Calvert Animal Welfare League

Fred Lange

2024-03

A great place performing an unfortunately but necessary service.

Joel Tuminaro

2023-05

Got an awesome dog here in 2013. It's still a clean and very well run facility. Can't recommend it enough! Update: got 2 rescue beagles and another small dog rescue. All healthy and happy!

patricia butler

2021-05

Staff and cleaning crew are exceptional. Place was spotless. I was impressed. Superb ! Please checkout their website and help donate items that they need (a list of items is provided). They really work hard to take care of their animals. Please, please donate ! Tax deductible!

Michelle Dornberger-Oursler

2021-05

Super clean. Went into little shop got great deals. Goes to good cause.

Carter Mackiewicz

2018-05

I stopped by today to talk to someone about adopting a puppy. After standing in the lobby for +5 minutes, a lady finally asked if she could help me. I explained the situation with the dog we have now and what I thought would work with a new playmate for him. Our other dog passed away in February. Both ladies that were there started to look dis-interested and than they stopped talking to me and walked away. Earlier, one of the lady's mentioned that the manager might help me out, so I was waiting for them to ask me for my info. But it didn't happen. This was very rude. I would never put an animal in a unsafe situation. I have gotten the last 2 dogs from the Humane Society of Calvert County and I will go back there. I donate through the federal campaign to them and will keep doing so. From what I see on the reviews, others have had similar encounters at CAWL. I totally believe in helping out shelter animals, but the attitudes here need to change.

Brett Caloia

2023-09

Awesome organization - can't say enough good things about them!Update- we own three wonderful animals from CAWL!

Joshua Konicki

2018-05

Let me start off by saying the facility is absolutely beautiful and well kept. Unfortunately though, we went to inquire about a dog in person and experienced a wonderful interaction with her and the 3 of us got along great. The gentleman that introduced us to her though was a sketchy person and seemed to have a weird requirement for the right family and we just didn’t seem to fit the bill somehow even though everything seemed great. We then filled out an application and never heard back from them. No reply wether they accepted or declined our application which would have been polite to know either way.

Frank Sweeney

2023-08

Took some donations up to the CAWL thrift store. All of the volunteers are friendly and they love taking care of the animals.

Melanie Ringer

2018-05

My son arrived to look at a rescue pup. Facility was nice, very busy. Went in the back to meet the dog, and talk to the woman who runs the place. In the course of the conversation she informed us that because he does not have a fenced in yard, and works during the day (even tho my son would hire a daily dog walker) it would be highly unlikely he would be allowed to adopt from them. So she is looking for someone with fenced in property that is home all day clearly. Said he could fill out an application but it was clear he would never hear from her. And he didn't. She also told us a woman was coming from Virginia to look at Presley the pup, because this potential adopter could find no small dogs in Northern VA to adopt. If that didn't send a warning signal to the rescue owner she is not bright. Northern VA is crawling with dog rescues and small dogs that are available. Only go here if you are a stay at home property owner and can charm the very rude rescue woman. We could not.

cindy Hillen

2023-08

Small but nice! Gift shop is nice. Wish it could be open more often.

Dembrow I_N_C.

2019-05

Nice people, very friendly, but don't expect to walk out of there with a new pet, they have incredibly strict guidelines. They want to make sure the animal goes to a safe home that won't turn out to be a "dirt road dog" in a year. It's a tedious process, but it's the right thing to do.

JoHanna O'Neill

2021-05

We adopted our dog 9 years ago as an 8 week old puppy. We had a wonderful experience and couldn’t have been happier. We also had obedience classes there. We’re hoping to rescue another puppy.

Rebecca Coates-Lapidario

2017-05

***DO NOT BRING CHILDREN HERE***This may be the worse excuse for a shelter I have ever been too. The staff is horrible. I walked in (with 2 smaller kids) and asked if they had kittens or younger cats available. I was pointed in the direction of 2 in a cage and then 3 additional rooms. There is limited verbal direction, other than don't go in the back room. After we peeked in the rooms I went back to the greeter and asked if we could see the kittens in a particular room. I was pointed in the direction of a older women in a stripped shirt. She was already helping a woman and her teenage daughter. We were completely ignored for quite some time even though it was quite clear what we were there for. Looking back, I think she was just hoping we would leave if she didn't acknowledge us. Not a smile in our direction, not a we will be right with you; just the cold shoulder.After waiting 15 mins the other family crossed over to the dog area and we were finally greeted. I asked if it would be okay to see the kittens. She opened the door kicking at the kittens to get back. I had my children sit on the floor because there are no alternatives if you would like the opportunity to get to know any given animal. I had my children sit crisscross on the floor and we started to play with the kittens. There was 1 out of the 3 we had been interested in because he had stripes. My daughter who is a loving soul attempted to cover him up with his blanket and she was reprimanded and told not to lean into the cage. I asked if it would be okay if I pick up the kitten, the older woman nodded with a very disapproving look on her face. She asked how old the kids were and I stated 4 and 6. I also informed her that they have had a kitten in the past, as well as two puppies in different house holds. I asked if the kitten would be available and things started to get awkward. She started to say well, I don't know. I'm not sure. I would have much rather her said no, but she hem and hawed until I got her passive aggressive vibe and told the kids I didn't think this was the right kitten for our family.My children were excited and acted as such. They acted loving. They stated they would like to take a cat home. They of course asked if they could hold a kitten, which I said no because the environment wasn't where they could support the kitten. There was not one squeeze, not one cry, not one scratch. Just typical 4-6 year old behavior.I am not one who allows my family to be discriminated against and I quickly made the decision not to support this ridiculous organization.When walking out I asked for the managers name so that I could inform them on how they could improve their business and possibly offer some advice because I have worked and managed various customer service entities over the last 15 years. I was informed that he was on vacation. The dog manager then proceeded to condone the behavior of her obviously discriminatory employee.I do understand that you would want to make sure kittens end up in good homes and I can absolutely assure that today your process failed. I have two very loving my children, I am a very educated woman and we have an amazing house, which we are ready to offer to a rescue cat.If you have a policy that would bar families children from adopting pets I would urge you to provide that information to families who fit that criteria. If it case by case I would urge you to pass that on to parents so they can adequately prepare their children and protect them from false hope. Your poor policy and setting have failed your organization today, not to mention you broke two very tiny hearts and those tears are on your hands. Good luck in the future but I do hope this review protects the tiny very fragile hearts of children who walk through your doors.

