We met our fur baby through TAP at an adoption event in San Diego, and it was such a special experience. The event was great. We got to meet a lot of adorable dogs, and one little guy instantly stole our hearts. What really stood out was how thoughtful and thorough TAP's process is. There was no pressure to adopt on the spot, which we really appreciated. After the event, we completed an application and received clear next steps. The following week, our foster brought him to our home so we could spend more time together. That confirmed everything we felt at the event. TAP conducted a home visit and checked our references, and it was clear throughout the process that they truly care about the well being of their animals and making the right match. Our foster was amazing, so kind and supportive. When we brought our little guy home, she sent him with his toys, some food, and a sweet note, which meant so much to us. Such a wonderful experience overall, and now our home is filled with love, laughter, and lots of snuggles. read more

I would not recommend adopting from The Animal Pad based on my experience. I recently adopted an older dog from them, and it became clear very quickly that some of his medical needs had not been adequately addressed. His medications had not been given consistently, and serious dental issues were left untreated. Since adopting him, I've had to constantly push just to get action taken on problems that should have been addressed much earlier. This past week, his gums became infected, likely related to his ongoing dental problems. It has been one medical issue after another, and what makes this so frustrating is that I believe many of these problems could have been prevented or better managed with consistent care. I understand that rescues rely heavily on fosters and have limited resources. But when you take responsibility for an older dog with significant medical needs, that responsibility includes making sure medications are given consistently, necessary veterinary and dental care is provided, and medical problems are followed up on. I'm exhausted from having to fight for this dog to receive the care he needs. Had his medical needs been managed properly and consistently, I believe his quality of life could have been significantly better. read more

I will sing their praises to anyone who listens! I adopted the very sweetest baby girl-formerly Madonna, now Bree- three weeks ago. It was love at first sight!!! Where do I start with the excellent care and customer service?! One of the many things I loved is that most of the dogs in their care are in foster homes. So there is so much time, training and attention to each pup that you simply can't get with a shelter. Breezy was mostly potty trained, had time around other dogs to learn how to behave, and so much was known about her behaviors and care. I just adored her amazing foster Mommy, Alex! She let us come to her home and spend an hour meeting both puppies (it was originally between her and her brother, Elvis, who is also a doll!!! Someone PLEASE scoop up that cutie!). I came with a list of questions and she answered every last one in detail and was so patient. I'm forever grateful for the wonderful love and care Alex put into my beautiful girl before I got her. From the application process to the actual adoption it was roughly a week and a half. I was surprised at how fast they were able to move and pleasantly so. I was contacted via email and text at all different parts of the adoption process by various volunteers- Joelle, Deborah, Jen, Alex and Breana are a few of the wonderful women I spoke to, but there was so many more involved. Each and every individual was knowledgeable on Breezy's care and her life before The Animal Pad. However short lived that was. Bree came spayed, had her first round of shots and was even microchipped! Which was a huge selling point for me. You know how expensive those all are out of pocket?!! It's worth every last penny of the $500+ I paid to know she was well cared for before I got her! She's the most loving and easy baby I've ever had! They even came and picked up the old things I had from my former soul baby, Adonis. It was heartbreaking to let the last reminders of him go. But I met some of the kindest humans in the process- Jen and her hubby. With an empathetic ear and even a hug I was left with a sense of comfort in that difficult moment. Knowing Adonis's things will go to good use is far more valuable than any monetary value I may have gotten for any of it. They were happily surprised at all that I was sending and came to me to scoop it all up! The Animal Pad is a rescue full of animal people who do this because it nourishes the soul! Not for profit! They do not discriminate if you live in an apartment, have had a bad experience where you have to return a former adoptee, are actively planning a family or any other reason that I'd been denied from two other rescues. I'd begun to lose hope in finding a new baby to love, until Animal Pad. Now I have the very best fit and I see clearly I simply wasn't meant to have any other puppers aside from Bree! We were meant for each other and she is deeply adored!! THANK YOU to everyone at The Animal Pad!!! You are one of the good ones and I'll continue to sing your praises to all that'll listen! I'm forever grateful to each and every one of you! read more

