If I could give a negative star I would…read more I have fostered multiple dogs back to back for this shelter but my last experience revealed a DISTURBING lack of professionalism and humanity. After providing feedback regarding a major communication discrepancy, the dog program manager acted out of spite immediately. During a phone call, Michelle W. (dog program manager) repeatedly talked over me and refused to let me finish. She continuously mispronounced my name despite multiple corrections. Even before I could finish a sentence, her final words were "you can finish but at the end of this phone call, drop off the dog at the shelter" and "I don't need to have a reason. I can ask for the dog back because I can". They attempted to force a well adjusted puppy (one I had fostered for over a month) back into a cold kennel environment as a "power trip" simply because Michelle didn't like receiving a constructive criticism. It was clear she lacked empathy for the dog's stability and was prioritizing her own authority over the animal's well being. The adoption process here is abysmal. At the adoption event, numerous potential adopters who were interested in my foster dog said that the interview process is a joke. The interviewers talked more about themselves than giving the potential family to speak. A lot of them said the interview didn't even last 10minutes. Worst of all, I witnessed firsthand they use a lottery system (that's what everybody calls it at the event). They literally pull a name out of a plastic bag to choose the final family for the dog. Lastly, I find it interesting that Dawn (the executive director) responded to my google review asking to "connect directly". During my call with Michelle, I repeatedly asked for the contact information of a supervisor. Michelle lied and told me there was nobody above and she was the final authority. While the rescue claims their decision to pull the dog was for "safety" that concern only appeared AFTER I voiced my frustrations with their non existent communication which resulted me and my foster dog to stay at the vet for over 4hours. Was the "safety" they were worried about actually the safety of their own egos? As a rescue using an animal's placement as a tool for retaliation against a foster is very very disturbing and unacceptable. This organization is not what they market themselves to be. They claim to appreciate their fosters, but their actions prove they view them as disposable and animals as leverage. If you want to support a rescue that values animal welfare and basic human decency, this is not the right place. I would stay far away from this one.

I cannot recommend this agency under any circumstances. My experience with this rescue was…read moreextremely disappointing, distressing, and frankly unacceptable. They have absolutely broken my heart and I was already going through hell. I was actively fostering a dog (Charcoal) and had clearly communicated my intent to adopt him. I coordinated with staff regarding timing and transportation for adoption events and explained that I was recovering from serious injuries following a semi-truck accident. Despite this, the organization removed the dog from my care under the understanding that he would be taken for a neuter appointment and temporary holding. Instead, he was placed at an adoption event the very next day and adopted out--without any notification to me. I had to physically come in to find out he was gone. When I was directed to call for clarification, both Dawn and Michelle laughed on the phone when I asked about the situation. During that same conversation, after I explained my accident, Dawn referred to it as a "terrific" situation before correcting herself and dismissively stating that "life just happens." I was also told they did not "owe me any communication," despite the fact that I had expressed clear intent to adopt and had complied with what was asked of me. This reflects a severe lack of professionalism, empathy, and basic human respect. Fosters invest time, energy, and care into these animals. To remove a dog from a foster home, adopt him out immediately, and then respond with laughter and dismissal when asked for clarity is completely unacceptable. This agency's behavior shows no regard for the wellbeing of their fosters, adopters, or even the animals themselves. Treating a 22-year-old injured student in this manner--while she is actively trying to adopt and provide a stable home--is beyond inappropriate. Do not trust this organization with your time, your money, or your care.

Incredible experience from start to finish…read more I recently adopted a puppy from here, and the entire process was seamless. The staff was so helpful and accommodating -- they worked around my schedule and made everything feel smooth and stress-free. What really stood out to me was the follow-up. They checked in to make sure the adjustment was going well, which meant so much. You can tell they truly care about the animals and the families they're placing them with. I absolutely love my puppy -- she has been such a wonderful addition to our family. I'm so grateful for the support and kindness we received throughout the process. Highly recommend!

