This is Baxter formerly Lucky. I started fostering Lucky back in January of this year, 2017. When I first met Lucky he was very subdued and was a little bit timid. I took him for a walk over to the dog park but he wouldn't leave my side. One thing I noticed is that he didn't growl or bark. When I brought him back I signed up to foster him. After a couple of weeks after he had been fostered by another family, he was brought back and per the other family he didn't get along with cats. Milo called me and told me he was back and if I wanted to foster him to come and get him. I went up there and signed him out. As soon as I got him home I knew he would need a little time to adjust to being away from the shelter. Each day he got more comfortable with me and our surroundings. I had no other dogs. I had just lost my last dog to Cancer. I started giving him some of my previous dog’s toys but he wasn't too interested. I went through each toy one at a time until I gave him a tennis ball. He started getting interested and took it outside to play with it. Today that is all he thinks about is the “Ball.” It was time for him to start meeting family and friends. He seemed to immediately become comfortable with anyone that came to the house. He especially loved Women. He was a little rambunctious for some but he would calm down if you told him to. We had family from out of town over for dinner and one of them started suggesting new names for him. Since I knew I was going to adopt him I decided “Lucky” was not a good name. We went through what seemed like hundreds of names until we got to “Baxter”. I immediately liked the name so it was settled. His new name would be “Baxter.” It didn’t take him long to respond to his new name which was good because he never responded to the name, “Lucky”. I soon finalized the adoption with the Milo Foundation and today he doing very well. We have since had another little dog move in with a new roommate. A tiny little Maltese. They love each other and play all the time. Baxter loves to play with that ball. I finally found some balls durable enough for him to chew without destroying them. He finally barked after about a Month with us. It was kind of a shock. He doesn’t bark very often but you know when he does. He loves going for walks but is a little shy when it comes to other dogs at the dog park. He also rides well in the car but he won’t jump in. I must pick him up and place him into the van. He finally has settled on his sleeping location which is the couch. Every morning I find him in some twisted position. Many times, I take pictures because it’s funny to me. I am so glad I took him home. He was the only dog I was interested in and he ended up being the dog I adopted. Thanks to Milo for making the experience so easy.
We adopted our Zack E. Dog from Milo. They are doing great work.. saving over 20,000 animals over the years.
Review from Guidestar
As an occasional volunteer for the Milo Foundation in 2013-2014 I am surprised to see that a review from 2009 is what is bringing this groups rating down many years later. I helped do some of the improvements to their new location in Pt Richmond and it is completely different than what they had to deal with in an old vet's office in San Rafael. With sufficient funding their goal is to nearly double the number of animals they save every year. They were also awarded Bay Woof's "Best Rescue Group" in the greater bay area for 2014. Check out there website to see how things are changing for the better everyday.
We adopted our dog from Milo 10 years ago at a Fourth Street mobile in Berkeley. I know that everyone working there does their best to help animals facing euthanasia from county shelters and place them in appropriate homes throughout the Bay Area. Unfortunately, limited funding for this and other non-profits has created some problems a few people dwell on without seeing the bigger picture of all the positive results. The employees and volunteers at Milo should get our support for what they do, not anonymous criticism.
Review from Guidestar
The Milo Foundation has rescued and adopted out over 15,000 companion animals in their history. This organization is committed to caring for abandoned and neglected animals. There are literally thousands of successful pet adoption stories as a result of the hard working volunteers, staff, and community pet advocates that make up the Milo Foundation. See just a few on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/milofoundation Take the time to learn more about Milo and you'll become a fan too.
While well intentioned, Milo Foundation organizers are not able to manage the operation in a manner that maintains a clean and safe environment for dogs, cats, volunteers and staff. They take on way too many animals and can't seem to accept the limitations of space and help they have, leaving the animals to suffer in unclean and unsafe conditions. They have been forced to close in Berkeley, CA after a protracted battle with neighbors and the City Attorney of Berkeley over filthy and unsafe conditions and over-sheltering in an address not zoned for a kennel. In Marin County, CA, where they moved next, they were shut down by the Marin Humane Society, (County ordained overseer for animal welfare,) after similar conditions in their Marin County facility were uncovered. Refer to the article published in the Marin Independent Journal on Oct. 5, 2009. Recent violations included using out of date medications, improper storage of controlled substances, and animals housed in urine and feces, as well as diseased, untreated animals on the premises.