True North Rescue Mission

I would unfortunately not recommend adopting a pet from True North. In an effort to get the dogs to homes quickly, they rush them out without giving accurate behavior profiles to potential adopters. My dog was only with the foster for less than 2 weeks, and about three weeks after adopting him, it was uncovered that he had severe behavioral aggression towards both humans and other dogs. Had they kept him for longer than this, the vet said that he most likely would have displayed these behaviors before being adopted out. Furthermore, when I explicitly asked about behavioral issues with aggression towards humans or other dogs, I was told that there were no issues, despite them not having enough data on this dog to accurately answer these questions. After a biting incident in my building where I would potentially lose my housing if I kept him, I asked the shelter about rehoming him, and they were extremely unfeeling and told me they would have to put him down if I returned him, leaving me in a terrible position. I am extremely disappointed with this rescue and I suggest adopting from a shelter that keeps their dogs long enough to assess an accurate behavioral profile before putting them up for adoption, and one that will give you an accurate and honest answer about their behavioral profiles before adopting them out.

My application was immediately approved and I had a zoom meeting with one of their pups. Unfortunately I felt this pup would not be a good fit but I did see two other precious dogs on their site
that I thought would be perfect and I wanted to set up a zoom meeting. I have left about six emails, numerous texts, and do you know where it got me? NOWHERE!!!! NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME THROUGH PHONE TEXT OR ANYTHING!! I AM DONE!!!!! If they are really looking for forever homes for these precious ones this is NOT the way to go about it... Truly so sad!!!!!!

Communication is trash. I've had a better experience with my cable company.

I have few conflicts about TN…
Few years ago, I applied for fostering for adoption online with minimal information. They contacted me without any interview a week or so later that they have some dogs coming. They never told me any information, only said it’s a poodle mixed. I had to pick up the dog on the sidewalk on UES. There were a bunch of poodle mixed puppies delivered by a van and they handed us one pup each…just like that! Some kind of weird thing was that one organizer got her pure breed pup and held it up separately. They didn’t provide me with any medical information. They told me that I supposed to decide to adopt the dog within 48 hrs, otherwise they would post up the dog for adoption. The dog was 3 months old and cute and everything. Of course I had to hurried and sent them Venmo for $750 which was quite steep. Their practice was a bit shady. It was very difficult to get in touch with them. They gave me his medical records later, but he didn’t have his rabies shot and he developed diarrhea which turned out that he had parasites/bacteria infection. The dog wasn’t fixed, so we waited until he was 6 months old to contact TN to get him fixed. Again their communication was very poor. After many emails to them, they told me that the next day I had to go all the way to somewhere in Queens at 6am for the procedure. The clinic was ASPCA. There was no subway closed by and I had to pick up the dog later at 4pm. Anyway it was all done. Now the dog is almost 3 years old and he is the sweetest dog. He has some arthritis which is from poor genetics. I feel uneasy about their practice and looked up online and their website that they loose their nonprofit status and now is registered as corporate. I feel tricked about this kind of puppy mill scheme.

I had a great experience adopting my dog from them in 2022. Had a 30 min phone call with a woman and I provided multiple letters
Of recommendation. Granted, I’m a single woman, working from home, with financial means and previous dog experience, living a short distance to one of the largest parks in the city- so I was an easy ‘yes’. They were prompt with medical records. And when I had realized I didn’t have the microchip info 5mo. later they responded to me same day.

What a horrible experience for both the foster and our family. Our application was approved and we did a virtual meet and greet with the pup and foster. We were told next step was to meet in person and if all went well we could take him home that day pending contract was complete. I immediately asked for the contract and medical records. No response. I followed up with my contact at the org. and he told me to send to a different email. I did so right away. The next day I reached out to confirm my meeting with foster (I was getting nervous about lack of communication), who responded by telling me the pup was already adopted. I tried to get some more answers from the foster but she was just as much in the dark as I was. In fact, she had never had any communications outside of email since becoming a foster. Makes me question their entire practice. Communication and transparency is the worst! I reached out to the org. once again to gain clarity on what transpired. NO RESPONSE. While I understand most of these rescues are volunteer-run with limited hours to do so, they must do so responsibly and with transparency. That aside, I can find no 990 (though they say their 501c3 status is pending) but they have a .org address and cannot find any financial transparency. I have found their adoption fees significantly higher than those in the same space and geographic location. Great lesson for me to do better research in the future and I hope others take heed as well.

Awful experience.Foster mom would leave the dog 5 plus hrs. Didn't know if puppy had shots. When inquiring about puppy or where it came from there was no answer from True North. Had a great talk with screener and then foster who said I would be a great mom to the puppy. However when I asked a question regarding vaccinations there was no response.

