Friends of the Warwick Animal Shelter

royce

2024-02

They took away my friend’s bengal cat because they’re illegal in our area? and for some reason they couldn’t release the cat to him.They sold the cat to some random person in Connecticut because they are “legal” there, instead of releasing them to a friend that he had in Connecticut.The woman who sold the cat proceeded to say that my friend “doesn’t seem fit to care for a cat anyways” when he has been taking great care of his cat for months. Before this incident, he was going through a really tough time in life, and got the cat as emotional support.

Jim O'Neill

2018-05

I've adopted two dogs from the shelter over the last 14 years. Full disclosure, I do volunteer work there and know most of the staff very well.That said, to provide some balance to some of what I'm reading here.SPECIFIC, EASILY OBSERVABLE DETAILS ABOUT THE SHELTER & STAFF- Fastidiously clean. Always- The dogs and cats there are extremely well taken care of.- Healthy food- Exercise. Volunteers get dogs out for walks daily, cats have a playroom- Veterinary care- Grooming / Flea & Tick preventionThe core of the long term staff are former volunteer and pet professionals who, among so many other things, must vet potential adopters. Being vetted means being scrutinized. This is not a retail establishment with requisite effusive, polite behavior on tap. As much as they can, the staff is trying to determine if these animals are going to a good home. That could be perceived as rude, when in fact it's people doing their job, even if that means someone getting their feelings hurt. Pass through this initial gauntlet, illustrate some ability to be a good caretaker of your pet and you'll find you've made fast friends of this staff.

Elizabeth Sawyer

2024-03

The staff are so friendly and polite. I check in to see if a small dog comes in.

Steve Kilpatrick

2020-05

5 stars all around! After searching and searching for a new addition to our family, we found a dog online that was here at the shelter. We came in on a Saturday and were fortunate to be able to take the dog we were interested in for a walk around the property. The staff (Ann and Debby) were awesome; very relaxed, encouraging us to spend some time with our potential new family member. They answered all our questions, and asked us a few about our home environment and vet.We then arranged a meet & greet with our current dog, which went great! A week and a half later, we came home with our new little girl! The shelter even gave us a ramp, moist food, and a sweater for her. Such a great experience with this shelter; so many shelters should be run the same way this one is.

Cindy Desnoyers

2018-05

Here are 3 of my adoptees. Maybel, Moochie, and Roslyn. Great place to find a great pet.

Susan Highley

2020-05

Wonderful people doing great work for animals. If you need your cat spayed or neutered and you don't have a huge amount of money they have the best fees I know of so you can be a responsible pet owner and get the shots done at the same time. I had my cat done there very recently and the staff are the nicest most caring and professional around. Thanks so much for taking such good care of our cat.

Liz Annino-Staffieri

2022-05

Update: so after much back and forth, we finally found out why they were being so fussy... The cats we were looking to adopt were extremely traumatized and needed to be socialized.You guys just broke my husband's heart. He was really looking forward to adopting Jasmine and Grace, but you had to stomp on his heart because you guys can't verify an out of state veterinarian record from 8 years ago! EIGHT YEARS AGO!!!!!! What if we had never had pets before? Even a friend of mine who is a vet tech thinks this is insane.We are willing and able to accept those two adorable purrballs into our lives and you led us on for 2 weeks... TWO WEEKS!!!! Only to be told to try a different shelter with more relaxed rules.What gets me is that there's this big to-do about adopting, not buying, pets but now I know why people buy! It's organizations like this that make it impossible to adopt!

Tony Tomacchio

2022-05

Exceptional staff. Cares deeply about their animals. Drove from NH to pick up my new addition. Ann made sure I had everything I needed and continues to respond to any questions I have. If you have the means and patience to do so, save a pup today at Warwick Animal Shelter!

