The Center For Animal Health & Welfare

My experience there when I brought in a cat I had found was entirely different from a few previous posts. The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful, and most important, they obviously care deeply for the beautiful animals entrusted to them at their clean & inviting shelter.

I recently attempted to rescue a dog for my wife and I from this sheltor. We found a dog that we really liked and put in an application to adopt the dog. We were advised that we passed the application and the next day we received a phone call from a woman who advised she felt we were not suitable for the dog we picked. She stated due to the dogs outgoing nature it needed to go to a home with other dogs so it could "properly socialize". We were grilled on how we were going to care for the dog and socialize him. We were eventually advised that they felt we were not suitable for the dogs personality. Never did I think I would get rejected getting a dog because the dog was friendly. The staff was a pain to deal with and treated us like we were bad people. Here I was trying to save a dog from a caged life at the sheltor and they wouldn't let me have it because I couldn't provide a good enough social life...tell me how that makes sense. The people who run this sheltor are obviously more interested in hoarding their animals then actually doing what's best for them...which is giving them a home. The process of getting an animal at this sheltor is ridiculous. As long as I can provide a loving home for the dog where it won't be abused should be good enough. By the way I am a police officer and my wife works with the elderly at a nursing home. The fact that I was told I'm not good enough to adopt a dog is unbelievable. My wife and I eventually had enough of dealing with this sheltor and went to another and adopted an amazing dog hassle free.



Bottom line this shelter obviously needs to rethink their priorities when adopting out dogs. The priority should be giving the dogs homes not hoarding them.

I was contacted by a friend about a cat that had been abandoned by her neighbors when they moved. She was unable to keep it and I had told her about the center. I offered to deliver the cat there. I am a huge animal lover and would have kept her if I could. I walked in and was "greeted" by the meanest woman. She had no interest in any of the information I had, I was fairly choked up about dropping off this beautiful sweet cat in the first place. She was gruff and mean and offered nothing helpful. I was trying to do the right thing and felt like a criminal. I also arrived with a brand new outdoor igloo, a cat bed, blanket, case of food, litter and toys to donate. She dismissed me so quickly (I left all the donations anyway, because the animals dont deserve to suffer because of this awful woman) and she charged me $100 surrender fee. I was overwhelmed and felt bullied. I wasnt surrendering her, I was saving her from freezing to death. I paid $100 to be treated like garbage.

I adopted a dog in 2007 and with each passing month he became more and more vicious. The day I adopted him from The Center I was told he was returned because the people had to move and the new place didn't allow pets. I got a trainer and tried and tried but nothing helped, in fact everything made it worse. He bit me so viciously twice that I really needed emergency care but didn't go because I was afraid they would impound him and euthanize him. I had to return him. I was terrified of him. When I brought him back to The Center they were so unkind to me and acted as if I was a bad person for bringing him back even though I explained how afraid I was of him. Within a day The Center put him back online with a caption saying, "He was returned through no fault of his own..." Desperate to try to keep him from being adopted by anyone with young children, I called the Center and tried to talk to the manager there but was never allowed to talk to her directly. They put me in her voice mail. I left a voice mail explaining that this dog is vicious and needs help before they adopt him out again but they adopted him out again anyway. Incredibly I ran into the next people who adopted him when I was walking my new dog at Trexler Memorial Park. Long story but it turns out he tried to kill their dog they day they adopted him and they brought him back the very same day. This place lies. Shame on them. I feel sorry for this poor dog. He needs help from a reputable place that truly cares.

I adopted a very sweet dog in November only to find out the next day that she had a very serious and costly medical problem that was both ignored by this shelter and not reported to me. She had bladder stones in excess of one inch long and had been 'peeing' so much blood she was anemic. Our vet agreed that there is no way the facility could not have noticed this and can't imagine how their vet missed this distended bladder full of stones while spaying her. The manager there was very argumentative and defensive when I called to report this. I fell in love with the dog and kept her but they need to clean up their act and get better trained staff. I would not recommend them.

My boyfriend and I had a dog wandering around our yard the other day. We have two pets of our own and are animal lovers, however are not rich, budgeting already for ourselves and two pets.

It was obvious this dog needed more than we could provide. She was super friendly. We had no problems getting her in the car to take her to the nearest Center.

It was our welcome here that made us regret trying to help this dog!



We were treated suspiciously, as if we had abused her and were now bringing her to get rid of her. They were not interested in how we found her or her interaction with us. They asked us to fill out paperwork, give them a donation, and then leave. Yes, we were asked to leave! What kind of place is this?!?! I will think twice before trying to help any animal again: no wait, I am not an as***** like these people, so I will. However, I will just call the local police or something instead. Maybe they won't treat the police like they treated us.