True North Animal Rescue is great! They have lots of cats and dogs looking for forever homes. I adopted a cuddly cat named Luna, and she's the best snuggle buddy ever.

They are angels working near our home. They have saved countless animals and have reunited even more with their families. Their care for animals, big or small, is unmatched.

We just adopted our 5 year old Tzu from True North Rescue and couldn't be happier with how it all worked out!! From the very start, filling out the application to our first phone interview to our zoom call and finding out that he was to be ours was such a great experience! The foster mom was exceptional with answering all my questions! When we picked up our boy it was such a wonderful happy experience! And most important, everything they told me about our boy was true! He gets along with other dogs and young children! Which was very important to us.. he's such a good smart gentle guy! We love him!! Thank you to all the exceptional volunteers at this rescue!

I'm grateful for True North Animal Rescue's tireless efforts to save animals. Their team's commitment to their well-being is inspiring.

I'm grateful for True North Animal Rescue's tireless efforts to save animals. Their team's commitment to their well-being is inspiring.

Needing assistance with pet behavior issues, True North Animal Rescue's team offered training resources. Their guidance improved pet-owner relationships.

True North Rescue staff matched me with the perfect pet. Their dedication to finding forever homes brought joy to our family. Thank you!

True North Rescue staff provided compassionate care for my injured cat. Their kindness and expertise ensured a full recovery.

True North Rescue saved lives. Their dedicated team rescues animals from dire situations, providing love and second chances. Grateful for their compassionate and impactful work.

True North Rescue's foster heroes transformed lives. Temporary homes, led by Chris, nurtured animals, preparing them for permanent adoption. Grateful for these unsung heroes and their invaluable contribution.

True North Rescue's dedication to animals is heartwarming. They rescued our furry friend, providing a loving home. Their commitment to pet welfare shines, making them an invaluable rescue organization.

Thanks to True North Rescue, our family grew by four paws. Adopting from them was a breeze - their thorough process and caring staff made bringing our new pet home a joy.

Their dedicated team's efforts and kindness are heartwarming. Grateful for their commitment to helping animals and families.

Adopting from True North Rescue was a joy. Their genuine love for animals shines through. They ensure each pet finds a caring home. Grateful for their passion and dedication.

The team here is fantastic. Their compassionate care for these animals along with their great customer service makes them the best at what they do.

True North brought happiness with our adopted dog. Their friendly team made the process easy, emphasizing compatibility. Our home is brighter and filled with joy, all thanks to their dedication to rescue animals.

True North Rescue simplified adopting our dog. Their clear process and support made it seamless. Our new companion, a testament to their commitment to pet adoption, brightens our days.

True North Rescue made adopting our dog easy. Their caring team guided us through the process, ensuring a perfect match. Our furry friend now fills our home with joy, all thanks to their dedication.

True North Rescue is a true blessing. The team's passion for rescues is evident in their fostering process. We have fostered many dogs for them.

True North Rescue exceeded expectations on every front. Our adoption process was seamless, and the support continued post-adoption. Their genuine care for the dogs and those who take care of them shines through.

True North Rescue changed our lives. They matched us with the perfect pet, bringing new joy to our home. Their dedication to their dog's welfare is amazing. Grateful for their exceptional work.

True North's impact on dog lives is heartwarming. Seeing once-vulnerable dogs find forever homes showcased the power of teamwork. Their collective volunteer effort turns stories of hardship into tales of joy.

True North's commitment to special needs dogs touched our hearts. From medical care to extra love, witnessing these pups thrive in foster homes highlighted the organization's dedication.

True North made fostering a breeze. They provided guidance, support, and endless gratitude. Welcoming a furry friend into our home became a heartwarming experience, knowing we played a vital role in their journey to a forever family.

We submitted an application and they responded to let us know we should reach out to the foster mom. We were then ghosted and never responded to. Ultimately the dog in question was adopted. We reached out multiple times to at least have a conversation or to ask where we stand, especially since True North approved our application and told us to reach out. It was a whole week of following up; we recently lost our family pet and have been heartbroken. Seeing the dog on True North’s website really made us remember our beloved. It’s completely understandable that these things just happen with adoption agencies and they are inundated and volunteer run, however the lack of communication even when they told us to reach out, was just inexcusable especially since they’re running a business. I would not discourage people from trying to adopt here; every animal needs a home. I would just say to please be aware they may ghost you or be rude as other reviews state. It’s truly unethical how many animal adoption agencies are run. Do your research and don’t expect much - especially not from True North. We truly believe the foster parent chose to keep the pet we were approved for, and if that was the case, that is fine, but at the very least, they should communicate that instead of having people think they still stand a chance.

