I was apprehensive about adopting a dog without meeting first. Toni explained that before any dog is made available for adoption, it stays with a foster for a period of time sufficient to understand their temperament and health to ensure a good match. There was never any pressure and I was told that if for any reason I was not happy with my pup, they would take her back to foster and rehome. Sadie traveled via carry on luggage on her flight from Puerto Rico to FLL, carried by a volunteer angel (thank you!). Beth came with me to the airport and was so incredibly supportive and kind. From the moment Sadie popped her head out of the carrier, tail wagging, I knew that everything Toni/Beth told me about Sadie was spot on. It's been 1 week since I got Sadie and I could not be more thrilled with Sadie. I'm still chatting with Beth from time to time, sharing happy experiences and getting great advice on various new dog owner questions. She is a mensch! If you are apprehensive about the SFTH adoption process, I hope my review is informative for you. Now that Sadie is part of my life, I am grateful and appreciative of the work Toni, Beth and their team do. I highly recommend SFTH if you are considering a rescue. read more

Our lives changed when our dogs came from PR via Stray from the Heart . The team was amazing -- so thorough about medical histories and care back home, and full of advice and guidance. We fell in love with the photos of our first dog Paloma, and trusted Toni and her network of foster homes in their assessments of her personality and behavior. It had been our goal to have 2 dogs so they had companionship, and a few weeks later when Toni shared photos of Ollie and a bit about his personality we knew we had a match. From the moment both dogs walked out of their carriers at JFK, it was love at first sight. When they met for the first time, it was the same! They adjusted to life in NYC so easily and give us so much love on the daily. It is a leap of faith you will never regret taking. Do it today! read more

Stray From The Heart - Ollie and Paloma relax together - Animal Shelters Near Me

We recommend Stray From the Heart wholeheartedly! Others have described the adoption process in great detail. So I will instead say that in a world of the impersonal and the outsized, Stray From the Heart keeps things at ground level and hands-on. They take in strays and give them incredible care and attention--which shows in the well-adjusted rescues they send into the world. It's admittedly a gamble to adopt a dog without meeting it first, and in our case my husband is sometimes allergic, so a big leap. But one we are SO glad we made. Our dog came with the name Honey, which we kept and added Ketty as a middle name in honor of Ketty who rescued and fostered her. In advance of adopting Honey, we spoke with Toni, who was so helpful and detailed. After bringing Honey home, I asked to be in touch with her foster. By text, Ketty answered all of my questions and in the course of doing so, revealed things such as taking the time to wipe Honey's eyes every morning and her mouth after eating. I can't say I manage to do that myself, but I'm so glad for the standard Ketty set. As for Honey, she is such a delightful addition to our family and entirely lives up to her Stray From the Heart billing as incredibly sweet, easy, affectionate, and good listener. We didn't know it was possible for a dog to barely bark but that's also Honey--she only speaks in self-protection and a single woof does it. We feel SO lucky to have Honey and so grateful to Stray From the Heart. read more

Stray From The Heart - Our wonder girl, Honey. - Animal Shelters Near Me

We approached Stray from the Heart with an open mind about which dog we wanted to adopt and ultimately chose to to trust Toni's instinct on the right dog for us. We spoke to her on the phone and texted regularly as we were making our decision, difficult as it was, and she provided photos, videos, and any information we asked for. As others have said, it's nerve wracking to adopt a dog without meeting it first. We realized, though, that even meeting a dog at a local shelter won't necessarily give you an accurate picture of a dog's personality once it's in your neighborhood and home. Adopting a dog is always a gamble no matter what. It was actually reassuring to work with a partner who clearly cares so much about making the right match. Stray from the Heart has high standards about who they adopt to and they want the absolute best for their rescues. They make the pickup process as simple as possible for you. Coming in on a plane is an extremely stressful experience for any animal. Our sweet dog Mandie was clearly (and understandably!) anxious for the first few days with us in her new environment, but she bonded to me pretty much right away and with love she has blossomed. She arrived fully crate trained and house trained, and a local vet confirmed she was in perfect health; it's obvious her foster mom in PR took excellent care of her. A month in to her new life in NYC, Mandie is a superstar snuggler and the love of our lives. While shy and still scared of city noises, she's extremely tolerant and trusting. She clearly feels more comfortable being in a "pack" with both me and my husband when we take walks; it takes patience and understanding, which we are more than happy to provide, to build her confidence, and we are thrilled that she continues to make major progress. She's ecstatic to be let out of her crate in the morning and greets us with zoomies and kisses and snuggles. She *loves* attention, being petted, and taking naps: her greatest mission in life is to snooze on the couch with you by her side. She's also a goofball with a huge smile. She loves other dogs (that's her chilling with a new friend) and running and playing outside in quieter areas--she's faster than we are! Basically, she's exactly how Toni described her to us. We love Mandie so much and highly recommend adopting from Stray from the Heart! Would do it again in a heartbeat. read more

