Last year, after paying $195 (non-refundable) adoption fee and buying a carrying case from them, I adopted one of their cats, but after 2 or 3 weeks she continued to hide under a bookcase and wouldn't let me pet her so I returned her. This year I filled out another application to adopt a cat through them and their reply to my application was, "The Executive Board of Directors representing Standish Humane Society has a strict policy in place that prohibits any previous adopter that has returned a cat that they had adopted from Standish Humane Society to not proceed with any additional applications." I replied, "Wow. Pretty inhumane policy." read more

We adopted Poppy 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier with the experience. Her foster family was amazing and raised her to be a wonderful kitty. We are totally in love with her read more

Standish Humane Society - Animal Shelters Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

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Standish was the most horrific interaction that I've ever had with a shelter with pompous, judgmental and condescending "volunteers". They've left me so traumatized that I would take legal action if I could. I'm a seasoned cat adopter and I've successfully worked with Quincy Animal Shelter and Hull Seaside Animal Rescue. My cats have always thrived, and I take exceptional care of them. After a rude interaction with Donna who was processing my application over letting my cats out in the back hall of my condo, she cut me off and didn't let me explain anything. She just said that they would not allow that and I'd have to put it in writing that I would not let my cat out in the back hall. She was furious that I'd put my cats in jeopardy??!! I'm in a quad of 4 one-bedroom units and the back door is not used since it's only a fire door. My neighbors also know my cats so if they are in the back hall they make sure that the cats don't go into their unit or the laundry room. I didn't understand her fury or her condescending tone which really upset me. Then she wanted to speak to my property manager even though I've owned my condo for 21 years. I offered to have one of the members of our Board of Trustees who also owns a unit in my building send her an approval. I actually messaged the Board Member who was in France on vacation and asked her if she would send an approval to Donna at Standish. She did a day after she returned home and then I emailed Donna and confirmed that I wouldn't let my cat out in the back hall. Donna told me early afternoon on a Thursday that I was all set. I then called Standish on Saturday because I wasn't given a time line for when the adoption team would call me to set up an appointment to come in to adopt Sarge. Their website has an Adopt tab by the picture of the cat that you want to adopt and until your application is approved the cat could be adopted. By Saturday Sarge still wasn't adopted and Donna told me that Joyce would probably call me on Sunday when she was done with the adoptions. So of course I kept checking their website all day Sunday but Sarge was still available. Around 6 pm Sunday evening, I received a phone call from Joyce, and she ended up yelling at me when we discussed the integration process with Sarge and my current cat Duke. She was adamant that I watch her video and only follow her video. I mentioned that this would be my 4th integration and I had received a lot of tips from other shelters that I worked with and then she very condescendingly said that she didn't want me to take advice from my neighbors and insisted that I watch her video! She was also aggravated that I didn't have a second bedroom or bathroom to put Sarge in, but I clearly stated that I had a one-bedroom condo. My bedroom is large, so I was going to keep Sarge in the bedroom and keep Duke out in the rest of the condo because he's lived here for seven years. Again, she yelled at me for not caring about Duke and displacing him?!! I finally got her to calm down, and we agreed on the following Friday at noon to come in to adopt Sarge. She also reminded me to bring a hard carrier because they don't allow soft carriers. Again, I watched my email for the remainder of Sunday evening for Joyce's video, and nothing was ever forwarded to me. The same thing happened on Monday even after I left Joyce a voicemail stating that my identical twin sister Karyn would be coming over to help me with the integration, so she'd stay with Duke when I was with Sarge and then we'd switch interacting with the cats. Joyce never called me back or emailed me or sent me a text to acknowledge that I was trying to honor all of her demands. Finally on Monday around 4:30 pm, Joyce sent me a text that said that she just wanted me to know that Sarge had been adopted last night and she wanted to know if I wanted to keep my appointment on Friday to look at other cats??!!! I was heartbroken and furious! Her response to me was that she thought I'd be happy that Sarge had been adopted by a family that was walking around the shelter on Sunday?!! What a thoughtless and cruel comment to make to me! Seriously!! Sarge should have been put on a hold Sunday evening when Joyce made the appointment with me. I sent Joyce three text messages on Tuesday morning because I hadn't slept Monday night and I was still extremely upset. She never responded. If I could have the Board Members removed from Standish, I would! They're psychotic older women that just talk down to people that they deem aren't worthy of adopting their cats. I'm left heartbroken and further traumatized over my cat West's death plus the failure of Sarge's adoption even though I jumped through hoops to adopt him. Epic failure by an ineptly run shelter. Absolutely disgusting treatment of great cat adopters by small women that like to wield their imagined power over people. STAY AWAY FROM STANDISH HUMANE SOCIETY!! HORRIBLE, NARCISSISTIC AND CRUEL!! read more