True North Rescue guided me to the perfect canine companion. Their staff's compassion was evident as they ensured a seamless adoption process, prioritizing the well-being of both dogs and adopters.

True North has been dynamite fostering for. Their staff, while volunteer based, is compassionate about everything they do.

True North Rescue made the adoption journey of my puppy, Gilly, memorable. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was smooth and excellent for me and Gilly.

As a foster mom for True North Rescue, my heart grew with Luna, a shy pup blossoming into confidence. Watching her find a forever home was incredibly rewarding. Fostering – a transformative journey of love.

True North introduced me to Max, a spirited senior dog with endless love to give. Being his foster mom was an incredible experience, reminding me that every dog deserves a chance at happiness.

Fostering Rocky was pure joy. His playful antics filled our home with laughter. Witnessing him find a family that embraced his exuberance made the fostering experience truly gratifying.

True North Rescue's compassionate staff made my dog adoption a joy. Their dedication to their animal's welfare was evident in the thorough vetting process. They want to make sure their adopter is their forever home.

At True North Rescue, adopting my dog was a heartwarming experience. The staff's compassion leaked everywhere as they ensured a perfect match.

True North Rescue's compassionate staff made my dog adoption a joy. Their dedication to their animal's welfare was evident in the thorough vetting process. They want to make sure their adopter is their forever home.

"We foster care for True North and they are super supportive and care a lot about all the animals we home. Its hard to let a foster dog go but we know they are going to their forever home which is great."

I rescued my boxer mix puppy this summer. She is the best thing that ever happened to me!
My mom has been struggling with ovarian cancer and my father passed away last year from Covid.
I was so lonely before I got my sweet little Truffle Pudding.

The volunteers at True North were so caring and compassionate.
Jennifer was so helpful and she still texts me to see how we are doing - I can't thank her enough.

I would adopt again but I can only have one dog in my building.
Please someone else adopt all the cute dogs for me!!

Their commitment to rescue animals is epic. I found my perfect companion with their help and made my house a home filled with laughter,love and wagging tails.

We were looking for a dog that needed a home, we didn't mind if they were an older dog, we just wanted to give a dog a home that would normally be overlooked at a normal shelter. We spoke with Jennifer and she was very nice and informative about how their rescue works. It looks like a lot of people don't quite know their full mission based on what I've seen online and I wanted to share. Jennifer told me they get dogs from Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico mainly but anywhere in between sometimes too. Their dogs get full medical inspections and are cared for immensely well. Our dog, an 11 year old Schipperke has Cushing's Disease, which makes her drink a lot of water, pee a lot (sometimes in our home), and is prone to skin infections among other things but she's energetic and loving and we are very happy to give her a home.

This Rescue is legitimate. Their dogs are well taken care of but are rescue dogs and sometimes have special needs. Don't discount them because the dog isn't perfect. They are trying to give dogs a loving home and that's what matters.

When we first saw Cora's (Brownie) picture on petfinder, we immediately fell in love with her. We were worried about not able to adopt her, but thankfully we got a call and got a chance to meet her in person. Process was way faster than I thought and finally got to bring Cora to our home. Cora brought more happiness to our family and we're enjoying it! Please adopt through True North Rescue because they are the best! And please don't buy dogs, please adopt one.

This is NOT a legitimate non-profit, they advertise that they are, however, their status as a 501(c)(3) has been continuously pending. We got the run around for three (3) weeks with a dog that we were adamant and fully upfront that we wanted to adopt. We even offered to provide a non-refundable deposit which was half of her adoption fee. We are out-of-state so we had provided all necessary arrangements that we would do to go up and pick her-up, do a meet greet, etc. The communication with the rescue was so poor that we had to continuously reach out to the foster who explained that this was her last time fostering for them as the treatment of fosters but also potential adopters was inexcusable. She also warned us that this is not the first incident they have lied, led people on, or even failed to care about the future of an animal that has been "rescued."

At our virtual meet and greet, prior to learning what the horror this rescue was, we were approved to adopt, however, we didn't receive vet records. We waited another week, trying to communicate by e-mail, as well as informing them we could come up and adopt the weekend of July 1st, but we need her medical records. The dog's foster, unfortunately, was leaving for Europe on June 24th. We were directly informed in writing that " No problem! We can find another foster." We took that as they were going to find another foster for her for that week and we should begin preparing.

We began preparing for our new family addition at our home and looking at hotels to book in NY, scheduling vet appointments, etc. We reached back out to the rescue and are informed abruptly that no new foster will be provided and it's our job to board her for a week at a place they choose and at our own expense.

