A Forever-Home Rescue Foundation, Inc.

My best friend of 11 years passed away 6 weeks ago do to a gross error of not communicating with me about the condition of my dog. The morning he died, I sent a video showing his condition as he had developed kennel cough. Never heard back and Rango died in my arms in the late afternoon. I was devastated and heartbroken. I am ready now to adopt another dog and filled out an application with Forever Home Dog Rescue in Seattle Wa. The unbelievable amount of questions made me feel like a job application. The puppy was less than a year old. I own 13 acres of land, am active outdoors and love walks and hikes. Rango flourished because of this. My response from this agency disqualified me as unfit to adopt a puppy because in foster home, he was a "couch potato" was fearful and didn't prefer anything else. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Apparently, a happy and active lifestyle for a healthy happy dog wasn't a qualifying factor. I feel discriminated against because I cant offer a sedentary lifestyle that they think a 12 month old puppy prefers it. I'm so disappointed. Their responses were condescending and insulting given I had owned my chihuahua for 11 years, with full vet records. Given this very unfortunate experience, I've decided not to adopt from organizations with these kind of practices. And if you are a hopeful adopter with my qualifications, don't bother...or just say yes to all their questions and jump through the necessary hoops with the hope you get chosen.

DO NOT ADOPT FROM THIS COMPANY…

Save your time, energy, money and most of all, heart ache. Long story short, my mother has been fostering for this organization almost 20 years. After a few personal adoptions, over 80k in home remodels from puppies destroying the home, not their fault, and tens of thousands of personal income spent on hospital visits, toys and food, with no reimbursements, A Forever Home has declined our application on a dog we were fostering for them (for free).

Situation: my mother is elderly and gets joy from fostering puppies. She now lives with me and decided we can foster a litter for her enjoyment. After a week, the puppies still had diarrhea and blood in their stool. We contacted the owner of AFH and explained the situation. We live in Spotsylvania and the owner is in Chantilly. She demanded we drop what we were doing and drove a total of 4 hours to Chantilly to pick up medicine, not willing to meet halfway. We declined and said we would see a vet, from our personal income, near us, the vet said the dogs needed deworming treatment and be tested for other parasites. The owner said no and wanted to provide her prescribed medication, not a vet, and wanted us to come to Chantilly again.

Keep in mind, before all this happened, we put in an application and got approved for one of the puppies.

After much back and forth, the owner sent another foster to pick up the puppies. A few hours later, I received a message saying after the board reviewed our application, they denied us. Keep in mind, I work from home Full time, someone is always home and we have a 6k square foot house, with kids and over .25 acre fenced backyard. The puppies were well taken care of and acclimated to the situation.

The owner has a management complex and wants to control everything. If you do not obey her demands, you will be disregarded like trash. The owner over charges for adoptions, takes 2-3 weeks to finalize adoptions and will deny families on bias opinions and not provide reasons. Also, I do not believe the dogs are vetted as in having all their shots and being in a good clean bill of health prior to adopting.

Again, after pouring large amounts of personal funds into fostering, providing safe environments for puppies and offering up our home for a good cause, AFH moved puppies for a good home out of spite and principle due to unreasonable demands not being met and than denying our application on a puppy my kids and family became attached too.

Use extreme caution, don’t get attached and prepare for denial until the animal is signed, sealed and delivered to you home. AFH uses animals to line the owners pocket with cash and are extremely selective for adopters to ensure the animal is not returned to retain profits. It’s a business transaction, not an actual attempt to place an animal in a loving home.

A Forever Home is an amazing, caring, hard working, for the sake of abused neglected and unwanted dogs and puppies organization. I have fostered dogs with them.

This rescue is amazing and the staff is wonderful and our volunteers are extraordinary people. If u are looking for ur best friend come get one of our dogs to be ur forever friend. They always have their adoptions at webers in chantilly u won't regret

I highly recommend A Forever Home rescue. The team is very dedicated to ensuring their foster dogs get the best healthcare and treatment as well as temporary/permanent placement. I have never seen a group of people work as hard as they do for these animals.

We adopted a dog from AFH last fall. The application was long and detailed, but I think that's because AFH wants to be sure people know what they are committing to when they take dogs into their families. Once our application was done, the rest of the process was easy.

I know someone whose application was rejected. The reason did not make sense to him but it was for his protection from later heartbreak if he had to move to a new apartment that would not let renters own German Shepherds, as well as for the dog's protection from being returned and having to adjust to a third family.

Our AFH dog has been delightful.

I am an adopter and a long-time volunteer. AFH cares about their dogs and provides whatever level of care is needed. I have adopted several dogs from them as well.

Do not adopt from this organization. They do not care about the dogs, just what they can exploit from you financially. I adopted a dog with parasites and seizures. And they made me sign a contract to return the dog to them if I can’t take care of it anymore but stopped responding once I told them I can’t take care of the dog need to rehome the dog. They were waiting to hit the 6 month mark which was 2 weeks away so that the neutering cost would fall on me and they wouldn’t have to get it done. Disregarding a dog who was having multiple seizures a day and needed advanced medical help asap. They wouldn’t answer so that I can figure out a way to get the dog help in a another way

And with the parasitic infection, they told me the dog was perfectly healthy and all up to date on shots and it wasn’t for either. But they verbally told me and I believed them without asked for medical documents and then they made me sign a contract saying “I’ve been given a healthy dog” which I wasn’t I just didn’t know and blindly trusted them.

When they did take the dog back, they listed him back on the site for adoption the next day. …

This org︅ is most likely undercover puppy mill and past reviews and adopters have had dogs with seizures as well and very similar situations where they take the dog back and collection multiple adoption fees for the same dog.

We had a very poor experience with this agency, A Forever Home Rescue in Chantilly, I am afraid. They are not responsive and are not transparent about their procedures.
Please look elsewhere, there are so many wonderful rescues out there.

Please avoid using this agency if you can. I have volunteered for them for years and would not recommend them.
Their procedures are long-winded and many are arbitrary. They are biased towards certain owners and discriminate against others (such as a woman who had depression).
They often decide you are not "right" and decline your applications but will never provide any feedback as to why you were refused. Very unprofessional.
I would be happy to explain more verbally.
All the best to all future adopters!

I have the distinct advantage of knowing AFH as both an adopter and as a volunteer.

As an adopter: I've adopted four times from AFH in 10+ years, both adult dogs and puppies. My experiences were extremely positive, and it encouraged me to begin to volunteer with this fantastic organization.

As a volunteer: I've dived right in with both interviewing potential adopters and fostering adult dogs and litters. Oh, so many litters! There's no feeling like saving puppies from death row and finding them a forever family that will love and care for them the same way I do in their first few weeks of life. Not every pup was in the best health-- and it amazed me how AFH spared no expense for whatever care they needed to get them back to normal before they could be adopted out. This is a rescue that cares for their dogs. This is a rescue that puts the dogs first. This is a rescue that I'm very proud to be a part of.

Each time I have spoken to someone in this “caring organization” I was given more and more demands to be met and explanations needed. The extreme condescend in each email has driven me from adopt to purchase.
Gatekeepering is disgusting.