See all

Toni and the Stray from the Heart team are upfront, communicative, and the work they do is beyond an adoption service -- it's a calling. Our family was looking to adopt a special stray and we certainly found one in Jeremy -- a four-year-old doxy mix. Jeremy had been rescued and lovingly fostered in Puerto Rico before making his way to us in Brooklyn. We spoke with Toni several times to make sure this was the right fit for all, and Jeremy arrived with very accurate paperwork from an excellent vet in PR. If you have love and patience to give a dog in need of a safe home, we highly recommend adopting through Stray from the Heart. read more

See all

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Stray From The Heart is unlike any other dog rescue I've ever worked with--this agency is OUTSTANDING! Literally, it stands out from the rest of the pack, pun intended. I have applied for many dogs through MANY other NYC-based agencies, and this is the only one that actually took the time to get to know me, my partner, and our now rescue dog, Chippy, to find the perfect/best match possible for everyone involved. The founder, Toni, called me on the phone numerous times to ask questions, answer my questions, and give me updates on how the approval and adoption process was going. They truly care about finding the best home for the dog, by taking time to learn about the adopters/humans. We also had the opportunity to speak over the phone and text with the foster, who had saved Chippy down in Puerto Rico. She sent us videos, photos, and as much information as possible so we could make an informed decision to adopt Chippy. Not every agency allows you to speak with the foster family, for reasons I don't understand. After receiving abundant amounts of information about Chippy, we felt confident in bringing him home. SFTH organizes the flight from PR to JFK. On the day of arrival, Toni and another volunteer met us at the airport to facilitate the first meeting with our dog--making sure everything ran smoothly, as the dogs are scared and confused upon arrival. Since you are unable to meet your dog in person prior to adoption, they have a "no questions asked" policy that states, if the match isn't a good one, they will re-home the dog. We were at first hesitant to adopt a dog before meeting in person, but with this policy along with the time and care they showed throughout the process, we felt comfortable to trust their process. We brought Chippy home just 2.5 weeks ago, 4/8/23, and could not be more in love!!! He has quickly come out of his shell, and knows we're his new Mom and Dad! He's the sweetest, most loving little pup, and we feel so lucky to have found Stray From The Heart!! Thank you for everything, Toni, Ketty, Patricia, and the rest of your team PS--They did not ask me to write this review. I am so moved by the experience that I couldn't help myself. I am gushing with gratitude :). read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

Great organization. Very straight forward & honest. Kept in touch with me the whole adoption process. Made pick up at the airport very easy. I would %100 recommend stray from the heart. Molly is the sweetest, loving dog ever!! read more

Stray From The Heart - Molly & her new brother Riley - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

I had a wonderful experience adopting my pup, Everest (formerly Lupita), through Toni and Stray from the Heart. From day one, Toni was open and honest about the process and the dogs available. We had an initial conversation about what I was looking for and less than a week later, Toni had called with the perfect dog. Her and the other volunteers provided as much information as they had on the pup and she has proven to be exactly as described. She is a total sweetheart, playful, good natured, and eager to learn. After adoption, Toni checked in multiple times to make sure we were doing ok and to offer up help / advice as needed. Her openness and willingness to help made me feel completely comfortable and at ease throughout the entire process. I'd highly recommend adopting from this organization! (I'm already hoping to adopt more pups from them in the years to come!) read more

See all

I adopted my dog, Quincy (better known as Q), from Stray From The Heart in April 2020. First, the application process: I applied online after seeing my (hopeful future) pup online and was promptly reached out to in order to continue the process. Second, the interview process: The team was concise and responsive. They made it clear that this was just as much about finding the dog's right fit, as it was finding my fit. They asked follow up questions from my application, specific questions relating to the dog's demeanor, and answered all of my questions. They also followed up with videos and photos, as I'd requested. Third, the adoption: This is where I really cannot speak highly enough of the team. From a global health perspective, we are in a challenging place (to say the least) and the team was transparent throughout the experience and made it clear that their initiative (once I was approved!) was to make sure me and the dog found our way safely to one another. We walked through all of the options available and were in touch every single day. Toni and her team were amazing to work with and I am so grateful because I could not have asked for a better furry companion. Quincy brings so much joy to me and my boyfriend's lives. He fits in so well (he loves couch snuggles, jogs, and chicken) and is such a good dog. He's playful, yet chill and so very loving. We love him so much. Thank you, SFTH! read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

It's with sadness that I post this warning about Stray from the Heart. I had the privilege of spending 12 years with a wonderful dog they rescued. They brought her to me at 5 months old and she was a bff until she passed at 13. It was the two of us for a little while...until we added a dad, a canine sister, and 3 human pups to the mix. About a year after she passed, we again had the privilege of sharing our family with an adorable, funny, loving pooch they rescued in PR. But things didn't go as well this time. This sweet boy adored the fam but struggled with fear aggression and bit more than a few folks. One of the founders had moved out of the area and while SFTH offered some help (when REALLY pressed) they were just not equipped to handle the truly awful issues (and injuries) that arose. They were finally able to re-home the pup -- so while on one hand all's well that ends well -- I write this because it was only after some real trauma and heartbreak for 3 kids, their grown-ups, and the poor pup. I probably should be sharing this story with whatever licensing body oversees animal rescues, but there you have it. I think that rescuing dogs is a labor of love for SFTH and that they've done much good in the world. There's been some "collateral damage" along the way, however, and from what we've seen and experienced they have not made the changes that would enable them to support rescues and their people in difficult circumstances. read more