Keep in mind, we have not received any vet records for this dog, we don't have a signed agreement yet, we would be paying 600 for the adoption fee, an additional 600 for the weekend hotel stay (at least), and now a 1200 boarding fee when we were told another foster was lined up!? It was complete strong arming and not the actions of a legitimate non-profit. It was even more infuriating as we were told, "Well, if you don't adopt her now, another family is interested."

I had provided an email to all stipulating that what they now proposed was a complete 180 of what we were initially informed and the actions they were taking were misleading and deeply concerning with intimidation. I received a call from Jillian, their Director, who provided an apology but never gave us a clear answer on what was going on with the dog. She agreed we were the best family; she agreed we needed to be provided documentation on the dog; She agreed they were going to try and find a foster for us; She agreed our entire plan to adopt was perfect, especially for the breed this dog was. What was more interesting from the entire conversation is that she lightly hinted that they have a non-profit attorney and any "accusatory' emails go to him. Being an attorney myself, there is never a need to throw in a "we have a big law attorney" representing us unless you are acting in poor taste and you know your actions; your rescue actions, are in serious question legally and ethically.

Continuing, reached out a few days later to ask the status of her entering foster and when we should be receiving the agreement for her so we could finalize our travel plans. The rescue ignored both our emails to which we received two emails (one public and one private) from her previous foster letting us know that she was adopted out in haste. No explanation, nothing from the rescue. We were devastated and heartbroken to say the least.

If you are looking to adopt from True North, please don't. Find a reputable and legitimate non-profit - not one that wants to act like one and treats their fosters and adopter's poorly.

[Emails can be supported for all above accounts and communications relayed above].

We adopted our 2 year old female doodle from True North 2 weeks ago and I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful everything went!
Jenni called us on a Thursday to tell us we were approved to adopt , later that evening we talked ( FaceTime) with the fosters. They were the most wonderful, caring, patient couple from the Philly area. We fell in love with them, as much as Suki! They told us everything we needed to know about Suki’s personality , energy level, medical history & how she would fit in with our family ( at least as much as they can know with a rescue dog). We met them on Saturday with our beautiful, wonderful dog & took her home that day! We just fell in love with Suki that day and knew she would be a great fit for our lifestyle. True North should be so grateful to have fosters, like Andy, supporting these wonderful rescue dogs!!
We lost out on a prior adoption from True North, but all I can say…..is keep trying!!! Everything happens for a reason and eventually you’ll be a perfect fit for a dog that needs a great home. Matching a dog to your family’s needs is a top priority for them. Suki was the perfect dog for us. We can’t imagine being without her. Thank you True North and all the loving fosters that save these wonderful , beautiful dogs!!!❤️

I'm really shocked to see the negative reviews for True North Rescue Mission on this website. I'm not experienced enough with adoption to know what happened with these other folks and whether their expectations were off, but I can speak from my own experience and tell you that True North was fantastic. I adopted my dog Star just 1 week ago. She was living with a True North foster parent and they were taking great care of her. From the medical records, it looks like Star was surrendered to a shelter in Texas and I assume True North saved her from being killed (I've learned that many dogs are killed in Texas). I have nothing but positive things to say. The foster mom informed me that True North is run completely by volunteers and they might be a little bit slow to respond to e-mails, but I didn't even find that to be the case. They were helpful and I can't thank them enough. Even in just 1 week Star has been an absolute joy and was exactly the dog I was hoping to get.

We had a terrible experience with true north. The people running it are rude, unprofessional, straight up liars and don’t care about the wellbeing of the dogs.

My guess is that they have some connections with puppy mills and they take their sick older breeding dogs and pawn them off as senior rescues for a quick buck. They clearly lie about their vet reports, will tell you that the rescue has no serious medical issues and has been cleared by the vet and that is proven wrong in the very first visit to a vet. In the first few minutes after meeting the dogs you can see that they are obviously traumatized and uncomfortable. There’s a special place in hell for these folks who weaponize the suffering of these sweet dogs for profit.

Summary: Covered up the fact that the dog was sick, had someone adopt the dog with false claims of the dog's health, gaslit me (the foster).

I had a horrible experience with them as a foster. They gave me a dog with tapeworms and parasites who had clearly not had medical care. My own dog was infected. I understand the dogs come from bad situations, but they pretended the dog had been cleared by a vet, but provided no proof of that. Moreover, it is impossible for the dog to have been cleared since she had bloody liquid diarrhea, tapeworms, and parasites on day 1.


