I warned people to not patronize this organization in an earlier review (in 2022). I posted a warning after concerning interactions with Soft Paws but Yelp just removed the image I had attached citing it violated their privacy rules. The image was from a public database that anyone can access and contains public information. I include the link to this PUBLIC database here. Just fill in "soft paws rescue" under organization and "CA" for state, and you will see that the nonprofit license is suspended. https://rct.doj.ca.gov/Verification/Web/Search.aspx?facility=Y Soft Paws wanted us to pay the entire adoption fee without having met the dog, and it wouldn't be refundable. I understand people don't show up to appointments, but charging the full amount is not only absurd, it shows the organization doesn't care if the dog and the adopter are not a good fit. IE the dogs welfare is not being prioritized. read more

Can't get a hold of.you.but I love my baby. He's such a love bug.but I can't get a hold of someone to have him fixed. read more

I got my puppy through Soft Paws Rescue and they were wonderful..My dog Poppy was only 11 weeks old and almost fully potty trained .They worked with her in the foster homes using puppy pee pads.She is totally potty trained now and has been.She got socializing with other puppies as well.I love how they take care of the dogs and keep them in loving homes while they wait for their forever homes.Thank you Soft Paws I appreciate everything you do for these animals .And I wish there were more kind people like you in the world :) read more

Dedicated hard-working rescue that makes a huge difference in all animals lives! Kind, caring and compassionate! Absolutely recommend !!

We adopted our puppy at eight weeks of age from Soft Paws Rescue. She is now nearly a year and a half old, and she is the happiest, most well-adjusted little dog! We attribute it to the loving and secure start she got in life being born and raised at her foster mom's house. I've read the negative reviews on here. Our experience was great. Soft Paws takes on big responsibilities with limited time and money resources. They likely prioritize the animals' well-being over any people-feelings. (And apply the 80/20 rule when managing their time and efforts.) read more

I wouldn't trust them! To adopt pet, they ask for money first without meet and greet. Breeders and legit rescue places always meet first. Here in 2025 they are using covid as a reason. read more

Easy to navigate service. Thank you! Please help to locate my puppy! Appreciated help. read more

Soft Paws Rescue - SAMSON 13 month Zhizhu went missing 7/10/22 around 12 noon by Santa Rita Rd. El Sobrante, Ca 94803. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

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We adopted our sweet little Wilma from this group. These ladies are so amazing and work so hard to save as many dogs/puppies as possible. I found the adoption fee very reasonable for a puppy that is fully vaccinated and fixed. We love our girl and appreciate all that this rescue does. read more

Soft Paws Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

Not reasonable or trustworthy, rushed through the adoption process, has money in mind over saving dogs.

Not even worth applying to adopt a dog from here. They were rude enough to not get back to me about my application when I was showing interest in meeting the dog/dogs I was interested in adopting. They put false advertising for the dogs saying that all were good to go to homes with other dogs, cats or even kids and come to find out that was a lie. Why put that on your website and then make a new post on Facebook saying the complete opposite. Oh and they decide blocking me was good enough instead of just messaging me, calling me or emailing me as I know I gave them all my info. All they had to do was tell me they weren't going to have me adopt but instead they went the immature route and blocked me on Facebook. I'm spreading the word to everyone I know and I am never applying to adopt a dog from you again. Thanks for the help..NOT! read more

It helps to understand this is basically a one woman operation, or at least it was when I got my dog Summer 3 years ago. Yes, things went slowly, I got frustrated BUT I am giving it 5 stars because it brought me --sorry-- my spirit animal, which was unexpected as I have and have had dogs I love very much. Summer brings me joy every day of my life, even when everything else seems bleak. I am thankful to Soft Paws every day of my life. The process took maybe a month. It seemed interminable at the time. But it would've been well worth it if it took a whole year. read more

My experience with Soft Paws rescue was beyond positive and was a total life changer for me. Victoria, the CEO found me the PERFECT pet after I lost my beloved Annie. This woman has the biggest heart in the rescue industry and takes dogs that other rescues wont. Her reputation is understated because of the competition that unfortunately seems prevalent in the rescue world. If you are looking to support a non profit that goes above and beyond for so many unfortunate, unwanted animals, then look no further. She does not receive the federal aid others do and literally pays out of pocket often times to ensure the welfare of those lucky animals entrusted to her care. She takes the time to match the dog to the RIGHT owner....this is huge! I so recommend SOFT PAWS RESCUE...Thank you Victoria! read more

We've been waiting to get our dog fixed for 2mos, seems excessively long. They suck at getting back to us too. The adoption fee is to include alteration, so what gives? Got a notice from So Co Animal Services that she needs to be licensed and it'll be 100 if she isn't altered, just doesn't seem fair I get punished financially if SPR is dragging there feet at getting her fixed. The dog is great and we love her and they were very accommodating when we adopted her, but this lack of promise and communication really blows! read more