I had an amazing experience with Stray from the Heart and Toni! I got my dog, fka. Walter, within a month from starting the process. Although I did not have the chance to meet him prior to picking him up from the airport, he was the perfect fit for my family. Prior to adopting Walter, Toni talked with me about my lifestyle and the type of dog that would fit best. She then told me she would get back to me in a few days with a potential dog that needed a home. I was skeptical at first that she would find a dog so quickly for me, as most of the other rescues/shelters had zero puppies due to everyone adopting during the pandemic. However, just three days later she sent me a picture of an adorable big eared, wide smiling dog -without even meeting him, I knew this was the dog for me. The process to pick up Walter was a bit different since airlines have more restrictions now.. I had the option to fly down to Puerto Rico to pick Walter up or I could wait until a volunteer could bring him to JFK. Since I wanted Walter ASAP, I chose the option to fly down to PR and pick him up. I can honestly say that when I met him at the airport, Walter and I instantly clicked - which was amazing because we had our first flight back to New York together an hour later. He is an absolute joy and has made the mundane days of quarantine so much better! In addition, I cannot say enough good things about the foster mom in PR and Toni. Toni made sure that every question I had before picking up Walter was answered and went above and beyond once Walter made it to NY to make sure he was handling the transition well. The foster mom also made sure to give me a full debrief on Walter's habits and schedule before leaving PR. Highly recommend adopting your next dog from Stray from the Heart!! read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

My sister had a wonderful experience adopting a dog from Stray from the Heart so when she sent me a picture of a dog on their website, Cleo, I was compelled to apply. After I applied on a Sunday, I heard from Jamie the following day. We scheduled a time to speak about my application and Cleo just 1 day later (on Tuesday). After speaking for about 20 minutes, Jamie was able to assess that Cleo would be a good fit for our home, but would let us know we would hear it we were the *best* fit of all the applicants by the weekend. By Sunday, Jamie reached out to tell us we were selected for Cleo! We were ecstatic. The short waiting period made the process much more tolerable. From application to finding out we were selected took only 1 week! Having a lab and a husky already in the house, I was a bit apprehensive about bringing a small dog into the mix simply because of the size difference. But I had no reason to be apprehensive: Jamie knew her stuff and Cleo is the most perfect fit for our family. She's playful, feisty, and keeps up with the larger dogs with ease. The 3 dogs are best friends and it's really incredible that Jamie was able to determine this via an application and phone conversation. She's a real expert. SFTH made the entire process of adopting a dog from Puerto Rico extremely smooth. I recommend them to anyone I know who's looking to adopt. Thank you for connecting us with Cleo; we couldn't imagine life without her. read more

See all

Stray From the Heart has been absolutely amazing from moment one. They helped me find the perfect pup to fit my lifestyle. I've had my little Mochi for three weeks and I truly cannot imagine life without him. Toni was so kind and helpful through the entire process and clearly cares a great deal for these amazing pups. If you are wondering if finding a pup from here is for you, the answer is YES! I can't say enough amazing things and would adopt from Stray From the Heart again and again. I love my furry friend so much and am so grateful to you all! read more

See all

We can't say enough how lucky we were to find Stray from the Heart. When we saw these two girls we were excited and applied to adopt right away. At first hesitant when we learned we would be adopting from Puerto Rico without a chance to meet them in advance. But after talking with Toni, we learned more about the girls and their personalities while in foster than we would have learned in a meet and greet. SFTH and Toni stay in touch to make sure the girls have settled in. Toni gave us great suggestions on preparing for them to arrive and what to expect while the girls settled into our home. SFTH just doesn't hand you a dog and leave you to figure it out. While we are experienced dog owners, we still learned so much on how to introduce new dogs into our home. SFTH truly loves dogs and does everything to ensure a positive experience for dogs and their new owners. We are forever thankful to SFTH that we found our 2 golden girls aka PR Lovebugs! Its now been 5 months and we are one happy family! read more

