Merrimack River Feline Rescue

Jessica Spina

2023-10

I adopted my adult cat a month ago and I couldn’t be happier! I reached out to the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society interested in adopting a friendly, older cat, and they made an appointment for me within a week. Upon arrival the workers introduced me to all of the cats and then I adopted the one I liked! The whole experience was streamlined and simple. My cat was $175 and was microchipped, neutered, and had all of his vaccines. I spent $45 on a package the shelter had that contained food, litter, starter toys, treats, food dishes, and nail clippers, which was a huge help. I also spent an additional $10 on an extremely sturdy and quality cat carrier to take him home in. I am super happy with this experience and would absolutely buy a cat from here again!

Melissa Cody

2023-05

We adopted our cat Marty from MRFRS two weeks ago and we couldn't be happier with our decision! He is such a sweetheart! The shelter responded to my inquiry fast and was able to get a same day appointment. The two women working that day were friendly, helpful, and were available to answer any questions we had. It was a smooth adoption process!

Brionna Myers

2024-01

This business does not care about reuniting pets with their rightful owners. They only care that you spay/ neuter, chip, and keep the cat indoors.I recently lost my cat and was hopeful to have seen that he had popped up at a rescue. I contacted the business and to say that I'm heartbroken is nice. By law, because he was in their care for more than so many days he is their property. I was willing to go through the adoption process and pay the fee to be reunited with my cat. My adoption application was denied because I choose to let my cats be indoor/outdoor and Axel is the only cat of mine that wasn't neutered. Ultimately, I just wanted to see Axel and make sure he was okay. Apparently, this is a common occurrence as Autumn (the manager) wouldn't allow me to visit as she has had "bad experiences in the past." This makes me wonder how many other people's cats have been wrongfully taken and denied reunification.

Christine Bachner

2024-01

Reuniting, pets with their original owners is not important to them! They use the law to their own advantage. People are trapping cats and bringing them to their facility. Pet owners must notify the police station as soon as they know their pet is missing! On the seventh day, the animal becomes ownership of the Rescue! They only Return your animal under one condition that it is chipped. And that is only because they are forced by law!These animals need homes, but you might be taking home an animal that belongs to somebody else. These cats want to be reunited with their loved ones if Possible!!! Everyone should be aware of this Fact! 😿😓😥

Charlotte Mansour

2023-12

Shady rescue. Refused to release test results on a very sick cat shortly after he was adopted. Cat was diagnosed with FIP and died.Lady brings kittens after e-clinic visit. Kitten had ripped out spay stitches. She tells me they didn’t send her with care instructions after a spay or an e-collar??? They told her too bad when she asked for help.Apparently they don’t know the vaccine schedule for kittens either. Every kitten is vaccinated every 2 weeks for fvrcp when the recommendation is every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks. Kittens don’t need 6 fvrcp vaccines.I’ve worked with/volunteered for a lot of rescues but MRFRS is one of 2 that I have seen that I’d never adopt from. They send home a flyer that tells new pet owners that their animals may get sick after going to their new homes. That is not normal. I adopted 2 kittens from Florida that were driven up here in 24-48 hours. Did they get sick? Absolutely not. And mine had to endure a stressful and noisy trip with other animals nearby. If you’re sending home animals and they’re getting sick so much you have to send home a flyer telling owners not to worry about it then you’re doing something wrong.

Amy Harris

2023-05

I got my boy Butter Finger aka Mr. B from this rescue and the women who worked here were so sweet and took great care of all the cats. The adoption process was quick and easy, I took Mr. B home with me that day.Butter Finger is a shy cat and the woman who helped me out at the shelter gave me all kinds of tips and advice to help him acclimate to my home and with my big dopey puppy. He's coming around slowly but surely, getting closer to us and the puppy and for a shy cat he likes to stay up all night and hang from my pictures 🤣🤣. He's such a character I love him so much, he will fit in just right in our home once he's fully adjusted. Thanks to the lovely volunteers keep doing your excellent work.

MJ Smith

2024-04

They truly care about the cats, and want to make sure that the cat you are interested in. I got an older cat, and he is adjusting to his new place! Just a love...