The worst part was the gaslighting. They made me feel like I was lying about the dog being sick, insisting it was not possible because they screened them, even though I emailed them the medical report. They then told the person who wanted to adopted the dog that I was lying to keep the dog, and that the dog was never sick.
She adopted the dog and the dog ended up infecting her own dog.

Then someone from their team came and took the dog from me with no notice, saying she was going to a nice family nearby, which was a lie. I should have had the opportunity to meet with the original adopter and hand the dog to her, like everyone else, instead of them mysteriously taking the dog and gaslighting me. I printed all the medical records I generated for them to give to the new adopter and they did not give them to her since they wanted to continue to claim the dog was never sick (likely so they could claim the adoption money asap).

They made me seem like a liar, when their own lack of vetting and lack of responsibility was the source of the problems.

I dewormed the dog myself and spend almost $300 in two weeks taking care of her deworming, and was not reimbursed since they only reimburse you if you go to their medical parter in Coney Island. Most people in Manhattan don't have time for a 3 hour commute there and back, so it's not realistic that most people will work with the partner and be reimbursed at all.

I don't understand what the adoption fee is for since the dog did not come with medical records and was clearly sick. I guess it covers transport, but I doubt the dog ever had any medical care covered by True North.

I think alot of these reviews are written by people who don't understand how small rescues operate. Yes they sometimes don't respond to emails because they get overwhelming amounts of emails regarding dogs and you know what everyone helping out with this rescue is a volunteer and have regular full time jobs so yes they will not be able to answer you right away and may miss an email. As to complaints about dogs being adopted before they could meet them. Most rescues give fosters first dibs on dogs so if the foster decides to adopt the dog they will most likely get to adopt the dog before anyone else that filled out an application. Concerns about dogs medical records and behavioral issues. The rescue group and the Shelter they are partnered with will try to give as much information as they have on the dog which for most is barely anything. Most of these dogs are found as strays and the only medical information and behavioral assessment they can give are based on the short time they are at the shelter before being transferred to the rescue. Most shelters will give basic exams for dogs and not do any in depth health checks unless a dog is visibly sick or injured. So your dog will most likely get flea preventives, heartworm preventives and spayed or nuetered if the came in not fixed. And that's about it unlesd again they obviously have some sort of issue or infection or injury. And for behavioral assasments the Shelter can only really test to see if the dog is dog friendly. Anything else would be figured out when the dog is in a foster home and settled and finally comfortable enough to show its personality. These dogs come in and the Shelter workers have no idea where they came from, what their medical history is, how they act around other dogs cats or children. They can only provide so much information based on how the dog acts in the Shelter. If a dog is owner surrendered you can get a little bit more information. I foster for many rescues and they all operate this same way. your information on the dog and it's personality and temperament will come from what the foster observes. I've fostered a dog that was dog friendly. Which she was in general but she was food aggressive which you would only figure out if the dog is out eating with other dogs.yes i got bit but she was not a bad dog she just wasnt able to see other dogs eating without getting upset. Which as a stray is very understandable. But overall dogs from rescues that pull from shelters try their best to provide a much information as they can but these dogs have been through alot and sometimes it takes them awhile to show their true self. So the description given initially may not be the perfect description of the dog you are wanting to adopt.

Complete fraud. I believe foster parent was trying to help me get out of adopting the dog knowing it was sick. All I can say, I hope there’s a special place in Hell for these evil scammers using sick puppy mill animals for profit. Shame on you!

A terrible organization with a lot of shady stories all over the internet. Seems like they might have some good breed puppy supply established as all their puppies are expensive breeds. Great way to make money while making it look like a rescue mission. Stay away. The owner lady is extremely rude and disgusting

They will not be transparent with the dog's medical history and are far from being professional.
1. They got the dog's age wrong although it was clearly written on the dog's medical history. This indicates they didn't go through the dog's medical history and was making guesses.
2. I double checked if the dog has any serious medical record, and they emphasized how much value they put on being transparent about it. My dog has a heart murmur (clearly written on his medical record a few times) and thus any heart disease cannot be covered by the insurance, not to mention thousands of dollars I need to spend on examination and medication. If you're not ready to make this kind of financial commitment, I would shun away from True North.

Please stay away from this agency, True North's process is opaque, unprofessional and sets you up for heartbreak. We were matched with a dog who's foster had no interest in giving them up for adoption. The foster was unresponsive and True North even told us, in writing, that they've also had issues connecting with her (you'd think they'd establish communication norms with fosters). When the foster decided to adopt the dog, True North waited days to notify us. Mind you, we had been in contact with them about this particular pup for about a month. They were clear in establishing communication and timeliness expectations with us, but it felt like we were the only living up to the standard they set. I understand this is a volunteer run org, but the fact that along with all these communication gaps, the process was very opaque, I suggest staying far away from this org. They've made us completely reconsider if adoption is even the right path for us to get our pup.