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If you're on the fence about fostering, I highly suggest this rescue. I have been with TAP since 2017 as a volunteer and foster. They are extremely flexible with scheduling of volunteering and there are many different types of fostering opportunities. They provide food, supplies, veterinary care, and any other items your foster dog may need. Your contribution is the home and time. They also have a coordinator that matches you with a dog/cat that will match your lifestyle or situation such as small apartment spaces or other pets/kids. The coordinator is extremely communicative and prompt. Another great option is temporary foster for when long-term fosters go on vacation or when certain animals need a foster home if the kennel is full. This is a great opportunity to do a trial run on fostering or if you can't make a longer commitment. I have fostered several dogs from this rescue and make a monthly contribution when I can't house another pup. I continue to be inspired by their amazing work. Lauren shares many videos about the very real situations and struggles of being a rescue. Funding is extremely difficult but rest assured that your time, efforts and money donated are going to an excellent place. Even sending $5 over Venmo helps put a drop in the bucket! read more

The adoption process was 10/10! I would work with TAP for any animal I'd want to rescue. They are so thorough and care so much about their animals. read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

If you're looking to adopt a dog or cat, this should be your first stop! This organization is compassionate, kind, and very supportive of all cats and dogs, which is evidenced in every interaction you have with them. In my case, I had the opportunity to foster (to adopt) two kittens. They were mere little nuggets when they arrived at my home and The Animal Pad (TAP) immediately assigned me a coordinator, Shelby, who worked with me over the next few months to get them to be amazingly strong. Shelby was just as invested as I was to ensure the safety and growth of these two darlings. Her care, empathy, kindness, and immense knowledge radiated through every text and phone call. Though I've never met her in person, her care for these wonderful animals is so comforting, and without question, a testament to how amazing the TAP team is. If you foster, TAP covers all food, medical, and coordinates with you closely to ensure you're always well supported. I was connected to Lena who coordinated supply pick up. She was equally kind, super organized, and always on the ball to get me what I needed. I officially adopted Blu and Tater Tot and we couldn't be happier, they are a beam of sunshine in an admittedly rough year. We were so pleased with the experience that we're now looking to adopt a dog from TAP. I included a picture of West who we recently fostered and again, the communication, kindness, and compassion were at the forefront of everything Shelby did to help me. She is someone who I admire and respect, and I will always remain appreciative for everything she's don't to help us. Overall, TAP is by far THE BEST rescue organization you can find in San Diego when looking for your next pet/family member. They go above and beyond to get to know each dog and cat personally so they can suggest the best match for you and your lifestyle. In parallel, they ensure there is a good fit for the rescued animal so they have their forever home. And in doing so, TAP truly epitomizes what rescues are all about. read more

The Animal Pad is a powerful organization that is carrying out impactful and meaningful work in Southern California/Mexico. They treat every animal with the empathy and respect they deserve regardless of size, age, breed, etc. If you are looking to foster, adopt or donate to an organization that is a huge advocate for animal rights then TAP is an amazing non-profit to support. read more

A HUGE shout out to my neighbor/TAP foster Sarah who introduced my hun & I to our furbaby! We applied to adopt Barbie (now Peaches) the night Sarah sent me an adorable photo of her & her 3 pups. The next day, Helen emailed me back stating that she would reach out to me again in a few weeks once Peaches' pups were weened off. Helen reached out to schedule a meet & greet with Peaches & her foster, Chante. My hun & I met Peaches, her pups, & Chante, who has inspired me to foster once we find a bigger place! I loved having the meet & greet because we were able to get to know Peaches & Chante informed us on how Peaches was doing & her day to day life. It was so helpful & we really appreciated the rundown so that we could have an idea of how our lives woul be with Peaches! We instantly fell in love! We emailed Helen back saying we were ready to adopt & the process went quick so make sure you are committed & ready! Helen set up a virtual home check & she gave me recommendations & tips on how to ensure my home was ready for Peaches. I really appreciated that because there were a few things that I did not think about! We got an email from Keren with her vet records. After adoption, Keren emailed us with follow up appointments (spay, DAPP 2) that we needed to complete in a specific timeframe so make sure that you carve out time in the weeks following the adoption to get these done. I really appreciated that TAP coordinates these appointments for you & makes it so streamlined! Helen sent my hun & I the contract & we excitedly signed it & made the payments. We met up with Chante to pick up Peaches. We were so overjoyed to finally call her ours! Thank you TAP for all that you do for these beautiful dogs! I follow them on Instagram & Facebook & love watching the amazing stories about dogs getting stronger & healthier once in their care & dogs finding their furever homes! & although the adoption is complete, we plan on going to their many TAP events to meet their awesome team & the dogs they continue to rescue. Also, they provided a service where if your dog comes from a family, they can help coordinate a reunion. So precious! TAP is an amazing rescue & I cannot recommend them enough! If you want the best possible experience with adopting a furbaby, you must go through them! From the application process, to communication, to price, to what they cover for your new furbaby, it is unmatched! All the people that I worked with (Helen & Keren) were so kind & communicated well. & especially the fosters (Chante & Sarah), they are so passionate about fostering & are angels on earth for taking care of these beautiful pups! Thank you all for what you do! If you cannot adopt right now but want to make a difference, you can foster, volunteer, & donate! I sure plan on doing all of the above in the near future! read more

