SPCA of Erie County Review

Went to the clear the shelter day last Saturday with about 1000 other people in line. Found out much later they had only 9 or 10 dogs available for adoption. Did not relate that at all. Very disorganized event. Should have had a seperate line for those pre-approved for adoption.

Maybe next time don't annouce a clear the shelter day, but select a day and surprise those people that adopt on that day with a free or name the price donation for the animal.

Otherwise it looked like a nice facility from the outside

Best place to get a dog. Employees were very helpful.

I walked in with my 4 yr old daughter and my mother looking to adopt a cat. First we went to the gift shop and purchased a $40 dog sweater and the entire time we were in there, we were followed by an older woman that was being instructed by a younger woman at the counter to go around and check/fix everything my mother was looking at. I thought that was pretty rude to begin with so we quit shopping and went to look at the cats.
Shortly after we started looking, we were swarmed by volunteers in this tiny room. One of the older women was particularly rude to my mother, asking her to get away from one of the cats. They treated her as if she were some criminal, even though we have spoiled pets all of our lives.
I agree with all of the other one-star ratings... How on Earth do you know if you want to adopt unless you can bond with your potential pet?! The staff made me and my mother feel extremely unwelcome. I had to tell my 4 year old that was expecting to adopt a cat, that we couldn't because mommy was too upset with the volunteers. I wont be going there any time soon. I feel like taking the dog sweater back but I refuse to speak to the terribly rude staff!

Animals are well taken care of the people are very knowledgeable working there they just seem to care very very much and I love that

Am very disappointed in the new SPCA. What a waste of time and money donated to build the new place. While yes it seems larger from the outside once u walk in everything is administrative offices or two short corridors one of dogs and one of cats. That need special passes to view even tho there's 6 volunteers watching your every move. It's seems to me the money went torwards all the wrong reasons because there's less adoptable animals here then there where at the old location. And to me money seems more important at this location then to adopting out pets too people. In a way that's good but you made the adoption area smaller so u take on less animals so theres less to be adopted but yet the spca pockets are somehow still expanding. It seems fishy here too me. And disappointed that Sunday's would be the day to close when Sunday's are usually family days.

Kind staff. Cute animals in need of homes. Well kept and clean.

I adopted Willow formally known as Thumper from here!

Animals are sweet- most of volunteers are extremely disrespectful and rude. Two volunteers came up to me and told me to move and get out of the way and to leave the area when I wasn t touching any animals. I am 18 years old....Extremely insulting.

It was very nice and the dogs seemed like they were all very much taken care of

My friend was able to find a new kitty. I really like the new building. Will be going there for our next fur baby.

Got a new kitten here recently. The staff were very friendly and facility is clean

They were very nice but could have asked more questions about the dog I had to surrender. The questionnaire didn't cover it all. it was like they had a cool heart towards me. I didn't have a choice I loved him.

Lots of very loving and cute animals. Staff is very helpful and cares a lot about the animals. Prices are fair. There are a LOT of cats, old and young, lots of dogs you can very easily pet if they want to be pet and are able to get away if they want. There is also a room with reptiles and rodents as well as a barn near the main building with pigs and goats. Very nice place to get a new pet from.

Awesome place,they really take good care of the snimals there.

I can't recommend this place any more highly! The staff is so very friendly, the facility immaculate, and the animals obviously given the utmost care. We were able to see several cats, one on one, in a private room and this made all the difference in seeing temperament and how they really are. We did have one 'choose us' and went home that day with a wonderful new addition to our home!
Thank you, everyone at the SPCA!

They do wonderful work to save housepets that end up homeless, injured wildlife, and investigate all accusations of animal abuse. Before you scoff at the adoption prices, call any vet and ask how much a spay/neuter, full series of shots against rabies and other bad diseases, flea treatment with advantage, and deworming medicine, both for tapeworms, and all other types, which require 2 different deworming medicines, and a full dental and health exam, microchipping, plus the office visit cost would be, and see if you still think the adoption fee is high. Because the SPCA does all of these things before any animal is adopted. 50-200 bucks doesn't seem so bad when you compare it to the 800-1500 bucks all that would cost at even the cheapest vet in the area. Plus, what you pay a vet goes into the vets pocket, and the adoption fee goes to help animals in need, and to help defray the cost of these vet services the animal received, it doesn't even cover them in full. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Erie county SPCA.

Very clean and organized facility. Everyone working was pleasant and personable. We adopted two cats!

Wonderful people here. Don't forget to visit the farm animals in the barn.

Great facility. We adopted our beagle earlier this year, and couldn't be happier. Keep up the good work!

I donated 35 lbs of dog food and went to see the kitties.

New building is amazing , such a great place and staff seems so much happier and the animals look like they are being well taking care of

They are so nice and caring . Not like the Niagara country spca

We adopted our cat here a few years ago and the process went so smoothly! I'm loving the new location and stopping by to look at and pet the dogs.

