My Nonprofit Reviews
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Review for SILICON VALLEY PET PROJECT, San Jose, CA, USA
My experience with this rescue was filled with great sadness and confusion. I do not feel this is a good rescue and will never be involved with them again. I started fostering for this rescue and, at first, really enjoyed the experience. My first foster coordinator who happened to be one of the original board members was positive, passionate, and uplifting. However, the founding boarding members pushed her out with their bullying behavior and I was left in the hands of another foster coordinator. My experience with the new coordinator was awful. The rescue decided to euthanize the dog I had been fostering for alleging biting a child. I was saddened by some of the words the new foster coordinator used at a time of extreme sadness and the fact that I could not take my foster dog for one last walk in the dog park before he was euthanized at Humane Society Silicon Valley. When I expressed my emotions of this feeling wrong to my foster coordinator, I heard some harsh words. I was told that my foster dog is lucky that he didn't have him beat up after biting someone's kid and that just because he has not bitten me yet it doesn't mean he won't turn on me (I fostered him for many many months and never witnessed any biting). I was also told he could not be trusted at the dog park around others. She made him sound like a monster in his final moments in this world, which I know he is not.
This whole experience was hard to swallow and left me with an even sadder feeling in my heart. I understand difficult decisions need to be made, but this is an animal rescue organization that claims to strive for a positive and compassionate experience for its animals, volunteers, and fosters, no matter the circumstances, and I did not feel this that day.
I emailed the President of Silicon Valley Pet Project to discuss this experience and all she said to me in response was that is was a sad situation and that the foster coordinator was "an experienced animal welfare professional and is a very compassionate person."
I later asked Humane Society Silicon Valley about the new foster coordinator's background (because I was told she was a former employee) in dog behavior and I was told she did not do any behavior for them. I am a vet tech and my experience with Silicon Valley Pet Project has affected me in a way that I will never work with a rescue organization again.
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Silicon Valley Pet Project continues to miss the point. I understand this decision had to be made, but your foster coordinator lacked any compassion for what I was going through and for Einstein on his last day of life. He deserved to be treated in a kinder and gentler way, but instead he died with your foster coordinator who thought he was a monster. He was not a monster and deserved much more than your rescue gave him.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
No
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Badly
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2015
We agree that Einstein's case was extremely sad and difficult for all involved. We always strive for a positive outcome with all of the pets we rescue and for a compassionate experience for our animals, volunteers, foster families and adopters. We were deeply saddened that, despite seeking advice from a certified trainer and working with a veterinarian, the very difficult decision was made to euthanize Einstein. Einstein had multiple documented unprovoked bites and hospital records for injuries to a child. Our intent is to do the best for every pet we rescue and the people they touch. In our continuous effort to improve, we welcome all comments and suggestions.