Rhonda Tuzzio

2019-05

These people are ridiculous and rude. If you don't have a fenced in yard, you might as well forget it. My adult son was searching all of the local shelters for a dog, and CAWL had three different ones that he was very interested in that he saw there over about a one month period. The first one we never got to see, because she got adopted, which is great! The second one we got to interact with, but we were told that she had to have a fenced yard. That was understandable for that particular dog. However, when we saw her a month later, she was still there, and she seemed depressed and withdrawn. We fell absolutely in love with a third dog, a 4 year old girl that had spent her life neglected and trapped in a fenced yard. We asked the volunteer if we could interact with her, so she went to the manager, Barbara Scanlan, to see if she needed a fence. We were told that she did, but I asked if we could still see her, because she was trying to cuddle up to the bars for me to reach her. The volunteer refused, saying that we didn't qualify to get her, so we couldn't visit with her. Anyway, to make a long story short, I emailed back and forth with Ms. Scanlan, she told us to submit an application, but then said that she had checked with the Humane Society where we often walk dogs, and that they didn't give my son a recommendation. I still haven't come across anyone at the Humane Society that talked to or even knows anyone at CAWL. These people are snobbish and oftentimes doing more harm than good with these poor dogs.

Kelly Shae J

2018-05

A few years back we had gotten a puppy that was a few months old. Our family "didn't have enough time for it" so my parents brought him back without telling any of the children. I was in the second grade, when I came back from school my dad casually said " oh we got rid of Max today" I just started crying so much we had only had him for barely 2 months. Now my parents won't even think about buying a dog or even an adult dog. I still cry thinking about this. The place is over all great. The dog section is my favorite and I cry when I see them all there. And the cat section is okay. I love this place and I'm still trying to convince my parents to get us a an adult dog.

Joseph Kolesnick

2020-05

Asked us to drive out nearly an hour and a half to meet a dog they had no intention of ever allowing us to adopt. I cannot stress enough how annoyed I am with these folks. I realize they are all volunteers but my time is just as valuable as yours. To waster half a Saturday is extremely annoying. I wouldn't work with these people if you paid me.

Jack Chaney

2018-05

This is a place that is volunteer run by animal lovers. They will help you out with any problems that they can, if you need things for your dog or cat. They are awesome!And it's a no kill shelter!This is a excellent place to get your next pet!

Susan Eckley

2017-05

They will not release my cat back to us. We made a mistake and drop her off. But I was put under pressure to sign form to release her to them. We knew that she was going blind. Said that we are not taking good care of her.We are very healthy. Gave her shots Rabie shot, ditemper, etc. We love her. Making my husband very Ill.had to put him into hospital cause of this. They are very nasty and mean.She. miss our mom.

Randy Bowen

2022-05

Great place doing great things . But just like another review the people are rude , and inconsiderate. Can't adopt unless you drive a Maserati or something. Must be a need to know someone place

Sue Schuster

2019-05

Lots of dogs and kitties that need a home. Many are kept in foster until homes are available. The building is neat and clean, and staff are attentive to pets and to visitors. They accept donations for pets and for their small thrift store that benefits the shelter.

Bryan Shipman

2017-05

We got both of our girls(dogs) from CAWL, the staff was very nice and let us spend several evenings in the play room to allow Lexie to get to know Ella before we took her home.

Ryan Greaves

2019-05

The kindest people you can imagine bring the most adoptable animals into a small kennel on the weekends. Quality over quantity. I've adopted from them and can't say enough good things about staff and my experience.

Binyamin Biber

2023-05

Cute little charity thrift store attached supported the League's work. Found some great CDs and glassware.

Daisy Lopez

2022-05

Love going to this store nice set-up , wonderful prices ,the lady is the best.Always find a tresure.and it all goes to the facility.lke that!Please goband find yourself a treasure!

Flossie Lee

2021-05

Neat things for puppies and dogs. Collars all size bowl etc..special collection of jewelry, glasses, bowls and pictures and frames. Very, very neat...

Diane Hermann

2018-05

Friendly staff very comfortable and safe feeling environment. You feel like everything can and will be taken care of for your fur babies

Richelle Starnes

2019-05

Wonderful caring environment! The animals are well loved at CAWL, while they await adoption by their furever home.

Charlie Jenkins

2018-05

I volunteer here and I’ve adopted one of my fosters. The facility is amazing and all the volunteers want only the best for each and every animal

Emily Schelling

2021-05

Love the people, prices and selection at this thrift store. Their mission is also worth supporting.

Belinda Taylor

2017-05

Nice facility. Clean. Volunteers were great. Go RESCUE your next Pet!