Wise Animal Rescue

850 to adopt a senior dog is astronomical. Ive adopted 3 older dogs from 3 different CT rescues, and none were anywhere near this exorbitant fee.
I met the president, or vice president, can't remember which. There were a few people listening to her talk. I was trying to ask questions after she mentioned the fee. Couldn't even get a word in. Finally I walked away. A person was holding a puppy, I asked if she was a volunteer, she was. I asked if that lady ever let anyone else speak, and she laughed.
They call their adoption fee a donation.
A donation is typically voluntary—you decide the amount because you want to give. A fee, on the other hand, is a set amount you're required to pay for something. So if someone says there's a “required donation,” that’s just a fee wearing a fake mustache.

This rescue goes above and beyond for every animal in its care. I'm proud to be a serial foster for Wise Animal Rescue! Love this rescue.

Scammed me into donating $25 to even submit an adoption application and then I never heard from them again. Truly infuriating.

The absolute best rescue I have ever encountered Yes, you have to donate to apply. I happily donated with my application to support their good work. I never expected that to be a guarantee I was going to get a dog - this is disclosed up front so why the negative reviews??? They are precisely a good rescue because they are careful to match animals to good homes that are suitable for each animal's situation. This may not be the rescue for you then if you don't want to donate up front. The eventual adoption fee is $800 - a little steeper than some other rescues but again, if you cannot afford this, don't apply for a dog from them. Respectfully, if you cannot afford $800, how will you afford vet bills, food, day care, walkers, etc.? Pets are expensive, lifelong commitments. For that fee, we got an amazing dog who was already neutered, came with all his shots, was microchipped, had been treated for a medical condition, and had been fostered to start socialization and house training. He is the absolute best dog ever and the joy of my life. I am so grateful to Tiziana and the volunteers for saving him from a puppy mill and giving me the most perfect, cuddly companion. I've had three prior rescues and this was the best experience I've ever had.

I am a monthly supporter of this organization. It’s disheartening to see some of the negative reviews for Wise Animal Rescue, especially when they seem to come from individuals who didn’t get what they wanted. It’s important to remember that this organization’s priority is the welfare of the animals, not just satisfying every adopter’s immediate desire. The negative feedback often appears biased, reflecting more on the reviewer’s disappointment than on the rescue’s mission.

What’s truly surprising is how some people, who claim to care about animal welfare, can begrudge the rescue for requesting donations. Wise Animal Rescue is a non-profit; every penny is used to help animals in desperate need. It’s not about making a profit, but about saving lives.

If you’re genuinely committed to supporting a cause that puts animals first, then Wise Animal Rescue is an excellent organization to stand behind. Perhaps it’s time for some people to reassess whether their actions align with the compassion they profess to have for animals.

Wise Animal Rescue is an incredible organization.From the moment I reached out, I was impressed by their thorough and caring adoption process. They take the time to ensure each dog is matched with the right family, and their foster-based model allows them to provide detailed insights into each dog’s personality and needs.

Communication was excellent throughout, and it’s clear they truly care about the well-being of their dogs.

If you’re looking to adopt or support a rescue, I highly recommend Wise Animal Rescue. They made the adoption process smooth and filled my home with love by matching me with the perfect dog.

What an absolute SCAM . Hey send us money first and then we will consider you for adoption and then not respond which means you weren’t a good fit. We are a family with 2 AMAZING Pugs and we were looking to adopt a 3rd. We came across the site and went through a LENGTHY process and application and were told we needed to donate $25 to move forward. We of course did and then never heard back from anyone. I reached out several times to check the status of our “ application “ and was told it was still under review. Save your $25 and your time and effort !!!! Adopting doesn’t cost $800 so these scam artists are basically a pet store without the store front. Enjoy the $25 you got from me as karma is real and what you’re doing is disgraceful !!!!

Wise Animal Rescue saves dogs, educates people, and helps community members in different communities! Volunteering with Wise has impacted my life by building my self-confidence, relationship skills, and social skills. Helping others and devoting my time to this organization has supplied me with a sense of pride. They are compassionate, loving, and giving!

Thank god for Gail from Wise Animal Rescue !!! I called multiple shelters and rescues to basically just get yelled at for taking in a cat for a friend and trying to find it a new home; I called Gail and within an hour this cat had a foster home and a placement at a shelter if need be, they had connections with multiple places in the area and was so helpful and supportive through the whole process, explained how everything would work who would be taking care of the cat, how the cat would be taken to the vet and taken care of medically, absolutely amazing!!

