I really like this shelter, but is it a fact that you have to initiate contact often. I applied twice and was never confirmed but was also never rejected, nor given any reason I would be rejected, which they insisted they would give me if I was so I could remedy it. To be honest, they seem to have the same communication issues as every other pet rescue in the area. I feel like if you initiate often you will be fine. Everyone here is incredibly friendly. They recommend if you want a dog that you visit often and talk to them often. They respond to their Facebook page often so if you are having difficulty try communicating with them through there. We did not end up getting a dog through here, or any other shelter, but I still think fondly of this place. My roommate got his dog, Blue, from here a decade ago, so I know he will always suggest I give them a try if I ever am looking for another dog. Hopefully we won't need to for another decade or so but I know I will check here first when I do. read more

My husband and I tried to adopt "Taco" from here. We completed a stellar application and visited Taco for months. Finally, a lady at Sunny Meadows pulled us aside and told us the lady over this place does not allow African Americans to adopt and we are wasting our time. True story read more

What a wonderful group of people rescuing, caring for, and eventually placing dogs and cats in great homes! I can't say enough good things about Colby, Corey, and all the girls (sorry I can't remember your names) that helped us adopt Butch (now Monroe!)!! They were so patient and supportive allowing us to have a flexible adoption day, letting us come up and visit with him a few times, introducing him to cats before he came home and met our cat, and bathing him before bringing him to our home looking so handsome! Monroe is such a blessing in our home and we owe it all to the folks at Sunny Meadows! Thank you for all your hard work and caring hearts! read more

My favorite thing to say to people when they ask if my dog has papers is "Yes, she has adoption papers that say I saved her life." (I adopted her from an animal shelter before I ever heard of Sunny Meadows.). Unless you want a special kind of hunting dog, or a show dog with a particular bloodline, I can't understand why anyone would buy from a breeder rather than save a life. To each his own I guess.... I've passed by this large, two story house on Getwell Road for years, never really giving it a second thought. One of my best friends adopted her cocker spaniel from them a few years ago, and she just raved about the place. After that, I just figured it was a place to adopt yappy dogs. That was until my daughter got a job at Sunny Meadows. She, like her Mamma, is a serious animal lover. She gave me the grand tour of the place and I was amazed at all of the friendly, adorable pets looking for homes. They have everything from tiny puppies still nursing off of mamma dog, to older, more well trained dogs. They have all sizes and breeds, some of which even appear to be purebreds. I think they have kittens and cats upstairs as well. The adoption fee for dogs is $200, and that includes shots, spay or neuter, and a microchip. If you've paid for all of this at a vet's office, then you know that's a real bargain! It's my understanding that they won't adopt to just anyone. They require you fill out an application and give vet references, which is completely understandable and tells me this place is reputable. Their adoption open house is on Saturdays from 1:00 - 4:00. If you can't make it, they also have a website. They're also in need of volunteers and foster parents. If you're looking to add a sweet, furry, four-legged family member, I would definitely recommend checking out Sunny Meadows first! read more

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I found a couple adorable dogs at Sunny Meadows via PetFinder, and really wanted to adopt them! Submitted the application, wrote essays about my experience as a dog dad, and followed all instructions. Two weeks went by - no response. (I sent them a gentle email asking if there was anything I could do to help them decide. No response to that either.) A month went by - still no responses. The dogs were still available according to Sunny Meadows website and PetFinder though. (I sent another email asking if someone could let me know, even if the did not choose me to adopt these dogs. My kids and I fell in love with them, and were dying not knowing either way.) After six or seven weeks, they still would not even respond to give me an update on my application. I even tried reaching out to them via their Facebook page, but again, nothing. After ten weeks without any communication, I sadly gave up. The dogs were still online as available to adopt. I hope they found a good home. This absolutely broke our hearts. Luckily, we found a wonderful rescue (Animal Rescue Fund in Amelia, OH), and two adorable little dogs that we have since adopted. As for Sunny Meadows, I am sure they are busy, and probably run by volunteers. But when you have families that are dying to adopt a pet, the need to at least communicate in a timely manner. read more

Was warned by others (including our vet) that they don't call you back and they were right. We did all the things - multiple visits, multiple in person conversations with various employees, researched local vets and landed on one before filling out the application to show our commitment to loving and caring for our new dog. None of that mattered as they never even bothered to call us back after we followed up on our application multiple times. Finally went another route to get the rescue dog we have now. But I hope they adjust their procedures in the future to better serve the dogs they have and match them with loving, forever families who are willing and waiting to take them in. read more