This is, indeed, a NO KILL SHELTER, since I remember seeing someone say that it wasn't. But very nice place, very clean and great people. A couple of people definitely acted a little self-important, but mostly a great experience.

Beautiful new facility. Very organized. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. We donated towels which were greatly appreciated.

They screwed us out if 2 kittens in one day. We're done with SPCA. We did get a kitten at one of their satellite locations and the experience couldn't have been better. You would think the stupid rules that the SPCA have would apply to any of the locations but we found out that's not the case.

Very clean, and everyone was very helpful and friendly. Lots of great pets that need a forever home there, check it out!!

The new SPCA is sadly further away from my house. We finally drove out there to check it out. The building looks huge, but somehow it seemed like there was much less animal space. The barn was smaller, less stalls. There were only two rows of dog kennels open. I'm not sure if they had more closed off, but what was visible definitely seemed smaller. I love the cat rooms, but again, it seems to hold less cats. I wish they had opened this in addition to their old location rather than as their only location.

Beautiful new clean facility. Volunteers very patient and helpful!

The staff is kind, caring, compassionate about the animals and the people who come there. Great place!

This place is clean and modern, the staff friendly and knowledgeable, and their ability and willingness to help wildlife has made me a huge fan. They've provided me with helpful, valuable information, and follow-up. Very deserving of high ratings and public support.

The nicest looking spca I've ever seen. They took a bird I found with a broken wing. The whole place seems well funded and maintained.

Thank you for all the services you provide! We were able to find a very nice dog to add to our family!

Unfortunately I had to come here under bad circumstances, I had to put my dog down but the people here are great. They helped me so much and I can't thank them enough!

I was very fortunate and taking home the absolute most adorable loving affectionate black kitten I've ever had the chance to be with. Highly recommend visiting this SPCA and taking home your new fur baby

Such a great organization! We order our dog food from their petique & have adopted from there as well

Called about adopting a certain dog explained I already had one dog. I was told that it was no problem. I drove there filled out all the paperwork and then was told the dog I wanted would not get along with my dog !! I agree with other reviews very rude and ignorant people work here !

Staff was so sweet, empathetic, and knowledgeable. Such good people!!!

They helped me when we were out of options for a place for.my 3 cats. This was due to moving and couldn't find a place that allows cats with putting a financial burden and not able to afford.

Large modern facility. Pleasant environment for the pets and prospective adoption parents. It does have other animals to visit while you are there.

The animals looked hood. My daughter adopted a kitten.. The place was clean and the staff was very helpful and nice. P

Very friendly environment. People always willing to help and answer questions you might have. Clean and professionally maintained.

Two years ago I found my perfect dog here and had a great experience. However, I left in tears today. I was not aware I needed an appointment (completely my fault), so I wasted a 45 minute drive. I was originally offered to wait for a spot, great! Another lady came out and was so rude well, can t help you today. Bye . She called me a liar when I explained I did not see anything about appointments on the webpage, showed her and that was her response. She was condescending and I literally left crying. So sad at my experience

Great place to adopt,handlers are very nice and have no problem explaining the history on any of the pets..

While I love what they do for animals that are in need, it was sad to see how the staff treated people. I wanted to volunteer for community service hours here and went on the website to find some opportunities. I e-mailed one woman about the photography volunteer opportunity and she never got back to me. Therefore, I emailed one of the coordinators to speak with her which she then informed me you had to be 18 for the opportunities listed on site. That, I understand, but it says nowhere on the site you have to be 18. Then, I tried to set up hours I could come in to volunteer and she would only answer one question out of the three I emailed her with, so I would have to keep asking them. I then told her the days I was available in May, which are the days she said it would be good to come in. Later on, she claimed I had never told her what days I were available and asked me to tell her. Thinking something had changed, I asked her to repeat the days they were open to volunteers and I never heard from her again. It seemed very uncoordinated and honestly, a bit ungrateful. If you're reaching out for volunteers on your website I think it should be a bit more informative and easier to get in touch with the people who are in charge of the volunteers. I really just wanted to help out around the place, but it was a shame that they really didn't pay much mind to someone willing to help out.

The staff was conpassionate and caring as I had to put my kittie down.

Information is just that. I walk in telling 8 women standing around I would like to adopt a dog Make sure you get your green pass they won t tell you you need it to meet a dog. Un organization rude staff and a $350 fee for a dog that was surrendered 20 min before I got there already spayed with shots from owner. Because the wound Shepard is in its name.?
They spent a ton on the new facility and it s all foyer with no decent green space to get to walk your potential family member.

Incredibly friendly and experienced staff and volunteers.

Just adopted my Max from here a little bit ago and it was such a great experience. They were so helpful and brought my pup and i together. I couldn't be more happy!