Had a very frustrating foster experience with them. The dog was absolutely lovely, but True North lied about some of his characteristics. Unlike we were told, the dog was a puppy (we specifically said we were prepared to take care of an adult or senior) and he wasn’t potty trained (we were told he was completely potty trained). We were also told he was good with cats, but it became very obvious that he had never come in contact with cats before. A few days into his stay with us, he became ill and stopped eating. True North dismissed our concerns and refused to cough up the names of their vet contacts. Eventually, after not eating or drinking for over a day and a half, we took him to an emergency vet. He had a severe ear infection, was incredibly underweight, and, as stated by the vet, True North had supplied us with food that did not meet his developmental needs. We ultimately found an amazing home for him and have since become friends with his adoptive family. However, True North never ran a background check on I or the new owners. They requested the adoption fee and haven’t been in contact since, despite several inquiries from the family about his background story.

Similar to others True North was quick to take our money and after the fact have not contacted us since. Our dog (who we LOVE) is amazing but True North honestly is not run well. We’ve been requesting vaccination records for almost a month now, forget about even getting her spayed - going to pay out of pocket for this since they haven’t been in contact with us since we paid. I understand this is a rescue and it’s volunteer based, but I find it alarming that they are so unprofessional. I really think that the people fostering have good intentions, but true north as a whole really needs some new management.

I do not recommend True North. The foster and I had an appointment set up for me to come meet the dog I wanted to rescue and the day before she texted me," Bad news the dog is adopted." Long story short, I found out she was the one keeping the dog. She basically lied to me. If she had said, "I'm still considering adopting the dog" I would never have agreed to go all the way to Brooklyn to meet a dog that wasn't 100% available. I lost my dog of 13 years not long ago and the experience brought back all those feelings of loss again.

I am beyond frustrated with these folks. I adopted an adorable dog who was billed as cat friendly. The dog was a sweetheart but terrorized my cats. No big deal; things don't always work out. The problem? The rescue has ignored all my emails, sent over a period of 2 weeks, in which I had requested a refund of the $550 adoption fee, or asked if they would apply the fee to the adoption of another dog. They are going to get the same $550 from whoever ultimately gets the dog. The group's contract says the fee is nonrefundable, but I feel ripped off and expected better from fellow animal lovers. I'm sure there are many adopters who have positive experiences with True North, but I spent $550 and ended up with nothing in return. So be forewarned: If your adoption doesn't work out, don't expect to get the fee back or get a different dog.

A shady rescue that doesn’t vet their fosters and has unlicensed people vaccinate their dogs. Vials are not kept at appropriate temperatures and documentation isn’t provided in a timely manner and when it is it’s blurry and unreadable. There is no veterinarian in sight only one vet tech it seems. If one of their dogs were to get parvo or any other disease their vaccines are supposed to protect against, the company that produces their vaccines would no longer have to cover treatment bc an unlicensed veterinarian administered the vaccine. Also their fosters don’t come disease free and could spread it to your own pets. It seems they care more about the money than the animals.

We had a great experience with True North Rescue! We recently adopted a 3 yr old poodle mix from the organization and throughout the process there was great communication. We received a call soon after submitting our application. From there, we had a phone interview and then a virtual meet and greet with his foster mom. Once funding went through we arranged a time to meet his fosters so we could pick him and bring him home. With the adoption contract they sent a lot of good information on how to adjust your dog to their new home and other useful information. I really appreciated that. His bio and temperament description were spot on and we couldn't be happier with him. He's an absolute love and a great addition to our family! We are so lucky to have found him. I think they take the time to find a good match with their dog's personality to the family's lifestyle. He's perfect for us.

I first started by fostering a dog with TRUE NORTH. After being very involved with them, and helping them find the right home, we decided it was time to adopt another furry baby to our family! They completed the interview process with us, just like they would any other family- which is great. Just because we had already fostered, doesn't mean we should not have to fill out the same questionnaires as well. We had actually met the foster family and dog at pick up when we had fostered our first time. Everything went great and there were no issues along the process. I think the biggest problem, overall, is that they are a RESCUE and VOLUNTEER organization!! Is that a problem? Most definitely not! However, with that in mins, they are short staffed and communication is most definitely not their strong suit. True North is doing the best they can by rescuing or finding these dogs and giving them the best homes that they can.

My family adopted our “furever” puppy Beethoven last year. True North was amazing to work with. They were honest, transparent, helpful, and kind. I cannot recommend them enough! It was a dream, thank you to these real life angels who volunteer for True North!