I have volunteered, fostered, and adopted through The Animal Pad and loved every second of it. The volunteers are such a passionate group and welcoming to everyone who joins the team. The Animal Pad takes the sickest dogs and toughest cases and commits to getting them into their forever homes! read more

I am one of those people who had no dogs in pre-covid & now I am a happy dog mom to 2 lil rescue pups! In my hunt for the perfect rescue pup for our lifestyle, I contacted several local dog rescues. The Animal Pad was BY FAR the most responsive, organized, & professional! Real Slim Sadie (formerly known as Buttons) came to me as a foster pup that TAP rescued after being abandoned at a hostel. This was around April of 2020. We worked with Joelle (Foster Coordinator) who was responsive via text and helped me find a pup that would fit our needs. We got 1 pic of Sadie & thought she looked really goofy & happy, so we decided to foster her! Foster parents get "first dibs" aka first right of refusal for adoption, so it's a great way to get your feet wet, help a dog, & also see if that dog is the right fit for you! Highly recommend! Plus, TAP gives you EVERYTHING YOU NEED in order to take care of the doggo: food, toys, crate, pee pads, leash, harness, poop bags, etc etc. Not every dog rescue does that. (For example, I know for a fact that Labs & More does not because I contacted them to foster.) Within a few short weeks, we FELL IN LOVE with Sadie, and now she's part of our family. TAP was so supportive of us on the way, and always answered our questions. Every volunteer we've met has been fantastic, and we love going to support their fundraising events. RUMOR: "But don't rescue pups have issues?" FALSE!!!! Sure, some can have behavioral issues since they've been living on the streets, but that doesn't mean they should be treated "lesser than" breeder dogs. There are many many misconceptions & stereotypes about "rescue pups." I can tell you that Sadie didn't fit the "dog with baggage"/"bad dog"/"dog with issues"/ "aggressive dog" stereotype that so many think of when it comes to rescue dogs. Sadie is an angel & shows us how grateful she is to be in our home every day. She has a really sweet disposition. My sister fostered and then adopted a 5 week old pitbull mix, and she is the SWEETEST & GENTLEST dog I've ever met. I'm saying this to dispel this kind of biased thinking & to persuade you to consider rescuing a pup from TAP or another local rescue!!! Fostering SAVES lives. TAP is an AMAZING dog rescue. Please check out TAP's Instagram if you need any validation or confirmation that TAP is nothing short of an AMAZING dog rescue. They go the distance to save dogs in need. Truly. read more

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Helen, TAP Adoption Director, listened to my feedback and gifted a puppy to me for no adoption fee, which was kind and appreciated. Although, I insisted on it. Nevertheless, I went to a vetting appointment this morning for two of the pups and it was continued madness. I am pretty sure I made a mistake administering the preventative medication for the litter and was essentially told they were not addressing the clinical issue, so now the litter of pups is going untreated for giardia. I even offered to pay for the medication for the entire litter. Also, my SUV was full of brand new unused supplies from fostering the litter that I intended to donate but they directed me to put the materials on the ground outside of the building. I donated the supplies to the SD Humane Society instead. I also spoke with the Executive Director who generally lacked accountability and seemingly made excuses for TAP. Honestly, this could have been a better experience with one platform for communication, regularly scheduled supply drop-offs, transportation provided for pups, more than a few days advance notice for promotional/advertising events and other expectations for the puppies to be present, and a more efficient system/timeframe for the adoption process (e.g., they contact references, gather vet records for applicants wanting to adopt, and schedule meet-and-greets in a stepwise process instead of simultaneously which is timely and thus unnecessarily burdensome for fosters). It might be less hectic to foster a dog from TAP, but honestly I would not consider fostering a litter with them. I would also be cautious fostering with them as a "first time" experience. I have heard that there are more supportive rescues for fosters out there. At least I got these cuties! read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Fantastic, caring group that really cares about all stray pets. You see all the love they have for them, not only how they act, but how many animals they are willing to take in at a time. They're one of the best groups in San Diego. read more

