Sonoma County Animal Services — Local services in Windsor

I had to personally call Sonoma County Animal Services to ask if they could help me locate and rescue my cats. While speaking with them, I happened to ask if any cats had recently been turned in that matched the description of mine — and to my surprise, I was told that three of them were actually in their custody.

These three cats are ones that my husband and I have personally taken in and cared for. One of them has been with us for about a year, and the other two are around four months old. They were originally outdoor cats that we rescued, fed, and kept safe. Despite us clearly explaining this to staff, we were still met with judgment, attitude, and condescension.

To make matters worse, the only “notice” we were supposedly going to receive about our cats was by mail — a letter that, as of now, still hasn’t arrived more than five days later. Had I not called by chance, I would have never known that our cats were there. That is completely unacceptable and shows a serious flaw in how this agency handles reuniting pets with their rightful owners.

When we went to the shelter in person, things went downhill fast. While I briefly stepped away, one of the employees, Missy Paik, made inappropriate and offensive remarks to my husband, accusing him of being a cat breeder. She then said over her walkie-talkie — fully aware that we could hear her — that we were “irresponsible owners who just let them breed.”

Her behavior was rude, unprofessional, and shameful. She showed absolutely no self-control and acted more like a toddler that doesn’t know how to control her tongue than a county employee serving the public. Even after this happened, no one from the facility apologized or attempted to correct her behavior.

We were there for almost half an hour, being told that we would be able to take our cat home. Then suddenly, that same woman — the one who had already been rude and disrespectful — claimed they had just discovered a “mass in her lower abdomen” and said it was an emergency that required the vet to see her immediately. I wasn’t even allowed to see my cat, and we were told we could not take her home.

Later that evening, around 6:30 p.m., I started reading reviews about Sonoma County Animal Services and found other people describing the exact same experience — being told their cat had a “mass in the abdomen,” followed by the shelter euthanizing the cat.

I will be going there first thing this morning, October 15th, as soon as they open, to retrieve my cats myself. Between the disrespect, lack of transparency, and deeply concerning pattern in these reports, I do not trust Sonoma County Animal Services to act responsibly or compassionately.

The conduct I witnessed was offensive, unacceptable, and a disgrace to any public agency that claims to serve its community. They...

I don't know if I'm feeling sadder or angrier. We went to the Sonoma County shelter to look at cats last Saturday. We found a cute cat who was very affectionate. We decided to adopt him. I phoned the shelter and told them I was coming up to adopt him. I said I was driving from south Rohnert Park and was going to stop to get litter and food first and I should be there no later than 2 hours from then. She said I should come now and to leave the cat in the car (ironic since they have a sign outside their shelter stating to not leave pets in a car when it's over 70 degrees, which it was!) to get the litter later. I told her I wasn't going to be long and that I didn't want to leave the cat in a hot car. I told her I'd be there no later than 2 hours.

When I got there, I went to the cat to see him again and a staff member was taking him out of his crate because a family just adopted him 5 minutes before! I was shocked and humiliated. I told her that Sher knew I was coming up from RP. Too late. I got in my car, crying. I can't believe that's how they conduct their business. I understand that they can't "hold" a pet, but I told her I was driving up there today and when exactly I would be there! We were on the phone for 10 minutes.

Why, oh why can't they have a simple policy that when a prospective adopter says they'll be there by 2 pm (or whatever time), that they should hold the pet for that reasonable, determined time. If the prospective adopter doesn't show up, then the pet can be put up for open adoption?

I will NEVER, EVER return to the Sonoma County shelter again! P.S. There are other similar...

Well, it’s with a heavy heart that I am feeling the need to leave a negative review. I was blessed to find 6 healthy puppies that were either just dumped or just escaped, I’m not sure that were crawling out of a ditch on guerneville rd. I was truly blessed to be able to get to them and get them in my car before they were hit! It was VERY close and if I wouldn’t have saved them I’m sure a few would’ve been hit before traffic stopped if I didn’t get them! My point is I had to keep them overnight because animal control was closed at (4:30pm) and no vets had space. My aunt posted them on nextdoor and my mom and I posted on FB in hopes I would find the owner. I brought them here the next day and I was greeted by a grumpy, chubby 50+ woman with short brown hair, clearly she was a supervisor and was SOO JUDGY!!!!! she insinuated I didn’t find them and that it was “weird” that I found them!! I absolutely am in awe that a person that almost killed themselves to get these babies in the car and kept them overnight could be made to feel BAD for saving them!!!! She shouldn’t work there! The most of the other people were supportive and kind! I hope that lady reads this because you need change!!!! You’re awful! I had these sweet babies best interest at heart, I could have kept them and gave them medical attention and sold them! It was so hard for me to leave them. They are expensive dogs worth money, Instead I put my trust in the country/government to not be greedy and I just pray these sweet babies that I already miss find a...