I adopted a dog from TRUE NORTH RESCUE earlier this month on 2/4/21. I decided I wanted to adopt a dog late last year and began my search in January. Using a popular website/application that shows all adoptable pets (around the country), I got to work filling out an insane number of applications. As a single, childless 40+ year old who lives alone & works from home (with a dog park IN MY BUILIDING)...I figured...how hard could this be? I was 100% honest on all applications. This meant being very concise on what I could/could not manage (small, potty trained, "fixed" adult dogs, ONLY). I naively expected the same from shelters, fosters and rescues. I was lied to to reputable shelters (re: age, behavioral status, breeds) and dealt with an individual trying to coax me into paying an exorbitant amount of money up front. EVERYTHING changed (positively) when I filled out an application for a pup being fostered by True North. I had an amazing (and SUPER transparent) call with the foster mom and later that evening a Zoom to meet the dog. Fast forward a few days, and the incredible foster momma was delivering my new bestie-- a 10 lb Chihuahua mix named Ella. True North not only delivered (BEST DELIVERY EVER-- and I shop a lot online), they provided necessary medical documentation and helpful reading for getting a new dog acclimated. Ella's foster momma has continued to go above and beyond-- available for text questions or just my braggy photo spam. I have recommended TRUE NORTH to 3 separate people since the start of February and I would continue to do so. They are AMAZING!!!!!!

I had a great experience with True North and feel like I won the lottery with my dog. I like that they house the dogs at homes and not in a physical shelter. The description of his personality and physical limitations from his foster was accurate and honest. They talked with me ahead to time and gave my dog and I the chance to spend time and go for a walk together to see if it would be a good match. His foster mom (who works with TN) let me ask ALL the questions ahead of bringing him home and was flexible with my schedule until I had time to set up (they even sent me home with some toys, food, and waste bags for him). They took in this dog who was poorly cared for, and gave him a place to feel safe, open up, and prepare him for his next chapter, and I couldn't be more grateful.

I originally found out about True North through Pet Finder. We saw our dog on there and sent in an application. The process was seamless and the volunteer helping us made us feel informed and at ease throughout.

Once we had inquired about the dog, I had a phone call with the volunteer who was fostering him. We then scheduled a FaceTime and after that, an in-person meeting. We also made sure to receive all of his records ahead of time, and all of those turned out to be accurate.

We love our dog, Grandpa, and thank True North so much for bringing him into our lives.

We came to True North during covid with a request for a small non shedding dog that was not a puppy (basically a unicorn during the pandemic). Not only did They find us a perfect dog , but they spent a lot of time with us preparing us for what to expect (we are a family of first time dog owners), and gave us great advice. And did I mention our dog is the best thing ever?! They know their dogs and know how to place them. You will be in great hands with True North

This is a terrible rescue shelter. I sent numerous emails, & applied to adopt a particular puppy,which reminded me of my dog I recently lost. I was told it takes 1-2 weeks, but if I sent photos, the process would be faster. That is the only response I ever received. They never sent any other notifications to me about anything. Then, I find out, through the puppy's profile, that he was adopted!
Terrible "business "! NO COMMUNICATION!! Very disappointed

Horrible Place had my daughter to Foster 3 puppies for 2 weeks became 7 weeks, promised food and supplies which never came! had a sick puppy they did not want to pay the bill... offered my daughter a puppy then told her she could not keep one, When they had to eventually pay the bill.... threatened an attorney! they are horrible people put your money elsewhere, a good rescue agency. there are plenty of them out there this is not one of them!

Please do not adopt from this organization. They are great with communication until they have your money. We adopted an eight week old puppy from them.Unfortunately he Is highly aggressive and can not be in a home with children. We have had a trainer come in.We have had him checked by the vet. We have spent thousands of dollars on this now five month old puppy. One of the conditions of our contract was that the rescue would take the dog back. However upon sending them several emails and finally a request through Venmo for money back, did they finally contact us.We were told that they no longer take back aggressive dogs and basically said good luck finding a place for him. This rescue does not care about its dogs. It does not care about the families that are trying to do their best by their animals. I wish I had seen comments from other people before ever getting a puppy from them. True north is a terrible “rescue” and should be shut down.

Although this wasn’t my first time fostering, it was with them, I will never help them again. they said this dog was just very shy and needed to warm up, this dog is aggressive. Although she hasn’t bitten me, simply because I feed her, she has bitten my friends. Showed her to a Potiential adopter, she did bite him. Has gone after my cats aggressively over and over; and I’ve been expressing my distress for over 3 days. And this rescue won’t come get their dog.
It’s complete rubbish to put someone at risk and when they tell you about the aggression towards their animals they won’t come get the dog. This dog clearly doesn’t want to be someone’s dog, it wants to be left a street dog. This rescue will not care about you or your house or your pets.

