Cape Ann Animal Aid — Local services in Gloucester

The staff at Cap Ann Animal Aid are generally friendly and helpful and the process for adopting a dog is efficient and easy, however, you really need to do your own research on dog breeds to make sure you are getting the right dog for your home. When the staff at Cape Ann state that a dog is a particular breed or mix, often it is only guesswork and uneducated guess work at that, although the are upfront by saying that they can't guarantee that the dog you adopt is the breed that they say it is. in my own personal experience, I adopted what they said was a Labrador Retriever mix. I chose a Lab because of their easy going temperament and low prey drive. I have a cat so I knew that a Lab would work well with my existing family. The dog I took home was not a lab mix rather, it was a Carolina Dog, also known as the American Dingo, which is a wild breed that is only partially domesticated at best. The temperament of a Carolina Dog is as far from a Labrador Retrieve as you can get. They are difficult and ornery with strong prey drives. The dog I brought home obsessively and aggressively went after my cat at every opportunity and there was nothing that could be done to make it leave the cat alone. After ten difficult days, I returned the dog to Cape Ann. The staff at Cape Ann were good about the return and refunded my adoption fee minus a $20 processing fee but some of the staff did not believe me when I told them what the correct breed of the dog was even after I showed them pictures of the Carolina Dog on the Internet that matched the dog I adopted exactly. They argued with me and accused me of being "rude" when I was only trying to make sure that no one else was unwittingly sent home with a wild dog. They were planning on putting the dog back up for adoption although now they would tell people that it was a German Shepard mix leaving another family to contend with having a wild dog...

I'm a severely disabled resident who attempted to surrender my 13 year old cat to Cape Ann Animal Aid as I can no longer take care of him. And in addition he howls a lot and the neighbors have been complaining. The animal aid said they wouldn't take him as he didn't fit their narrative and that they felt they couldn't find him a home. This is a hypocrisy as this outfit constantly brings in dogs from around the world to Gloucester (from Istanbul, Puerto Rico and other places) and charge astronomical fees for adoption. This place charges $450 to adopt a puppy under one year old, and $375 for a dog over one year old. In comparison, in Los Angeles you can adopt a dog for $125 which includes all the same services (spay-neuter, microchip, shots, etc). This so called shelter is more concerned with money then helping with the animals and residents here in Gloucester. An animal shelter is just that. A place for animals to temporarily go (and hopefully be adopted) that have been surrendered, strayed, or rescued. My cat wasn't applying for a job, he needed a place to go. This shelter is more concerned with providing vanity dogs for people with money. My cat needs a home asap and they refused him and in turn me, a disabled person. The city needs to provide some oversight into this organization as they do a disservice to...

I recently lost my beloved Siamese boy. I live alone, and he was my comfort and support. My heart is broken. I saw a beautiful Siamese mix online. I applied to adopt her, and got a call Saturday morning from one of the staff. She knew I was coming over from Salem to see Savannah. My friend and I got there, and went upstairs where the cats were. I met the person that had called me. She was just pointing to the cage Savannah was in. Well, within a min or so 2 men came in, one carrying a cat carrier. They went right to her cage. I said, I hope you're not here for Savannah. The guy says very bluntly , well yes we are and she's taken!! I cannot tell you how hurt and disappointed this experience was . Why wasn't I told in the a.m. that she is being picked up today and not available?? I did see another beautiful girl there, but I can't risk another heartbreak. I hope Savannah is loved. She would have been the the Queen of my home. Very broken hearted. Update: thank you for contacting me today, I appreciate it. I will be keeping my eyes open for the pretty girl that's not quite ready for adoption. Thank you again and appreciate all the hard work your staff does for animals. An update, a beautiful Calico girl named Holiday came home with me today. She is so loving and is making herself at home. Thank you...