Ciji Ricker

2023-09

I will never regret adopting our kitten, but I wish I did more research about where we decided to adopt. I will never again give my support to this rescue. They were quick to respond after submitting our application and we were able to set up an appointment for the same week (Saturday) for a private 1-hour appointment to view the adoptable cats/kittens. We went into the shelter and there were at least 15 people crammed inside this tiny little house turned shelter. Apparently there was an adoption event going on and anyone could walk in whenever they wanted, which is not typically their practice. I was not given a private appointment as promised or told that there was a two-day adoption event going on. I could have walked in whenever I pleased. Our kitten caught my eye, so we ended up adopting her anyways. We were rushed in and out of the door with our kitten and never heard from them again. I emailed an update to them over a week ago, as requested, for her foster mom. No response. When I took her to my vet, they were quite perturbed that she had been given her vaccines much too close together, which could lower her immune system and make her susceptible to illness. This whole experience has made me feel as though these cats/kittens are being adopted out on a conveyor belt, just turn and burn.

L Harder

2024-01

I adopted a kitten a week and a half ago. She was just diagnosed with FIP, which is fatal and a very expensive and intense thing to treat. Please be very very careful when you adopt from here. And please see a vet if you recently adopted a cat from here.

K J

2024-01

This makes me really sad. if peoples beloved cats are really being trapped and taken to this shelter and they wont allow it back to their owner then the Police should be notified and involved.This place needs to go under different management ASAP. The cats deserve better!

Shawna Lind

2023-09

I moved to Mass about 2 months ago and decided that my cat needed a friend. The process was SO easy. I filled out the application and they emailed me back quickly with a link to their available cats and an explanation of how things worked.The process was smooth and they had a great adoption event that weekend. I found my new best friend that weekend. They gave me all the tips and tricks and were so patient when I went room to room trying to pick between two cats.I HIGHLY recommend adopting through MRFRS, you will not be disappointed.Thank you again for helping me find my (and my cats) new best friend <3

Roy Barter

2024-03

We adopted 2 cats last year and they are happy and healthy. We couldn't be happier with our adoption.

Cory Fatello

2023-08

I had such a positve, adoption experience at Merrimack River Feline Rescue. The process was straightforward. The staff obviously cares for all of the cats and kittens. The kitten I adopted had received excellent medical care prior to being available to adopt with medical records provided. So happy I found this wonderful rescue.

Xarifa Hider

2022-05

I can’t speak highly enough about this organization. It is such a well run organization and they help so many cats and kittens. They help both owned cats find care and surrendered cats find forever homes as well as helping so many cats and kittens that are on the streets. The catmobile provides low cost spay and neuter services as well as vaccines and regular testing . I highly recommend The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

P. Price

2023-12

Very friendly staff. Adoption process is thorough but easy. We adopted a bonded pair and look forward to wonderful times with our new pets.

Aleah Walsh

2024-01

Literally such a gross place. When someone’s pet they love goes missing, and the shelter won’t give it back is actually sickening. Don’t go here, and definitely hope your missing pet doesn’t end up here.

Angelina D

2024-01

If I could give 0 stars I would. This place is a scam. They aren’t a rescue they steal peoples cats. These cats want to be reunited with their owners and instead get trapped and adopted by other people. I’m disgusted this is what the world has become.

Scott Winters

2023-10

We got our two wonderful additions to our home from these wonderful caring group. They were incredibly thorough in their process to make sure we were a fit for Repunzel and Eugene. Both were trapped in Dorchester and were bonded in the colony as well as the capture facility and then again here in Salisbury at MRFR. They were very clear they needed to be together and we are so very happy they were. These two are wonderful together and a perfect fit for the dynamics of our little family. We love the work this group does and hope to see it continue for decades to come.

Liv Don

2023-12

Never been treated so poorly by a business in my life. Manager Autumn and staff, poor business. You lost a serious customer who genuinely wanted to adopt.

Cord Tocci

2018-05

MRFRS does a great service for cats! My fiance and I adopted our two cats from here in July 2017 and September 2017. They are very supportive throughout the adoption process. They also have lots of cats that need forever homes. It's a no pressure environment.. so you can stop in just to say hi to some of the cats. You'll end up finding a buddy anyways lol

Christine Monagle

2023-05

I couldn't be happier with my experience with MRFR. The kindness and helpfulness of the staff was amazing. The kitty we adopted had some challenges and the team was transparent and so informative and that made the adoption process excellent. The kitty we adopted was so well cared for by the team and that was apparent. Our vet remarked specifically on the care that Theo received while at Merrimack Valley and was so pleased by the thoroughness of the records provided in regard to his medical history and care. I am grateful that there are such caring individuals doing such important work. I would highly recommend if you are considering adoption to follow the rescue and to support their mission.

Seth Hopewell

2024-01

BEWARE!!!This establishment traps local cats from local owners; spay/neuters, chips and then puts them up for adoption; refusing to give back the cats to their rightful owners!

