Louies Legacy Animal Rescue

*If* you decide to adopt from this rescue, ask a lot of questions of the foster parent regarding the animal's history, etc. And if you have other pets, you probably should reconsider and find another rescue. In my opinion, negative information about adoptees are withheld, which resulted in a significant vet bill after the dog I adopted attacked one of my other dogs unprovoked. The rescue was notified and refused to do anything about it.

I am a animal lover, have rescued wild animals and currently have a cat I rescued and a dog I rescued. I am a registered nurse 30 years. I applied to adopt Barney. I promised to comply with requirements like " free roaming" "indoor only" " promise not to declaw and more. After 4 weeks of vague emails, I was informed my dog would need additional vaccines before I could adopt. I made an appointment with my vet , scheduled two weeks out. I asked Louise's legacy to continue working with me as I comply with requests and not adopt Barney to anyone else. I was told they would not hold this pet for me. I asked to speak to someone on the phone, no results yet. It has been almost 6 weeks I have been trying to adopt from this organization. I have never felt so let down by an animal rescue organization. I will recommend to everyone I know to stay away from this organization who really doesn't care about getting pets to great homes!! Very difficult and rude.

LLAR is such a special organization filled with compassionate, hard-working individuals. Louie's saves the lives of so many at-risk animals through the dedication of it's volunteer fosters. I am blessed to have adopted 2 of my dogs from Louie's, and I am so thankful for the rescue's endless efforts to help the over-crowded shelters.

Terrible experience. Will not return to adopt with them, I suggest everyone else be wary. Made it VERY clear on TWO occasions that we had another dog that we wanted to ensure with comfortable with the new family member. We were ASSURED that we could bring him back and have the fee RETURNED to us. This was NOT TRUE. We notified them within 24 hours that the puppy was not a fit. Needed to wait a few days before there was a foster family for him. And had poor communication and told that "upon returning the dog" we would be able to "discuss the return of the $400 fee". Which WAS A LIE. We are out $400 and we acted in good faith by returning the dog and was denied the return of the $400 fee. Pretty terrible experience and incorrect information when we were up front with our concerns. Pretty poor experience and have burnt us in going through rescue organizations, especially when we had such a positive experience with a DIFFERENT organization.

I had a very negative experience with this rescue. Important information that should have been disclosed to me was not. They then basically called me a liar stating many people were heard telling me this information. Untrue & very disappointing. Beware & use SAAP as they are much more honest.

My story is similar to a number of stories here. I'm on Staten Island, but I guess their MO is the same. It seems every time I've tried for a puppy, it was already adopted. I recently applied for a puppy, App May 21st 2018. Then I saw his photo was removed, and when I inquired, I was emailed he was adopted. I transferred my application to the puppies sibling who was still available. I was sent a message that I would have to go to an event, they were having on June 2nd about and hour+ drive away to see if I was able to adopt a puppy that was located on Staten Island. I was told they weren't considering applications unless I showed up at the event with my whole family, and then there was no guarantee. When I said I couldn't get there, I was told if he wasn't adopted I would have a chance. What a load of crap. I have the perfect home and situation for the puppy, and all the vet references they need. I told them I recently lost my dog. I guess I'll have to buy a puppy instead of rescue one into a great home.

Louie's Legacy is amazing. I've interacted with staff and volunteers for years now. Everything they do - EVERYTHING - is about and for the animals. And not just in the states they live and work. Their efforts extended to Houston to rescue cats and dogs after the hurricane. They dedicate their hearts and souls, every fiber of their being, to helping animals.

I have adopted three dogs now from Louie's Legacy and each experience has been wonderful! They have volunteers of all ages who are mature and very knowledgeable about each pet. They place their animals based on the best fit for them, not those who want them because they're cute or fluffy. They're always looking out for the best interest of their pets!

I adopted a wonderful puppy from this organization, and it was a great experience! I felt like the volunteers are all very knowledgeable about the pets, and they are well taken care of in their foster homes. I like that their application and screening process in thorough, because it assures me the pets are being placed in good homes. At the adoption event, all the volunteers were helpful and friendly! For the people giving bad reviews, like not getting refunds or whatever, it states right on their adoption contract that you don't get a refund if the adoption doesn't work out. The rescue still has to pay for the vetting of the animal, it's not like buying a purse you didn't like, it's a pet that needed food, medicine, and medical care while in the foster home. All the information is there, you just have to read the forms! I would definitely adopt from this rescue again!

I first met Louie’s Legacy staff at an adoption event where I filled out an application. They called and gave me info about the dog beforehand and allowed me to contact the dog’s previous foster mother. I was informed the dog had some guarding issues but that they had been reduced to some growling behaviors. Once I brought the dog home, he seemed to adjust pretty well until he began to exhibit these guarding behaviors. The guarding involved growling but also aggressive biting of anyone (or any dog) in his vicinity. I made sure to keep my floors picked up so he had less objects to guard, but he began taking toilet paper from my bathroom and guarding that. In one of these times, the dog drew blood by aggressively biting my hand even when I wasn’t taking the object from him. When the aggression began, I was very open with Louie’s about all of it. Unfortunately, as the level of aggression the dog exhibited was not disclosed to me beforehand, I was unable to afford the money and time it would take for the 1-on-1 training he needed. I surrendered the dog and talked to agency staff about getting a refund. They have refused to refund any of my money even though they were dishonest about the dog’s specific needs. I would recommend others adopt dogs from elsewhere in order that they be reassured that they won’t be tricked by this organization to spend $300 without full disclosure of the animals’ needs. Staff can not be trusted to give accurate representations of their animals.

