Joshua Fund Inc

Read all reviews below and see that some would be adopters have had very disappointing experiences with the Joshua Fund and were left feeling hurt, puzzled, and put off by this organization.

We started our Joshua Fund journey when we adopted Lena (now Leia) two years ago. After that we became fosters and are now on our third foster. The amount of support from our local group of volunteers is amazing and the vetting of adoptors is stringent but purposeful as they truly find the best place for these dogs to spend the rest of their lives.

I started interacting with Joshua Fund in 2020, where we fostered our first Joshua Fund Dog. This rescue shows amazing compassion, care and dedication to the dogs they rescue. My family has now adopted TWO dogs from this rescue and we couldn’t be happier. The volunteers supporting the rescue activities and the fosters are amazing people. The dogs that get rescued by JOshua Fund are truly lucky and are found the best homes!

We have adopted 2 pups from The Joshua Fund and we are volunteers/fosters as well. Top-notch rescue. Their caring and compassion for these pups is endless. Extremely happy to be part of such an amazing group.

We have adopted 2 pups from The Joshua Fund and are fosters for them as well. I have the utmost respect for the entire organization/team. The compassion and support they provide is not comparable to any other. We are honored to be a part of such an amazing group.

I adopted my dog Barney from the Joshua Fund almost a year ago. I’ve volunteered in rescue for many years and started out as Barney’s foster mom. As a point of reference, I foster for several rescues. The Joshua fund was so easy to work with both as a foster and an adopter. They spared no expense getting Barney the vet care he needed. They assisted with transportation to vet visits if there was a scheduling conflict. They were responsive immediately if I had a question or concern. Their adoption process was thorough, as it should be, but quick and fair. They explained the process and timeline completely. I couldn’t so for a better experience.

I adopted two dogs from The Joshua Fund. From application to adoption, you can see that the volunteers of this organization truly do what they do for the DOGS. From what I have been told, and what I have seen on their federal 990 filings, they have no paid employees, all volunteers! My experience with The Joshua Fund was professional, yet personal. The dogs that I adopted are absolutely perfect and were fully vetted before I adopted them. I have read some of the reviews on this page. Yes, this organization is very thorough as they should be. Maybe those that complained about being declined were not worthy of having a pet. But I guess it is easier to point fingers.

I foster for The Joshua Fund. I foster because I love dogs and know I can't save them all without the help of others. In the last four years I believe I have helped about 200 dogs mostly large black dogs some were healthy but most came to me with health issues. The most important thing to me is for a rescue to help get my babies healthy so they can go on to live their best life. That is exactly what TJF does. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for helping these babies. I am always willing to help when I can. I am truly grateful

My husband and I adopted our dog William from The Joshua Fund Dog Rescue in 2018. The application process was thorough and rigorous, as it should be, and we were thrilled to be approved to adopt. The Joshua Fund rescued William from an abusive breeder and his foster family gave him his first opportunity to know what a loving, caring home can be. .We were so impressed with the volunteers we worked with through the entire adoption process that we decided to become volunteers ourselves once we retired in 2020. Since then we have helped with application interviews and processing, fostering, dog transport and other administrative duties. We are thrilled to be a part of this wonderful organization and hope to continue to help with its mission for many years to come.

The Joshua Fund Inc. is absolutely the best rescue group that I have had the privilege to experience. This dedicated group comes together to help dogs that are often in horrific situations or in need of medical care. It’s amazing to see the progress of the animals as they relax, recover and experience the love provided by their foster families. The Joshua Fund Inc provided excellent medical care to the fosters that I had in my home. I believe they have done a remarkable job matching my fosters with amazing forever homes. I would like to encourage everyone to support this group as they continue to change the destiny of neglected dogs.

My husband and I are fosters for the Joshua Fund. We have fostered for six or more years. We fostered for other rescues but the support and thoroughness the Joshua Fund shows it’s dogs and fosters is outstanding. I have seen them take in physically and emotionally traumatized dogs and rehabilitate them and then place them in exceptional homes. I am a total believer in their process and can attest to the outcomes these dogs have.

I’ve adopted three dogs from the Joshua fund rescue, and it was the best experience for me. Because of that experience, I have been a volunteer for this, amazing, compassionate organization, for seven years. We want great homes for these precious rescue dogs.

