Dog Rescues in NY/NJ/CT area

[nycequestrian]

As the title suggests, I’m hoping to hear about your experiences with dog rescues in the NY/NJ/CT area. We are considering adding another dog to our family and would love to adopt from a shelter or a rescue. We are still very much in the research stage and are in no rush, we would rather wait for the right fit.

I’ve done some Google research and have an idea of the names of shelters/rescues that are around. However, I was wondering if any of you have any first hand experience with shelters in that area. If so, I’d love to hear how it worked out, was the process a positive one for you and your family, etc.

Many thanks!

[itgoeson]

I have fostered for PAWS New England, https://pawsnewengland.com. They bring dogs up from high-kill shelters in the south and place them in foster homes until they’re adopted. It’s a well-run rescue that puts the dogs first always. They are very particular about placing dogs in the right home, no rush to adopt. They take in some difficult cases too… older dogs or those with health issues to resolve before adoption… truly a second chance for dogs that wouldn’t have one otherwise.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

I can’t help with rescues, but be aware that when you adopt an imported dog from the South, chances are high that s/he has heartworm.

[nycequestrian]

[QUOTE=DogIsMyCopilot;8712197]
I can’t help with rescues, but be aware that when you adopt an imported dog from the South, chances are high that s/he has heartworm.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for that heads up! I did notice that a lot of shelters say they give the dogs a health check and that they are healthy (some shelters specify heartworm negative etc.) but I will definitely be on the look out for that.

[Marshfield]

Not sure about New York, but most New England states require treatement of heartworm positive dogs prior to transport.

[Beaudacious22]

My SO and I adopted our dog from Meade Cainine Rescue New England out of CT (they also have a CA branch) they are on Facebook and seem to be good about posting available dogs, however, we found our girl through petfinder. They were absolutely awesome to work with and the adoption process was very easy/no jumping through hoops. We were pre-approved based on our application and references so ended up taking our girl home with us on the day we met her. We’ve had her for two years now and she has been wonderful from day 1. They definitely represented her well and were upfront about her high-energy and other quirks. We applied with a few rescues before we got our girl and some of them had rediculous requirements or didn’t even get back to us (which put a bad taste in my mouth). I really can’t say enough good things about this rescue. Good luck with your search!

[nycequestrian]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;8712394]
Not sure about New York, but most New England states require treatement of heartworm positive dogs prior to transport.[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure either, that is something I’ll have to look into.

Do you (Marshfield) or anyone - happen to know what happens if the dog is too young to test for heartworm? I was looking at the PAWS New England rescue and some of the dogs are listed as too young. Apologies for all the questions, we are new to rescuing.

[Marshfield]

If they’re under six months, in most cases, simply starting them on heartworm prevention will have them covered

[french_fry]

Oh, PM me if you’re in NYC! I’ve fostered with several organizations and worked with many more.

[xQHDQ]

Since there are soooo many shelters/rescues in the area, I think you’ll get answers across the board. Maybe find a pet on Petfinder first and then ask specifically about that shelter?

[msj]

You may not want to drive over to western NY but the Lollypop shelter in Fairport, NY is pretty reliable. Not sure about other shelters/rescues but with Lollypop you get a free vet examination (local vets only I believe). I’ve adopted quite a few and only sent one back. That was a chow mix that I adopted with a cattle dog mix. The cattle dog was my heart dog, loyal, protective, one-person dog, but the chow basically gave you the finger or should I say paw.

www.lollypop.org

unfortunately on their website they have a lot of pit bulls and pb mixes, but they have about 4-5 rooms of dogs with about 10 cages/room. I’m not knocking pit bull or mixes but a lot of people don’t like them. I don’t generally like them myself but a friend has had 3 pb and pb mixes that were lovely and I’ve told her I’d gladly take her current pitty anytime.

I’ve gotten a rotweiller/shepard mix that was a love bug, a cattle dog mix mentioned already, and several ketchup dogs (Heinz 57 varieties).

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

OP–somewhat off-topic but I just clicked the link in your signature and I love, love your photography! I’ve followed your feed for quite some time–it’s one of my favorite Instagram accounts with a focus on horse shows! You have such a crisp and distinctive style!

I live in the Monmouth County, NJ area and there was a recent, well-publicized case of a dog hoarder’s home being evacuated in the Howell area. The Monmouth County SPCA is handling the case and the 276 (!) dogs that were removed are slowly becoming available.

There is more information about some of the rescued dogs on the organization’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MonmouthCountySPCA/?fref=ts

The Howell dogs currently aren’t listed on the SPCA website, except for one or two, but here is a link to some other adoptable dogs at the shelter:

http://monmouthcountyspca.org/adoption/dogs/

It’s a beautiful, clean, well-run shelter that has a wide selection of dogs and does a great deal of good work for the community of pet owners in general. I’m not ready to get another dog yet but when I do it is the first place I will look.