I've never been treat so rudely. I completed the application and Donna from the shelter called me two days later (January 2025) to interview me. She'd already spoken with my vet and my references and she was thrilled with everything, including my 16 years of experience fostering cats and kittens for several local animal shelters. We chatted for ten minutes and then Donna asked me if my current cats go outside. I said that they are the indoor/outdoor cats. She then informed me that the shelter has an "indoors only" policy and that she couldn't let me adopt. I was shocked as I'd read the shelter's web page and hadn't seen any mention of the policy. Donna told me that the shelter doesn't put the policy on line as "people lie" about promising to keep the cats indoors and by not putting the policy on the web page, adopters will tell the truth and the shelter can then reject applications of people who will let their cats outside. I explained that my two 16 year old cats have spent all their lives indoors/outdoors and Donna responded that "years ago when the cats learned to go outside, there weren't as many cars or coyotes or hawks so that's why they've survived." WOW. Just wow. Donna then quickly said "I can't talk to you anymore" and hung up. I'll continue my search, but with another shelter. read more

My husband and I were looking to adopt some kittens, and found an adorable bonded pair of brothers on Standish's Facebook page. We decided we wanted to adopt them. The adoption process was very easy. We filled out the adoption form online-- it was thorough, which I did not mind, because to me it means the shelter really cares about their cats and wants to make sure they are going to a good, safe home. We submitted our application on a Friday, and received a call back from a volunteer on Monday. We scheduled a phone interview for the next day. After the phone interview, we set an appointment to go meet the kittens at their foster home. You could really tell how much the foster mom cared for the kittens. The kittens were happy, calm, and easy-going. Filling out the adoption paperwork was easy and straightforward. The foster mom reviewed their whole routine with us, and sent us home with some of their favorite toys and a blanket, as well as kitten food and litter. I have had cats my entire life, always choosing to adopt, and this is the first time where I felt I really got to learn so much about the cats before adoption. I felt like the foster mom really helped us feel super prepared in caring for the kittens-- she knew them so well, their quirks and silly personalities. It has now been over a month since we brought the kittens home, and we continued to be so impressed with Standish. They provided a lot of help and support to us in helping transition them to their new home, and how to introduce them to our dog. The kittens are happy, healthy little guys who have brought us so much love and joy already. The foster mom really took such good care of them, they are SO well-socialized. They can be picked up and handled easily, they don't mind being brushed or having their nails trimmed. They are friendly, happy, curious kittens. Thank you, Standish! read more

I can't say enough good things about this shelter and Joyce one of the volunteers. I filled out an application for adoption online in search for a companion for our 13 year old female cat. Her brother had died of cancer and she misses him. The shelter is very thorough and cares deeply about placing cats and kittens in the right homes. I think that is why some previous comments mention "jumping through hoops." After we were approved to adopt we spoke with Joyce on the phone. Joyce spent the time asking about Audrey and her personality as well as getting to know our family. Joyce stated she has 27 years of experience and made excellent suggestions about what type of cat would be a great fit for our home. I wasn't sure what I was looking for but knew that I wanted a younger cat to be a companion to Audrey. We made an appointment to come meet some cats and Joyce hand-picked several cats and kittens that she thought would be a good fit for our family. She showed us a wide variety of personalities and we settled on a 10 month old kitten. Not only did she hand pick these kitties for us we were invited to participate on a call to educate us on how to bond Audrey and our new kitty. We are so grateful to Joyce and we are so happy we found our new fur baby. Keep in mind when reading other comments that people tend to only write reviews about the negative. Thank you Standish! read more

