SPCA of Upstate New York

AWFUL! What a horrible experience from beginning to end in attempt to find a new edition to our family. On 12/27/2016 My son applied for a specific puppy/dog. Answered all the questions about other animals noting we have both dogs and cats. Was allowed to meet and bond a little. He was then told he had to bring our other dogs to meet - which was fine. What wasn't fine is that he was reminded repeatedly that they wouldn't hold the dog. On 12/28 The very next morning me and my husband arrived with our dogs to meet the new dog because my son had to work. We were informed that we could not see the dog because my son had to be there. We said we would wait till he could get there and AGAIN we were informed they would not hold the dog. Seriously? My son got out of work early and raced to the shelter.
We had a meet and greet with the new dog. All went swimmingly. A behaviorist comes in and asks some lame questions. I certainly know more than she did. Anyway, we appeased them with all the formalities. My son was just happy to have finally found a companion.
Thinking we are set to sign and adopt, At the last minute we are asked if we have cats. We answered yes as the application and our perfectly up to date vet records indicated. They now tell us he has to be tested with cats. Okay... So they leave us again as we continue to fall more in love with the dog. The "care giver" returns and tells us she did some "digging" and learned that the puppy was surrendered by its former owner in Tennessee because it attacked a cat severely injuring it.

I'm wondering why this additional research was conducted now. The young girl proceeds to say I won't test him with cats and You can't take him because you have cats. Seriously? I'm not even sure I believe it. Or did they go digging and make up this bs story in effort to deny my son the dog? you are supposed to know these things first.

Go to a rescue. This place treats you like a criminal from the beginning.

Rude condescending staff would don't know much about a puppy but bark orders and blame u for gently looking at pup and then call you demeaning for not listening. Need to train staff in vet care and manners. I would never ever go there or to their events at petsmarts

I recently just went there with my mother to get her a cat for her and my dad for company..went through the whole process of papers..come to find out over an hour we were there that she wasn't allowed to bring that cat home due to no previous vet records..I just can't seem to understand why they have so many animals but so few are allowed to adopt..furthermore let's just say if your looking to adopt don't go through SPCA!!!

We've adopted twice from the SPCA of Upstate NY. Both times have been wonderful successes. First of all, most of the people who work here are volunteers. Yes, it is stressful to go there and look at the available dogs. It's never easy for us to think of the dogs spending their lives in cages. But this is a far safer way for these dogs to live than out on the streets or in abusive homes. The shelter provides for their safety, their health, and their security. They are fed, and kept clean. They are given all their shots, and they have playtime 4 times a day supervised by dedicated volunteers.



Both times I first saw our future family member at the PetSmart in Wilton. Our first SPCA dog (which became our 3rd dog) was a puppy from Tennessee. We just got Teddy, our 4th, last week. He is 2.5 years old and has spent over 2 years at the shelter. His disposition is wonderful. He is such a sweet, gentle dog. He gets along well with our other dogs and happily settles into his crate when he's over stimulated or when it's bed time.



Teddy's ability to adapt speaks to his own nature as well as to the wonderful work the people at the SPCA do. Living in a shelter for over two years is not a great way to grow up, but I am grateful that they kept him safe until I could find him. The puppies come and go, but some dogs stay for a long time until someone can look beyond their age and see the potential these older dogs offer. The volunteers become these dogs' family and they love and care for them as long as they need to. And hopefully they can celebrate when an older animal finally finds its forever home.



What is terribly upsetting for me is the fact that this beautiful dog with such a sweet nature was left at the shelter for over two years. Most people want the puppies and don't give the older dogs a second look. Both times I went to look at an older dog. We got the puppy the first time because my other two dogs did not like the other dogs they met.



I commend the work the SPCA does. If all pet owners were responsible, we could put places like this out of business.

I first met Cathy Cloutier @ Petsmart where she was running an adoption clinic. I adopted a wonderfu puppy mutt that has been an important member of our family for the last 15 years. She was so helpful to me to make my decision on this wonderful member of my family.



I worked for a breed specific rescue group, and when Cathy Cloutier notified me that they had done a rescue from a terrible hoarding / puppy mill (the home had been condemed, and the dogs pulled and sent to ASPCA). The dogs had never spayed / neutered, been socialized, or been outdoors. She worked with my group to help get these dogs sent to good homes. She allowed me to go in on weekends to help socialize, groom, get pictures of these dogs for our website. She spent a great deal of time working with our group to help transfer these wonderful animals to our group to get them adopted to forever homes.



I have now known her, and the staff of this facility for many years. They are so dedicated to the wefare of all the animals that are in there care. Each and every dog and cat are treated as if they were their own pet. Every one there goes the extra mile to assure that each adoption goes to the home that will give the animal the forever home that they deserve.



