North Shore Animal League America — Local services in Town of North Hempstead

We adopted our cat 20 years ago at North Shore as a kitten. He was awesome and when he died in January, we were devastated. After 7 months without him we decided it was time to adopt a new little baby. We adopted the most beautiful, sweet 8 week old kitten. We immediately fell in love and we brought her home to love and spoil. We were so excited to have our new fur baby. Hours after we got home her playfulness stopped. We thought she was tired from a day of transition. She refused to eat and we were told before we left the adoption center that she was a picky eater. I didn’t think much about this statement until after the ordeal we all went through ended. It was a sign and something that should have been watched before she was adopted out. I went to the pet store that night and bought several different varieties of kitten food. She wouldn’t eat at all. I called the medical center the next day and they said she could be just getting used to her new environment. By the afternoon, I called them back and asked if I could bring her to the clinic. They said it was by appointment but we could come and wait for a vet to see her. We didn’t want to stress her out so we brought her to a local emergency veterinary clinic. She had fever, but the vet said this isn’t uncommon in kittens. We had her less than 24 hrs at this point. The vet got her to eat some food and we were elated. We thought she was ok and got a good bill of health. Checked her blood sugar level etc. I got her to eat very little the next day and her energy level was going downhill. We must have called NS’s clinic 15 times over the next 2 days. We even tried to feed her kitten formula. We finally brought her to the clinic. We had her 3 days. She was dehydrated, she was drinking a lot. She had a high fever and very lethargic.she also lost weight and she was only 1lb 8 oz at the time of adoption They admitted her. They were trying to diagnose what was wrong. She was hooked up to fluids, antibiotics and we thought she would fine , but this wasn’t the case. Her fever was like a roller coaster. Up and down at times very high. After days of ruling out other diseases, we found out she had a fatal disease and unless we were willing to subject her to an 84 day treatment for this disease she would die. She was so tiny and frail. The vets at the clinic were great. They gave me updates daily and I called every morning to see how she got through each night. Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse and we needed to make a very hard decision. Subject her to 84 days of treatment in the hospital which could have side affects and may or may not work or end her misery. We chose the latter. This situation was heartbreaking for everyone involved. I spoke to many higher ups and the chief of staff at the hospital while this all was occurring. The staff at the hospital was wonderful, caring and tried their very best to save her. Our new little baby was gone and we were heartbroken but we were very grateful to everyone involved for their dedication and attention to our little girl. We are devastated. I have experience with cats. We knew that it wasn’t normal for a kitten not to eat. I just wish she would have been watched a few more days before she was adopted out. We were happy she was shown love, had a name and had an advocate during this horrible illness which is very rare. The clinic at NS did everything they could to save her. The clinic at NS is amazing, the adoption center should have been a little more aware of what it means to have a picky eater at 8 wks old. She would have gotten very ill regardless if she was there or with us. Horrible experience but NS did everything they could. We thank them for that. We will come back to adopt again. We just need to heal from...

North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) is an exceptional organization that provides comprehensive support throughout the adoption process. The staff and volunteers are incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and show a deep love for animals. Their commitment to 100% transparency about each dog's behavior is commendable, ensuring that we were well-informed and mindful of any specific tendencies.

The facility itself is impressive, featuring a large yard with several pools where you can interact with potential pets in a more unrestricted setting, offering a better sense of their behavior compared to the smaller indoor pens. For instance, the dog I adopted had resource guarding tendencies when she first arrived, but the staff provided a thorough history, including how her behavior had improved over time. This transparency was invaluable, preparing me for any potential issues.

We never felt alone in the adoption process. Upon bringing our new dog home, NSALA offers medical services for the first two weeks, including a very low copay, to address any health issues that may arise. They also provide guidance on what to do if, for any reason, we needed to give up the dog (though we hope this never happens). Additionally, we spoke with a vet tech about the dog’s recent medical history and known issues, which was reassuring.