My son adopted a dog from TAP. It was the best decision! She had a hard life before joining our family; one ear had a small tear, missing fur on her back and she was very shy. A few months of eating Healthy food, love and affection/play time made a huge difference in her appearance and personality When we come home now she always brings us one of her toys and cuddles with us on the couch. It was such a success we got a second dog from TAP!! The second dog is about 1 years old. We thought they'd be about the same size. She surprised us. She is a BIG lovable girl. Hah. Our whole family loves Wriggs and Tiggs read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Like many people, lockdown really opened up space and time to feel like my partner and I could get a dog. Our friends had adopted through TAP so we went ahead and applied to adopt a dog from here. We didn't get the first dog that we applied to adopt but went ahead to foster and let me tell ya... Fostering to adopt is the way to go if you're wanting a adopt a dog. We filled out an application and had a phone call and virtual home visit before receiving a text with a few photos of potential fosters! We picked Vanya, renamed her Hazy, and we love her so much! Hazy is the perfect size and temperament for our home and lifestyle. We love snuggling her, taking her to the dog park and going on lots of walks. Also, if you are looking to foster dogs until they get adopted, TAP takes care of everything - crate, food, toys, etc. I highly recommend fostering and/or adopting through TAP! read more

The Animal Pad - Vanya, The Animal Pad rescue dog - Pet Adoption Near Me

Don't waste ur time. Waited and waited only to lose the dog to its foster at the last minute. read more

I genuinely could not praise The Animal Pad (TAP) enough. They have been the most amazing, inspirational, and caring organization I have had the pleasure to work with. When I moved to San Diego, one of my goals was so start fostering dogs with eventually the idea to adopt when it felt right. TAP allows fosters to have "first dibs" on the dog(s) they foster and you can say whether you want to keep them within 2 weeks of them being under your foster care. In my case, I quickly realized I was going to be a "foster fail" and I ended up keeping the first dog I fostered. **TAP offers a Temporary Foster opportunity where a person can "foster" for a foster while the original foster is away for a few days, a long weekend, a few weeks, etc. instead of having to commit to a 2-3 month commitment. This is great for those who want to foster but aren't sure about the potential long fostering timeframe. I don't know if this is unique to TAP but many of my friends had never heard of an opportunity like that. I had been eyeing TAP's instagram the months leading up to my move after I heard amazing things from a friend. Their social media presence is unmatched and they are always posting new fosterable/adoptable dogs, events they are holding, fundraisers, and updates to their heartwarming stories. One day they posted about Montgomery (Monty) who was a recent addition to the TAP Tribe. Monty had TVT which is a type of cancer that TAP specializes in. I fell in love immediately and messaged them on Instagram asking if I could foster/adopt him. They responded immediately and let me know that due to his condition, Monty for the foreseeable future was going to need to be in foster care, and that I could apply to foster him on the website. The process to foster was quick and seamless -- I had a quick phone interview and then a video call which I walked some of the team through my housing arrangements to make sure that my apartment was suitable for a foster. 3 days after my initial reach out, I had Monty under my care and we began ~4 months of chemo/cancer treatments. The most amazing part was that TAP provided all the supplies for a successful foster. Beds, crate, leash, food, poop bags, even a few toys sprinkled in. Whenever I ran out of food, etc. I would just reach out to them and get more for pick up. I appreciated the love and care TAP showed my baby through his toughest times. They paid for all of his chemo and medical treatments while he was a foster. Once Montgomery was cleared from cancer I was able to officially adopt him. TAP even paid for his oral surgery on a hole in his gums he got from TVT after I had already adopted him by putting a clause in his adoption papers they would cover it. (The reason for this was because the oral surgeon was booked about 4 months out and he was no longer needed to be seen under shelter care). TAP truly puts the effort into it's volunteers and supports like no other shelter or organization I have seen. Very quickly the TAP tribe became my friends and people who I could turn to for advise and help. I LOVE YOU TAP!! I cannot thank you enough for everything you do and for giving me the opportunity to give Monty all the love and care in the world. I also recently started volunteering for TAP events and will be joining their care team! they have a ton of ways to get involved if you're looking to volunteer! Check out their website. read more