I adopted a puppy in Feb 2020. I signed a contract agreeing to return her to AFH if ever needed. She is now 8 months old and has become very aggressive. She has bit my son multiple times. I have contacted them multiple times to surrender her back to them with basically no response (other than if you give her to anyone else, let me remind you that you are subject to a $500 fee). They did place her back on their adoption available pets list claiming she is "great with children and not nippy at all." I'm trying to do the right thing here, but still no response. I do not recommend adopting from this rescue, they are only worried about getting their high adoption fee. They are clearly not concerned about safety issues.
*UPDATE 7/23/2020*
After this review was posted, AFH took her off of their available pets list.
All requested documents were sent to AFH within 12 hours and I still received no response from them for 1 week. After another bite occurred, I sent them another message telling them that if I receive no response by the weekend that I would be dropping her off at Loudoun County Animal Shelter. They responded at 11pm on Friday; basically stated that they were working on it (first I even heard that anything was being done). I kept my appointment at the Shelter and they were AMAZING. They contacted AFH per policy to return her to them. AFH responded PROMPTLY to them, simply saying "She's a biter, we don't want her." AFH also then sent me an email telling me that they were aware she was at the shelter and that "my behavior is not acceptable."

I have been volunteering with AFH since 2003 and have adopted several dogs. The adoption process is clear and fair. It is important to note that the negative reviews are either from disgruntled adopters who have been turned down (for good reasons) or volunteers who didn't follow our policies and procedures and think they know more than we do. Senior volunteers and the board of directors have 15-25 years of experience in rescue. Too many volunteers sign up, have their own agenda, and get angry when we won't change policies and procedures to match what they think rescue is. . Like any responsible company, AFH has procedures in place that everyone must follow, and if volunteers choose not to follow them, they have the right to go elsewhere but they don't have the right to tarnish our reputation because they are angry. It is childish and unfair. As far as the adopters who have been turned down - there is a reason for every one of them (and there are not many of them). We have thousands of wonderful adopters - repeat adopters - who can attest to our dedication and professionalism. Don't put your faith in someone who was turned down to adopt - there is a reason why they were turned down.

A forever home is such an amazing and beneficial organization! They are so dedicated to finding animals their future owners and providing safe and nurturing environment for them! I have volunteered with them a few times and the adoption events are so welcoming. The people at AFH are always willing to help anyone interested in adopting, or simply learning more about the organization.

I have adopted two dogs (years apart) through A Forever Home. The organization was fantastic from start to finish. In both cases, the dogs were listed on the website with accurate pictures/descriptions; the fosters facilitated my visits to their homes to see the dogs, and they answered my questions. The adoption process ran smoothly and professionally. The organization clearly cares about the dogs’ wellbeing and wants to place them in good and permanent homes. I received good background and medical information for both dogs. And most importantly, I got GREAT dogs. Highly recommend AFH. I have adopted dogs through other rescues and AFH ranks high.

I have been disappointed with the lack of transparency and client-focus with A Forever Home, Chantilly.
The criteria for adopting a dog is not clear and is based on the personal opinion of a few old-school women who believe they know everything about dog and the universe.

My advice would be - be very careful using this group, do not get your heart set on a dog as they turn down so many families for ad hoc reasons (meanwhile hundreds of dogs are euthanized every day) .
You never know if you will be "selected" as a good enough adopter. And don't let you children fall in love with a dog only to be disappointed later. Good luck!

I am not one to usually leave reviews but this organization is extremely unprofessional. The lack of communication after you have been through half of the adoption process is incredible. My daughter and I did the interview signed the application and have been waiting for a home visit. We were told AFH doesnt adopt certain breeds to renters which is fine and understandable- (Bethany) was amazing helping me find a few other dogs that I could adopt. I found one we loved and sent 6 messages inquiring about the dog just to be told that someone will get back to me. I never heard from the dogs foster or AFH.

I looked at Homeward Trails- found a puppy Thursday, filled out my application, got a call from the organization and foster, met by puppy Saturday and brought him home. I feel like adopting a dog should be an easy and fun process all the way around and AFH didnt make that experience happen.

I hope the dogs under their care find loving homes, because from the looks of it there are many people (including myself) that were ready and willing to be those homes. I am not bashing the organization just a little disappointed and hurt that no one could take the time to aide in this process.

This company will not help other rescues in need. They will only go out of their way to do what is best for them. If you don't believe me, ask them what organizations they have helped in the past that needed assistance. There answer: "We are a small foundation that works off supplies, monetary and other donations from the general public." Yet, if you look at their history they will go out of their way to puppy mills to take dogs in need, but have even denied helping other organizations who have reached out to them. There are plenty of other great rescues in this area. Go support them instead. This company is tragically run.

Recently, my husband and I decided that it is time for our family to get a dog, so we began looking for a puppy that could grow old with our children. I spent weeks searching rescues and researching breeds. I found 6 puppies at A Forever Home that I was interested in, and all 6 were going to be at an adoption event on Sunday 8/6. I took my 7-year-old twins to the event and told them that we’d know if we found a puppy we couldn’t live without. Well, we fell in love with a puppy named Faye, filled out an adoption application and had our on-the-spot interview. I was told that the next step was a home visit which was a formality to ensure that we’re not “running a puppy mill or having dog fights in the backyard.” Faye was given a collar with our name on it. My children were told that we could rename Faye and that they should start thinking of what her new name would be. Confident that the home visit would go well, we were told that we’d attend a briefing on 8/13 where we’d sign the contract, pay the adoption fee, and take Faye home.

Filled with excitement, we were at the adoption event for 2 hours after we knew that Faye was “our puppy.” We held her and took pictures with her. Although my husband had taken an early cross-country flight that morning, he came to meet Faye so he could share our excitement during the week while we waited for her. When Faye was loaded into a car at the end of the event, we were taken to her so that we could say bye. She whimpered when we left. We spent the rest of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday getting ready for Faye and our home visit. We chose a new name for her. By Wednesday evening 8/9, we had not yet been contacted about our home visit. I sent an email to A Forever Home to let them know and provided my contact info. No response. On Friday morning 8/10, I noticed that someone was uploading photos to the Facebook page, so I sent a message saying that I hadn’t heard anything. That person (Maribel) gave me her email so I could message my info to her directly and said she’d look into it. Two hours later, I received a generic email from the Board of Directors denying my adoption application. I replied to that email and sent another to Maribel requesting clarification for what I could only see as a mistake. My husband left a message on the rescue’s voicemail as well. No response. Friday evening, I noticed someone on Facebook again so I messaged, concerned that I hadn’t received any responses. I was told to direct all inquiries to the info@ address, so I sent another email at 6:30pm. No response. I left a pleading message on the rescue’s voicemail Saturday afternoon, hoping that somehow we might still be able to get Faye on Sunday 8/13. I sent one final email on Tuesday 8/15. Again…no response.

It’s now Wednesday 8/16, and we are extremely hurt. Even more so, we are confused. We are confused by the denial with no explanation. We are confused by the denial with no home visit and no further communication. We are confused as to why we (especially my children) were given so much hope and were allowed to bond with a puppy and told to name her, only to be crushed.

I had initially been so impressed with A Forever Home. The website and Facebook page are great—filled with photos and information. The adoption event was organized and well run. But somewhere after the event, the level of professionalism previously exhibited was lost. We are left with a crate, food and toys for a puppy that we didn’t bring home. We are left with unanswered questions while at the same time trying to find answers to give our children. While I typically would not write a negative review, our experience has been nothing short of heartbreaking. I can only hope to spare another family the same experience.

This rescue is HORRIBLE at communicating if you're trying to return a pet adopted from them, which is stipulated as a requirement in the contract you sign. My family and I adopted a lovely dog almost a month ago, but came to the difficult decision over two weeks ago that it was not meant to be and we should return him.

It has now been 16 days since my initial email, requesting initiation of the return process and during this entire time, I have only received one email in response - this came 9 days after my initial email. In 16 days I have sent approximately 10 emails, left 4 voicemails, pinged their FB page via messenger, and left a review on their FB page and Google. A friend of mine successfully made contact with them via FB on my behalf given my inability to do so, but while they would tell her a limited amount of info about MY process (just that they started the process), they continue to ignore messages from me. So, they'll talk to other people about my process, but not me. I am being deliberately and purposefully ignored, I can only assume is because I'm trying to return a dog.