I was also impressed by the thoughtful items provided upon adoption: I left the shelter with a leash, the collar my dog was already wearing, a sweater (thanks to a small donation I made), a decent bag of pet food, a dog toy, and a comprehensive packet of documents detailing my dog's history, very thorough housetraining guide. They also provided a contact list for the services NSALA and their affiliates offer, ensuring that I have access to ongoing support.

Although it was my first time adopting from NSALA, I was confident in my decision because relatives of mine have adopted from them multiple times and have always had great experiences. Additionally, I visited the cat section on the second floor and was struck by how peaceful it was. The area features many rooms, each equipped with various furniture and fixtures for the cats to climb on and sleep. Every cat appeared comfortable and content. If I were considering adopting a cat, I would definitely consider NSALA given my very positive experience with adopting my dog.

Most, if not all, of their animals are spayed or neutered and microchipped. Their affiliation with Fetch also allows you to sign up for dog insurance without a waiting period, and the service provided is quite good.

The Dogust event, which waived adoption fees, was a wonderful touch, but they also offer a shop for donations and additional contributions. The extensive resources provided—behavior training information, care guides, health insurance, and discount or reduced-cost service pamphlets—are a testament to their dedication.

The thorough background check may seem rigorous, but it reflects their commitment to finding suitable homes and reducing the chances of returns. They contacted my references promptly, and the feedback was consistently positive about the staff’s friendliness and professionalism.

Overall, NSALA stands out as a top-notch animal shelter, and my experience with them was truly outstanding.

EDIT: After reading some negative reviews, I feel it's important to note that my wife and I are not white, Aaron Knowles. So they do in fact approve...

Other than their staff member, John, making our visit with the cats a memorable one and just overall carrying the entire cat division on his back, my opinion of the rest of this place, however, is no longer good. This place is an animal hoarding house, masquerading behind the sign of an adoption center.

I recommended a friend this shelter because I've gotten my dog from here in the past. They gave them such an incredibly horrible time with the adoption process solely because they live in an apartment. Talk about classism for a freaking dog adoption agency. Yes, I understand they want whats best for the dog, but at the same time, must it be to a point where they're asking for BOTH a landlord's letter AND phone call in one sitting? And for ALL family members to be in attendance during the adoption process?? Meanwhile, others that have walked in alongside my friends inside of the facility walked out earlier with their puppies without issue, but were holding my friends up. This process is beyond excessive, targeted, I'd even argue. If they're making such a process near impossible, it's evident they don't actually want these animals to be homed, which is a disservice, not to us potential adopters, but to the poor animals behind these cages, longing and pleading for a home. Not to mention how much time was wasted since the process took about 3 hours. Needless to say, I'm mortified having recommended this place at all and making my friends go through such a horrible experience that I will NEVER suggest NSAL to anyone ever again.

Their only saving grace is their staff member in the cat division, John. The staff members in the dog division were overall attentive and helpful, but no one was as phenomenal and remarkable as John. Genuinely a gem of a person amongst the heap of other soulless staff in the cat division. He was very calm and composed and happily showed us around the entire cattery, offering to take us to each individual room, stayed with us our entire visit, even resumed with us when we momentarily stepped out and came back, and even gave us details about each cat accompanying every room, down to their backstories and origins. He truly cares about the cats he works with and has gone beyond the extra mile for us. If anyone goes to the cattery, I'd definitely suggest John be the one to show you around. He was the only positive part of our visit to this sad excuse of an adoption facility. I genuinely mean with every fiber of my being that this staff member is honestly too good for this place and truly deserves 100 raises. I just wish the same could've been said about the rest of the staff among the cat division who just stared us down the entire time and offered no help and couldn't even be bothered to wish us a good night back as we were leaving. They'd truly be nothing without John.

In the end, my friend was unable to get the dog because of their ever so restrictive and invasive adoption process. Truly saddening and sickening. Whoever adopts her, please give her a great life we wish we...