Standish Humane Society - Benji - Animal Shelters Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

I am so pleased to read all these negative reviews from people that clearly know nothing about cats. 1. cats should never ever be declawed, it damages their health in many ways, both medically and psychologically. 2. No domestic cat should be an outdoor cat. The average life span of an outdoor cat is 2-5 yrs, an indoor cat 15-17. My cat only goes out "sometimes" is not an indoor cat. would you be ok with you child "only sometimes" plays in traffic, walks around alone with predators all around, picking up diseases on their bare feet and parasites. I doubt it. 2. "my cat is happier outside and it restricts their life to stay inside." you restrict your toddler's life by not letting them eat candy all day and lick the sidewalk, but you do it (hopefully) because children don't always choose the best and safest things and it's our job to protect them right? 3. "my application got denied bc x/y/z." Clearly this place loves and cares about who their animals go to, and take the time to get to know their animals and what situations would be best for them as individuals, and are trying to protect them from the trauma of being returned or worse. 4. "the people were mean" see all of the above, all day long, for years and years, and when all you want to do is put the cats need for a proper home before taking the first (or second or third) person who walks in the door, and then catching an entitled attitude for it? you'd be a bit testy too. Add to that constantly having not enough staff, resources, space and funds and having to split your time between the care of the animals and dealing with all that comes with managing a small nonprofit, give the people a break. And no, i have nothing to do with Standish personally, and have a plenty long history here on yelp to prove it, just reading these comments makes me all the more committed to supporting them in the future! read more

This is not a good place for calling when there is a stray or abandoned cat. My Mother who lives with me called and we spoke with a volunteer. Started off great, she came down, I gave a $100.00 donation. I reset the trap, we caught the poor cat and the volunteer came down and took the cat. We received and update and they wanted my mother to sign a legal surrender form. She refused as this was not our cat, we have three. Then the volunteer called and stated that the cat was neutered. The volunteer stated that the cat was not adoptable and she was dropping it back off in our yard, 1 day after being neutered. WE said no you cannot put the cat back in our yard. The director called and stated we had options and started telling us Mass. Laws and it was our problem and a story that she left my mother a voicemail. That never happened. There was not enough time, and she stated that the cat lunged at the volunteer. Well, he was trapped, neutered and scared. There was not enough time for him to adjust. Also, we had to listen to how hard they work at their regular jobs and they don't have time to help the cat adjust, "We are just volunteers and work regular jobs". The poor cat is back, not in good health and magically there is another stray also with him. They are rude, not helpfull and how do your release a poor cat after 1 day after surgery. I have three cats and they needed a week to rest. Do not beleive what you see here. I plan to report this to the state. Not good people. read more

If I could leave ZERO stars , that would be more fitting. Highly do NOT recommend this joke. Very unprofessional, judgmental and rude. They treat you like you're dumb and never cared for animals. They will talk right over you on the phone and won't let you explain anything. Isn't that the whole point of an interview? You ask questions and let the person respond without your nasty remarks? Halfway through the interview she asked if our current cat was an outdoor cat, and I said no, but occasionally he gets outside despite our best efforts which only is 5-10 minutes at most. I also stated that when he does we stay out with him until we can get him back in the house. She then began to lecture me on the RIGHT ways to care for a cat and that a fence doesn't matter because hawks come from the sky. Also that I need to watch videos on this... She treated me like I was stupid and didn't know what I was doing. I attempted multiple times to correct her, explaining that we do not have an outdoor cat but she ignored me and continued to lecture. I attempted again to clarify the misunderstanding re: outdoors and she continued to talk over me rudely and stern. So rather than letting the kitten go to a loving home with another loving cat and someone whose raised animals my whole life, she'd rather the cats stay in shelters all because there's hawks in the sky. What a waste of time and this place should be shut down. read more