The Animal Pad - Montgomery TAP alum -- TVT survivor. @monty_themixedmutt on Insta! - Pet Adoption Near Me

These people are definitely heroes. They help animals that really need it. Thanks guys.

I had a neighbor who referred me to them, who previously adopted from them. I tried adopting through this agency about two years ago. This was one Covid had just started. I was looking for a young puppy in particular for many reasons. I had an interview through phone via FaceTime (due to Covid lockdown). Everything seemed like it went well. Not sure what went wrong, but I was underwhelmed with the handling of service. I would check the site and see which puppies were available and seemed like they were always unavailable due to foster parents receiving priority. I tried a few agencies and SDHS as well. I feel like most adoption agencies are biased when they come to choosing a home for the pet. If someone is willing to adopt, I don't know why it shouldn't be with ease? It's a caring home for a pet to provide food and love and give them a forever home. Never found a match sadly. Luckily we found our match thanks to a friend who had puppies. read more

We adopted an adorable 9 week old pup from TAP and the entire process and experience was a dream! Helen and Keren made the adoption, shots and neutering appts so seamless! And the foster who cared for our pup was amazing (thank you, Jill!) We are beyond grateful for TAP's support and guidance during this exciting time. Ravioli loves his new home and we are so in love with him! read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

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So thankful to the entire TAP team I worked with to rescue and adopt my pup! This was my first time adopting/getting a new puppy and as a first-timer I had a ton of questions- all of which the TAP team answered. I submitted my application and received an e-mail back within a week. Keep in mind- they're a non-profit and their volunteers assist with the rescues aside from their real jobs, so give them time to respond. The next step was meeting with the pup and his foster, which went great! She was super friendly and helpful. They have a select number of applicants meet with the dog and its foster to find the best match. I was ecstatic to hear I'd been chosen to move forward and adopt! Finishing the process did take some time with the reference check and virtual home walk through, but I'm glad TAP is thorough with who adopts with them. They genuinely care about the dogs they rescue and it's evident through the process and their check ins. Highly recommend TAP for anyone looking to adopt! Check out their Instagram, they post amazing and heart warming stories of the dogs they rescue and rehabilitate. Thank you TAP for rescuing my pup . read more

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In my 9 months volunteering/fostering with TAP, I have been consistently blown away by the incredible volunteers dedicated to these dogs. Not only that, they genuninely care about supporting new volunteers, fosters, and adopters so they can be the best dog parents possible! If you're considering fostering but don't know how to get started, TAP is your place!! read more

TAP is amazing. I fostered Momma Kate and her pups. Many would find it difficult to let the adorable pups go, but I fell in love with Momma Kate and became what is known as a foster failure. I just couldn't let her go. All the puppies went to amazing homes and I was fortunate to adopt Kate. I'm so thankful for TAP for bringing Kate into my life. The rescue and their volunteers work tirelessly to find amazing, permanent homes for all dogs. They make certain they are in safe homes until they can be vetted to their permanent families. It is unbelievable and so rare to find a group of volunteers so dedicated to helping home what would otherwise be helpless, homeless and starving dogs. The volunteers work endless hours to care for and heal the rescued dogs they bring in. Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in your foster program and bringing Kate into my life. read more

We loved adopting through The Animal Pad; they had incredibly friendly and helpful staff who made the adoption process easy for us. They take animal safety very seriously and do thorough vetting to ensure all pets go to a good home, whether fosters or adoption. They were very honest to work with and helped us find a dog that was not only a great fit for us, but also we were a good home for her. The adoption fee is an insanely good deal for the amount of care they provide before and after adoption, and we still feel supported by them. read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