It is of course not the desired outcome when running a rescue, that an animal comes back. However, not all adoptions are perfect matches and are in the best interest of both parties (family and dog) in the end. AFH is disrespecting me and my family by deliberately prolonging this process and making it hard on us, as well as the dog we adopted.

I've reached the point where I am at a loss for words. So, if you're looking for a rescue that REALLY cares for the dogs, this one is not the one. If they really cared, they'd do all they can in the best interest of the dogs - even those being returned.

I would give this company a ZERO if it was allowed! We should have looked at the reviews because they are HORRIBLE! We told them we were from an apartment and that we wanted the Shepard mix and our lease only says no GERMAN shepards. They said doesnt matter THEY wont let us have him and its THEIR right to refuse us. I asked tp see where that was written and was told it was a "verbal" policy. ALL because they said there was a CHANCE the apartment complex could say no and refused to call to ask if the complex would allow it.

We had a horrible experience with them.
They misrepresented the breed of the dog we got, which is not a big deal until we realized that they bring physically abused dogs from Puerto-Rico hence with a slue of difficult behavior problems and aggression. When you have a problem, they offer no help and makes you feel that you are the problem, even with an aggressive dog that we totally believe that he was medicated with sedatives when we saw him.
The safety of the families including children is not on their radar at all.
It's a business, if they truly cared about the animals they would have been available to help the families or take the animal back if it is not the right fit and match it with someone more equipped to handle an abused aggressive dog with no small children in the house.
Research and read the reviews carefully, for us it was too late.

Do your homework before selecting this organization. It would be nice to finally get through and talk with the person in charge. I find it interesting they they don't list any of that information on the website only to say a group of experienced rescuers. Certainly do not have any experience with the process of fixing errors of pets placed in the wrong home environment. Even if they pride themselves on making a good forever home match. They don't even take safety of children into consideration when every attempt has been made to consider the pet and the children by the family. Do your homework... even if you think nothing will go wrong in the process. It's these situations that really brings to light the true nature and intent of an organization. This has a process that needs to be fixed and not at the expense of children or families that have gone beyond trying to make it work...not when harm has been done. It's a difficult decision to have to make and a strong organization would be supportive and there to help make it easier for the families and the pets....not prolong and be difficult.

It is my opinion that this so call non profit is helping only themself to realize their dream to " boss" somebody. The leaders are people who probably feel less important that they wish to be so they show they "authority " to potential adopters in full splendor. They even want to comand potential adopters what they may and may not to do in their own home. Please believe me after many years working and now volunteering at vet clinics and shelters I now how important it is to explain people what to do and not to do with and for adopted animals. I support free training for adopters and their dog , brochures, hot lines, mentors, children and pet classes and all possible ways how to teach public to take good care of adopted animals. But I do not support arogancy, invasion of privacy. And extreme like house check. There is to many animals waiting for adoption and sadly too many animals to be put down every months, every year. So I would like to beg people who can donate things, food money to choose a non kill shelter that really work hard, really strive to place animals to good home without playing around like this non profit does.

I have lived in Fairfax County Community of VA for 20 years. A Forever-Home Rescue Foundation is a well-respected rescue group. I found out about them when I first moved there, after losing my beloved dog, and really want to help them while I dealt with the loss of my pet. I donated money, items of need and always stopped by their adoption events to see the animals and wish them encouragement. When I was ready to adopt again, I went to their website immediately and found the love of my life. I adopted Chloe 10 years ago, and I still have her. Maribel, one of the leaders, was very thoughtful, helped me answer so many questions, did a thorough tour of our home, and really made sure we were personally ready to take on this responsibility. I never felt pressured by the group. I also want to acknowledge them for their dedication to these animals once they leave AFH. If an owner changes his mind or if the animal turns up at a shelter, AFH is notified and they will pick up the dog. That's true dedication. Also, each of the animals before it is adopted, it spayed/neutered and up-to-date on all vaccinations. They also take the time to train the animals before they are adopted out. That's true dedication. I always recommend AFH to people looking for animals and will always support them.

I was once a volunteer with this organization. I was dropped as a volunteer because I have an unaltered pet and was accused of running a breeding operation. This is not a foster from their organization and he is not a rescue pet either it is my very own personal pet a part of my family. I understand that they can dictate what happens to the animals that they bring in as rescues but to tell volunteers what they can do with their own personal pets I think is just wrong. If I would have known that was a "rule" I would have saved myself the heartache. So to this organization I want to say thank you for your judgement. For a company that claims to do so much good you are some of the most judgemental people. I really would give no stars if I could. But here is your one star. I wish I could get my year back of volunteer service back and invest it in a organization that would appreciate it but I can't do that either. Lesson learned.

We had an incredible experience adopting our dog from A Forever Home. They we professional, well organized and took great care of the animals in foster homes. Our dog, Bentley became ill with parvovirus between the time we picked him out and were allowed to take him home. They did everything possible to get him the medical care he needed and save his life. Everyone we interacted with was just wonderful. They even went out of their way to help my parents adopt Bentley's sister. They love each other so much and are able to play together all the time. Two years later and there isn't a day that goes by that we aren't thankful for our amazing fur baby.

I am a volunteer foster of A Forever-Home Rescue. I currently have three (3) dogs that I am fostering. I love this organization because I know they truly care about animals. All dogs are given health checks and are either spay or neutered and if there is any health issues they take care of it. Food and collars and leases are also providing so that these animals can thrive in their new environment and therefore will make wonderful family additional. Don't Shop! Adopt!

I first became aware of AFH in 2009 when my daughter was looking for a 60-70 pound female black lab mix. Despite the fact that we ended up with a 120 pound male Great Pyrenees mix, and later, his sister, I was impressed with the dedication of the volunteers and organizers with whom we interacted during the process. Six years later we are still volunteering with the group. Our activities have included helping to whelp a litter of Great Pyr pups, fostering both puppies and large breed adults and transporting dogs and puppies to their foster families, typically from much more rural areas of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. Driving through the New River Valley in late spring and fall provides some amazing vistas. Winter, not so much.

In any event, I encourage anyone looking for a companion animal to consider rescue groups like AFH. When the animals are in foster care, you have a much better assessment of the animal's personality and idiosyncrasies which, in turn, tends to support a better fit with the needs and lifestyle of the adopter(s) for a happy and safe forever home.

And if you are on the fence about an animal, fostering can be a great way to evaluate your readiness for a companion animal without a substantial commitment. And should that temporary fostering turn into something more permanent (aka, a foster failure), you will just be joining a large and happy club.

I learned about AFH in 2008 when my wife and I adopted Midge. Our little furry girl. We had just lost our beloved dog Nutmeg and we're looking for another dog to love. We met Jen, a volunteer who was picking up a litter of puppies to foster. We told Jen our story and she was wonderful enough to bring over 4 puppies to our home (Midge and 3 of her siblings). Midge stole our hearts. She climbed into the toy basket of Nutmeg's toys and sat down. Jen did our home check on the spot. The following week, Midge was home. We'll needless to say, I been volunteering with them ever since. AFH is a non profit rescue that finds "Forever Homes" for dogs and puppies, and even some cats. AFH is one of the few rescues that will take in puppies. If you are looking for a puppy, AFH is the place to go. AFH is 100% dedicated to ensuring that our adopted dogs and puppies go to loving and safe homes. You will never find more dedicated, friendly, and helpful volunteers than those of AFH. Our dogs and puppies are in foster homes (NEVER in cages.) They stay with our fosters until they find their "Forever Home". AFH will do whatever it takes to save the life of a dog or puppy, no matter the cost.