Steve

2024-02

Had our female cat spayed there. Professional and friendly staff, highly recommend!

nicole elwell

2023-11

My cat got out a few months ago and finally came back in very bad shape . I called and asked if they would take the cat in and help him and they refused to help me. I'm horrified this is how people act when you call trying to get help for a very sick cat.

Joanne Cottam

2024-02

So nice and a great price for spay and neuter. Took great care if my boys.

ileum

2023-08

I love this place with all my heart, prepare for a book.I volunteered here for about 6 years as a teenager in the mid 2000's through early 2010's and if there is anything I can say about this rescue it's that they go above and beyond to care for their cats. This (surprisingly) doesn't go over well with some people.This is something that I feel like might irk potential adopters (as stated in previous reviews) but this isn't an in and out the door with a new cat speedy little venture. This isn't a mall store pandering to people who purchase living breathing Christmas gifts; stores that are chock-full of "stock" from animal mills. This is also NOT the type of place that encourages purchasing animals for the novelty of them being cute. So many families visiting rescues immediately dart to kitten rooms without even sparing so much as a glance at cats who exceed being a year old or have lifelong complications. MRFRS encourages finding a cat based on your lifestyle, how many people you have in your home, the ages of those people, personalities of everyone involved, and (in the case of cats with chronic issues) emotional tolerance and if your current income has the possibility to provide adequate levels of care (with advice to map out those costs to see if you can handle long-term care and any complications that might arise as well).They want this to be a successful matchup so they do not send a cat into a home which they believe will be stressful and limiting to them. They do not want that cat to be abandoned (again) because it acts in a way that isn't pleasing.I know it can be frustrating to feel so put under a microscope, however; In my many years of volunteering in shelters, I have seen countless cats spend all of their limited years waiting and waiting for anyone who matches them. Those cats pass away waiting, ignored by people who would be a good fit in favor of waiting on kittens, being added to waitlists @ other shelters for "rarer" cats or needlessly buying from breeders.In all my describing what this place isn't, I can sum up what this place is pretty easily:This is a rescue to find a cat who fits you, not for you to find a cat who fits into your dream of what your cat should look like. It's a personalized process for you and it's the most helpful process for the cat's health and longevity.So please, if you are someone who wants what is best for cats and wants to fulfill their needs first and foremost to your best ability, give MRFRS a look. It's worth taking whatever questionnaire they are working with now and exploring which cats with which personalities you might be best to handle. You might be surprised by which fur friends make your acquaintance.

Tricia Brown

2022-05

MRFR is a great little shelter. Employees are kind and you can really tell that they love the cats in their care. I worked with Sara by both email and phone, who replies quickly and was especially helpful. They give me a bunch of goodies for the two kittens I adopted, who are acclimating well and have great temperaments. Definitely would adopt from this shelter in the future. :)

Bonnie Woolley

2023-08

Update:This is a very late update Sweet Paws came through and had him neutered and basic shots. He was FLV positive, sadly 😥.There's a stray that's been hanging around the house, he is not neutered, technically someone left him behind, I was referred to MRFRS, by a NH person who works with a NH rescue, anyway, I'm told they have no room for the cat I have here, and referred me to the MSPCA. I then asked if I got him in a crate if they knew a vet that would look at him and maybe get him neutered, I also know he will need rehab because he has been on his own so long and is very skittish. The person replied to my email again by saying they can't take him in, we that wasn't what I asked, they are absolutely no help, they also said because I'm I Groveland, MA, they are only helping their surrounding towns, great I hope they put that in their request for help or a grant from the state or government. Because this cat deserves a chance, MSPCA won't take the time he needs to become an adoptable cat. I have 4 pets already, 2 indoor cats and 2 dogs and I'm disabled, it really makes me question these places, like I said I was looking to see if there was a way to get him neutered, I thought there was a neutere and release program? Wouldn't it be better to have him vet checked and vaccinated against rabies? Also, she told me to contact sweet paws, I will, but I'm really taken back they don't seem to take any steps to help this cat, even if its just a vet check.

Cindy Chau

2023-05

We adopted our cat Maggie from here this past January. We are super grateful for the staff and for Maggie's foster mom. Such an awesome organization!

J D

2019-05

This staff is phenomenal. Who ever write the bios for these fur babies deserves an award. Our new baby (star) has adjusted back to being a family cat in just a matter of a few hours. I recommend them to ANYONE looking to give a forever home to a cat. They truly care about the animals and could really care less about making profit. PLEASE DONATE even if you do not adopt. The is team deserves it.