Sharyn DiFazio

2021-05

I have never seen such compassion and caring for the Animals in their care. The people there are super kind to applicants, but first and foremost they want to make sure you will make a good pet parent. I got my little guy almost 3 years ago and he has given us so much joy. Thank you to everyone at the Warwick animal shelter and a big shoutout to Debbie! If you are someone who didn't get a pet that you wanted, maybe you are the problem, not the shelter.

Lisa Wilson

2019-05

Prior to going to the shelter l saw the reviews regarding poor service and not wanting to adopt out animals, but wanted to find out for sure because they had quite a few cats available. Unfortunately the reviews are true. If you owned an animal in the last ten years you will have to show shot records and grooming records, at least that was our experience. I am not sure if they have standards they adhere to for adoption requirements or make it up on a case by case basis. When we visited the shelter there were 5 large dog crates in the waiting area, I assume due to over crowding because I heard dogs barking in the back. One had three small/medium dogs in it. Most of the cats have been at the shelter since they were kittens and are now over 1 years old. Due to being a tax payer funded organization I believe they need to reevaluate their adoption practices. Requirements should be standardized and published. Furthermore, requirements should be basic. A shelter should house animals temporarily, not permanently. I will say the cats seemed well cared for, but again the shelter isn't there to be a permanent home. Also they did not return phone calls. They have too many animals to care for because they need to allow more families to become forever homes.

Brenda Greene

2019-05

I just visited this shelter for the first time, when my company dropped a load of dog and cat food we collected. What a nice place! Very clean, spacious, separate areas for dogs and cats, all adoptable pets are fully vetted and micro-chipped. Adoption fees are very reasonable. Check them out!

Karen Bissonnette

2020-05

The staff were great. The didn't have many cats but I did spend some time with a sister pair. They were so cute and sweet, I filled out the adoption papers. Hope to hear on Monday.

Henry Bouchard

2019-05

4 months ago I adopted a Senior Dog "Jack" a Grey Hound, Pit mix. I saw Jack on the website. I just knew I needed Jack in my life. The staff of workers and volunteers here have been supportive and compassionate. I have brought Jack back for a visit and the staff were so loving towards Jack.Thank you to all at the Warwick Animal Shelter for helping to transition Jack into my life

Stephanie Gauvin

2017-05

My experiences here were absolutely horrible. I will never return again. The staff and volunteers were so rude! As soon as they saw that I had children with me, the excuses came as to why we couldn't take out a dog. When I asked questions about a dog, it was clearly an inconvenience to them. That place needs all new staff that are competent enough to work with the public.I feel bad that the animals have to be around such miserable people.

Kim San Souci

2020-05

Rude & judgemental! The older blonde woman in the cat room is just awful ; couldn’t tell the cats apart! Every time we showed interest in a cat she would make excuses as to why we could not have that particular cat ! She also insinuated that I was not a responsible pet owner because she felt I didn’t take my previous elderly cat to the vet enough. I’ve never been treated so rudely & in such a disrespectful manner in my life ! I would give zero stars if I could !

T Feeney

2023-05

The animals are well cared for and the shelter is very clean and well maintained. The staff are friendly and professional and care deeply about finding the right home for each pet. Really wonderful people!

Albert Wylie

2017-05

I adopted from warwick almost 2 years ago, and I couldnt have been luckier. My buddy Teddy Roosevelt is my best friend, an incredibly loyal companion. He is however fickle in behavior, and shelters can't just let them go to anybody. The negative reviews on this shelter are entirely unjustified, generally from people who know little about dog ownership, and people who don't understand that it can be difficult to build back rescues.