John C.
Volunteer

I started fostering for Aforeverhome.org about 2 years ago and this was first time so I was very nervous but they were vert reassuring and gave me several handouts to read and emergency phone numbers. They did a home check and only gave me dogs I felt comfortable fostering. They made sure the pups were dewormied and got their shots in a timely fashion. I have had several litters of pups that were rescued with anything from mange to parvo and they made sure all the pups received the care they needed. All my litters have found their forever home and we still keep in contact with some on facebook. They are good about making sure that the pups and the new home iare a good fit so there are no return pups. They also rescue several dogs that others would never take. Best volunteer experience ever! I now do dog sitting and transport to help other dogs from being put down thanks to them.

I started volunteering for AFH after becoming disenchanted with other rescues. Too much politics, too many judgmental people not enough emphasis on rescuing animals. They were such a pleasant surprise! I have been in rescue for over 30 years so I have seen it all. AFH is without a doubt the most caring and well organized rescue I have seen in many years. The volunteers are unbelievable in their willingness to come forward every time, regardless of how many dogs we are trying to save! AFH is run by people that are always available to you, no matter what the problem, there they are ready to help, no matter how much they have on their plate. If you tell them you know of a dog that needs rescue or a new home they are there and ready to help. I cannot say enough about this wonderful rescue, I for one sleep better at night knowing they are there.

Thank you,

Brenda Schmidlen

I have been fostering for A Forever home for 3 years now and I can't say enough how great this rescue is. They never let a dog in need go and work so hard to make sure every dog finds its new forever home. Fostering has been such an excellent experience and I have felt so rewarded volunteering and helping these pups find their amazing new forever homes.

A Forever Home has helped me adopt 2 wonderful puppies who are now members of our family. I love that they help you find the right dog for your home and are not just pushing dogs out the door. I plan to get any future dogs from them, and am hoping to help foster for this great group of people!

We adopted our beloved toy poodle in March 2008. This was our first experience with a rescue adoption. We had direct access (email) to the foster to ask questions. The adoption process was straightforward and we were able to take home our poodle shortly after she was spayed. She had all her shots and received the medication she was taking. She was a special member of our family for 6 wonderful years. Sadly, she passed away this past September. We are forever grateful to AFH for saving her life so she could be a part of ours. We miss her dearly.

Last February, we decided to become fosters for AFH. This has been a rewarding experience. We have been impressed by the number of dogs the organization has been able to save and the tireless dedication of the founders to ensure their mission. An amazing amount of coordination and selflessness occurs in order to save animals and bring them into the adopters loving hearts. The adoption process is straightforward and can take as little as 1 week from adoption approval.

I worked with AFH to adopt our beloved dog in Sept. 2011. The staff was responsive, respectful and informative about the process, every step of the way. The foster mom continued to contact me for updates and pictures well after we had picked up our pup, showing their true concern and commitment to ensuring their dogs are placed in loving homes.

I have worked/contacted other rescue organization that I can not speak highly about and actually had me thinking about contacting breeders instead of a rescue organization. AFH changed my perspective on rescue organizations and made me realize a few bad apples doesn't spoil the bunch! AFH is a wonderful organization, working hard to place pets with their forever homes.

We are currently exploring adopting a second dog from AFH because the experience we had was so wonderful.

My family applied to adopt a pair of bonded shorkies, completed the paperwork, and participated in the interview. The interviewer enthusiastically told us everything looked good and that we'd next go through a home inspection, and then we'd adopt the dog the following weekend. Our 9 and 11 year old kids were so excited they couldn't sleep, and we took them to buy dog toys, dog treats, etc. in preparation for our new family members.

Then, completely out of the blue, we received an email that we were not qualified to adopt dogs from A Forever Home. The email was a generic, form letter, with no information explaining the decision. We responded to the rejection email asking for any possible explanation, or better yet, a chance to talk through whatever concerns had been raised. But the only response we got was that our emails were being 'sent to the board for a response', and the board (whoever they are) have refused to respond in any way.

Over the next week we called everyone we had spoken with -- interviewer, foster mom of the dogs, etc -- but they were all shocked and had no idea why we were rejected. We even went to an adoption event in hopes of speaking with someone, anyone, who could help us understand what had happened. However, the adoption event volunteers explained that no one from the leadership of the organization ever attends the adoption events, and the volunteers didn't know any names of the people who make the adoption decisions. They said that the organization is 'compartmentalized', though they had no idea why. The only path forward they could offer was to ... wait for it ... send an email to a "info@aforeverhome" mailbox.

We've sent numerous emails, absolutely begging for information, and the board refuses to respond. Our kids cried for days, and at this point we can only assume that the bureaucrats behind the scenes at this dump don't give a flip. Scanning through the reviews on this site, I found a half dozen other cases just like ours -- random rejections, with consistent refusal to give any explanation, even when the interviewers from their own organization agreed that there was no issue with their applications.

Our experience at 'A Forever Home' brought nothing but dismay. There are a lot of other dog rescue organizations in the Northern VA area. To avoid a broken heart and a huge amount of frustration, donate to and/or apply for dogs at one of the others. We certainly will.

Forever Rescue is a criminal non profit involved in theft of dogs. They stole my dog and refused to return him to me after being appraised by the microchip company that the dog belonged to me. They engaged in defamation by fabricating false allegations of neglect and abuse to justify the kidnapping. And they conspired with Milo Rescue to keep this dog away from the lawful owner despite being warned they will be sued.

The matter is currently being investigated by law enforcement and a large San Francisco law firm. The dog, named Buddy, was stolen from a disabled veteran, injured in the middle east and unable to walk without assistance. Forever Thieves ignored the sales information from the microchip company and allowed the dog to be transferred to the home of a friend from sister non-profit, Milo, in violation of State law.

False claims of abuse and neglect were contrived in an attempt to circumvent compliance with State laws. The disabled veteran informed Forever Thieves that his pet has a medical condition which temporarily causes him to lose his bearings and become disoriented.

This condition was caused by abusive treatment and neglect at sister Rescue ("Thieves at Milo"); where Buddy was kept in a small metal cage for about 3 months. The cage was so small he could not stand up all the way (approximately 2 feet high and 3' X3' wide. The dog is not being kept at the Rescue as required by State laws to ascertain true ownership and alert authorities to investigate any abusive and neglectful conduct. Instead, it was taken to the home of the Director thief of the Milo Rescue, who wants the dog as her own.

Buddy was labeled as "uncontrollable" at Milo, and "Do not take off-leash", because you will never see him again." Milo was preparing to send Buddy to a sanctuary for un-adoptable dogs, when the Veteran saw something in him and took him home.

After 2 and-a-half months of intensive training and love, Buddy successfully transitioned from a wild animal to a loveable family pet -- prompting the theft. Prior to the training Buddy was there, at Milo, for the taking. Anyone, including the thieves, could have taken him for free, without paying anything. Nobody would take him, however, because of the amount of work and attention Buddy required. The thieves were aware of Buddy's disorder and problems ("uncontrollable"), but later used that as the pretext for circumventing State law and stealing him. He is at the Director's house, not at Milo. He is an exceptional animal, beautiful, intelligent, fiercely loyal and a very loving pet who will wrap his arms around you and kiss you. He is good with children, seniors, other pets, including cats and is a super athlete (Australian Cattle Dog -- Blue Heeler, and Border Collie). He needs a lot of attention but the rewards are great.