Cats and kittens who are up for adoption at Standish are fortunate to have the best of care; from the food they eat (some need special diets), large rooms to roam around, windows to look out of, lots and lots of toys to play with and caring volunteers who not only socialize with them but note if there are any concerns the shelter supervisor should follow up with. They all have veterinarian exams. It's important to know that their future "forever home" will be a good match. Some cats are very active, some are lap cats, others may not want to be picked up and some have special needs. If you are a serious adopter, take your time and ask as many questions that will help you adopt a new furry member for your household who will give you affection by way of head rubs! read more

Standish Humane Society - Jenny, a very happy cat from Standish! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

very rude peaple at shelter after filling out a very leanthey application i got a call in a few days i had a few questions about form and she got very offensive about it and dint like my questions i asked and told me to go somewhere else then a few hours later another worker there called me was unawere the first person talked to me and told me i was to old to adopt a cat i could not believe it im 69 years old dont waste your time there go somewhere else plus all the cats i seen on website were ferel cats which make lousey pets read more

My boyfriend and I recently adopted a cat from Standish Humane Society and we had the best experience ever. Donna who conducted the phone interview made sure we were a good fit to adopt from them. These people really care about the cats in their care! Joyce who was there they day of adoption was super awesome! She showed us all the cats and then let us be to interact with them one on one. We love our new family member! read more

There are a few really negative reviews here, but I agree with another review I saw: many of the negatives seem to originate from people being upset that this place is extremely well versed in the care of kittens and cats and are picky about who they adopt out to. My partner and I are actually really impressed with how thorough they are. We did play a bit of phone tag with Joyce, but everyone here is a volunteer! The fact that she was still so caring and detailed in her discussions with us was very telling. She's been doing this for 30 years and so had the volunteer to helped us on the day we met and adopted our kitty. These people really care about the cats they care for. The process took about a week, but we were able to meet 3 cats and choose the best one for us. She is PERFECT! And she was sent home with her own food, bed and toys to make the transition easier. Standish also took care to email us lots of information about cat introductions. Sure, we had experience with that, but why not listen to the experts? Overall we had a great experience. Sometimes I think people just get frustrated when pet adoption agencies are too thorough or call them out on incorrect or unsafe practices. If you're willing to be patient, learn something new, and take home a cat that fits your home perfectly, Standish is the place to go. read more

I've adopted 2 cats from this place. Awesome experience and both cats were a perfect fit for this older couple. Couldn't be happier with the whole process. read more

I filled out an application and recieved a call from Joyce. She stated she wanted to discuss my application. (Very authoritative) She asked me about "Declawing" and my intentions. I was honest on the application stating, yes I planned to declaw the cat, but only after consultation with my vet. I also reported that I had two feline family members, one died after 17 years and the other 18.5 years, both declawed. Absolutely NO issues with either one. She said she would never allow someone to take a cat to declaw. She reported that the "board" voted on that policy. I asked her how to prevent the cat from scratching up all the furniture and she offered me some ideas, i.e. aluminum foil on the arms of the couch, some type of mat for the couch that makes a very loud sound when the cats jumps on it, etc... Then just for conversation, I asked her the detriment to the cat if declawed and she said someting about how they bite and have issues with using the litter box. She stated I needed to "google" declawing cats and educate myself if I wanted to adopt from Standish! She told me about grooming nails and I would have to prove to HER that I have studied cat declawing and that I can show HER I can trim the cats nails. This was immediately following my telling her I take my guinea pig for nail grooming all the time and that I would bring that cat too. She still told me I needed to prove to HER I can do it! I was also told I would need to sign a legal advidavitt stating I would'nt declaw the cat and give thempermission th report this to my vet! This woman spoke to me like I was a fifth grader and she was the dean of the middle school!! Well I am not and she isn't either I am reading many reviews and most negative. Maybe the board should replace Joyce. Let her handle litter boxes and not people! read more