Still reaching out to this rescue to pick up its dog, that I have not adopted. I’ve just fostered

What an incredibly disorganized operation. They don't respond to emails, and when they do it is not from the same person so who knows what kind of unhelpful response you are going to get. They don't check up on people, or the dogs they are fostering. They fail to provide or share resources to help people fostering dogs with behavioral issues. They don't provide, or know, the dog's history/background. I cant even locate where the dog is listed for adoption. What a disaster. They are more focused on rescuing dogs than working to get their foster dogs adopted. Ill-managed and I'll never help them, or a dog they rescue, again.

It pains me to write this as the dog I have adopted from True North is absolutely lovely and we could not be happier with her joining our family. That being said dealing with the rescue was only good Until we have transferred the $500 adoption fee (which is pretty high even for NYC standards). Since the puppy was only 5-6 weeks old she was not spayed yet nor did she have all her shots. All that was supposed to be provided by the rescue ( that is how they explained the high adoption fee)
However after the fee was collected the promised medical care never came.
At first they used COVID as an excuse for delays but shortly after they just stopped replying. It has been over 8 months and my dog is still not spayed and she already went through one heat we were trying to avoid and now she is due for another heat and rescue has not responded to my numerous emails.
They are putting animal's health a risk and only care about collecting the adoption fees.
I heard there are several organizations that pose as rescues but in fact just sell puppies from puppy mills saying they were "rescued" (which is where my dog came from). I really hope True north is not that type of "rescue" , but nonetheless what they are doing is unethical and dishonest.

I "adopted" a female puppy mill "rescue" and found out some disturbing things post process. However I think we should start at the beginning. First, they did not have me sign a contract prior to picking her up, but repeatedly requested I venmo them $600 before getting her. Their adoption fees vary by breed. Do you spot two red flags?
So not only were they in a rush to get my money and get the dog out of their system, but she was also in heat when I received her, which I was not warned about. The rescue knew full well that she was in heat, but failed to inform me. I received some questionable paper work including AUCTION PAPERS stating that they paid $50 for her at a DOG AUCTION. She was not a puppy mill rescue. She was an AUCTION PURCHASE.
Two days after I adopted her, something didn't feel right. I brought her to the vet only to find out that she had HEART WORM. The rescue took a month to get back to me when I addressed the issue. They said it was impossible and that it must have been a false positive. Let me tell you, for her sake I wish it were THREE false positives. They claim that she tested negative when they had her, however I receive NO paper work stating she was every tested for heart worm, and she is an out of state dog. I have been told this is ILLEGAL.
They argued with me, and when asked about the auction papers they claimed that they did not purchase her, only to admit that they did, and started saying atrocious things like "I guess you'd rather have her neck snapped or drowned." NO. I'd rather a "RESCUE" do the work they PROMISED rather than SUPPORT puppy mills.
I made quite a ruckus about the issue, and when contacted via other adopters and people related to the rescue, they LIED to everyone and said they offered to cover her heart worm treatment and that I declined. I would not have declined reimbursement for a pricey treatment. When contacted again, I was ignored.
This "Rescue" is just a puppy trade. They buy and sell puppies for more money, ignore their fosters' needs, and go for the $$$. I've heard other disgusting things such as leaving the dogs unattended in a van with no temperature control over night. They need their license revoked, and to be shut down.

I fostered with True North and the process was very rocky. I asked for a dog smaller than my dog and was promised the dog I was fostering was the same weight as my dog. When I picked her up, she was 15 lbs, which was not ideal with my 9 lb dog. I was told that she was 100% potty trained (which was very surprising because she was a mill dog). Turns out she was 0% potty trained, which is fine, but it would have been nice to be given a better understanding of this up front, instead of telling me the complete opposite. On the 2nd day I saw blood in her pee, and I notified the rescue immediately. I was very worried. Turns out she was in heat, which was problematic with my male dog. I contacted them numerous times but they didn't offer any advice to me with her being in heat. I had no idea what to do as I've never cared for a non-spayed female dog in heat before.
Fast forward to now - it turns out they buy their puppy recues from puppy mill auctions in Missouri. This is not a practice I support, since any amount paid to the mills is money in their pockets and is keeping them in business.
Given my foster experience with them, and the fact that they buy puppies at auction, I can no longer support this rescue. My hope is that they will refocus their energy on true rescue with dogs in local shelters, instead of buying and selling 20 puppies every week. I also hope that they can create some sort of structure with their foster program to make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone.