Capital Area Humane Society — Local services in Watertown Charter Township

UPDATE Anne is a liar, and this is confirmed by me calling around to other humane societies and all of them confirming this is a lie. They only don’t do well if they are related. Which bacon and the other puppy wasn’t related. They said puppies do great together and what Anne said is inaccurate. My assumption is that ANNE didn’t want us to get another puppy and she wanted to save the puppy for other girl who wanted the puppy my brother wanted. Anne knew we had the money to buy the puppy. And that we were going to buy it that day too.

After today's experience, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE Unless Anne fired. I think the african american lady would be a better fit for a Manager.

Due to her PERSONAL feeling she felt like my family who drove an 1 hr 30 minutes away, didn't need to adopt another puppy. Due to possible "problems" it may cause. My mother (47) and my Brother (17) both have recieved letters from there doctors that they should recieve a EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PET would have a positive influence with there grieving process. And that he RECOMMENDS THEY BOTH RECIEVE ONE ANIMAL SEPARTELY!

I recommended this place to my family because I bought a puppy a year ago Bubbles (Butterball). She has greatly helped me with my depression. So, I told my family that this place takes great care of there animals (So I Thought). Last year My family experience the devasting loss of my father in september. Ever since my brother(17) and my mother (47) have been going through it. They both have seeked couseling and professional help.

They went here to get the best pet for there emotion support needs.

list of things lady said

I discussed with her about getting a second dog for my dog bubbles play with because she's lonely. She didn't recommend for me to have a second dog keep in mind this lady has two dogs. And they both came from the shelter.

I bought it at bubbles last year from here. My dog bubbles are beyond well taken care of. And every concern I have had for my dog I've asked about and fixed. Bubbles are extremely attached to me and she is beyond well-loved. I have spent over $3,000 on the dog just for treats, dog beds, Chew toys, and her vet bills.

She was worried about the puppies growing up around each other and becoming aggressive pretty much. My brother literally has his own apartment in the house. So if the dogs really needed to be separated they can be separated.

She was worried about the transfer of ownership, my brother is 17 years old turns 18 in august. She tells him that he can get another dog once he gets his own place and he doesn't live with my mom. Who are you to tell someone that they can get another dog once they're in their own place?

The lady was very rude and wasted our time. She let him pick out the dog, meet the dog, and play with the dog. All for her to walk over and say I don't feel comfortable allowing you to adopt a second dog.

The lady was very condescending and dismissive. When I was bringing valid concerns she said she didn't want to argue with me.

I told her that my dad passed away and this is the reason why he was getting his own puppy. And she was very dismissive and didn't seem to care.

And this lady also lied about being able to adopt two puppies. I was offered to adopt both my dog's Bubbles and her brother. And I have a witness there to verify it.

I do not recommend this place to anybody as long as this woman's working here. If you see a woman with a gray bob named ANNE run for the hills and don't come back. Because she's going to treat you like trash. And she decides whether or not you are capable of taking care of a dog or not. Not you, and I thought that was the point of adopting a dog. My mother will not be donating any of her money, which probably could have helped you guys meet your next goal either. I would love to speak to whoever is over this place. This lady needs to be fired and the African American lady needs to be promoted. She was extremely nice and welcoming. I am extremely disappointed...

Terrible Merry Christmas, our dog has been on her death bed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (today) because of a proven botched surgery by this place!!!

This clinic took a FULLY PAID, pre payment a week before my dogs surgery. The morning we arrived (remember we paid in full a week prior) they wanted another $55 even though we updated our dogs shots (just to make sure our dog was up to date) two days before the surgery with our private vet ($100). Then they called and refused to give us our dog back without another $100. Then they tried blaming our normal vet (one of the top 3 in the state) for “messy organs and a terrible job” that our normal vet does.

This place is HORRIBLE, charges extra fees if they deem you have money, they’re unsanitary, and they worked over 25 animals into a 10am-2pm time slot. Spaying was beyond sloppy. Staples in my dog look worse than a 2nd grader because staples are all over the place In weird positions (not even on the wound!)

They botched our dogs surgery, she’s already been to a local vet THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, with an IV and anti vomiting medicine because our dog won’t eat nor drink and kept vomiting. Humane society even admitted they “rearranged” her internal organs because of the $3,500 c section we had to do with her first litter. Which is why we spayed her in the first place.

The humane society spat and neuter clinic refuses to treat anything CAUSED BY THEIR RUSHED SURGERY, so we’re coming out of pocket another grand to get her seen by our normal vet.

They also hung up on both myself and my spouse when all we wanted was for their clinic to see her and fix the issue. They refused.

The facility is dirty as soon as you walk in, if they deem you have money (they watch what car you driver, how you dress, what vets you use normally) they will rack up as many fees as possible and then refuse to treat an animal that they botched the surgery for.

What a Merry Christmas kick in the gut. So we’ve been forced to hire an attorney for veterinary malpractice as well as contacting friends in the news media to run the story. When asked for a comment, they hang up immediately. Most of their clients are low income and can’t fight them when their pet dies because of their surgery that was rushed because of a time limit to finish 25+ animals within 4 hours. We will be taking them to court for everyone who doesn’t have the ability to hire an attorney and expose their terrible practices...

Summary: Honestly not the experience I was expecting from the Humane Society... I was surprised to have this bad of an experience. CAHS is clearly well funded, a great physical building, and has all the tools to be successful. But they have staff that doesn’t care, no policies/procedures to stop an adoption race, and behave more like a puppy mill in terms of “selling” many animals quickly. I certainly won’t be donating any time/money here... and won’t adopt an animal here either. It’s worth the drive to another Humane Society that cares.

Details: Went in looking for a kitten, first impression upon walking in the door... no one greeted us, no one at the desk, no one to even guide us to the animals. As we were there, it was clear the “paid staff” didn’t care to help, and the volunteers didn’t know anything about the animals. When we’d ask about a particular cat, everyone would say... “check with the front desk, they’ll look in the computer”. Clearly no one here interacts with the animals.

As we were “interviewing” kittens, we decided one of them would make a great addition to our family. My wife went to fill out the paperwork, and 10 minutes into the process found out that another couple had started on paperwork before us... So they literally adopted the cat from my arms! I don’t blame the couple... though it’s unlikely they even held the cat. I was more upset at the Humane Society... they have no system to ensure that if you’re looking at an animal, someone else can’t race to paperwork.

The other thing we noticed was there weren’t many animals available to adopt. Typically this is a good thing... we want them to have homes! However, through the course of the visit it became clear as to why that is. First... they ran a “two for one” sale on cats ($50). Second... they asked zero questions about your household, or ability to care for the animal. Every other Humane Society I’ve visited has done these things in one way or another, to make sure animals are going to a great home (and won’t come back). It seems like Capital Area Humane Society is more concerned with turning animals quickly, than placing animals in stable, safe, and...