See all

Patricia was very difficult to get in touch with, and often took upwards of a week to get back to me. She ultimately deemed that the dog I was interested in would be best suited for a young couple in the city. She would not schedule an interview with me if I was anywhere but my apartment speaking to her. She was controlling of how the dog should be taken care of, and seemed like a helicopter mom. Between her informing me that she had decided on another home for him (which I accepted without any issue) and our most recent communication, she reached out asking if I was still looking for a dog, as one might be available. I said I'd like to be in touch, and she let me know that the dog was no longer an option. I was recently growing STFH's site because my lifestyle has slowed down tremendously, and I was considering what my adoption options might be. I saw Scooter was still pending on the site, so I mailed Patricia wondering if h might be available again, as it had been 4 months since our initial conversation about him. She said he was not, and son followed up that he might become available in 2 weeks. When I asked why the home wasn't working out, I did not receive a response. I followed up a few days later, and she let me know that he was not adjusting well to a 3-person home, but had since settled in. I let her know that I was frustrated by the back and forth about the dog's availability (as I likewise was when she reached out about another potential dog), and let her know. I was appreciative of hr apology, but my frustration and disappointment still stands. A very poor experience all around. Communication and treatment of inquiring adopters needs to be improved tremendously. UPDATE: I am sad to have to be adding to this within hours of posting it. I reached out to the agency via Facebook to air my disappointment, and Patricia herself answered me. We had what I thought was a reasonable and well-communicated conversation. However, I soon received an email from Patricia that was in an entirely different tone. She was abrasive, continued to email me after I asked that communication cease twice as it was a lost cause, and continues to email me. I'm sad that a representative of any foster agency is conducting themselves this was, and hope it is taken care of by someone in charge. read more

stray from the heart was amazing during my adoption process of our angel, Kaz. Toni was THE BEST. So responsive, knowledgeable, always willing to help. it's been about a month and a half since we've had Kaz and Toni has called multiple times to chat and see how things are going. It can be nerve wracking doing a sight unseen adoption but it was so worth it. Every detail of our girl's transport from Puerto Rico to New York was communicated perfectly. Pick up instructions at their airport were to the T. In terms of adjusting with your new pup, give them time because their whole world just changed. It took a few days to a week for Kaz to get fully comfortable as she was extremely timid. Also very appreciative of the foster home(s) in Puerto Rico. Because of Kaz's foster home, she was already crate trained which has been a lifesaver for us. Highly recommend adopting from stray from the heart. it's been so rewarding. read more

We had an excellent experience with Stray from the Heart. We were contacted almost immediately to let us know there was a little boy that matched our application needs/ skills. They gave us an honest and accurate description of the dog, including the circumstances from which he came. They also checked in with us after adopting him to make sure that things were going okay and to offer us training resources should we need them. 10/10 would adopt from them again! We love our boy and are grateful to Stray from the Heart for helping us find him! read more

Stray From The Heart - Our pup just hanging out - Animal Shelters Near Me

We adopted Alfonso in October 2020. After a very frustrating journey with other agencies (it was impossible to get an application through the door), SFTH was so easy and such a pleasure to deal with! They contacted us almost immediately after applying. Toni and Ketty were amazing! (Both v overprotective of their fur babies but that just shows how much they care). Alfonso (AKA Fonzie) couldn't be a better match! The process: We initially applied for a different dog but when our application was approved he was no longer available, instead, they offered us Fonzie. Even though we didn't meet him before, he was just a perfect match for us! We still can't believe how perfect he is! The adoption process was easy but it was a bit long because of the pandemic (flying dogs from PR to NY was not that easy). In the end, we went to PR and picked him up (they deducted the ticket amount from the adoption fee). Ketty greeted us at the airport in San Juan and we brought our baby home! (We also volunteered to bring his brother, Willy to NY so that's why you see him in the photo). After that they continued to check up on us online and we were happy to send updates. *Fonzie was very healthy and almost completely potty trained which was a big bonus! Overall we had a fantastic experience with SFTH! They really know what they're doing! read more

See all

I cannot begin to describe just how thrilled we are with our experience adopting from Stray from the Heart. We had always had a plan to adopt a dog when we finally purchased a home. We adopted in the height of the covid pandemic, and the SFTH crew worked tirelessly to get our girl on a flight home. Due to the pandemic United Airlines was not flying pet cargo, and the team did everything they could to bypass United and find a transport flight for our sweet Lucy. I cannot commend Lucy's foster mommy (Ketty) enough for the excellent care she received. It was obvious that Ketty worked hard with our girl. She enjoys her crate, walks beautifully on a leash, is gentle taking treats, and is a class act around the dinner table. When we took her for her first vet appt here in NJ her doctor commented on how well taken care of she was! She has now been with us for a little over a month, and we can't imagine our lives without her. She is the perfect hiking partner and sweetest cuddler. We ask ourselves "how did we get so lucky?" nearly every day. Looking to adopt? Consider Stray from the Heart to match you with your best friend. You can't go wrong with a Sato! read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

From start to finish they have been amazing connecting us with our dog Sadie (formely known as Lucky) we could not have gone through the first week without Kristin and Toni who guided us on how to have our rescue love us and feel comfortable with us. They are an amazing organization who saves all these amazing dogs!! read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

I just adopted by beagle through Stray from the Heart and I highly recommend working with them to adopt your pet. Toni was not only very communicative and prompt, she also helped me get my dog approved by my apartment's management company. No easy task as you know if you live in New York City. I can't say enough good things. She and Patricia also followed up after I picked up my little guy from the airport to make sure things were going well in his new home. I recommend working directly with Toni if you can. She's incredibly helpful and resourceful. read more

