over the course of a year for any kitten or young cat available on their site, calling and emailing, you never get a response! Not even a rejection notice, which would not apply in this case. I foster dogs through another organization where communication is abundant and necessary for the ability to actually rescue an animal. I'm shocked at how unprofessional this place, which claims to be a rescue actually is. No wonder the pet population continues to be out of control and people turn to breeders. Avoid this rescue at all cost. read more

Amazing team with hearts of gold. They have so much love for animals and went the extra length to foster and get our puppy to good health before our adoption. They are super organized and have a team that responds quickly. I couldn't imagine a better experience or dog- they still follow up to check on her :) read more

I WOULD NOT GET A DOG FROM HERE~ We stated we did not want an aggressive dog in our application. it was a deal breaker. We adopted a dog he seemed fine when he came to visit. Next day got aggressive when on a walk . Stated my concerns to them. We were willing to work with him and gave him time to settle in.Still had regular aggressive behavior when around strangers. Then went after my husband after we had him for 3 weeks and attacked our other dog and then bit a lady. I kept in touch and them the whole time and said we could surrender him back and get a different dog but asked if we could keep him until they found someone to take him. Well we had another dog picked out , then they took him off the table because we wanted the other dog gone and they hadn't found anyone for him yet. They tried to make us feel as if WE did something wrong! READ their CONTRACT...It is RIDICULOUS and I admit I didn't look over close enough.You adopt in good faith I thought we were doing something good for a stray. They finally came and got the dog and we are out all of our costs! I think they should of spent more time evaluating their dog. I know you can't predict a dogs temperament but they should work with someone in these type of cases. We were upfront with them from the start and they were not very compassionate or cooperative! read more

Nothing but a wonderful experience dealing with Ruff Start Rescue. The adoption process was smooth from beginning to end and we couldn't be happier with our new addition! We met our new dog before deciding if he was right for us and soon after, he was the newest addition to our family. Highly recommend! read more

I see you guys always need "urgent foster homes" doesn't a real rescue take them into there own homes just to make sure there safe and cared for? Just curious you guys sure ask a lot of the community member but yet your vet costs are free you say you need money for vet care, you have a whole building full of supplies food beds etc donated (free) from petco and other places! I'm sad these animals are being money makers but there not good enough to go into your own home! Thank god for fosters since you guys rely solely on others doing the work for you and being able to feed your bank accounts! Ps please be cautious when bringing thousands of dogs into mn getting our dogs potentially sick with rare and unknown diseases I think there's enough mn animals and you guys look like you got your hands full already being that you guys need so much urgent help and and already have the truckloads of out of state dogs already. I'm just a concerned consumer. Thanks read more