Forever Thieves should loose their non-profit status, and be forever barred from trading animals. Do not deal with them, you may loose your pet and your sweat and tears, and money.

Definitely beware of this horrible organization. You can be the most qualified person or family yet the pinheads on their review board can vote you down for no reason at all. My uncle, who was in law enforcement for over 20 years, worked with therapy dogs & dogs for people with disabilities, and also owned a dog the past 15+ years, recently applied for a dog at Forever-home. At the interview my uncle and the dog really hit it off, and he was told there were no other applicants at the time for the pooch. At the conclusion of the interview he was told he should get a call as early as that night and that the next step would be the procedure for picking up and payment. So this was a slam dunk right? Nope! 3 days later he gets an email from the tyrants on the review board , who for reasons UNKNOWN, denied my uncle the dog. In their denial email they stated that they had concerns and that they concluded that my uncles status lies outside of their guidelines for adoption. Well, what concerns?? What status??Their wasn't anything in the contract or discussed in the interview that caused any concerns. The gutless board has refused to answer numerous emails and phone messages. Funny that my uncle has passed reviews by 2 other rescues and is on a waiting list for the breed he requested. Guess its just our bad luck that Forever-home had the breed he wanted. If any other rescue would have been able to get this dog, she would now be in a loving forever home being spoiled with treats and toys. However she is still in the hands of of an organization that in my opinion is shameful & deplorable... and apparently, from reading other reviews, this type of incident has happened numerous times with Forever- home.
One more thing - I have noticed that on some of the reviews on this site that forever-home has written a reply....well golly gee, apparently a bad review gets you people to respond. If you have time to write a sugar coated response here, then why don't you have time to CALL people and tell them why they were denied and if possible work out the issue ??? Probably because, as one other person wrote, " You are discriminating, rude and heartless.

This is a great organization with seamless processes and leadership. And they are fast given the complication of the process they follow for each and every dog. We have been to many rescues but unlike many other rescues this organization is very respectful to its clients. Everyone cares for their animals and they stand behind their animals. They have great resources in case at any point in time after adopting the dog has some behavioral issues. We got great advise on choosing our vet and our trainer.. Even some secret tips on puppy chewing ( I am going to disclose that here-- it's vicks veporub on your favorite coffee table corner that you absolutely do not want your puppy to chew:)). We have not found our fur baby yet, but hopefully within early next year we will. We will be looking forward to it. Like us you believe that there is a dog for every willing family. Kids under 10 years, first time dog owners, full time workers or all of the above are not an automatic disqualification if you understand the challenge and willing to work around them. And that makes sense. There are 3-4 million dogs euthanized every year in US. If someone says you can't be the dream parent of even one of them, they are incorrect. You just need to find the right one. Thank you for being so awesome organization, thank you for treating us as your friends. Your organization proves that being an animal lover does not mean you need to be a human hater (I felt like that in many other rescues).

First off, the adoption process is very long and tedious, and it feels like a test. When I emailed the organization regarding my interest in a dog I was told to fill out an application online and submit it by email. I did so then was told there might be an issue with my location (AFH states they serve the Washington Metropolitan area, which my county is located within), because I lived in southern Maryland. Once I was approved for a home check, the following Sunday I went to the adoption event (had to fill out another application) to meet the dog and was interviewed by a representative, with no issues; all signs pointing to our approval. Then Tuesday night got an email saying the board of directors had deemed my "status" outside of their adoption guidelines. I responded requesting an explanation, got an email saying my message would be forwarded to the b.o.d, no response. Called their number, it's a voice mail box. Emailed the corporate email saying I hoped I could resolve what ever confusion that resulted in our rejection, no response.
I'm an avid dog lover with two very happy and spoiled dogs already, my application met all discussed guidelines. From my perspective AFH had a problem with coming all the way to Charles County, MD (where I live, which is within the Washington Metropolitan area [which is where they state they serve]) and denied me a furry companion because of it.

At first I thought A Forever Home was a stand up organization. I adopted a puppy I named Toby from them on October 12, 2014 after having an application reviewed, my references check, and my home inspected. I had never seen the puppy standing since he had not received all of his vaccines. When I got him home and put him down I realized he was extremely malnourished and within three days that he was ill and not just adjusting to new food. I took him to the vet by day 4 and he was dewormed and on day 5 received medications for a severe ear infection that he must have had for a very long time and an intestinal infection. By day 5 he started to display neurological problems. I took him back to the vet and she referred me to a neurologist which I took Toby to the following day. He prescribed some additional antibiotics because it appeared the ear infection had ruptured his ear drum and spread to his inner ear. I contacted A Forever Home to express my concern over the lack of care Toby received in his foster home. It appeared by the paperwork that he may have been there between 4 to 6 weeks and had been to a vet - but because of his condition - we questioned if he had actually received the medications listed on the form. I asked several questions the vet requested I ask - such as did he have any reactions to the medications that may have caused them to stop giving it to him, did he have any reactions to his vaccines. He had a brother adopted out through A Forever Home, were they aware of any neurological problems his brother was having. I said that any information they provide could only help us save Toby's life. They NEVER acknowledged or responded to my e-mail. Toby may not have been in their care as long as I thought he had but since they didn't bother to respond to me - I can only assume that he was.

Unfortunately, Toby continued to decline and the vet believes the infection had spread to Toby's brain and changed his medications to stronger antibiotics and steriods which are not normally prescribed to puppies but it was our desperate attempt to save him. Despite all of my vet's efforts - he lost his ability to stand and walk, lost his vision, and we believe was losing his hearing. Since he was not responding to even the super strong medications and he was continuing to deteriorate and was suffering greatly, he was euthanized on October 29, 2014. Despite the fact that he was dying the whole time I had him - he still managed to gain 9 pounds in 14 days.

I am aware that any time you adopt a rescue there are health risks and I am willing to take them. But in my opinion, Toby was neglected while in the foster home of A Forever Home and that neglect led to his suffering and death. The fact that the organization never responded to my e-mail and made no attempt to answer any of our questions to help Toby leads me to believe that they don't care about the animals after they are adopted out. I was not trying to give him back or get a refund - I fell in love with the puppy and I was going to keep him and take care of him. I spent well over $1,000 in medical bills in the two weeks I had him. All I wanted from A Forever Home was information to help Toby and to alert them to a possible problem with one of their foster homes.

Shame on A Forever Home. If you do adopt from them, take your pet to the vet the very next day and don't trust the paperwork they give you.

Not such a good experience with A Forever Home.
The puppy we were looking at was listed as a Norwegian Elk Hound/Husky mix. Things were going well, and the Foster Mom actually brought him to our house for him to meet the kids after we had seem him at an event at a local pet supply store.
The following weekend, when we went to pick up the puppy, the Foster Mom was 2 hours late, causing our kids to miss a weekend event.
When we did get him home, we noticed that his stools were not healthy looking, so when he went to the vet, they discovered he had worms.
Now, all of this we could live with. A pain, no doubt, but nothing that won't fade over time. However, at a later trip to the vet, they asked "You say he's Norwegian Elk Hound and Husky?" Our reply was "That's what they told us". After looking him over, the vet said, "No, I think you have a Belgian Malinois here." We had never even hear of the breed, but he has every marking and the disposition of a Mal, except he's a bit shorter than normal. If you don't know anything about Mals, these are aggressive, military and police working dogs, usually used as attack dogs. I have 4 young kids. This is not good at all!!!
So beware of what these people tell you about the breed of the dog you are considering, as well as the health of the dog. They could just be making stuff up in hopes to pawn off another dog that they are not willing to give back to a kill-shelter.