We have had excellent experiences adopting other animals for our family (Papa's Pet Project, Last Hope K9) but unfortunately our recent first experience with Standish was not a good one. My biggest issue was person who answered the phone reviewed our application. From the onset, the staff/volunteer was combative and unprofessional. Halfway through the questions she asked if our current cat was an outdoor cat, and I said no, but occasionally she gets outside despite our best efforts. I also stated that when she does we stay out with her until we can get her back together in the house. She then began to lecture me and told us that we cannot adopt. I attempted multiple times to clarify we do not have an outdoor cat but she ignored me and continued to lecture. I attempted again to clarify the misunderstanding re: outdoors and she continued to talk over me. I asked if they did site visits as (a way to get the discussion back on track) and she said they do not. I said we would be happy to have a site visit anyway (so they could see our setup) and she said they don't and wouldn't(?). I then asked that they remove our application. We are so disappointed because we have heard good things about Standish but this was such an awful initial interview we will never return. read more

After waiting 9 days, we call the shelter. A lady picks up the phone and says she'll review our application, and that we can start our interview right now. Her first question is just confirming the information on our application, and asking about our current cat. She asks if our cat is an outdoor cat, and we state that she gets outside sometimes, by following us out the door, when we go outside to garden, eat, or just spend some time outside. We explain that she is not an outdoor cat and is not meant to be outdoors. The woman on the phone tells us that this is an indoor only shelter, which, we knew, and the last shelter we adopted from was as well. We state this and she tells us that we 'lied and deceived' the other shelter. Might I repeat, our cat is not and outdoor cat in any way. She tells us we need to work on "door safety", although as we have repeated multiple times, our cat does not open the door herself to get outside, she follows us sometimes when we go outside, and we can't decide what our cat does. This lady is trying to find any loophole in our way of speech she can to deny us our application. She also tells us they don't do house checks, which in my opinion, I believe would be useful. She picks a fight over the phone, and says she'll refer us to the board, but shortly after making this point, she says she'll be hanging up and will not be contacting us. read more

I was able to adopt a cat from Standish Humane Society only after jumping through the hoops set up by Joyce. The info I'm about to provide will let you know what exactly is going on there. Apparently cats can only be adopted by "personality". I was told this on the phone by Joyce. She got nasty when I asked what colors the cats were and if they were short hair. We got past the unpleasantness and I was given an appointment.  Was told there would be 5 cats and Joyce would be going to gather them from the foster homes. When we arrived there were only 3 cats. First 2 kittens were in a room together. Orange 1 wasn't in a cage and didn't move when we entered the room. She picked him up and explained he had only 1 issue. He had CH. After the explanation I was totally fine with that. Second kitten was ferral and presented as "shy". 2nd kitten sneezed and coughed lots while I was there. It wanted nothing to do with us. 3rd cat was 4 years old. Wonderful animal but older than the 1 year limit we put on age. We went home with the orange kitten they called "Pounce".  1st day home we realized he was deaf completely. Then started developing mucus out of his eyes. Was unable to open right eye at all.  Then he was sneezing and coughing and scaring himself so he would go hide. Had to sleep with his mouth open cuz he couldn't breathe. When I contacted Joyce I got short nasty responses. She said there was no way they could have told that he was deaf. Yet he had been in their care for months. She asked if I wanted to bring him back and my response was yes due to him needing obviously more care than we were able to give him. Then made me wait 3 days to be able to bring him back while the poor animal suffered.  I brought him back to a house with 5 people working there yet they couldn't take him back sooner. They made me fill out a form saying I was surrendering the cat even though they adopted out a very sick cat. Not good business at all. Joyce then texted me the next day saying that they couldn't have known he was deaf. No mention of multiple other health issues instead it was just her covering her rear end. Please don't go here. Their system is unbelievably flawed and Joyce is absolutely not a people person. Lies, deception,  rudeness,  and all around bad service makes this place a bad place to adopt ANY animal. Joyce tries to make ya feel bad that she is a volunteer by constantly reminding you that she has a "job" and a "paying job". We all work Joyce. If ya not able to do this volunteer job then please step aside for someone who would love to help these animals find forever homes. read more