In October 2016 our family had to have our 13 year old golden retriever Chloe put down. We were devastated. Our home felt so empty without her there. We had never experienced a dog free home. We then debated whether to buy or adopt. We debated whether it would be better to get a puppy or adult dog? We have always purchased puppies from "breeders". We really liked the idea of rescuing a dog and giving them a second chance. We were also very nervous about the thought of it. We thought, sure adopting sounds like a wonderful thing for us to do but what if we get a bad dog? We then realized that getting a dog as a puppy really doesn't guarantee that it will be a good dog. Knowing how much work goes into take care of a puppy was what made me decide to adopt an adult dog. I searched the internet and came across an organization called Stray From The Heart. I spoke to Marcela from Stray From The Heart and she told me about a dog that would be available for adoption in about 2 weeks and that the dog was currently in Puerto Rico. I thought Puerto Rico??? I have to say honestly that at first this made me a little nervous. First of all this is our first experience adopting and it will be sight unseen as well? Marcela was absolutely wonderful she really went above and beyond to make sure that this would be a positive experience for us. Marcela shared with me everything that Mary (the foster mother in Puerto Rico) told her about "Roma" (the rescue dog). Mary was wonderful she really cares for the dogs that she fosters. Mary sent Marcela photos and videos of "Roma" to share with us. This really helped reassure us that "Roma" was the one for our family. We especially found that the videos of "Roma" really helped show her in action and we could see her personality. On the day of "Roma's" arrival we drove to JFK airport and met with Toni from Stray From The Heart. We were so excited. Toni is great, you can tell in a few minutes of speaking with her that she truly cares about the dogs she rescues as well as the adoptive families. It has been about 6 months since the adoption. We have changed "Roma's" name. We now call her Rosie, but her full name is "Rosalia Mary". Her middle name is in honor of her foster mother Mary. She is so cute! She is a toy poodle mix (I think she might be 100% toy poodle), she is tiny just 9-1/2 lbs. They estimate her age is 3-4 years old. She acts like a puppy when she plays, but unlike a puppy, when she is finished playing she is calm and not destructive. We absolutely love her!!! I could literally go on forever about how wonderful our experience has been with Rosie. We are so thankful that we discovered Stray From The Heart and cannot thank Toni, Marcela, and Mary enough for all that they do for the dogs in Puerto Rico. read more

See all

I cannot say enough good things about Stray from the Heart, especially after dealing with less a less than reputable animal shelter before this. Initially I found my puppy on Petfinder and contacted Toni. She got in touch with me very quickly and we had extensive conversations about the puppy prior to her approving the adoption. I also had the opportunity to get information about the puppy from the woman who was fostering her. Toni had excellent judgement and we got an incredibly well-behaved dog that quickly learned the house rules. Because she was not separated from her mother too young, our puppy has no separation anxiety nor did she develop other issues that can commonly be found in rescue animals that spend a prolonged period of time in shelters. In addition, the adoption fee is both reasonable and I am confident that it is well-spent on animal care. It's important to support rescue organizations run by caring individuals and it is clear that everyone at this organization is very committed. When we want to adopt another dog, we will definitely go through them again! read more

Stray From The Heart - Juju happily ate off all the eyes of her toys. Glad to have a tiny watchdog at home :) - Animal Shelters Near Me

I can not possibly recommend Stray from the Heart highly enough. The organization is made up of the most caring, patient, animal lovers. read more

Stray From The Heart - Our sweet little Lucy! - Animal Shelters Near Me

They made us go through over a month of waiting and we did everything they asked. We passed every check, every requirement, references, and after a month of waiting to take our baby home Jenny calls us and tells us they have decided the dog needs to be in a home with another dog and so therefore, though it was never ever mentioned prior, we can't get our dog now because the foster mom refuses to relinquish the dog and the organization won't argue. The dog is in a home with 25 other strays, and their call was to make us wait a month to rescue a dog we fell in love with because they'd rather keep the dog in a hoarding environment because they don't want to upset the foster mother's sudden whim to only adopt this dog into a home that already has a dog. Ludicrous. Our hearts are broken, and this is no way to save animals. ​ read more

This is my first adoption and I could not be happier. It went super smooth and I love my Paloma. First of all I loved that they rescue dogs from Puerto Rico, it is quite an undertaking and they do wonderful job. Marcela was extremely attentive and helpful to describe everything about Paloma, send me pictures, videos and measurements, so I can prepare. She gave me dog advise and continues to do so after the adoption. Also they kindly let me to foster to adopt for couple weeks to ensure perfect match. I was so grateful they paid for Paloma's tickets, waited with me at the airport for her delayed flight, had taken her to the vet, cured her of heart worm and offered to cover for a followup visit at the vet in the future to check on Paloma's heart worm recovery. What more can I ask! Thank you Marcela, Mary and Patricia, and everyone who works at the organization. Paloma is so wonderful, so well adjusted, I cannot believe she came homeless dog! She is was crate trained, house broken, and super friendly! I am in love with her! And so happy she got rescued off the streets of Puerto Rico, thanks to this wonderful organization. read more