We did our adoption/ rescue through this facility and we still drive from HB every 3-4 weeks for our pups shots just because of the level of service we receive. Eliana has been such an amazing resource for us, she's been so knowledgeable and understanding. My pup always gets carsick and she does everything in her power to help us. I can't say enough amazing things about the animal pad. You can just tell that these people genuinely love their jobs and what they do, thank you so much for loving our baby the way we do!! Even the adoption process was in depth, a lot of places say they're going to call references or do a house tour but never do. They called all our references, took the time to do a home tour. They really got to know us and were very communicative throughout the whole process. There wasn't a single point where I didn't know what was going on. It's hard to find nonprofits this organized. Thank you for bringing our family together! read more

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There is a reason TAP has so many glowing reviews! I had heard such good things from my close friend who adopted from them last year, but my own experience with The Animal Pad was amazing! I couldn't be more impressed with how in sync their operations team is, especially for one that is 100% volunteer-based. I mean, so incredible. From scheduling a virtual home visit for my medical foster, to getting support for administering his meds and confirming follow-up visits with the oral surgeon -- I wish I had this much support in all areas of my life! It was really nice to have someone from TAP checking in so often to make sure all was going ok and that I had what I needed. And yes, our little foster became a permanent family member -- and TAP continues to check in! It is clear these are folks who genuinely are passionate about these rescues and setting them up with a better future, no matter how dire their past might have been. Really can't say enough good things. If you're looking to rescue (or volunteer!) in San Diego, this is the spot for you. Pic of our little guy because he's just too cute. read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

Tap was one of a few rescues I was in contact with during my adoption window or process. Jamie was very communicative and responded to you in a reasonable time. There were no secrets or no issues when exchanging emails about the dog I was going to adopt. Tap in general was a very communicative and respectful team that made the adoption process easy. I had to deal with some very rude people over the time I was adopting and all the people I spoke with at tap were a pleasure to speak with and made it clear on what needed to be done etc. The foster mom Aurelie was very close by to my house and was able to answer any questions I had about meet and greets and eventually the adoption process when I was finally able to take my pup Sonny home. I will be in contact with Aurelie since she was with sonny a good amount of time and she currently has one of sonny's brothers so it would be nice to get together for a family outings. Every email from Jamie to the home inspection team to adoption counselors were all very helpful and helped make the process a lot smoother than I expected and that's how it should be with a company that finds homes from our furry friends. I complete recommend tap as they are a very respectful and professional company who makes adoption easy. Keep doing what you are doing and let's find these pups homes! Thank you so much! read more

The Animal Pad - Sonny, myself and my bedroom - Pet Adoption Near Me

We adopted a chihuahua from TAD and we had a very pleasant experience. They are very organized and they care for his animals We are very happy with our new doggie read more

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For over 20 years, I have worked (volunteered) in SD County animal shelters and with various animal rescue groups. I have NEVER come across an organization that is so well run as The Animal Pad. They are amazing, and are an all-volunteer rescue. So far, I have steered five different friends or family members to adopting dogs from The Animal Pad. Each one has had an incredibly efficient and smooth adoption, and all have been amazing dogs. Since I found out about The Animal Pad, I have started volunteering there, and am still amazed. Every volunteer I have met have been exceptionally dedicated and professional. I highly recommend finding your next canine family member from The Animal Pad! read more

The Animal Pad - Newest adopted dog, Scruffy, to a family member. - Pet Adoption Near Me

I love this group. I started volunteering with them a few years ago. They do amazing work. It is 100% volunteer one group. I've never met a group of such hard-working people and they do it all from their heart and for free. I mostly volunteer with the care with the dogs that come in and are waiting for their vetting appointments or for their foster a forever home. most of the dogs are very happy to receive all the love and attention and food. Some come in very scared and it's so touching to see them go from being so scared they can't even come out of their kennels for a few days to going to the Foster in forever homes and enjoying a nice dog bed or a couch or a backyard that's safe. sometimes we'll get a dog that has special needs or a medical condition. The group goes above and beyond to give them the best care possible. most of the dogs are strays in Mexico or they come from Southern California. On a occasion will get a dog from the streets of Mexico that we find out has cancer that's not treatable. At least they're in a loving home for hospice before they cross the rainbow bridge humanely and surrounded by people that love them even though it's for a short time. we've had a few mothers that just start their labor and we hear or find them and were able to get them across the border into a loving home so they can have their puppies in peace and in a safe place. This group is amazing and I am honored I am able to volunteer with them. read more

Wonderful caring people 100% focused on the well being of the animals. Wish they existed in state!