After finding a little dog i would love to adopt, I have called and get no answer, says mailbox full, tried emailing, no luck. Cannot fill out application, it doesn't work. Absolutely no way to run an adoption agency if you are trying to save little dogs lives, when begging for an interview. Am looking for a little companion after having three an all were old and passed away, now wife took money an left so I want another pet to help with my grief, but guess they don't care. read more

I've been to this facility twice, called numerous times, and sent countless emails and continue to seemingly be ignored. I was told during my first visit that my application looked great, but was told that I would have to adopt two dogs because the dog I wanted was a puppy mill dog. After doing some research on the breed I decided to go forward with adopting two, but now they won't speak to me. I feel extremely hurt and upset as I'm seeking a pet to keep me company and help me through the grieving process since losing my mother. Some of the staff are very nice and friendly, but the owner / director was rude and seemingly prejudice. read more

I've been screwing with this place for three months trying to adopt a dog. I filled out the application and didn't hear from anyone so, I called them and they said to e-mail their director. I e-mailed her...nothing. So, I called again. I was told they took down my name and number, but I heard nothing back. So, I called for the last time three weeks ago an was assured, again, that my name and number were taken down. I can't think of a single reason I would have been rejected, but if I was, I would at least like to know. I see from other reviews that I'm not the only one whose been through this. Seriously, the goal of this place is to find homes for pets, why would you just ignore people who are perfectly capable of housing and caring for the pet they apply for? read more

Here is my experience with Sunny Meadows: I can not download the adoption form to fill out. My telephone calls were never answered, and my telephone messages were never returned. I inquired about a dog and never heard from anyone, I wrote emails that went unanswered. I sent postal mail that was never answered..my cell telephone number was included. I went onto their website and posted that I wanted an adoption application...the post was erased by the next day. My daughter ran a successful rescue group until she had to devote her time to her medical field. I know the problems she went through, the dependence on volunteers, the telephone calls that needed to be returned, the care of animals required. She did all that. She moved dogs from kill shelters into homes I never believed would have been adopted. She did that with effective communication and attention to detail...something I can not find in this group. read more

We lost our beloved border collie two months ago and have been broken hearted ever since. I know at my age (earlier senior) that I cannot handle another large active dog, it would not be fair to them. I found two adorable small breed puppies on their site. I was so excited since small breeds are so hard to find and are expensive. I applied twice, we have a fenced yard, own our home, and both my husband and I have been steadily employed for 20 years. Very stable people. Not a single response from Sunny Meadows. I called and emailed, but not a word. Everyone says "adopt, don't shop", but how can you adopt if no one responds to you?! My coworker had the same thing happen to her, from the same place. We could have provided a loving home for two dogs. Its unfortunate that they didn't think we were good enough. read more

Applied for a specific pet, was told he was available, then heard nothing for a week. Then I was told by the person at Sunny Meadows who got my app the he forgot to turn it in to the director and another person had applied after I did and the director was having him see the dog in three days. Asked if I wanted to come in before that and I was like what? To fall in love with the dog only to lose him when the other person had their app reviewed first? I know mistakes happen but I can't recommend them after this. read more

My name is Beasley Beagle. I got saved from a high kill shelter in the nick of time by Sunny Meadow who then addressed my many medical issues, got me healthy, found me a family to adopt, and now I live in Iowa on a farm with my new family! Thank you, Sunny Meadows - for saving my life ! ! ! ! These folks get 5 PAWS for excellance ! read more

Sunny Meadows is great!!! These animals are well loved and considered family. The staff works long hours to ensure a clean, comfortable, loving environment. But you cannot go into a building that cares for as many as two hundred animals at one time and expect to not be able to tell animals live there. You should thoroughly read their website before getting your sights set on a specific baby. There are several qualifications they look for to ensure these babies get the best home possible. read more

Very unprofessional. Had a phone interview with the director who "loved" our family and wanted the dog to be adopted by us. Had a phone interview with the "founder" who was a hot mess. She was all over the place. She was taking care of her yard guys while talking with me. She then had to hang up with me to pay her yard guys. She said she would call me back and I haven't heard from her yet (this was last week) she then told the director we crate train our dogs, completely not true! I have called and emailed and gotten no response. read more

Found a cute pup that my daughter wanted after her dog was diagnosed with cancer. Filled out an application....still waiting. Apparently, applications are only approved by the owner and she doesn't really feel that she should do this in any sort of timely manner. Don't bother going to look unless you are already approved. And plan on approval taking several months. read more