It may be a great organization however in the rush to get as many animals homes they false advertise. We was sold what we was told to be a small breed, after driving hours to pick her up and bringing her home she grew and grew. Vet says she is Rot and Dobbie mix not what we was told at all. She is very aggressive and does not get along with the other small dogs in our house. Paid hundreds for her to find they lied to us. Should do more investigation knowing what kind of dog they are selling

Let me start out by stating that I understand and can appreciate the time and effort of the volunteers that are trying to do right by the animals they are saving. It's very kind of anyone to volunteer their time and resources for a noble cause, like a pet rescue. However, this particular organization is horribly unorganized, and feels incredibly deceitful in their practices.

My spouse and I started dealing with this rescue in November of 2015 when we were first looking to adopt a larger breed dog. We put in an application for a specific dog they had listed available on Petfinder and Facebook, and who would be available over Thanksgiving weekend at an adoption event in Petsmart. After a few emails prior to the event, we decided to go see if the dog in question was still there. He was not, due to a large number of applications, but we did speak in length to a volunteer named Keely about what we were looking for. She confirmed she had the application, and that it "appeared" that we had passed the first level of the application process, and to keep checking back for any other available dogs.

Another dog showed up, and the same thing happened, even though we had already put in our application. I asked flat out at one point if we were considered "non-adoptable", and if so, why, and we were told we were fine and to "just keep checking back".

Flash forward to February of 2016. We decided to go to My Furry Valentine and see if there was anyone we connected with there. The Louis Legacy booth was a mad house, and it was very difficult to find any volunteers to ask questions about dogs. Then I find Keely again, and asked her about a specific dog (mind you at this point, I've spoken to her in person multiple times). Her answer was "We still have to review your application." At this point it has been almost 6 months since our initial application. Besides a home visit, we had provided everything they had asked for information wise, and met all the requirements of a financial stable, experienced, loving pet home.

We ended up adopting a wonderful Great Dane from the SPCA during the same event with no hassle or issue. Many months later, we decided to find another large dog to add to our family, and act as a friend for our Great Dane, since our small dog isn't interested in playing with him. Again, Louie's Legacy posted all over the place about a dog being available for adoption at an event at Petsmart. We submitted our application, bring our dog, and go to the event before it even starts. The dog in question was the first on there, however, some how she had already been spoken for before the event even started. At first the volunteer said that a family was due to come meet her, but in the even that they didn't show, they would move on to the next person. We hung out for a little bit, and after a while we asked if it was okay if we could spend some time with her just in case said family didn't show up, so we would have a better idea if she would work for ours. This time, the same volunteer said that it was pretty much a done deal with the pending adoptive family, but "there were other dogs available". It soon became clear that the dog in question was being used as a ringer to get people to come to the event, under the guise that she was up for adoption.

It's a really horrible thing to do to people to get them to come to their events. If a dog is already spoken for, or has a "large number of applications", then don't bring the dog to the event and say they are available. Deceitfulness for a noble cause is still deceitful and wrong. I hope that they become more honest about their available dogs, for the sake of the potential adopters as well as the animals they are trying to save.

My wife and I were at PetSmart and this group was there with adoptable pets. We saw a dog that we just fell in love with. We spoke with Keely about the dog. She said that no one had put in an application yet and that at the current time the dog had an ear infection and would be on medication for the next 10 days. She further said that she would have to review our application and make a home visit before she would allow us to adopt the dog.
This was all fine with us. We filled out an application on the spot and gave it to her. She said that she would contact us with in the next week to make arrangements for the visit and to call our references. In the meantime, if we wanted to see the dog again we could come back to PetSmart next Saturday and she would be there.
Over the next week my wife sent several emails to Keely. They went unanswered. She never called our references and she did not contact us for a visit. The following Saturday we went back to PetSmart to see the dog and get an update on our application. Imagine our surprise when we were told the dog had already been adopted out and was gone. Guess that ear infection cleared up faster than expected.
This was not our first dog. We currently have 2 dogs. One of them is getting old and we were looking for a playmate for our other dog. So, it's not like we were new to this.
I have one last question for Keely. Did that dog go to a relative or just a good friend?
Stay away from this place. They obviously lie.

I adopted 2 pets from Louie's Legacy and it's been a great experience! The volunteers I worked with were really helpful and knowledgeable, and the adoption process was great! They have a thorough screening process to make sure pets are going to great homes.

This is a wonderful rescue group that truly cares about the well-being of every single animal that comes through their organization.