Lisa F

2016-05

Terrible experience here,I was on petfinder when I saw a cat who was hit by a car & lost his leg, I felt so bad for him & thought he might have a hard time finding a home. I decided I would give him a home. I sent an email to see if he was still available, they said yes & sent me an application. I then made plans to meet him.I met & fell in love with him to then be told the next day he was already promised to a "rescue with an approved adopter". Not sure why they let me meet him & called my vet office, if he was already promised to a rescue with an adopter already approved. Or why a city kill shelter would choose to send a cat off to a rescue(out of state) causing the animal stress & lose the adoption fee money to the rescue, when they have an adopter with a loving home there. No one will tell me the name of the rescue after I asked several times. Very fishy. I wanted to donate to that rescue since this shelter turned down the brand new carriers,treats, beds, toys..etc I tried to give them.(which I donated to my local no kill). I wasn't going to leave a nasty review because I didn't want to deter people from adopting. I highly recommend The Pet Refuge, Care for animals, & The Humane society if you also had a bad experience here,I should add they felt the need to call me & tell me "They didn't need my donations & that they are not allowed to tell me the name of the "rescue".UPDATE!! I was told several times the reason they couldn't approve me is because the rescue already had an approved adopter, well that was clearly a lie because I found him on youtube, petfinder, & the rescue called Passion 4 Paws in CT! Up for adoption posted on the 22nd of November. They told me he was adopted the 19th of November. The photos are in the comments of this review until they delete them. They changed his name & story slightly but it's obviously the same cat. Same markings & same leg amputated.So not only did they lie to me, they denied this cat a loving home, & for no reason. I'm sure they warned the rescue not to adopt to me but I may still try.Also they contacted a coworker of mine(completely unprofessional) by phone & social media asking her if "she could talk to me & have me remove my review".If they had an issue with me they should have talked to me about it not lie & say he's adopted. I cannot stand liars.

Melissa Guarino

2023-05

The vet here goes above and beyond to help the animals! They are very Lucy to have such a wonderfully skilled amazingly Great veterinarian! Thanks Doc!

Caitlyn Russo

2019-05

When you walk in people don't seem like they want to help, all to busy talking to each other. When you ask about a dog they explain that they have several applications out for that dog, but you can wall them... I wanted to give someone a forever home, and they made me feel like they i was bothering them.

Jack S

2020-05

If I could leave less than one star I would. The cats seem to be treated well, at least that's a plus- but it's almost as though the staff aren't even trying to help them find a home! Extremely rude, and actually discouraging adoption when I expressed interest in any cat. The older woman 'helping' us couldn't even remember the cat's names- what a joke!

Melissa Brindamour

2022-05

They were so kind and understanding.. After the loss of my fiance i couldnt do it on my own. They also helped me be able to get my soul fur baby Buddy back.. Much love and respect!!

Jessica

2020-05

Never friendly when I go in there. Trying to adopt a dog, but no one could even be bothered to show us any. We were pointed to two dogs in a room to peek at and then the woman behind the desk yelled at them to shut up when they barked. We wont be back.

Karen Lister

2024-04

Staff very friendly and helpful.

Bruce Balemian

2023-07

There's no better place for animals to be cared for before adoption. The staff is amazing

Elizabeth Rivera

2020-05

I called warwick animal shelter today March 15, at a 11:37am to explain my Situation with my umbrella cockatoo but before I got to finish I was Immediately disrespected by a lady who answer the phone. If your a miserable person that has no patience to sit and listen before you have to open your mouth then you shouldn’t be answering no phone for no shelter or anywhere else. I felt so disrespected! I didn’t catch her name but if she’s reading this “Quite”!

Celia Girard

2019-05

Staff works hard to make good matches, which makes those turned away unhappy. However, if you get a pet there, you'll be thrilled with the fit!

Maynard Dog Training

2019-05

Absolutely love the staff and volunteers here! Probably the best shelter in Rhode Island! Take a puppy home! They make the process easy and smoothe.

L Liotta

2023-05

Adopted a dog from this facility very well taken care of staff is excellent very kind and concerned about their animals highly recommend this place

Sherry Lastarza

2020-05

The blonde woman was rude. Coming with crazy excuses as to why I couldn't adopt a 12 year old dog. It's almost like they don't want you to adopt a pet.