Our daughter in law has been a rescue for over 100 dogs. We live just down the street and get to see the dogs that she fosters, 6 years ago she got a mom and her 2 puppies (dachshund). I remberance the day we saw our cutie, it was a very nice group,to work with. The dogs that they save is wonderful. This the way to bring a dog into your family and home. They all work very hard. 5 stars to A Forever Home Foundation Visit there adoption day and you will be happy you did

I am a foster with AFH and I have been so impressed by how much care and compassion goes into every single dog. The organization takes care of every medical need these little ones have no matter how much it may cost. And they are committed to not only find a home for each one but to find a safe and happy home for them where they can live as a loved part of the family. They are all so precious that I always want to adopt every foster I receive but when I see the smiles on the adopters faces when they pick up their new pet, I'm always happy I get to give them that gift of a new friend!!

My family adopted our dog from A Forever-Home Rescue. It was love at first sight when we saw Ginny but there was four families ahead of us filling out forms. We were so glad that they did such a thorough screening of applicants because they ended up picking us! After we brought her home, I was in touch with her Diane, the woman who fostered her and sent her pictures. She was so dedicated to the dogs she fostered and it was such an easy transition. She even gave us the bedding she slept on in her home so it would feel familiar to her.

We would love to eventually adopt another dog. Thank you to A Forever-Home Rescue.

I have worked with AFH for more than 10 years, fostering both cats and dogs. My choice is to foster older animals who probably don't have much of a chance to get adopted, but still need lots of love and affection. AFH has always worked with me on this...more often than not I have the foster right up to their walk over the rainbow bridge. It can be heartbreaking, but it is also very rewarding knowing that I was able to give love an affection to an animal in their later years when the alternatives were probably horrible. AFH has always accepted responsibility for the animals vet care right to the very end...and, more recently, even getting ashes for them. They truly are there for the good (and happiness) of their rescues (and their volunteers).

Debbie Bourn
Chantilly, VA

Starting from a necessary school project for my daughter to gain volunteer hours came a life changing experience and MUCH more. I found a part of this world that I did not know existed. Joining the AFH family I got to experience first hand how much cruelty goes on and just what a fantastic organization this really is.Every single person involved is a dedicated volunteer and strives for the one goal- to give each animal its FOREVER HOME - whatever the cost. Not only financial but total - medical and emotional too. Each and every cherished rescue receives love and dedication from the minute they arrive until the moment they pass to their new family and even beyond -with many wonderful relationships forged between foster and adopter and we continue to see them flourish. Many adopters return for another buddy and many recommend to friends, family and colleagues and some even open their hearts and homes and join us in the fight. This group is an exceptional band of friends that gave me personally a chance to blossom in myself and bring forth skills I never knew I had. I am very proud to have the opportunity to continue to volunteer for them and would welcome anyone that would like to assist in any way at all. Please consider adopting or volunteering with them - I promise you that you will not regret it.

We looked at many organizations for the right puppy to join our family. We found the process to be overwhelming until coming across A Forever Home! There a foster walked us through the process, even though we weren't even adopting one of the pets she fostered! We have now had our little guy almost six month the and can't imagine life without him! I live the organization so much that I now volunteer for it!!!

A Forever Home Rescue truly puts animals in need as a top priority. We owe our dog, Savannah's life to AFH and will be forever grateful. Thank you to all the hard work and dedication of the volunteers of AFH. Highly recommend AFH if you want to volunteer to help animals or adopt a rescue dog!

The woman who edits the newsletter is wonderful! She travels the entire USA to save an animal!

My last dog we got through AFH. He was the best thing to ever happen to me. I guess you can "luck" out with any rescue organization but AFH also made sure the dog was in good health -- really good health and gave me the full history. When he got sick and had to be put to sleep, I was devastated. After a time of recovery, I knew I needed another dog and started watching the AFH website. I saw a dog that was the size we wanted (small) and much younger than our last dog. It was definitely meant to be. I feel like AFH "matches" adoptees with adopters. This little guy is, again, healthy and so happy. The adoption was seamless and he must have been very happy with his foster because he adapted so well to us. It was as if he was always part of our family. I think it is a wonderful thing that AFH takes in last-minute emergency rescues as well as animals from rural areas where the animals have little chance for adoption. This is a great organization.

AFH is the gold standard of rescue. I have been volunteering with them for 11 years and can't imagine being anywhere else. They are ethical, well-run, financially responsible, and the hardest working group of people I have ever met. Our volunteers rock!

As a person who adopted a dog from AFH and also a foster of puppies for AFH, I highly recommend this organization. Getting dogs out of kill shelters, getting them healthy and getting proper placement of dogs in loving forever homes is their goal.

I can't believe that in exactly 1 month we will have had Parker for a year already! Parker is a Maltese rescued during the Valentine's Day Breeder rescue mission last year. When they found him this little dog had only known the cold confines of the metal cage he was living in. The amazing volunteers from A Forever Home pulled him from that darkness and the love and support he received from his amazing foster family showed him what it means to be a good dog in a loving home. No more cold or darkness.

This year has flown by and I can't remember what my life was like without Parker in it. It has been amazing to watch this little dog's personality and confidence emerge. He has brought so much joy to my family and I can't thank A Forever Home and Parker's amazing foster family enough.

It amazes me to think that this organization is funded solely through donations and run by an all volunteer staff. The lives they have saved and the joy they have brought not just to me but to so many families is inspiring.

I became a foster parent after hearing about AFH and them getting a large number of dogs from a hoarders home. Since becoming a volunteer I have been so impressed how the organization is operated, the dedication of the volunteers in leadership roles and the wonderful feeling one gets from helping these wonderful animals find a forever home. I only wish I could do more when the urgent requests come. God bless everyone at AFH.

As a volunteer for the AFH Rescue Foundation I have had a very positive experience. I've volunteered with several different animal rescue organizations over the years, and AFH stands tall as one of the most well-run animal rescue groups I know. The volunteers and staff are organized, responsible, and knowledgeable about the world of animal rescue. There is great support for each other within the organization and they do a fantastic job of matching dogs with fosters and new owners. I highly recommend AFH as an organization for anyone to volunteer with or donate time, money or materials to. They are a great rescue group to adopt from, as well, and they give continuing, follow-up support/help to people who adopt from their group.

When I decided to adopt a dog I visited many different rescue organizations and shelters. I was most impressed with AFH's organization. Their dogs were healthy, happy, and well cared for by fosters. Every dog is already in a home, so they have lots of information about the dog's personality before it is adopted. This means they can make sure the dog is a good fit for it's new home. They also have stringent standards and make sure the dog is going to a good home where it has a good chance to live out it's life in health and happiness. Unlike many other organizations, they're also willing to take care of any medical needs that a dog or puppy may have when it comes into AFH. Dogs are not put down because they're sick. They are taken care of and loved until they find their forever home. Since my first dog I've adopted two more dogs from AFH and would never go anywhere else.

AFH is a truly wonderful organization! My family adopted our dog from AFH and we were so happy with the organization and it's mission that I later decided to become a Foster. They take their mission very seriously and tirelessly run adoption events, campaigns and fund raisers to help dogs and cats find their forever homes.

AFH is a wonderful organization. They go above and beyond in rescuing animals. I've only volunteered a short time with AFH but I've been impressed by how much the organization is willing to do to rescue animals, make sure the pet is in good health and then find the best possible "forever home" for each animal. The commitment and dedication to rescued pets demonstrated by the volunteers in this organization is exemplary.

I adopted 2 dogs from AFH. I am now a volunteer. Since being a volunteer, I've gained a tremendous amount of respect for the organization, they genuinely believe in their cause, and wil go out of their way to save lives.