Stray From The Heart - From the tropics to the winter of upstate NY, So well adjusted! - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

I had a pleasant experience working with Chris P to make sure I was the right fit for a puppy. I applied for him, waited a week to hear back, phone interview, house visit, reference call everything. I get approved, send the donation. I'm very excited. I get a phone call from Chris 2 days after the payment is sent. He tells me that someone, when to another person in the organization that they knew and adopted the dog I had already made the donation for. 2 days AFTER I made the payment 3 days AFTER I was approved for adoption 9 days AFTER I originally applied for the puppy. I'm very hurt, sad, angry, confused. How could this happen? Especially after multiple emails were sent back and forth. If Chris isn't the person I was not supposed to contact for the dog, why was his email listed? If I could have just gone over his head to adopt a dog, I would have done that. Be weary the inter-communication here is very poor that they would allow this to happen. When I spoke to Patrica who Chris was working under she was as helpful as a wet match in a dark cave. Chris was great, and I want to believe this organization is good. But this was the worst experience. Whoever the director there needs a course in management and communication. This should never have happened, it's too easy to avoid. read more

I adopted my first dog through stray for the heart and it has been an incredible experience. Toni has been so helpful in the process before, during, and after adoption. My dog is amazing, really a perfect happy dog. I was able to meet her through video and pictures before she flew over and that made things easy. read more

I'm not normally the one to leave a bad review but here I am. I applied for one sweet pup the first day he was posted on petfinder. I filled out an application waited a couple of days and heard nothing. I took it upon myself to follow up and received an email from Patricia. I answered back within minutes and then waited another 3 days for a response. She was extremely hard to get a hold of. She set up a phone interview. On the interview she was referring to as if the dog was already mine and I have been accepted. She asked me to provide photos of my home which I had sent her 10 minutes after our phone interview. I then waited another 2 days to hear back from her and her response was "give me a day or two." At this point I was in the dark as to what was going on, she had not called any of my references or my vet. 3 days later I get an email asking if I was interested in another dog because the dog I applied for had a bunch of applicants. (Meanwhile the dog she asked if I was interested in did not check any of my boxes as to the type of dog I was looking for) Of course I said no. I specifically applied for this dog for a reason. I emailed back saying no thank you I am interested in the dog I applied for. I just got an email today saying another applicant was "slightly better" for this dog. I am extremely frustrated and disappointed with how this all played out. I got no explanation as to why the other applicant was "slightly better" than me. I felt as if I was played and pushed to the side. I do not recommend working with Patricia. read more

I adopted a dog trained him for service spent five grand I moved to Austin came back for 4 days my dog got out yes he was in the street but he's not a bad dog it's a very small Street and there's a shit ton of construction so it's very confusing my car backfired it wouldn't start so he got scared and ran off and I can't run out for him due to my TBI he was brought to the shelter supposedly by animal control Animal Control showed up and told me that I had to pay all these fines and go in front of a judge I told him that he was a seizer dog were service nobody wanted to see the dogs certificatcation so I had to surrender my dog back to the pound and back to the service shelter because I can't come back for the judge so I lost my service dog likely am getting surgery for my disability but I don't respect people that don't respect medical dogs this was the first time he got out in town in Taos County actually took so the dog is now back in their possession they didn't even stick up for me at all the reason why we're going to war and the reason why every country is at each other's throats is because there is an extreme lack of human decency we all deserve what's coming to us as a human race mark my words read more

I cannot say enough good things about Stray from the Heart! I adopted my puppy Shep from Puerto Rico in May and could not be happier. He is such a wonderful dog - so playful, fun, and laid back! Stray from the Heart made the whole adoption process easy and seamless. Working with Marcela and Patricia was wonderful. They explained everything to me down to the smallest detail and were kind enough to answer all of my crazy questions. They were available 24/7 and were always sending me updates and pictures of Shep prior to me adopting him. If you are thinking of adopting a dog, I would definitely recommend rescuing one through Stray from the Heart. They do such great work. I am forever grateful to them for bringing this amazing dog into my life! read more

See all

I can't praise SFTH enough! After our 13 year old dog passed away due to cancer, we adopted a dog from an NYC based rescue group. We were assured that the dog was cat friendly but this was incorrect. After trying to train her for 2 months, and controlling her prey drive, we ended up returning her after she attempted to kill one of our cats. I had lost hope of finding a cat-friendly dog. Enter Stray From The Heart. I spoke with their foster co-ordinator Marcela about needing a cat friendly dog and she assured me the dog I was interested in was very trustworthy and reliable around small animals. She understood how nervous and panicky we were, and how traumatic the experience was for our cats. She sent me multiple photos and videos of the dog in Puerto Rico and confirmed everything with the foster mom as well. We've had our dog Millie for 2 months now and she's absolutely wonderful!!! Our cats are very comfortable with her. Our 1 cat (the one who was attacked previously) sleeps next to her. After the adoption, Marcela stayed in touch with us to make sure all was going well, and she gave us lots of suggestions and helpful advice. Do not hesitate to adopt from this group just because their dogs are in PR. The group works really hard to match people perfectly, and they are very honest and truthful about the dogs' temperament. I have been recommending them to every one I know. Marcela especially is very dedicated, and committed to making perfect matches between dogs and families. read more