Sadly, this does not make every one happy, but the staff is far more interested in the welfare and the animals best interest.



Koodos to Cathy and here staff.

I have to say that this has to be one of the most poorly run place I have ever seen. You are treated so rudely right from the get go!! I just got word that a very dear woman who lives alone called there because she's looking for a companion. She was told that she was TO OLD! I bet if Cathy's grandmother wanted a kitten for a companion she wouldn't be told "she's to old"! Well for this lovely grandmother things worked out perfect. My purebred Maine-coon Queen just gave birth to 2 lovely kittens. Not only is this lovely lady getting one of my babies, she's getting him for FREE! I've waived the price because I know this woman's going to give this kitten an amazing home! Once again Cathy YOU LOSE! You don't even need a shovel to dig that place into the ground! To think I used to donate to a place that DISCRIMINATES makes me sick!!! I know it's not the animals fault and I do feel bad about that BUT, she's just to difficult to deal with!! I'm sure this "OLD LADY" will bring my kitten so much joy and vice-versa!!!

I went to visit this shelter with a friend who was potentially going to adopt a puppy or dog. I have been to many shelters over the past few years. Of all the places I have seen, I have never seen a shelter that looked like a puppy mill. This one did. Crates stacked on top of crates with dogs in crates that were in some instances too small for them. Outdoor runs that were very apparently never used because the grass had grown over the dirt in the runs. The dogs were stressed and barking. Only a couple of staff members and no volunteers walking dogs or visiting the cats. It was the most painful experience to watch. If this had not been an SPCA, I would have reported them to the SPCA. What a horrible, horrible place for animals. I felt sorry for their young workers who limited their conversations and watched us like hawks to see what we were looking at. I can't imagine what those dogs are going through mentally. There would be no way to show them to potential adopters in an unstressful environment, and so the likelihood of finding them a forever home, would be severely decreased. They have way too many dogs and puppies to care for. Cats are in cages. High stress environment. My heart is very heavy for this place. I am surprised that their board of directors is supportive of this situation and also surprised that they call themselves an SPCA ........ also surprised that they get donations for this 501C......................This is just a large WOW.......very, very sad.

We adopted a dog in March with in 2 days the pup got sick. With in 4 days he got diagnosed with Parvo virus which 2 vets confirmed he got from the shelter. With in 6 days he passed away in a quartined Intensive care at our vets. Parvo is highly contagious and has a 50 percent death rate. They treated us like garbage, the vets terribly, and never offered an apology. We spent 2000$ plus dollars to try to save our pup Max and did everything we could and they told us we were un-fit to have an animal. They gave us a pup infected with a deadly virus and we did absolutely everything we could. Who's un-fit???? then they continued to adopt out other possible exposed puppies??

To 'lwood2552'.....Thank you for bringing awareness to this ongoing problem. Why is it that when you want to help and do good, you get discouraged? THIS is why there ARE a lot of stray animals through the community. The SPCA doesn't like to 'help' people either. A situation --- family members have a yard full of stray cats. They have no problem feeding and caring for them to a point... They were having them all spayed/neutered so the problem would be eliminated, becoming very costly. There was no assistance in the cost. Isn't there anything that can be done for these poor animals that were previously neglected?? Word needs to be spread of the poor living conditions these "children" are living in. Thank you for the boost!!

I was treated very rudely by Cathy Clothier the "board of directors"



You have to go there and sign in at 8AM to place your name and the dog your interested in. then go back at 11AM, when I live 53 miles from the facility. Upon arriving back at 11AM with my husband I entered the side door to which I was abruptly told I entered the wrong door and my husband was told he would be arrested if he entered behind me. We then went to the appropriate door. Because we had to have our previous dog euthanized and was sick for one month prior he was not able to get his rabies shot, as the vet does not give rabies shots to a dog that is whelping and in pain and not yet diagnosis ed nor t=did they ever determine the cause of his illness. After expending 2700 dollars and no diagnosis. They declined to let us adopt a nice dog that was scheduled for euthanization. I left in tears and they made me feel like we did not care for our previous dog 16 years of age that we saved from being euthanized.



Cathy refused for me to see the area where they keep the dogs and this should have been my first "neon" light as they only clean up the dogs on the list from 8AM. I smelted a horrible stench from that room as was not allowed in the room.



I called Adirondack Save a Stray and they are providing me with a rescue dog up from Tennessee that was scheduled for euthanasia and she arrives this Saturday.



I had some lambs wool given to me that I plan on making beds for as many animals I can for Adirondack Save a Stray and plan on volunteering based on the loving care and cleanliness they give those animals.



I encourage everyone to give some time to pay it forward in life and make it part of your "bucket list"!