I adopted 2 dogs from this rescue organization. I love the dogs, they are so great!. AFH does a great job researching potential adopters to ensure they are right for the dogs. I'm going to start volunteering with them soon.

I've been a driver to transport dogs several times and always feel like I've really saved several animals' lives every time I do. I've also adopted a dog from AFH and she's an amazing part of our family!

We are honored to be able to sing the praises of this wonderful organization and all their great people who help make it so. Because of them we found our beloved "Ozzie" and are Forever grateful that they helped save him for us to love and care for. Because of this special organization many others can be saved. Thank You so very much for being there.

I first became involved with AFH after following them via emails and watched them rescue van after van of dogs and cats from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. By the time they were sending down their two vans with food and equipment for the rescue efforts, I was signed up to foster whatever dog they gave me, when they returned. I have been fostering for them ever since.
The care taken in interviewing adoption applicants, reviewing their applications for particular dogs, performing home checks and veterinarian checks are all done in the effort to provide the best possible home for each dog's particular needs. A job that none of their volunteers takes lightly.
The commitment to providing whatever veterinarian care the animal needs before they are made available for adoption is nothing short of amazing. And to this end, they are constantly seeking more ways to raise funds for this not-for-profit group.
If I had to describe the efforts of many, many volunteers it would be compassionate and bottomless. Again and again they find dogs from puppy mills and hoarding situations, facing death row when they end up at kill shelters, and again and again their volunteers step up to the plate to help.

I first became aware of A Forever Home (AFH) about 5 years ago after the loss of our beloved little dog. It was only about a month and my wife and I were still grieving when I found AFH at the PetCo in Chantilly Va. Jen, a foster was picking up 7 little puppies. I told her about our loss and she willingly came to our house with "our" puppy and three of her siblings for us to meet. We picked "Midge" that was and still is her name, because she found the basket of toys our dog had. She climbed in the basket and sat down. We were hooked. The application process was simple and well worth it, Within a week we had a new puppy to love. I have been volunteering with AFH ever since. The organizers and volunteers at AFH are a friendly, loving, and dedicated group of people. We are dedicated to saving as many dogs and puppies as we can and getting them their very own "forever" home.

We adopted a puppy from AFH over two years ago and we just started fostering for them less than 2 months ago. It is a great organization that will take any dog from anywhere and keep the dog (or cat) until a permanent home is found. They perform a great service and we are proud to help out as we can.

I am forever grateful to AFH for the dog I rescued 7 years ago....she was the best companion. Unfortunately she passed late last year which has now allowed me to be a foster which has been very rewarding. ..my first was a very badly abused yorkie from a puppy mill...he is now in his forever home. This organization cares so much for the dogs they rescue and I am glad they are so diligent in making sure the placements are the right match for human and dog. Now that I volunteer I see how much goes into this organization and I am thankful for the organizers.

I first became aware of A Forever Home Rescue when I was looking online to adopt. I showed up at the adoption event and was greeted with happy, friendly volunteers and happy, friendly dogs. The volunteers could not have been more helpful and upfront. The application process was not complicated and the home check was thorough yet not judgmental. I am still astounded by how hard all the volunteers work and how they care about each and every animal.

My dog, Petey, is one of the best, well-rounded dogs I have ever owned and I do believe a lot of his confidence came from those weeks he was in the care of this organization. The fostering program for Petey was a gentle introduction from being out on the streets for 2 years to a loving, safe environment.

I cannot say enough to praise them.

Our family started volunteering with A Forever Home over 7 years ago. We started by fostering dogs until they could be adopted, but along the way, we adopted two of our own -- both beautiful mixed breeds that give us overwhelming love and affection. A Forever Home works hard to make sure the dogs are matched with families (or individuals) that will give the best fit, and they make sure every dog that comes through the organization gets any and all help it needs, from simple grooming, to a good foster home to expensive medical procedures. AFH gets calls from shelters weekly asking us to save their dogs and even little puppies. But perhaps most importantly, AFH helps fight puppy mills and helps hundreds of dogs every year find a home where they will be loved for who they are and not how they breed. We love AFH and recommend everyone we know to them for adoptions.

I have been associated with A Forever Home as a volunteer for a number of years. I have fostered dogs, followed up on adopted dogs to make sure they had been neutered by their new owners, I have donated services to the silent auction, and I adopted three of their little dogs. This is an organization with exceptional volunteers who are truly dedicated to the welfare of the animals and spare neither time nor expense to help them. In the future I plan to help with their adoption events.

Judith Higgins

We adopted 2 Golden retriever mixes. Both were rescued by AFH from a shelter in WV where they would have been killed, even as puppies! They are now 11 and have been wonderful companions to our family. I am grateful to all the volunteers in this organization.

A Forever Home is an amazing rescue group! They have a true love for dogs, from the people running the group to the volunteers. They take great care of the dogs and do everything they can to get them in wonderful forever homes. I have volunteered, fostered, and adopted from this group and it has been one of the best experiences of my life.

As a long time foster for AFH, I am impressed with the devotion and dedication exhibited by all of the principals of this organization. They truly have the best interests of the animals they rescue. I am proud to be associated with A Forever Home.

I am a professional lost pet tracker and as such I end up working with many rescues since the animals that they save are frightened and generally unsocialized. I am also a founding member of another rescue organization that I have been involved with for 30 years.

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation, Inc. is truly impressive in its dedication to the animals they rescue. They take in thousands of dogs and are committed to each and every one to make sure they get to the very best home possible. If one of their dogs escapes from its foster home they will do whatever is necessary for as long as it takes to find it and bring it back to safety. If any of them gets sick or injured they make sure they get first rate veterinary care to assure its full recovery. This is RARE it the rescue community where all too often they have either poor management or a weak donor/ volunteer pool and are unable to follow through for those who are not "ready to adopt" as soon as they come off of the transport.

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation has a strong and extremely organized/ capable management team and it is supported by a large, enthusiastic and dedicated group of rescue volunteers who take these frightened animals into their homes and their hearts so that they are ready to be loving housepets once they are adopted. They are by far the most impressive organization I have ever worked with.

I am a foster volunteer for AFH and I love this organization! The people are committed, conscientious, and well-organized. Extreme care is the framework for helping the animals. The policies and procedures are well planned and easy to follow. I have never had any confusion or difficulty in any capacity. I have transported animals, fostered animals, and now just adopted one of my foster dogs. This is a great organization!

A Forever-Home is a wonderful non-profit organization. Everyone is a volunteer, no one makes a salary. They have no physical shelter and they use foster's to temporarily house the pets until they are able to place the pets in homes. There are wonderful women who run the organization and who sacrifice their time, weekends, etc. for a wonderful cause. When I make a donation to this organization I know that every dollar is going to a pet.

I am currently a foster for A Forever Home but also an adopter. I would like to say that the people and volunteers at AFH are wonderful. They are hard working and even though no pay is received they take their jobs (saving dogs) more seriously than many people in paid positions.

AFH is willing to go the extra mile for these dogs which many organizations are not. I am currently fostering (and will be adopting) a puppy with a heart condition. AFH has stepped right up to the plate taking care of this baby even at considerable cost to them. AFH will follow this puppy until a resolution is reached even if that resolution is surgery.

I would highly recommend adopting or supporting this organization.

