Based on my experience, I am a big fan of the Warwick Animal Shelter. After our Leonberger passed away, I visited the shelter in search of a large, friendly, smart, and protective dog. At the shelter, a German shepherd formerly known as Goliath bonded with me in an instant.
Before we adopted, the shelter director permitted a family visit in an enclosed area, where our trusted Cert. Vet Tech friend was permitted to give the dog a physical exam and test his behavior in the somewhat stressful environment. We adopted the six-year-old GSD who lived to the ripe age of 14. Our feeling for the adoption process as we experienced it was that we were quite appropriately being tested by the shelter as much as we were testing the dog--both parties in pursuit of a good placement. That degree of dedication impressed us immediately. Years later, when they were unable to provide us with a replacement for our dear shepherd, the Warwick shelter made inquiries at other shelters on our behalf. Ultimately, we had to adopt elsewhere, but we still have very warm feelings for the Warwick Animal Shelter. It is a clean, bright, and pleasant place and we are happy to continue to support it through its Friends organization.