We had an amazing experience with Soft Paws Rescue. They helped us adopt our puppy Moose, and helped my sister-in-law adopt one of Moose's littermates! They manage and coordinate a LOT, and are really dedicated to making sure their animals get connected to healthy, happy forever homes. Mersadies was super communicative via Facebook Messenger. She was even able to send us a few pix when she visited them at their foster mom's home! read more

I am extremely disappointed with my experience with soft paws rescue and would highly recommend anyone to find a different rescue. I was told last Friday that the dog I had applied for was still available and scheduled a time on Monday to speak with Maddy, an employee, on the phone about the details such as the price of adoption, the expectation of paying full price upfront through zelle or Venmo using unrelated emojis so venmo doesn't flag it as a service and take a portion. She also offered to have the puppy transported down to where I live (three hours from where he was being fostered) on Saturday. Following our conversation she emailed me the adoption paperwork. I filled and returned the paperwork the same day. That Wednesday she reminded me of the adoption fee which I had not paid. At that time I expressed my concern with paying the full price upfront for a dog I had not yet met from a rescue I had not seen or met anyone from. I asked if I could pay when I receive him, pay a deposit upfront and the rest after I get him, or even arrange to meet him first. She responded by giving me the phone number of his foster parents to schedule a time to meet him. I reached out to his fosters and asked if I could meet him that night or the following night. I ended up scheduling a FaceTime meeting with them for Thursday night. The next morning I reached out to Maddy telling her I was able to meet the dog, and asked if she was still planning to have him transported to me the next day (Saturday) and what time. She then told me she hadn't scheduled a transport because I hadn't paid yet. I reminded her I was waiting to meet the puppy before paying, hence why I hadn't paid yet, and then paid the fee through Venmo. Despite their request to pay as not a good and services on Venmo, I decided it was best and safest for me to protect my money in the case something Happened as from what others had told me it is really unusual to pay full price upfront for a dog. If you mark a payment as goods and services it gives you the opportunity to get a refund in the case you don't receive what you paid for. Without doing this, I would risk losing all my money if I was scammed. After I paid the rescue, Maddy told me she was in the process of setting up a transport. A few hours later I was refunded on Venmo and contacted by the president of the rescue. The president, Victoria, texted me asking why I paid as a goods and services when asked not to, why it took so long for me to pay, and why I hadn't set up a transport yet/why I needed the dog transported to me. I responded explaining that as I had told Maddy, I was waiting until I met the dog before paying, that I used goods and services to protect my money and that to my understanding Maddy was setting up a transport since Monday. I was told that I was being unaccommodating and difficult to work with. She told me she never allows adopters to meet dogs in advance and that they never have their dogs transported, adoptees always pick them up and the fact that I didn't follow instructions by paying as goods and services meant that I was untrustworthy as an adopter. I explained the whole situation - how Maddy had offered to have the dog dropped off so I thought that was their standard practice but that I was willing to pick him up if needed, that from what I've heard and research I've done into other rescues it's unusual to pay full price ahead of time without even meeting the dog you're adopting, and so using goods and services was the only way for me to follow their policy of paying ahead of time while also protecting my money. Victoria continued to tell me that I couldn't be trusted as an adopter because I couldn't follow their instructions and the fact that I was worried about getting a refund was sketchy and so she told me they weren't going to go through with the adoption anymore. I continued to explain myself, how I followed all instructions and had been transparent with Maddy the entire time about the money. Victoria ended the conversation saying she'd review the situation and get back to me. I followed up with them three times and never heard back. This whole experience has been extremely disappointing as I had done everything I was asked and was communicating with Maddy the entire time. It's extremely unprofessional to revoke an adoption, just because I paid in a way that would protect my money, one day before it was supposed to take place. It was unprofessional and poor communication on the part of maddy to offer transport when that wasn't an option, to not have communicated with her supervisor the reason I was waiting to pay and to lie to me about setting up a transport in advance. And just overall unprofessional to think that it's strange for an adoptee to want to meet a puppy before adopting it, as well as be skeptical of pay full price prior to meeting it. I would never recommend this rescue to anyone. read more

Worked with this rescue once before thought I could help with fostering. Spoke with one of the ladies and she said they needed someone immediately. I had to fill out my application twice the person whom I was speaking with was very vague didn't give me any information about how long it would take and didn't offer any info about pup. I tried to reach out and let her know I was working with another rescue and have a slot open but need to know status. Answers rudely that they get over one hundred emails and blah blah and they do it for free. Okay so do I? Anyways never working with rescue again very un organized and the people are rude read more

Website says their address is in Larkfield Center. This is their PO Box at the Mailboxes place; wasted a trip down there. They dont have an address. I guess you email them and wait? Not exactly the easiest business to deal with. read more

I have waited for a week tomorrow to know if they even received my application. I wrote back twice. Nothing!!!! I'm supposed to be in limbo all this time??? read more

Very unprofessional to work with. Not accommodating with time, seems as if it's not about getting the right home for the dogs rather than just getting them out as soon as possible. Very unfortunate that they are able to call themselves a rescue. read more