I love this organization. I have adopted 3 dogs over the years from The Joshua Fund. Each of our dogs were fully vetted, well socialized and knew basic obedience commands. Our vet commented on the medical records that were provided by the rescue. She said she had never seen a rescue do as much for a dog than those that we adopted from The Joshua Fund.

I have nothing but praise and admiration for the Joshua fund rescue inc.
We have adopted three dogs from them, the patience they displayed, the kindness, the caring for our and the dogs situation is second to none. I was told about the Joshua fund Inc from a friend who also adopted
from them and they shared the same experience. Would recommend them to any of my friends or colleagues. Thank You Joshua fund again!!
Rob Allison

I have some suspicions that this is not a legitimate dog rescue operation. Or if they are, they bring in many many donations through their facebook page where they claim they can raise about $1000 per day, yet only have 6 dogs listed as available for adoption. Like other reviewers, I filled out an extensive application for a dog and my application was declined for reasons "that they do not disclose." Mind you, I have had rescues before, have lots of land, fenced acres, work from home, etc. If they were a real rescue operation, they would love to home a dog into that environment. So with the refusal and no answer, yet more FB posts with other dogs that are available for adoption and again looking for donations, I think it is basically a scam. Sad for those taken advantage of - but there are great rescues out there doing amazing work and lots of dogs available to actually be adopted. However, not this one I suspect.

The Joshua Fund was the absolute best. My puppy came fully vaccinated, crate trained, leashed trained and well socialized. It was clear the foster home worked with her a LOT. She was never traumatized by the shelter and all of their dogs are raised in foster homes with loving parents. They are well educated on veterinary care and don't do pediatric spay and neuter. I couldn't have asked for a better dog. Yes, they have a process as they should to adopt. All the negative reviews are from people that did not even get approved to adopt! Trust me the process is well worth it. These people know what they are doing! They are great people and just want the dogs to go to a good home.

Recommend not engaging with this group. Very frustrating to deal with.

My own experience started 2 years ago, after the second of my three rescue dogs that I had at the time passed. I was looking to adopt a companion for my rescue mastiff.

As they were relatively local to me, I engaged. Like many rescue organizations, they insisted on filling out an application (which included invasive personal information...) before they would engage with me. I took a chance and applied. This resulted in a phone interview, where their process was clarified. One paid in essence a non-refundable fee for a specific dog which they would transport to Jay (NY) for a personal interview with the dog. If I did not take the dog (say... it did not get along with my existing dog or dogs if I had one), they would permit me to try again with another puppy with no additional fee. If I decided not to adopt from them, the fee was forfitted. I told their volunteer in my phone interview that I wanted to see a dog in person, before submitting payment, having it transported, etc.
At the time, their process was just not for me at the time so I wished them luck and stopped engagement.

So fast forward two years. Currently, I am interested in adopting a lab or lab-mix to accompany my dog which I adopted from the shelter in Malone, so I decided to try them again - of course with the same conditions. I had hoped to screen the dog enough before he/she was transported to NY. Not perfect, but better than a pet store!!!

I asked if I could avoid the application/send picture/interview process since I had already gone through that and was "approved" (their representative's categorization). Several emails, no response. Of course, they are all volunteers, so I went through the application process again. After submitting, I sent several emails to them to see where we were, again referencing my previous application.

I DID finally receive a response, indicating that they had found my previous application and that they had found me unacceptable, and hence was rejected.

I found that hard to believe as I had previously adopted 12 dogs/cats through various rescue/shelter organizations, kept them up to date on shots, own my home, have a fenced yard, etc.

I responded by telling them that this must be some mistake because it was I who had decided not to go forward with the previous application process, not them. I asked them to review their opinion, and if in fact they had rejected me, I would like to know why!

No response of course. In summary I spent lots of time with them now over 2 years, with unacceptable results.

I am a Board Member or local volunteer for 5 civic organizations, and guess that (in this field) all rescue organizations have some good as does this one, but my guess is their staff or system, or lack thereof that torpedoed my potential adoption of one of their rescue dogs.

Suggest thinking twice before engaging with this one.