I just adopted my fur baby Trooper the TriPAWd from The Animal Pad (TAP) on June 20th, 2020 and I am so in love with him! This dog rescue is very well organized and professional and you can tell they are all in it for the dogs since it is 100% volunteer run. I had clear constant communication with several different volunteers while I was fostering and throughout the adoption process. I love that TAP is an all breed dog rescue and they don't discriminate against dogs with disabilities or sever health issues. My boy Trooper had to have his leg amputated due to abuse from his previous owners, but that didn't stop TAP from rescuing him. Despite all of the abuse this poor boy went through he is the most friendly, loving, and loyal pup. And even with only 3 legs this boy is unstoppable. He loves going for walks, hikes, swimming, and playing with all his friends, both human and dogs! Some people have a misconception that rescue dogs wont make loving pets because they are "damaged", but boy are they wrong. I have met so many loving and friendly rescue dogs in my life and because of TAP I found my new fur baby and I am forever grateful! Thank you TAP for saving Trooper's life and bringing him into mine! I highly recommend this dog rescue if you are interested in adopting or fostering. And since TAP is 100% volunteer run they are always looking for new volunteers. I started volunteering with TAP at the beginning of this year and I love it. Making a difference in these dogs lives is so rewarding. I've volunteered at a city run shelter before this and the experience was nothing compared to volunteering at TAP. This dog rescue feels more like family and I've made some great friends along the way. Checkout their website TheAnimalPad.com to learn more about the different volunteer opportunities. Be sure to follow them on instagram and facebook too (@TheAnimalPad), they always post new adoptable dogs and even share updates on their alumni pups! Whether you foster, adopt, or volunteer, join the TAP Tribe today and save a life along the way! read more

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We are so grateful to TAP for bringing 2 angels into our lives! In 2020 I put in a foster application after religiously watching their Instagram page and stories and was given the honor of fostering Storm. The TAP team was there every step of the way making sure everything went smoothly. We fell head over heels and became foster failures. After 2 years with our sweet Storm we knew he needed a best friend to share his love of cuddles and wrestles. We put in an adoption application for Bear (fka Lion) and went through the whole process within a week! His adoption coordinator Shelby and foster mom Theresa were so kind and responsive, we are so grateful for all of their help and support. We couldn't be happier and can't wait to foster again in the future! read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

We had been wanting to adopt a dog for a year but were having trouble finding just the right place. One night we browsed around on Google and randomly landed on The Animal Pads (TAP) website. We immediately liked a dog, so we requested to adopt him. The day after we got an email saying that particular dog was (unfortunately for us) already in an adoption process. However the TAP employee encouraged us to keep a close eye on both their website and Instagram and email her as soon as we saw another dog we could be interested in. So we did and after a couple of days emailing back and forward (with a very responsive and kind TAP employee) we got the chance to meet one of the many dogs we had liked: Odin, the one eyed dog (back then he was named Prawn). We sat up a meeting date with Odin's foster Mary-Kate, so both we and Odin could meet and see if it was a match. Setting up the date was easy and Mary-Kate was very responsive and accommodating to our schedule. We fell completely in love with Odin as soon as we saw him (but who wouldn't with that 'winky' face?) and he luckily liked us too. Less than a week later we got to take him home. Odin still had some treatments going on (Kennel Cough) and was therefore not neutered yet. But TAP took care of all costs for the ongoing treatments and neutering and Lena from TAP was very helpful on email getting everything coordinated. After Odins neutering he started to swell really bad where his eye is missing. We of course took him to the emergency vet immediately but got very little out of it. Lena was still checking in on us and we told her what was going on. She was extremely helpful with advice and tips to what we could do to help him. In the end it was with a lot of help from TAP that we got the help we needed with his swollen face. A huge thanks to Lena and Lauren for that. So all in all our experience has been extraordinary and phenomenal with this place. I am so happy that we randomly ended on TAPs website and that this is the place we decided to adopt from. It could not have gone any smoother. Thank you TAP for all you did for us and for all the work you do for dogs. It is people like you that make the world a better place. read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