I'm on foster #27 now and have had 100% positive experiences. Anyone reading the unfavorable reviews should join the team and see for themselves the reality of what goes into saving the lives of the homeless animals and how much Wise does for these poor souls. Seems many of those who are unhappy here are applicants being petty for not being chosen to adopt the animal they wanted. I've been overwhelmingly happy with the families who've adopted my fosters. The BEST families for all of them. Unfortunate that not being chosen leads to quibbling over being asked for a nominal dollar amount to help animals. Luckily the people complaining are the minority. There are so many more individuals who have had wonderful experiences. Including me! Highly recommend this organization

I'm so grateful to my neighbor who told me about these reviews.
I had to post my experience.

I did not get the puppy I applied for but that's OK. I know my forever dog Is out there. I was emailed and knew what the process was so I knew what to expect.

Keep up the good work, Wise. Please know some of us do appreciate all you do.

Wise helped me when I found myself in a position in life I'd never thought I'd be in. Without judgement they took in my senior bonded babies and found them an amazing home. Eternally grateful

Our family is so grateful to Wise Animal Rescue for choosing us as adopters. We've adopted both of our dogs from them and have had a wonderful relationship for the past four years. They are an amazing team of selfless heros.

I recently applied for a dog.
I was sent an email asking for a "one time donation".
So, cn626, you are lying when it says you need to donate for every dog you apply to.

The email CLEARLY STATES "You will hear from us within two weeks if your family has been determined to be the best match for the animal for which you have submitted an application. You will only receive an email when you have been selected as a candidate for the next stage of our adoption process."

After I happily sent my donation in, I got another email thanking me for my donation and explaining again, I would only be contacted if I was chosen for the next step of the process.

Again, cn626, to say they never contacted you, did you not read the email or did you not understand it?

These people are all volunteers who probably have FT jobs. Honestly, I wouldn't answer you either if you emailed a few times asking the status.
The email states the process and the timeframe.
All your review shows is you can't comprehend, and you're salty because you weren't picked.
It also is clear the rescue dodged a bullet with you.

I wasn't picked for the dog I applied for either. I'm glad the dog got a good home even if it wasn't mine.

Mmdc, and cn - It's fine to share a negative experience, but to downright lie, twist the facts and act like a petulant child because you weren't picked is not nice, necessary or appropriate.
I donated and got a thank you and another email that reiterated the process.
TO MMDCA - To say you donated and never heard from them is not the experience I had.

I was really interested in adopting a certain dog from this rescue. Their adoption process is unlike any other I've encountered, where after submitting the application I received an email indicating I would need to donate $25 for the application to be processed (usually, adoption places ask for a donation but not required). You also need to submit an application per dog, meaning a donation needs to be made per dog you inquire about. So, I ended up submitting an application and then never heard back about the dog. After a week I emailed the woman back asking for an update. I've followed up with three emails and have had no response in the last 4 weeks about this dog.

I cannot recommend this “rescue.” Demanding a fee just to review an application is not ethical. Not surprisingly, zero communication after you give them the money. And it’s quite odd that a lot of their dogs come from breeding mills. Why are they buying dogs from breeding mills? They are promoting breeding mills. Avoid this place and go to the shelter instead. So many deserving animal there.

Love this non-profit and all that it does for pups in need. These negative reviews all seem to be because the rescue didn't want to adopt to the person, so they left a bad review. Sometimes you're just not the best fit for a dog. We've adopted 2 dogs from wise, and have fostered, and they're wonderful!

In searching for a pet, I came across WISE animal rescue, but almost didn’t apply because of the negative reviews on this website. I can’t stress enough how happy I am that I ignored the negative reviews and applied anyway! WISE changed my life for the better!!

My partner and I had an amazing experience adopting our pup from WISE. The volunteers are committed to the animals they rescue and do a thorough job in finding each animal a loving home. A rejection is nothing personal, you simply weren’t the best fit for the animal for which you applied.

A quick scroll through the WISE Facebook or Instagram pages will show how committed the organization is to the health and well-being of their animals. Please take a moment to check out these pages if you feel at all deterred by the feedback on this site.

Keep doing what you do, WISE! We love you!!!