[Bluey]

You may find this interesting:

http://nypost.com/2016/05/01/underhound-railroad-taking-thousands-of-dogs-from-southern-shelters-and-breeders/

May want to read the book also.

[nycequestrian]

[QUOTE=Impractical Horsewoman;8721985]
OP–somewhat off-topic but I just clicked the link in your signature and I love, love your photography! I’ve followed your feed for quite some time–it’s one of my favorite Instagram accounts with a focus on horse shows! You have such a crisp and distinctive style!

I live in the Monmouth County, NJ area and there was a recent, well-publicized case of a dog hoarder’s home being evacuated in the Howell area. The Monmouth County SPCA is handling the case and the 276 (!) dogs that were removed are slowly becoming available.

There is more information about some of the rescued dogs on the organization’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MonmouthCountySPCA/?fref=ts

The Howell dogs currently aren’t listed on the SPCA website, except for one or two, but here is a link to some other adoptable dogs at the shelter:

http://monmouthcountyspca.org/adoption/dogs/

It’s a beautiful, clean, well-run shelter that has a wide selection of dogs and does a great deal of good work for the community of pet owners in general. I’m not ready to get another dog yet but when I do it is the first place I will look.[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much for your kind words! It made my night

I’ll definitely check out the shelters you’ve linked. I really appreciate all of you who have commented and offered advice.

[nycequestrian]

[QUOTE=msj;8721976]
You may not want to drive over to western NY but the Lollypop shelter in Fairport, NY is pretty reliable. Not sure about other shelters/rescues but with Lollypop you get a free vet examination (local vets only I believe). I’ve adopted quite a few and only sent one back. That was a chow mix that I adopted with a cattle dog mix. The cattle dog was my heart dog, loyal, protective, one-person dog, but the chow basically gave you the finger or should I say paw.

www.lollypop.org

unfortunately on their website they have a lot of pit bulls and pb mixes, but they have about 4-5 rooms of dogs with about 10 cages/room. I’m not knocking pit bull or mixes but a lot of people don’t like them. I don’t generally like them myself but a friend has had 3 pb and pb mixes that were lovely and I’ve told her I’d gladly take her current pitty anytime.

I’ve gotten a rotweiller/shepard mix that was a love bug, a cattle dog mix mentioned already, and several ketchup dogs (Heinz 57 varieties).[/QUOTE]

Western NY is a little far for me but I will definitely keep this rescue in mind as I do know people who live in Western NY.

[horsenut_8700]

What kind of dog are you looking for? I’ve worked with Big Fluffy Dog Rescue(foster) and Save A Lab(adopted) and had good experiences with both.

[horsenut_8700]

And I currently have a 1.5 year old private foster Springer mix available as well

[joiedevie99]

http://www.fortheloveofdogsrescue.org/

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8723516]
What kind of dog are you looking for? I’ve worked with Big Fluffy Dog Rescue(foster) and Save A Lab(adopted) and had good experiences with both.[/QUOTE]

Since you have worked with Big Fluffy Dog, I want to IMPLORE that group to consider being less rigid in their adoption rules. Awhile back they had a fantastic St. Bernard/Aussie mix I would have taken in a heartbeat and given the world’s GREATEST doggy life–but I didn’t “qualify” because of two of the rules; that the dog must LIVE IN THE HOUSE and no “Invisible Fence” systems allowed. I had to go out and buy an Aussie from a breeder instead. I’ve had a lifetime of ownership of St. Bernards and have an older one now. They are FAR happier outside!

For Big Fluffy Dogs, house life is not nearly as healthy as yard and farm life–which at my place includes living with other dogs in a kennel house and the use of an electric fence to keep 'em “down on the farm.” He could have run with my happy pack loose all day getting constant at-will exercise, and kenneled communally all night, rather than locked alone in someone’s empty house while they’re at work all day and having to settle for a “walk.”

Please, PLEASE “rescuers,” consider that there are MANY different management situations that can give dogs a long, happy, healthy life–there is NO one size fits all! Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “much better than nowhere.”

To the OP’s question, P.A.W.S. in Norwalk, CT is excellent, but all the shelters around here have mostly pit bulls available most of the time.

[nycequestrian]

[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8723516]
What kind of dog are you looking for? I’ve worked with Big Fluffy Dog Rescue(foster) and Save A Lab(adopted) and had good experiences with both.[/QUOTE]

Ideally I’m looking for a small/medium short haired dog that could live in an apartment (with appropriate walks etc.) but would also be well behaved enough to go to the barn, to horse shows.