Went there twice, filled out an application twice, never received an email or a phone call. No one ever tried to contact me to discuss my application or the pets I wanted to adopt. I went through this twice. I was told by one of the members of the staff that I seemed like a good person to adopt to and that she would give me a good write-up, but that the final say ultimately lies with the director, who I've never met, and that the staff member's opinion doesn't count for much. A couple of the staff members seem nice, but I can't say anything else for this organization. read more

Love sunny meadows! They have about 200 dogs looking for homes and about 40 cats! The staff works hard to take care of all the babies and keep the place clean. It's an amazing no kill animal rescue and they do everything they can to help! If you want to volunteer, foster, or adopt you can visit their website at www.sunnymeadows.org for more info or go visit them on saturdays from 1-4. read more

My family drove almost 3 hours to Memphis TN to look for a dog to adopt. We found a sweetheart! She was so sweet. we filled out the application and left. I have emailed and called lots of times to get no answer. I know that we were very qualified because we work from home. So we would be with them 24/7. We have a loving home and lots of love to give to this sweet baby. But nobody can wait months on end just to hear if we get her or not. I understand them wanting a good home but somebody needs to put forth an effort and get those baby's a forever home. There were so many people there the day we were there filling out application and with all the dogs that need love and attention. It's hard for me to believe that nobody will get back with you. All I can do is hope that these dogs get a warm and loving home! I just looked up the reviews and they are pitiful! read more

Sunny Meadows does not deserve any stars. I filled out adoption papers and visited the facility. First, they have a lot of dogs and many are in crates. Second, they don't seem like they want to help these dogs. I was told it would be at least three weeks before I could get approved. As of today, I have not heard anything. My vet and my references have not been contacted. It's frustrating and I've contacted other rescue groups to try find us a forever companion. read more

My husband is not particularly a pet lover and has been on the fence for a few years about adopting a rescue dog. He inheirited two senior rescue cats when he married me. He has come to love them, but not as strongly as me. I was roaming on the petfinder page for small dogs and out of the blue my husband said he would go look, but small dogs only. I couldn't get my shoes on fast enough. I completed an online application to sunny meadows and we drove straight there. It was important to me that my husband chose the dog so he can feel connected. After playing with a few, he asked to see Annie, a scared, lifeless, tiny, defeated white miniature poodle hiding in the very back corner of her kennel. We were told she had been passed over several times bc she didn't show much personality. My husband picked her up and she nuzzled his neck and let out the biggest sigh of relief I've ever heard. He held her tightly and said, let's go, she's the one. It has taken about a month 1/2 to 2 months to fully gain her trust. We have slowly socialized her with other dogs, taught her a routine, potty trained her, taught her how to play, and have patiently loved her through her very few tee tee accidents. She is THE MOST PRECIOUS DOG we could ever love. She is full of personality and is so so smart and precious. My husband repeatedly says he had no idea you can love a dog so much. Rescues are the absolute most grateful dogs. THANK YOU SO MUCH for our healthy, happy, smart, loving and playful baby girl. She makes us smile every single day!!! Ps I am thankful how selective you are with adopters. And for taking so much time to match us with the best fit. We appreciate all that you do to ensure these dogs get very loving happy forever homes where they can relax, trust, and thrive!! The Davis Family read more

I can understand why people feel negatively sometimes after coming here- sunny meadows has high standards for adoption. They are a RESCUE- NOT a pound. There are requirements for adoption that need to be met before they accept applications. That being said, they are dedicated to caring for and loving all 180 dogs and 40 cats. That's a huge job. This place has its priorities in order and should be recognized for that, even if you don't get accepted for adoption. read more

SUNNY MEADOWS IS THE BOMB......YES YOU HEARD ME RIGHT...THEY ARE THE BOMB.....i had to put my last dog down after 14 yrs, swore i would never go thru that again...well after pulling myself together...my partner and i came across sunny meadows. after looking on the website and filling out the app....going thru an over the phone interview....we decided to go "LOOK" and see the dogs.....on the way there we had asked each other...."are we doing the right thing"...my reply....we'll see....when we had gotten there ANNIE the dog i had my eye on had been adopted......what to do now....well we decided to go to this play area...and here he came...this dog who was groomed except for his face......you could hardly see his eyes... he was to scared to let them do his face.....he wouldn't let anyone go near him.....had been brought back 2 times....and there was this lil one 10 weeks old that was trying to follow him and really wanted to be by him........,.hummmm could i split these two up......NOT A CHANCE....we signed the papers gave a check.....added a donation...and off we went with not one but two dogs and haven't looked back since, was the best thing we have done in a long time...for two people who weren't sure about one...i cant imagine not having them....SUNNY MEADOWS IS A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY...IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, WHERE WOULD THESE ANIMALS BE...THINK ABOUT IT read more