If you don't want to read all of this just take this: don't bother unless you're a crazy cat lady/man who sits at home during the day and has owned multiple pets in the past. My girlfriend and I were looking to adopt a cat and found one (Lenny) when walking through PetsMart in Braintree. He took to us right away and we were more than thrilled with him. The application was filled out that day and then online the next day to ensure it was filed. We got a call about a week later just to say that the application was received and that they haven't reviewed our information but would. Over the course of the next two weeks my girlfriend left voicemails and emails (every couple of days) asking for an update and if we were approved. She received an email...not a call...saying we were denied because the vet reference was for a family pet, not one that we owned ourselves, and that a past family cat was let outdoors (it was an outdoor cat when they got it). We are in a complex and stated explicitly on the application and in conversation that the cat would be indoor only. They also did not want Lenny to be left home alone during the work day and must be adopted with a companion. None of the above was disclosed prior to or during the application process. We had a volunteer with Standish and friends who adopted from there as our references. Long story short, don't waste your time if you are a first time pet owner. We wasted almost a month of our time with these people and feel terrible for the cat because we saw that he was recently announced as adopted and then put back up on the site. No conditions in the adoption process are listed and while I love how thorough the process is for finding these animals good homes I feel that this was just absurd. (We got a cutie from Boston Animal Rescue League and the experience there with the volunteers was phenomenal) Note: I am posting my review because my girlfriends isn't on the "recommended review" list. read more

Standish does great things. I have two kitties from here and have since become a volunteer fosterer. They take exceptionally good care of the animal's health and well being while at the shelter (and in the foster homes) which makes for happier healthier more sociable cats! They do screen potential adopters more thoroughly than your average shelter but that is because they invest more time, money, energy, and love, into their cats than the average shelter. The main shelter in Duxbury is very clean and welcoming. Cats in the shelter stay in rooms where they are not caged but allowed to roam and play with eachother like a normal pet would. It is the least depressing animal shelter I have ever been in and I think the cats are friendlier because they are made really comfortable there. They post all of their animals to petfinder.com so you can check everybody out before you come visit and they really get to know their animals. Often times people come in searching for a paticular personality such as a mouser, a lap cat, a cat that would do well with children/dogs/senior citizens/gerbils etc. and adoptions coordinators can suggest kitties who are a great fits that you should come check out. They also have an adoptions center at Petsmart in Braintree where there are usually kittens. Volunteers are there twice a day to care for and socialize the kitties, they are all knowledgable and love to let people come in play/ help advise potential adopters. Everyone is spayed/neutered before adoption and has all their shots. read more

If you are looking for an amazing place to volunteer Standish is it! The cats are spoiled rotten and are allowed to roam freely. I never feel sad leaving the shelter because they get the BEST care, food, LOVE! read more

They're really nice there, and take the time to show you around and introduce you to cats so you can find just the right one. The facilities are great. I was less impressed a few weeks later when my new best friend started to lose fur in patches and had to get lots of expensive tests. Lots of $$$ and it's most likely mites (mange!), which we're treating, so okay. She also had a really bad ear infection, to the point that she was losing her balance-- poor kitty. These things happen, and I'm sure Standish had no idea. What's upsetting to me is that I let them know about this while we were running tests because depending on what it was, it could be a problem for other cats in their shelter. I wasn't blaming them or asking them for anything. The call back I got was not impressive. They didn't really express any concern about my cat, or any kind of "oh shucks, I wish we'd known" or "sorry you're having to deal with this" or anything like that, which would have been nice. I just got a lot of talk about how if it turned out that she had ringworm, I had to let them know, because it would cause problems for them as a shelter. I would've let them know anyway-- that's why I contacted them-- but really, don't yell at me about the importance of these medical tests when I'm the one paying hundreds of dollars for them within a week of adopting a cat from you. read more