A Forever Home is a wonderful organization and I highly recommend it to anyone who is searching for a companion. Our little Maltese, Emma, was rescued from horrific conditions as a breeder in a "Puppy Mill". Our neighbors, The Lucero's, are a Foster Family with AFH for dogs transitioning from their former life to their new life. My wife and I met Emma when the Lucero's took her out for walks. Emma was a physical and psychological wreck from her former existence. The Lucero's gave Emma a warm and loving environment in which to start her new life. We are fortunate enough to have been chosen to continue Emma's development and she has made remarkable progress in becoming a happy pup. Without the enormous support of the AFH Team, Emma would have ended her life shivering, terrified, sick and alone in a corner of some cage. Emma still goes "home" to the Lucero's to visit and to meet the new Foster Pups who are getting the love and attention they need and deserve while they wait for their own Forever Homes. A Forever Home is a wonderful organization and we will be Forever Grateful to them for their efforts in ameliorating the suffering of so many FurBabies.

A Forever-Home Rescue Foundation is an amazing organization that fulfills its objectives entirely through extremely hard-working volunteers. Those who manage the rescue's activities and coordinate other volunteers's efforts are efficient and communicate clearly. AFH is characterized by dedication, enthusiasm, kindness, and highly ethical practices. Most important, AFH has saved and improved the lives of thousands of homeless dogs. As an AFH volunteer, I have fostered dogs, participated in transports, and visited homes of prospective adopters; all my interactions with AFH have been positive.

I adopted my two older dogs from them and they are the best dogs. The process was simple and direct as well as thorough. You should expect to answer a lot of questions, this is for the protection of the dog. Most of these dogs have gone through hell and AFH goes to great lengths to prevent them from going back. Be honest and true and your new best friend will come home. Also I did not pick my dogs, they picked me if you remember this, the right dog will be yours to love selfishly.

Hello We are both adopters and Fosters. My family and I have fostered almost 11 dogs. We have two of our own, adopted from AFH. Reading the reviews, and especially the one stars, did not make me feel these people really know about fostering or adopting a Dog. Most likely the would rate ANY foster organization the same. We decided to foster from AFH because of how much they care about these Dogs. Become a FOSTER and you will see how great this Organization is. Let me ask you one question, if your Daughter or Son does not grow up the way you like OR if you have to move to a place where they don't allow Children OR your kids God forbids get really sick, Would you try to return them to the Hospital they were born from? Not a stupid question. AFH is trying to avoid people who would try to return adopted dogs because of life change. YOU should not ADOPT a dog for a temporary stay. Either ADOPT or NOT. They are strict for a reason. They also save dogs almost every week!!! Karen does such a great job and I am proud to volunteer for this organization. I and my son have gone to Long Island NY to help other shelters when Sandy came through and disrupted families and their pets. Before you criticize AFH or any other organization, and you can do better, WHY NOT VOLUNTEER YOURSELF! Otherwise, respect these guys because without them, many Animals would be killed more than saved. God bless AFH and their volunteers, to me they are all Heros!

A Forever Home is a wonderful rescue organization. I adopted my Great Dane, Phoebe, from them about 4 years ago. Since then, I have fostered 3 times (both adult dogs and puppies). They are so dedictaed to saving dogs from unimaginable conditions - staying in constant contact with their volunteer base so they are able to help rescue animals in a moments notice. Great organization!

A Forever Home is a wonderful organization! They really care about their animals and vet the Forever Home carefully. The organization is well organized with a huge heart. I would and do recommend A Forever Home to all wanting to add a new member to their family.

My daughter was looking to adopt a 1 year old bulldog she'd seen in petfinders through this organization and filled out all applications. She emailed them about this pup and spoke with them on the phone. They told her everything looked good on her application and told her to come in to meet the dog leading her on to believe she would get him, then after she spent time with him, they told her sorry, someone else JUST adopted him and treated her poorly afterwards. My daughter drove 2 hours to meet the dog and was in tears when they shunned her in such a way. I feel they are discriminating, rude and HEARTLESS!!!! Shame on you for putting good people through this kind of hurtful thing. This organization has NO COMPASSION and no remorse for their actions!

This organization is horrible. We are a family of 5 looking to adopt our first dog for our kids, single family home, fenced in back yard, etc etc etc. We've been approved by 4 other adoption/rescue groups, yet a forever-home decided to deny our application. This is after meeting the puppy in the fosters home, taking the family to the adoption event where the foster told everyone we have an application on the dog, the kids were so excited, just waiting on the home visit... and it never happened. At the adoption event I got a funny feeling something was wrong. Two other fosters gave us the cold shoulder and watched us like a hawk. Funny, the puppy we were looking at is not available. Maybe it found a home that weekend, but not with us. We are a bi-racial family, wonder if this had anything to do with it? Nonetheless, we were VERY disappointed with the lack of professionalism. Within 2 days we welcomed out new puppy from a different rescue into our home. AVOID THESE GUYS!!!

My husband and I tried to adopt a 9 yr old, toothless Maltese named Tristan from AFH in June '13. We filled out all the paper work, drove 2 hrs to meet him and his fosters. Fell in love at first sight. We had lost our Maltese 2 month earlier. The foster parents said we would be a great match with him and they would highly recommend us. We waited for our home visit/study to be scheduled. Instead we received a letter in the mail stating that we did not meet their adoption requirments. No explaination at all. I called and emailed Carmen Klein the owner, begging her to tell me why we were denied. She wouldn't give me any reason. I continued to push for an answer, I wanted to know why we couldn't adopt this poor old dog that had lived his whole life in a puppy mill crate, and she told me that "I have issues and need to move on". We were heart broken, and poor Tristan is still up for adoption, instead of being loved in his forever home. Not to many people are looking to adopt an old toothless dog. Such a sad, weird story. Why wouldn't she say what was wrong with us? Give us a chance to correct the issue?? Horrible organization that does not have the best interest of the dog in mind. And Tristan is the loser in the end:(

They are great in getting you to adopt but they are horrible in returning a dog to them. I have been writing to them since 29 Jul 2013 to return my dog and have provided them with all the forms and information required.

They are completely ignoring me and not responding to my emails which I send every day and have been for the past two weeks. They don't seem to want to take the dog back and I am forced now to take him to a shelter.

Foreverhome is one of those pet rescue organizations that "get it". They understand that their mission is to find adequate homes for the dogs in their charge, not merely keep them from being euthanised. While they'd probably prefer "perfect" homes for the animals in their charge, they have a realistic understanding of what's going to be a good home. We've adopted two dogs from this group since 2003. Probably would have adopted a third, but they didn't have any pooches in their system that were both compatible with incumbent pets or had that "your my person" vibe. Even so, they reached out to other organizations to try to help us find a pup from one of them. This organization goes the extra mile both for the animals in their charge and the people that seek to adopt.

A Forever-Home is a great place to adopt a dog. We adopted Augie 4 years ago and he has been the best dog I've ever had. Augie came to us crate trained, house broken, and leash trained at 4 months old. His foster did a wonderful job with him and it took a lot of the burden of getting a new puppy off of us! The adoption process was efficient and they even had a discounted rate for him to be neutered. 5 stars for sure!

Three years ago, I adopted my beloved Sophie from A Forever Home. I didn't know much about rescues then. Years later, as my practice moved towards animal law, I had the chance to work with A Forever Home as a client. I could not have been more proud to see that the rescue Sophie came from was so well put together and professional, and so dedicated to animal welfare. A Forever Home does not just focus on local welfare needs. They have been one of the few rescues called upon for aid in puppy mill busts and disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and have been right there to save the animals!

I adopted a dog from A Forever Home several years ago. This organization, run entirely by volunteers, is professional, organized, and responsive. The volunteers who conducted the home check were decent, reasonable people who had no agenda, were not judgmental, and were courteous and professional. The dog I adopted was well cared for and healthy - the rescue fully disclosed the dog's veterinary and life history. I recommend this nonprofit as one that is effective, professional and is carrying out its mission to assist and place homeless animals.