Sadly, my story is very similar to the others on this forum. My husband and I applied to adopt a Lab/mix from Joshua Fund. We are experienced Lab owners and have had three rescue dogs in the past, all long-lived and well-cared-for. We had excellent references, including from the CEO of Seeing Eye Inc. We live on 26 acres of meadows and woods so plenty of exercise space. We sent all the required information which was extensive, including photos of our house inside and out and our front yard and back yard, income tax info, property tax info, you name it. To our shock, our application was denied and the staff refused to give us any explanation. How insulting to not even be told the reason after going through all the time and effort of submitting the application. I guess they don't want us to even try to correct some imagined deficiency. We ended up happily purchasing a retriever from a reputable breeder and have no regrets. I hope this is result is no surprise to Joshua Fund. I would not recommend adopting from or donating to this rescue. There are many others who are more forthcoming and deserve your support.

Our story is basically the same as others here. We lost our beloved girl (also a rescue) when she was 13 1/2. We’d had her as a family member for 12 of those years. Filled out apps, jumped through all their hoops, provided excellent personal and vet references, had a phone interview, and were then told the dog we were interested in was no longer available. Very curt email from them. When I inquired further, we received an email from the head of the organization that said we were denied. Can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want us to adopt from them, but they don’t provide a reason. Very disappointed that we spent the time and got our hopes up; it also left us feeling inadequate, although we know that’s false. Seems shady, and the process left a very bad taste in our mouths.

I would not recommend The Joshua fund. I was approved a few years ago but ended up not adopting a dog. My only dog at that time was 16 she suddenly needed me more, so I chose not to adopt at that time. She passed at the age of 18 years 10 months in June of this year. September I reached out to them letting them know I was interested in dog, I saw on their website. I then received an email letting me know they had received mine but since it had been over a year I needed to fill out a whole new application. Mind you they still had my old file on me nothing had changed except that I only work 3 days now for myself and can make a schedule to fit around the animals. They wanted 3 more references, Vet #, copy of my license, copy of taxes, more pictures of my house, inside, outside, front yard, backyard, pictures of where they would be kept when I'm not home and where would they be sleeping, pretty much where they were going to take a dump. They had all of the same info in my filled I was frustrated at that time knowing they had all that info on me and pictures. So I started all over, the process was talking to two different people many back and forth. The worst was being interrogated or maybe I was on trial wasn't quite sure, every question you can imagine. It was so stressful my head was spinning. I thought to my self I'm no applying to the CIA. Then the phone call I hope they were telling me good news but instead they informed me the dog I was applying for had another family that was applying for her. I'm thinking this whole time I had a very good chance to adopt her. I remember being asked since she's 75 lb would I be able to handle her walking. Now I'm no spring chicken but I can handle my sister's 140 lb lab on a leash I so was upset knowing that I can lose her to another family that does not live in the United States. Few days later I called the worker back asking why would someone that does not live in States, have first choice? Their answer was they have adopted from us before but it was still up in the air, well I had been approved before. I still had hope. The next step was getting approved and waiting for the worker to call me. Never personally received a phone call from her as promised. I received an email. The email basically said they could not approve me at this time, but they hoped I would continue to find a rescue dog to give it a loving home. Are you kidding me... I was going to give her a loving home. There definitely was some reason, they did not want me to have her, was it because I confronted them about the other family looking at her? Whether they didn't like me or something I said, does not make a unfit adopter. Im more than devoted to all my animals. With all the heartache and stress I never want someone else to have to feel they are not worthy of adopting. I never thought I would ever say this since I have adopted several animals over the years but now I know why there are many animal sitting in a shelter it's not just being unwanted by their owners, seized from their owners or abandoned. I guess my track record of having a cat that lived to be 17 and my dog almost 19 isn't that a good track record for them...how the hell do you think they stayed alive that long. I can tell you it was not because I neglected their health, exercise or not nurturing them. Beware please they have some beautiful labs/mixes, do not get your heart set on one or think you are next in line.

I applied here, 1 1/2 years after having to put down my dog with kidney disease. I missed sharing my home with a dog. After completing application, and a 15 minute phone interview, I received an email saying that my application was being denied. No reason stated. When I talked with my vet and my references, they were never contacted by this organization. Makes me wonder if this organization just uses their Facebook page and Web site to make money.