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When my husband and I adopted our first dog in 2020, we knew we'd be adding a second dog to our family eventually because our v v good boy Ernie loves to play. Fast forward 2 years and we finally found ourselves in a good place to add a second dog to our family and find Ernie his new BFF. Finding a good local rescue can be a really overwhelming process, so I started looking at rescues in San Diego county about a year or so before we were looking to apply for our second dog. I had stumbled on The Animal Pad through instagram, and was immediately drawn in by how it was so clear that the volunteers and team over at TAP are so passionate about what they're doing and give everything they have to give the dogs in their care the best chance possible. So when we were ready to take the plunge and adopt again, we knew it would be through TAP. After religiously checking the TAP website and IG for dog updates for a few weeks, we found a dog that we'd be interested in meeting and applied through the TAP website. I have no chill, so I reached out to TAP a few days later to check on the status of my application and to add another dog to our wish list, and got a very quick response from the team updating me on the status of everything. That evening we heard we were matched with one of the dogs, and were put in contact with a wonderful team that made the entire meet&greet and adoption process so easy, straightforward, and seamless. We are so thankful to the entire TAP team, including the wonderful foster family that clearly took wonderful care of our dog while she was in their care. We ended up adopting a puppy, and have had multiple comments at our vet about how wonderful her temperament is, how calm she was during her appointment, and how she was clearly well taken care of while in TAPs care. Our vet also mentioned that her medical record was perfect and right on track for her development, and that TAP did an excellent job. We've had our pup for a little over a month, and are so happy that we chose to adopt through TAP and found the perfect addition to our family. We could not recommend TAP more! read more

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Little did we know that we needed a third member to our pack. We fostered this handsome boy and decided he fit too perfectly not to become one of us. The Animal Pad puts so much into the dogs they rescue (time and money) and asks for very little in return. We had regular communication with the vetting team, had all of the supplies we needed, including a large crate for Big man, and were able to seamlessly sign the adoption paperwork. I 1000% recommend fostering and/or adopting with TAP. You won't regret it! read more

The Animal Pad - The most playful boy! - Pet Adoption Near Me

A wonderful service, full of kind and loving people - plus we got a great pup from them to boot! read more

The Animal Pad - Look at that face! - Pet Adoption Near Me

I can't truly put into words how amazing this organization is. My husband and I had been looking to adopt a dog for several months but up until I found TAP, we were not having any luck. They're genuine, honest, communicative, affordable and really put the work into making this the best experience for all. I love that the dogs are placed into loving foster homes until they are adopted. They make it easy to learn about the dogs they have available by giving you plenty of information regarding their history, behavior, likes/dislikes and that made a big difference for us when looking for a dog that would suit our lifestyle. If you're considering adopting a dog this is the place to go. I will recommend them to all my friends and family. Thank you all SO MUCH! We LOVEEEEE our sweet girl. read more

The Animal Pad - Pet Adoption Near Me

I give 6 stars if it would let me. I rescued my sweet penny from there during COVID and the experience could not have been more pleasant. They really care for these animals and take such good care of them. When looking to rescue a dog this is your place!! I highly recommended them very professional and you can tell all they want is to make a difference in the world and make it a better place for animals by rescuing them from mexico to making sure there 100% healthy before they let you adopt. Adopt don't shop! read more

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This organisation is amazing!! I've watched them do amazing work with sooo many rescues in dire need!! They truly are life savers!! Highly recommend, they put so much heart into helping dogs in need! read more

The TAP team are a wonderful group of people that truly care about dogs! I first dipped my toes in by volunteering at the kennels, and could not help but foster a dog or two. Very quickly we fell in love with a foster and Jasper is now a part of the family!! I must say the process of applying to volunteer was very easy, they were so welcoming and spent time training us on what to do and how to handle the dogs. As we progressed to fostering and adoption, we felt so supported by their foster and adoption teams when we had questions or medical issues. This is by far the most well run and authentic non-profit organization I have come across so far. Props to the TAP team! We love you and so does Jasper!! read more

The Animal Pad - Jasper our foster fail. He is now very spoiled and part of the family! Thank you TAP!! - Pet Adoption Near Me

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