We love Wise Animal rescue. We were first time fosters and were fostering a puppy. I went downstairs for a minute. In that time, my puppy fell off the bed. I was hysterical. Called the rescue immediately and they told me to rush to the ER. My wife and I felt horrible because this was our fault. They did not make us feel bad or yell. Their ONLY concern was the well being of the puppy.
The ER did every test and bloodwork. You know that wasn't cheap at an ER.. At first the staff told us she would need immediate surgery. The rescue sent the results of everything to the head of orthopedics at the hospital, and they did not feel surgery was warranted. We were so relieved.
In hindsight, we should have offered to pay the ER bill, or at least part of it. It wasn't the rescues fault that this accident happened.
After this, we noticed our puppy scratching her ears. I was so panicked, that I never called them before hand, just immediately took my foster back to the ER. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have called them first to see if they have a vet they work with.. Obviously that would have been cheaper than paying for an exam and medication from an ER. Again, they Wanted what was best for the dog. Looking back, it was stupid on my part to take my foster to the ER for an ear infection without consulting them first..
We financially can't give them anything now, but when our financial constraints ease up, we will send them a donation. It's the least thing we can do. We know our experience, so it's hurtful to read that other poster is acting like this rescue doesn't care about what the dogs need medically.
We saw first hand they certainly did. Although I am not a donor now, I certainly will be when I able to..

TO. build back better..

Your info is a downright lie. This Rescues tax records are public. I just saw their taxes for the last 3 years. Anyone can see.
It's pathetic to lie to push your narrative.
Your own ego and agenda is doing nothing but hurt the dogs.
When you start your own rescue, trust me, I and others will be watching. Very closely.
Maybe if you had a FT job, you wouldn't have the time to try to malign a rescue who is doing the best they can, and succeeding, in helping animals.

This is NOT a real non-profit. They charge multiple "donation" (or adoption) fees and have failed to file their 990 for the past 3 years. Translation: Tiziana and her cronies are living off your "donations."

While this rescue purports to have their animals best interest at heart - and many of the volunteers do indeed want the best for the animals - the core group of three women running it are seemingly hiding something from genuine help like me.

I fostered an animal who needed medical treatment. Not only did this organization not want to provide it (which is fine, it's their animal) but they kept my family completely in the dark. It seems they work with low cost vets and only treat their animals minimally medically.

Worse, I have heard many stories of the more popular adoptable animals (puppies, kittens, etc.) being pushed on many great adopters who are being shaken down for non-refundable "donations" in the hundreds of dollars only to be turned down last minute. So a kitten that would be adoptable for $300 - the minimum "recommended" but non-negotiable "donation" might be shopped to 5 or 6 adopters for a total of $1500 - $1600 minimum. Where does this money go?

Steer clear.

Do your research.

There are many other reputable charities.

I'm sure this rescue has great intentions and is just overwhelmed, but (what I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to be) a lack of information could have put the animal we tried to adopt in danger, and our other animals in danger. There are so many wonderful shelters, rescues, and organizations. After our experience, although we had already donated an amount to adopt which was a great deal of money for us, we chose a different one.

I am in the process of hopefully adopting. If you love animals you have to appreciate and be thankful for all these people that are volunteering their own time to help save and protect all those in need of homes. A small donation is not absurd to ask for with all that is involved in running a rescue. If I am not chosen or you are not chosen, they are just doing what they feel is best for their rescue dogs and that is exactly what they should do. So don't be mad or take it personally, or bad mouth them, be happy these people are there for the animals.

TATZIANA From this organization has no clue about the lives of the senior population of humans. I was recommended highly from references but was denied my request for two little darlings I had interest in. I landed up adopting from a local animal shelter.
She was a fast talker and her only interest was for us to foster .
We knew what we wanted. Like I said in another review she wants to be invited to my 3 year olds bday party in 17 years 14 years from now. Completely vile language. Very disappointing to have tried and donated to your agency. We are thrilled with our terrier mix who needed a home and is our little princess and recd from a local shelter near us.

I put in an app for a dog they posted that seemed to be a perfect match! I was told to donate so they would review my app, so I did. Then I was rejected so they could find a better fit. I contacted back just to see what about use didn’t fit, and they sent the same canned response. But to add insult to injury the same dog is still being posted on their Facebook page as still available and “don’t forget about this sweetie”.

My experience with Wise Animal rescue has not been good. I applied for a puppy that I desperately wanted but after being initially shaken down for a contribution before my application could move forward, all I heard back was if I was not chosen my application would be kept on file. I have not heard anything since and my repeated attempts to contact them have met with no response. I truly believe I was rejected due to my age and that this was a partial ploy to get contributions to the organization. I would be very careful dealing with them and caution against their requests for contributions that could be considered questionable.