DO NOT USE THIS RESCUE! I have been trying to get in contact with them to receive vaccination…read moredocuments to pass onto my vet and they STILL have not provided me with anything. I was told I would receive it in my email upon adopting, and that they would mail hard copies in the next week (still havent recieved 4 weeks later). My vet got in touch with the rescue this evening and were informed my dog, that I adopted April 10, will need all her vaccines again since they expire May 23. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS RESCUE...they should NOT be adopting dogs out knowing all the vaccines expire in 6 weeks without informing the new owners!

Wonderful Shelter with extremely caring veterinarians, onsite staff and volunteers! The animals…read moreare always treated with tender loving care. If there's the slightest indication of a health issue, the lil' guys are treated immediately. There is no better Shelter in northern Va.

My husband and I saw a dog we were interested in meeting and possibly adopting so we reached out…read morethrough Instagram to get more details. We got a quick response, which was nice. They let us know that based on the dog's profile, they recommended that we do a meet and greet with any family dogs we already have at home. So we get ready, load up our pup, and go to the center. When we walked in, we felt like the vibes were pretty off immediately. The front desk staff seemed to be pretty unfriendly, barely addressed us, and barely made eye contact with us. But we moved on and I tried giving them some grace... We then told them which dog we were interested in meeting and they let us go back to the kennel for a first glance. We came back out and when we asked for a meet and greet, the one worker seemed super hesitant in even allowing that. Lots of "ummm, yea, I guess you can" vibes. My mother-in-law waited in the lobby with our pup and they led my husband and I to their yard for a visit which went well and I asked if I could switch out with my mother-in-law and were told that it'd be best not to have the dog meet too many people in one instance since it has a "stranger danger" personality. What if the people after us wanted to meet him, would they have turned them down because it was "too many people"??? We then asked to have our pup meet since our meeting went well and were met with more hesitation. We let the staff know that we also have kids at home and they recommended that we come back with them so the adoptable pup could meet everyone at once instead of letting our dog meet in that moment.... we thought that was odd since we were already there and prepared. My husband was already over it and left and I went back in to ask if the dog we were interested in could be adopted that day or before we were able to come back. They let us know that they couldn't guarentee he'd still be there. Never once did they really walk us through the process or even offered that we could essentially put the dog on "hold" until I kept asking more questions. They finally directly us to a QR code that went to an interest form. I filled out the whole thing and then they were like, "oh, BTW, its a nonrefundable $50 fee/donation to put an animal hold on". So... fine.... because we really wanted to make sure he was still there when we came back. Fast forward to the next day, we bring our kids and our dog back in. They then tell us they they're going to have our dog meet their dog 1st and if that goes well, we can introduced the kids. What the actual crap since we already had our dog in the day before! So the meet and greet with the pups didn't go the best which isn't anyone's fault. We understand and recognize that is out of everyone's control and don't fault the staff for that interaction. One of the other workers who wasn't there the first day tried helping and made some suggestions to have us adopt and older dog but at that point we were ready to go. We were so frustrated with the entire process. They wasted our time, weren't upfront about the fee/donation, and the staff either didn't understand the process themselves OR they really didn't want it to actually work out with us from the moment we walked in there. We've adopted from Wolftrap Animal Rescue twice and had wonderful interactions. We also visited the Lorton Animal Shelter and everyone there was really kind and friendly so I'd recommend others going through one of those other agencies instead. We just hope our nonrefundable $50 donation goes to good use...

My experience adopting a kitten from here was wonderful…read more These people really love cats - from what I can tell, it's a pretty small group that rescues and fosters on the side while working full-time. I fell in love with a kitten online, but there was already an applicant ahead of me, so I resigned myself to accepting I probably wasn't going to get him. But Pam was so great - she stayed in constant communication with me, and when she hadn't heard back from the other applicant in two days, she emailed me at 10pm to say I had first dibs (which I feel is fair) and that she'd make sure the kitten was at the adoption event for me to come see the next afternoon. So we headed over to Pet Valu in Clifton to meet the kitten and adored him right away. Kristen was so sweet, helpful and genuinely happy to see that one of her kittens had found a new home. She provided us with tons of info and advice, along with a Pet Valu adoption coupon kit. Their vetting process is pretty standard; you fill out an application with details about your living situation, current pets etc. In the final stages, you sign a contract promising not to declaw and that you'll send them proof of having the kitten spayed/neutered. The experience was quite painless (unlike interactions I've had in the past with some larger/more well-known rescue groups), and these women are doing a fantastic job. Definitely check out their kitties if you're looking to adopt!

We adopted our 3rd cat this past weekend at a Dewey Animals event at Petsmart in Chantilly. The…read moreexperience was smooth and Pam is extremely knowledgeable. Sylvester was helping out and actually introduced our new baby to us. Great organization who is screening very thoroughly. Appreciate people who give their time to finding these babies homes.

We just adopted a dog through AHOTO. Everyone on the organization that we interacted with was kind,…read moreprofessional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. We highly recommend them!

I adopted my cat through AHOTO. They asked me to foster and it was obviously a fail. The…read morecommunications and support were great. Natalie is very attentive to all their cats and kittens and super helpful with adoption. She knows which cat to pair which human with, and is always spot on. I would 100% always adopt from them.

After our beloved dog passed away, we were on the hunt for a new furry friend. Finding the perfect…read morematch was tough, and we were hesitant to consider a breeder with shelters full of amazing animals. But then, we stumbled upon "Paws Deep Animal Rescue," and it was an absolute game-changer! The owner, Victoria, was incredible. She responded promptly to our emails, texts, and calls, providing us with more information than we could have ever imagined. She truly understood our needs and found the perfect match for us. Now, we have a new furry companion to love and care for, and our lives are complete. They're dedicated to saving animals with no behavioral problems that are at risk of being put down because there's not enough space. They mostly rescue dogs from Texas and Georgia. Both of these states are in the top 5 for having the highest euthanasia rate in the United States. Please help these wonderful dogs find a forever home before it's too late.

Do not at all purchase a pet from this shelter. The owner Victoria is highly unprofessional, rude,…read moreand she refuses to disclose behavioral issues. We purchased a dog from her less than a month . When I messaged her for help after the dog bit my husband she responded saying she had no clue he was a biter. Then she changed it to say she disclosed it. Not only had the dog bitten my husband but he also bit our dog walker and son! She didn't care and just told me to take him to the shelter. Aweful person.

Still never received our puppy back or a reason why our reapplication was rejected. Paid the a $20…read morefee plus donated $200. Have sent numerous emails and left voice mails. NOTHING. We have no idea what they have done with our 7 month old German Shepherd Raven. Something is going on here. DO NOT ADOPT A DOG FROM THEM !!!!!

Once we were approved, I contacted one of the fosters. The information online said that the dog…read morewas crate trained. She is 5 months old. I asked him about house training and his response, " She is 5 months old, she might have some accidents". He NEVER let me know how long the so called crate trained dog could be in the crate. Not a problem. We are NOT new owners. Get this, WE are willing to drive 4 hours ONE way to meet the dog and his response, " I don't want to drive that far if it is work out". I emailed another foster with the same organization about a different dog. I just asked him if the dog was affectionate. The response, "There are other approved people interested in the dog. Let me know what you want to do ". If you DON'T live in VA, you may not want to consider VGSR.

I am writing this review not from the perspective of a customer, but from that of someone who…read moreassists various rescue groups with dog care using my own dog daycare facility, which will remain unnamed due to Yelp's self promotion policies. PAW seems to really care about the dogs in their care, they have many volunteers who make sure that each dog has its needs met. They do seem very selective in their applicants, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on who you ask, but worth mentioning for what it is. I recommend adopting a dog from them if you meet their criteria for that dog, you can adopt knowing the dog was well cared for, and donate knowing your money is going to an organization that gives its all for said dogs.

This is my 2nd adoption with PAW!! My first rescue was Nellie, a five year old poodle. It's…read moreamazing to see what a little TLC can do for an animal. Nellie blossomed right before our very eyes. She was a part of our family for almost 10 years before crossing the rainbow bridge. We just adopted Ginger a 5 year old min-pin who is already acclimating herself to our household. The benefits of using a rescue like PAW are numerous. All the animals are microchipped, spayed or neutered, up to date shots & Vet visit. Nellie & Ginger's Foster parents are truly our heroes. I definitely recommend PAW!