Stray From The Heart - Millie and Magic sleeping next to each other. - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

My girlfriend and I recently adopted through SFTH and it has been a terrific experience. This organization is extremely well-run by friendly, caring prople. Our happy, healthy and well-mannered puppy came to SFTH from Ecuador and he is such a well-behaved sweetheart. Before we got our adoption, our dog had been staying at a loving foster home for a few weeks and was already housebroken and knew how to sit and fetch. One of the reasons our new addition has been a terrific fit for our home is because of SFTH's very thorough matching process. It may seem like a long process but it is because SFTH wants to make sure their dogs go to good homes. We can't say enough about SFTH and our awesome dog, he is already a neighborhood favorite! read more

Stray From The Heart - Our puppy at Christmas! - Animal Shelters Near Me

I adopted Pepe through Stray From The Heart after seeing his picture on their facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/strayfromtheheart ) and absolutely falling in love with him. He had been hit by a car in Ecuador and was living there with a foster mom, and even though we would not get the opportunity to meet before I adopted him, my experience couldn't have been better. Toni was very communicative throughout the entire adoption process with Pepe. She told me exactly what to expect, gave me tips on caring for Pepe, explained when and how he would be shipped here (they cover the cost of the dog's flight to NYC), and she even arranged for one of their volunteers to bring me to and from the airport to pick Pepe up when he flew in. We are still in touch even after Pepe's arrival. I can't compliment this organization enough on the amazing work they're doing and how seamless they make the process of adopting your new best friend. I would urge anyone who is wanting to adopt a dog not to be hesitant about adopting one of SFTH's international pups. It is their goal to match your needs with the dog's needs to ensure you that it will be a good fit for both of you; they will not just have you adopt any dog if they feel that it isn't a match. I know this because prior to seeing Pepe's picture, I had been talking to one of their other foster moms about one of their dogs in Puerto Rico, whom we collectively decided would not be a good match for me (i.e. he needs a yard and other dogs to play with and I have neither). Then Toni called me a couple of nights later and told me about Pepe, I saw his picture, read his story, and the rest is history! He's the most wonderful, spirited, and loving dog that you could ever have the pleasure of meeting, and I hope that anyone who is reading this and considering adopting through SFTH will heed the excellent reviews and go for it! read more

See all

I cannot say enough to praise Stray from the Heart. I am a proud owner of a former sato (Puerto Rican street dog) named Barney. Even though I didn't get to meet Barney before I adopted him, he and I are a perfect pair! Stray from the Heart gave me a very clear understanding of his temperament and made the adoption process clear. I had some bad experiences with other rescue organizations in the New York area - many aggressive dogs or difficult paperwork - and Stray from the Heart was reliable and honest. I would recommend Stray from the Heart for all people looking to adopt an animal! Don't be scared that you may not get to meet your pal before you adopt him - trust that Stray from the Heart finds the most sociable, sweet, loving animals for people! Couldn't be happier! read more

See all

Can I give Stray from the Heart an infinity star rating?! Because I would. Our little Lainey came from Puerto Rico and because of SFTH, our lives are forever changed. And hers too. My husband and I adopted Lainey (Valerie was her SFTH name) last spring without ever meeting her. I originally saw her and her sister on Petfinder and fell in love with both of them. I applied for her and stalked the Stray from the Heart Facebook until I got a response - sorry if I was annoying guys! Once Toni (the founder) and I spoke (a little phone interview), she put me in touch with Lainey's foster mom in PR as I wanted to speak to her before I signed the adoption papers. We have two kitties and I had to make sure the puppy would be okay with them. Her PR mom took more than an hour on the phone to calm my nerves and told me everything about the puppy's personality, health, size, weight, etc. All my nerves about adopting a puppy before ever meeting her were gone after I spoke to the foster mom and Toni. SFTH also assured me that if the new dog ever had behavior problems that they would help out with training recommendations, gave me a name of a book to read about rescue puppies, etc. A couple of days later, a volunteer was able fly the puppy sisters with her to JFK and we picked her up from the airport. It was true love at first sight. Our Lainey is by far the best dog we could have asked for. I know that all dogs are not the same and we got very lucky, but I believe Stray from the Heart truly cares about their rescue pups and does everything they can to help them find the RIGHT FIT for their forever homes. XOXO K&D read more

See all

I was so lucky to adopt Dory (now named Luna) through Stray from the Heart! Throughout the whole process, the representatives and volunteers I worked with were the absolute best -- I could tell that their number one priority was the well-being and happiness of the dogs they put so much care toward to rescue. Toni was professional, open, honest, and extremely helpful throughout the adoption process, which was very reassuring. The pickup process ran as smoothly as could be, and Marcela was so kind, generous, and extremely helpful as I met Luna for the first time! Stray from the Heart truly stands out as an organization of extremely competent, committed, and generous people who treat every adoption as it should be, and do not cut any corners, mislead or leave you hanging. If you are at all worried about adopting a dog overseas, you don't have to be with Stray from the Heart! They have so much experience doing this that their system is very effective. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend SFTH to anyone who is interested in adopting a dog, or anyone who is considering donating to this great organization. read more

My husband and I have been wanting to adopt a dog for some time, so when we came across Nelly (formerly known as Negri), our hearts melted and we had to have her. Once we got in touch with Toni from Petfinder we had an in-depth chat about the work they do with foster homes in Puerto Rico and Ecuador. To be honest, we were nervous to adopt a dog without meeting them first, but Toni knew Nelly's temperament and demeanor very well, and assured us she was good with cats, our primary concern. Fast forward a few weeks later (Stray from the Heart also worked with us on getting Nelly at a date that worked best for us, which was really appreciated.) and we picked Nelly up from the airport along with her health records and brought her home. We've had Nelly for a week now, which is hard to believe because it feels like she has been a member of our family forever! She is crate-trained, housebroken, very good with our cat Oreo and is an all-around lovebug! I recently read that the kill rate in shelters in Puerto Rico are estimated to be as high as 97%, which makes us feel even better that we were able to take Nelly out of her foster home so that more dogs can be saved. Stray from the Heart has been wonderful to work with and I definitely recommend them to anyone looking to adopt! read more

Stray From The Heart - Nelly's first car ride! - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

A few months ago, I adopted, Macy, a stray from Puerto Rico, through Stray From The Heart. It was one of the best decisions I have made. Now 5 1/2 months old, Macy is a joy and I'm so in love! I admit I was hesitant to rescue a puppy that I wasn't able to meet beforehand and wasn't local. A friend of mine rescued a pup through SFTH and told me how wonderful Toni is and what a great organization it is. I saw Macy's picture and fell in love. The process was welcomingly thorough and after speaking with the foster mother and learning more about Macy (and her five brothers and sisters), I felt confident in following through with her adoption. I was with all the new parents at a special terminal at AA @ JFK (super easy!) anxiously awaiting the puppies arrival from PR. Seeing their crates come through the doors was a long-awaited moment. The pups were all in wonderful shape and so cute greeting one another after the flight. We all felt badly having to separate them. But it wouldn't be for too long... Macy was crate-trained and mostly housebroken. It took only three more days! I was surprised at how smart and sweet she was. I have since heard that is common with the Sato/PR dogs. Of course, she's a puppy. She loves to chew what she's not supposed to chew and still has some sharp puppy teeth left. But, she's so much fun and loves every dog she meets. Yesterday, we had another play date with one of her sisters and they knew each other right away. Non-stop playing for an hour. We keep in touch with the other parents of her siblings, which is great. We all plan to get them all together soon. with four in Brooklyn and 2 in NJ, it's great! Please know that you are adopting from a wonderful and caring organization. Don't hesitate adopting a dog you can't meet first. Ask questions, talk to the foster parent, read the reviews and go to their FB page. You'll be so glad you did! read more

See all

I adopted a stray from Puerto Rico two months ago. I was open to breed and sex, but it HAD to be a good fit for our family and our existing dog. So I was determined to meet the dog before adopting, in fact I started my search only considering local rescue groups/animals. I first connected with SFTH after seeing one of their dogs online. After discussing what we were looking for, Toni from SFTH counseled us that this particular dog would not be a good fit, but she had another recent rescue that would be just perfect. I was a bit skeptical - the dog was in Puerto Rico and would be flown to NY only after I signed the adoption contract. And BTW, he was heartworm positive, had mange and another tick borne disease - all of which he had already been treated for but will require additional testing to ensure the treatment worked. But Toni was very transparent about all of this and actually connected me with both his foster mom and the vet who treated him in PR. She was also open to working with us, should the fit she was so convinced was perfect did not work out. She gave us all the facts and answered all our questions. Toni was passionate about the fact that this dog was a great fit for us. Unlike some rescue groups that took days to get back to you, Toni was on top of things and relentless. So after much thought, I signed on. Rocco has been with us for two months now, and I can honestly and without any hesitation can say that Toni was right. He is a perfect fit! He is just an amazing dog - playful but not hyper, sweet as sugar - not a mean bone in his body, and affectionate with us and his 'sister'. And just this week he was retested for all of his 'bugs' and got a clean bill of health! Rocco has been a perfect addition to our family, we are very thankful to have him! SFTH really does take great care in evaluating the dogs' temperament and finding a great fit for them and their new families. read more

Stray From The Heart - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all