I have dealt with (2) individuals in this organization -(1) was extremely helpful, Director of Adoptions, Dawne Goncalves, and the other, Julia Fratalia, Shelter Director, for whom I can not find words to define. I do not know why the SHS Board of Directors allows this woman to remain in this position. Ms. Fratalia allows a woman from South Boston who takes neighbors' cats (ones that this woman deems owners as unworthy because they allow their cat to go outdoors) and brings them to this shelter for Ms. Fratalia to put out for adoption. Ms. Fratalia ignores MA Dept. of Agriculture laws which requires all shelters to make a good faith effort in locating the owners as well as meeting a required (7) day holding period. My (8)yo cat was one of these that was stolen and delivered to SHS. I reported that cat missing to all of the major Boston shelters and had spent weeks looking for him outdoors. I searched Petfinders and was shocked to find him not only in Duxbury but listed as a (2) year old cat whose owner had moved away and left on the street. Be aware that when adopting a cat from this Shelter that you may not only be adopting a stolen cat but that the age of the advertised animal may be inaccurate. I questioned Ms. Fratalia as to why she was advertising an (8) yo cat as a (2) yo cat on Petfinders and she told me that she did not know how old my cat was. I asked her if she had all of her cats seen by a vet before being put out for adoption and she said yes. I then asked her if the vet had not given her an estimation of the cats age and she said that "there is no way of telling a cat's age." When visiting their website you need to ask why do almost all of their cats fall within an age range of (0-3) years given that they take in all cats if space is available -it is a statistical anomaly. read more

Such a great shelter. Their volunteers are amazingly dedicated to those cats and finding homes for them. It's amazing what they accomplish. If you're considering a cat then they will really take the time to match you with the perfect one for you. If you're scoffing at the idea of paying money to adopt a cat, then you clearly should not be owning a cat. Their adoption fees are unbelievably low compared to what it actually takes to give a cat their vaccines, spay/neuter, vet visits, etc. Seriously, you're getting an amazing deal adopting a shelter cat (or kitten). Give them a call and schedule a time to go meet your future pet! read more

We adopted our cat Maggie last summer and she is the love of our life. When my teenagers get home from school the first words out of they're mouths is "wheres Maggie." I had a very possitive interaction with the staff at Duxbury cat adoption but not so good at the shelter in Achushet. I was denied a cat there because my last cat live to be 18 yrs of age and was in bad health so i put him down at the Vets suggestion. I guess they rather the cat suffer then do the human thing. read more

One star is for the service you get if you are looking to adopt. If you are looking to volunteer, maybe they are wonderful. But this is my experience: they turned me down- after my application was approved, after we picked out our kittens, but before we had a chance to meet them, or for them to meet us. They handled my situation so poorly, which ended with three very sad children. Only because we had to reschedule our visit to the foster parent's house, which was out by the Bourne bridge during the summertime. We were trying to arrange a time where we didn't hit Cape traffic. I had to change the day, and I asked for a later time. The foster mom ceased communication with me, and then Standish called to tell me they were canceling the appointment. She told me that I was too busy for kittens. She judged my ability to care for two kittens based upon that alone?? It was rude and heartbreaking. The people at Standish think they are holier than thou. So beware. I'm not surprised by the other negative reviewer. I'm just sad for the kittens whom my kids had already named and bought food and toys for. It was very unfortunate. read more

Looked on petfinder and saw the most beautiful kittens. Checked out thier policies and called about adopting. I was told right away I could not adopt a kitten because I had a child in my household under 6. It did not say that in their policy or on petfinder. They never gave my family a chance to show our loving home. I feel as though we were dicriminated against. The great thing though is I found a beautiful kitten at a local pet store. She is healthy and happy. If you wish to adopt a kitten and you have children dont bother with wasting your time calling them. read more

Don't bother trying to adopt here if you haven't had a cat of your own before. This was the first pet I was trying to adopt after moving out but since I only had my family vet as a reference that wasn't good enough. I had references from other standish adoptees but that didn't matter. I appreciate that there is a screening process but it's flawed. After many unanswered emails and phone calls (2+ weeks) they finally started to get the process rolling. I finally learned the cat I was interested in needed to go to a family that would be home all day or have another cat to keep him entertained (which would have been helpful to know in the first place) we decided to move on to give him a chance for a busier family. If they said that from the beginning things would have been different. I had no interest in using them to go find another cat with all the difficulty they caused for us. We instead used the Animal Rescue League in Boston and found a three-legged cat that could not be places in a more loving home. I would suggest going there! The volunteers are very helpful and make you feel welcomed and happy for adding a new addition to the family. read more