I recently adopted my pet from Sunny Meadows. It can definitely take some time to apply for the dog and get approved, but it is worth the wait. These people have A LOT on their plates, and one lady funds the entire operation out of her own pocket. I've visited a lot of shelters around this city, and none have better, happier dogs than at Sunny Meadows. This no-kill shelter keeps the dogs for the long haul. Some have been there upwards of 10 years. read more

2.19.12 -Horrible customer service! Treated in a rude poor manner. Their site says they are open on Saturdays and Sundays 1-4p. This is not the case. After emailing and calling, with no answers on either, we drove 45 minutes to see a dog we were interested in adopting. No one would answer the door - two people sat at a desk in plain view and stared at us knocking. All they would do was look at us and mouth "we are no open" even though their website and brochure by their front door say they are open. All in all, I would look elsewhere for an adoptable, mainly to avoid having to deal with such rude people! read more

I took my family here to get a dog after a long search. We found a very sweet dog, who was gently playful with children, didn't bark constantly, and seemed a great fit for our family. I filled out an application, which was approved, but was told that the dog was a recent addition and they wanted to keep it for 3 or 4 more days to make sure it wasn't bonded with any of the other dogs in its cage. I was told we would be called after 3 or 4 days when they were sure the dog was not bonded with another.This was Saturday. We went out and bought dog supplies in expectation of our new family member. Fast forward to the next Thursday. We haven't heard anything. I called and left a message. No response. The next Saturday, we go to Sunny Meadows hoping to pick up our family member, who we had been waiting patiently but excitedly for, for a week. Our dog was gone. The staff seemed to have no clue that he had ever been there (though they seem to know each animal by name, and there are many animals there), didn't know which dog we were talking about, though one of them remembered us being there last week. I don't know what is going on with this place, but whatever they (or at least the director, Amy) are doing is not above board, and leads people to expect that they have found a new family member, when in fact you have been had. Many others came and went, hoping to take home a new family member and were denied. If you take one dog you have to take another, even if they obviously want nothing to do with each other. What a joke this place is. I will never go back and will recommend against them should anyone ask my opinion. We wanted you, Schubert, they just played us for fools. I hope you are happy wherever you are. read more

I would not recommend this pet adoption service. Although many of the reviews posted on various websites indicate that the location is under new management and that there have been changes, I disagree. From my experiences, all the negative points that are indicated in earlier reviews are still issues at the location. It does not appear that the facility does anything to actually place the dogs with families who can provide happy and healthy environments. I have contacted them multiple times with no response and I was unable to see the dog that I would like to adopt. While it is a shame for the animals within their care, I would not spend the time to look at the animals at this facility as it will be a waste of time. - July 2012 read more

I sat over coffee this morning and watched my two beautiful collies play - without a care in the world - because someone at Sunny Meadows saved them from destruction. We did the easy part by adopting them and giving them a good home. They have the unfortunately never ending task of taking in those that are abandoned, unwanted and/or abused and giving them shelter and hopefully a new lease on life - without pay or profit. True angels they are! So check them out if you have a place in your home for a new friend. They are never "too far away" - we drove from Florida to Tennessee for our girls and we would do it again in a heart beat. read more

WORST ADOPTION PLACE EVER!!!!!! We had a HORRIBLE experience with the owner. I fell in love with a Maltese puppy while she was still at the hospital, and I was so dedicated to this puppy. I went to visit her everyday and was totally convinced that I would be able to have this puppy. I named her Bailey, and was super excited. This adoption agency told me that they wanted me to have her AND came over to my house and "analyzed and judged" us, which ended in the final answer of them saying they would bring her back to us in about an hour! I rushed to Target to buy her TONS of puppy accessories, and I get a call about 2 hours later. So, they decided that we were not the best owners for her because we "needed another small puppy to keep her company." I was hysterical and could not stand talking to these people one second longer. Anyone who leads someone on that they will be getting a puppy is an EVIL person. I can't stand this organization!!!! read more