Humane Society of St. Joseph County
Grape, Mishawaka, IN

Humane Society of St. Joseph County Reviews

4.3 stars based on 533 reviews

Featured Comments:

• j

  jacqueline Mccord

  5.0

  They were very knowledgeable about all the kittens. Their names, their temperaments, etc. Very impressive. I got a kitty named Pearl. I paid $75. She was vaccinated, and spayed. Can't beat that price for all you get. Pearl is a perfect kitty. Very loving. I am so lucky. Thank you to the staff.

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  Tamiko Fidis

  1.0

  In 2018 I lived in Hammond Indiana my now ex boyfriend lived in Illinois he took me with him to the animal shelter in Chicago, we were allowed to see the cats/kittens when we got there, he picked out 2 kittens that he wanted then he filled out the adoption papers, paid the fees and he took the kittens home that same day. OUT HERE this shelter and other shelters say we my son and I have to fill out the adoption applications online first, we are not allowed to see the cats/kittens because we need an appointment to see them so we have to wait to be called to set up a day and time to see the cats/ kittens, to me it's as if they don't want the cats/kittens to get adopted because they're doing too much out here. Because the shelters are short staffed due to the pandemic you would think that their adoptions would be same day adoptions just like they are in Chicago.

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  Response from the owner

  Hey Tamiko, I'm glad you took the time out to review us. This is a great opportunity for me to clarify our current procedures and give you some insight on what we've learned through these troubling times. We can all agree that being able to walk right in, play with the cats, sign a few pieces of papers then head home with your pet sounds like the easiest and most ideal situation... for the adopter. But in reality, this isn't always what is best for the animals or what is feasible for the shelter at hand. Folks need to temper their expectations by doing their research on the organization they are trying to visit/adopt from to familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures. It is important to realize that what may seem not ideal for them, is actually what is best for the animals with the resources currently at hand. Prior to the pandemic we did host same day adoptions and allowed for walk-in visitors. However, as like a lot of other things, that has changed since the pandemic. When the pandemic started and we closed our shelter down to all visitors we were stunned by the transformation we saw in the overall stress and wellness of our shelter pets. Having less visitors dramatically reduced the stress animals were feeling by having dozens of strangers trying to pet them, tap on their cages, and so on. Having happy pets is more important to us than catering to impatient visitors. Yes, we are understaffed. Having appointments allows us to prioritize our responsibilities of caring for the 400+ animals in our shelter and also spend quality time with our adopters to ensure the most successful placement. By processing your application prior to visiting, we are able to determine what kind of pet your family is looking for and can dedicate our time helping you pick out the best pet for you. With fewer people in the shelter, adopters have a more intimate interaction with the pets you are coming to meet because we have someone dedicated to you. Big cities such as Chicago have the luxury of a larger donation base, usually much larger annual budgets, and robust staff and volunteer programs. Unfortunately, being a non-profit in a mid-size Midwest town does not provide the same resources. That is very much so an Apples to Oranges scenario. If you decide to give adopting a chance in the future, I'd highly suggest contacting the shelter/rescue in advance to understand what their policies/procedures are and act accordingly. If that isn't something you're willing to do then it's probably best you don't adopt anyway.

• J

  Jennifer Crawford

  5.0

  OMG, THE STAFF IS AMAZING, HELPED MY DAUGHTER AND I. EVEN MADE A SPECIAL APPOINTMENT FOR US ON A SUNDAY SO WE COULD MEET OUR NEW BOY BUDDY. AND HE IS AWESOME. WE LOVE ALL THE STAFF HERE. THEY LOVE THE ANIMALS AND THEY ATE TRULY AMAZING PEOPLE WITH HEARTS OF GOLD. I AM THANKFUL

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