Bella Vista Animal Shelter — Local services in Bella Vista

I guess my biggest issue is the lack of transparency, I would also question the integrity of the staff's intentions.

I submitted the application, they reviewed the app right in front of me, they then told me they had a concern about my cats. Which are farm cats that hunt all day.

I explained my environment to them and how my cats were not bothered by other animals and I personally did not feel a concern for the safety of my cats.

The staff appeared to hear me out and consider my opinion.

They then told me "I couldnt pick the dog up until the 24th" I said "that's fine" they then asked me to bring my great Dane in for a meet and greet.

I declined due to my 150lb great dane not doing well in car rides, hes scared of them and I dont want to force him into the car.

They said "oh ok, that's fine"

They then told me "go home and take a day or two and call us back to confirm you want the dog and we will move to the next process"

So I did, and I called them the next afternoon stating I wanted the dog.

I was told "We just had a family come in to adopt the dog, and they are a better fit". (This whole time I was lead to believe we were good to go)

So I was very disappointed and surprised by their response on the phone, so I asked "If another family never came in to adopt the dog, would we still be denied anyways?"

The staff didnt want to answer the question directly and tiptoed around the question.

So I asked again, their response "Well yes because of your cats"..........

So then I asked "So if noone ever came in to adopt the dog, you would just keep the dog there"?

They replied "We just dont want your animals or the dog to get hurt"......

So the answer is yes then.... We are saying a PLOT Hound is better off in a shelter than on 4 acres of land, A male companion, and most of all a family who wanted nothing else but to love her. (Which the dog loved the kids!)

My biggest issue of all is the cat ordeal.

There was absolutely no info on her stating that she did not get along with cats, not one word about it.

In fact when I was walking her, one of the staff members said "you should go inside and see if she gets along with cats"

So this whole mirage that the shelter has all this great info and research on the animals they take in is completely false. They had no idea if she got along with cats.

So I took her inside to meet a cat....I saw something completely different from what they did. Which was why I wasnt concerned.

The dog went up to the cat to smell the cat, (Hounds are very aggressive when they sniff, they get their nose right on it) She smells the cat, the cat hits the dog in the face, the dog the barks at it......

How do you expect an animal to act that has been locked up, especially a hound.

Have a clear application deny/approve process. Not someone just looking at the paper for 2 minutes then not giving clear cut answers/desicions.

Noone put in app in before me, that's what I was told. But I was told to take a day and think about it, then call back. But another family walks in and they are instantly approved, so is taking a day to consider process? Or just a way to get rid of people.

I was asked to bring in my great Dane, I declined because he is 150lbs and hates cars, so why would I do that to him. Plus they never said it was a...

READ BEFORE YOU ADOPT!!! I went in with my friend and decided to adopt a dog with a crooked jaw, they assured me a thousand times that his jaw had no affect on his health and would never be an issue. So I filed the paperwork for him and was approved, the day before I went to pick him up they called me and said "we just got him back from the vet but they had to remove all his teeth in that jaw due to infection and damage" and I said I wanted to think about it overnight. Next day I went in and said I didn't want to adopt him because I didn't feel qualified to handle his dental if he had a problem and that wouldn't be fair to him if it started hurting. So they let me pick out another dog and before they let me fill out the paperwork I had to talk to the manager. She said that she would not allow me to adopt an animal from them. I asked her why not and she said because I was not willing to take a dog to the vet. I explained to her I just wanted one that I know I could properly take care of, if I am going to be responsible for any animal I will only do so if I feel qualified, the last dog I had had been to the vet 11 times, once a year then one emergency when got his leg dislocated. Then she said to me the rudest remark yet, "well if that's the case I just don't think your a good home for an animal." So I left and went on Facebook to find a puppy from my friend. All in all I love going to shelters to adopt because I love giving a dog a home that needs one and I encourage anyone to try a shelter first, but this lady was rude, offensive, and unkind towards customers. I personally think someone like this should not be in charge of anything, let alone a charity based organization like a shelter.

P.S. if you run into the same problem I did just go on Facebook and tell your friends that you are looking for a dog, I had plenty of options, I knew the home that they came from, and plus it was...

Me and my fiancé walked in to there office building today, never having been there before. And was never greeted and no eye contact i guess Because she was on the phone? I feel You should at least look up and wave, smile, or something...Then we told her we were there to see some puppies and was immediately answered with a attitude. She said “what do you mean by puppies!? Because the only puppies we have are behind her and in a pink room and none are ready cause obviously their being held for parvovirus.” “So no we do not have “puppies” (and she actually did air quotes) which i have no clue what that meant! She said we can look at the 1+ Year old puppies and they will bark and blah blah blah. And as we were leaving never said thank you for stopping by or anything. Adopting a puppy/dog should be a positive and happy experience which i was Expecting to have, but did not happen here. She should of been happy we were here to adopt a dog and take him in a loving home. I actually Believe the other bad review for this page about them discriminating against age is true. Because yes we’re young BUT we own our own house, own our cars, had our same job for years, AND ALREADY HAVE A DOG THAT WE RAISED SINCE HE WAS A FEW WEEKS OLD! I really Hope changes are made here, i would Hate to see people turn down shelters as an option rather than buying from random people just because of someone’s...