My Nonprofit Reviews

Terrible and Traumatic Experience from start to finish

I want to start by saying both my husband and I have pretty extensive experience with dogs (multiple breeds and ages). We also have experience with other rescues, who (after I have shared our experience with ATR) are SHOCKED and APPALLED with the "rules" and policies this rescue has in place.

I have our entire story below but I would HIGHLY advise not working with them! They do NOT allow any medical attention or treatment to any dog, no matter how sick the dog may be and don’t explain ANYTHING about their processes or partner clinics (cost of spay/neuter, etc)…they churn and burn these poor animals. They may have started with the best intention but are now are in over their head with too many dogs, too frequently and very bad attitudes to their foster families.

They are not able and definitely not willing to support the foster families who may have issues or problems arise with their foster pup…our case was extreme, but we believe it lead to a dead puppy whom we loved very much and were willing to do whatever it took to keep alive out of our own pockets.

My husband and I went to check out some of ATR’s puppies after seeing a post on Petfinder for available dogs. We found an adorable, sweet , very sad-looking, and VERY mellow 4 month old Shepard mix. I listened to the two women talk to multiple adopters about Fostering to Adopt and read their website myself of course…everything sounded OK at that point…

After having this guy for just a few days we recognized so he wasn’t just mellow, he was very sick. We called Jeri and she told us he should be fine and that they “just didn’t know how much he had previously been playing” with other days before we got him. Basically telling us not to worry. We were very uncomfortable with the fact that we “weren’t allowed” to take him to ANY vet or clinic ourselves, even at our own expense (we made it clear that we were willing to pay whatever the cost to get this little guy better)…another day went on and he became much worse – having trouble breathing and trying to vomit almost non-stop. I called both Jeri and Samantha at this time only to reach voicemail. My husband and I actually ended up at Dove Lewis, though we did not share that with the rescue at the time because they threatened to seize the dog if we did any such thing…we were concerned for his life at this point.

While at Dove Lewis I got an call back from Samantha (very negative and nasty tone) saying we did NOT have permission to take him anywhere and that if he needed help, to bring him directly to them (at one of their homes) and that they will provide medical treatment. We left Dove Lewis immediately (though the vet was seriously concerned about him) and arrived at their home around 10pm. One of the ladies came out, asked where the dog was and said she had medicine to give him…I asked what she would going to give him and she seemed annoyed and hesitant to respond…She finally told me. We felt awful and again very uncomfortable about this situation as we were still in our car, in the middle of the street. She told me to get him out of the car and then gave him a shot right then and there, in the middle of the street! I looked up the medication later and found out its not recommended for dogs under 1 year old as it stunts growth, how could they?!!? This has to be completely against all standards for practicing medicine...

They sent us home with him and told us if he’s not better by the next afternoon to call them again. All night long he was struggling, I didn’t sleep because he was having such a difficult time. He was NOT ok by any means and I couldn’t bare keeping him without being able to take him to a proper clinic…It was the hardest decision but we had to give him back to these women against’ our better judgment and all gut feelings. We had out hands tied. It was completely horrible.

There should be NO reason why they can’t allow foster parents to sign something and take animals to get medical attention (at their own expense). It doesn’t make sense at all and morally seems completely wrong.

I cannot believe they don’t provide the option to let their “foster to adopt” families take these animals somewhere if they choose to pay for medical attention on their own. Again, our circumstances were hopefully extreme and uncommon but this organization is SHADY SHADY SHADY! The one thing I will give them is that they did say these dogs may have illness, pickup kennel cough, etc…but to send such a sickly dog home with foster parent who can’t do anything to help is complete torture…They are in over their head and need to rethink their ethics and business processes…Be warned, they might have cute and very deserving dogs to foster/adopt but they are completely awful to work with!