Many beautiful pets getting great care while waiting for homes

I m going to start off with the one positive, I went in to adopt a kitten and a volunteer (a little old lady) was so helpful and kind. She lead me to the particular kitten I was interested in and brought her and me into a room so we could get to know each other. After awhile I decided I wanted to adopt her so I met with a different lady to go through the process, this lady was rude, rushed through all the details and my biggest issue, lied about the treatment my kitty received. She said that she was treated for a URI (upper respiratory infection). I got her home and after a couple days (3) I could tell that something wasn t right so I took her to a real vet. The vet told me she had a URI and an ear infection and after looking at the record the SPCA provided me the vet proceeded to tell me that they did not treat her for the URI.
I love the kitten I got from there and I m glad I saved her from that place. BUT I did not like how the staff treated me (except for the sweet old lady) and did not like that they lied about treating a 2 month old kitten who could have gotten even worse if I hadn t adopted her. I don t think I d ever go back there, I think they are untrustworthy and don t truly know if they care for all there animals properly.

New facility is very nice. Easy to get to. Off the 400.

We adopted two of these guys from the Erie County SPCA. Noodles (torti) and George (black) both came from a hoarding situation with 50 some odd other cats last summer. They were both skin and bones, and missing a ton of hair. The SPCA thanked us so many times, and made us really feel like we did an amazing thing adopting these two. They made sure that any and all of our questions were answered, everyone was super nice, extremely personable, and they all care about the creatures there.
If you're looking for your new fur baby, I highly recommend you go here. Adopt, don't shop

They will not even let you in with the cats unless your ready yo adopt she said. Very unfriendly women in charge of cats Friday evening 6/28/19. Allegany SPCA much better .

Kicked kids under 18 years old out if they don't have an adult and they don't have a sign or anything that says that even though you can be 16 and volunteer.

Was pretty good. Took a new cat home and looking forward taking care of him.

Adopting my dog from the spca was a great experience. She ended up being sick and they could not have been less helpful anything they could do to get out of the contract

Very clean and up to date facility, I'm really proud of what these people dedicate their lives too

Very clean, spacious place. Animal cages in the exotic room are better than just wire cages.

I can't say enough about the lipsey clinic. It is so clean and the staff is so nice as soon as you walk through the door!!! The vets we have had, have both been amazing, extremely informative and not intimidated by our German Shepard. It is a drive from where we live but it is 100% worth it!!!! I would highly recommend!!!!!

It is very well kept but we saw only saw 2 people walking around, assisting.

Love the new facility. Some of the volunteers are cranky or to serious

Lipsey Clinic is very professional, good with animals, and inexpensive.

Human abuse at the spca! -

My mom has been volunteering with the spca for 8 years now and it has turned into a living hell for volunteers. She is always coming home upset talking about how the volunteers are treated, she has stayed only because she enjoys working with the kitties so much. From what I gather there are two things to blame for the change in the spca culture. Their moving to West Seneca which has strapped their resources, mostly staff cuts and very high turn over, which has caused a lack of consistent leadership for mentoring. She says that stress trickles down on the volunteers regularly, moral is non-existent describing employees like zombies anxiously fixated on the clock. Employees fear reprisal from their bosses and the HR lady who only shows up to scold, write up, or fire people. Mom said that there is no accountability for the spca bosses, they answer to a board of directors which there president is a part of and controls. Board members rarely if ever come to the spca to help or work with volunteers which seems outlandish. She has complained numerous times to staff and the volunteer director about the problems, she is given the run around being told that they are working on it. She has been complaining that this has been going on since the spca opened in West Seneca, that's what? 5 years! Seems like awfully long time to get things together. Mom said she really misses Barbara Carr the former president of the spca, from what I am hearing I do too. I am going to see if I can find her online and share this with her, maybe she can help. This breaks my hearts, we have been supporting the SPCA since I was little and mom started volunteering once she retired. I would tell her to maybe go to another spca, but I don't hear many good things about the other ones in the area. Maybe it's just the brand? Had to vent, I hate seeing my mother upset.

Very clean. Friendly and nice staff! Obviously cute animals!!

Dr.L an staff we're totally a class act from the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out. My name is John Michael Hulme I had one of the toughest decisions to make in quite some time, since my last died 4 months ago I brought my Loui in a 22-pound orange big kitty. My big boy was having trouble in his stomach. I got nervous when it started to inflate the size of a volleyball
The doctor pretty much assured me and also saved me probably $1,000 .Dr toldI can run all these test if you want but it will not change the fact your Loui is in pain and diagnosed an told me he had stomach cancer. I therefore responded with a quick cry out of "Oh God No" when the doctor advised me that there would be no pain anymore for the best friend in my life. As I fought back tears and I asked Dr L in your professional what should I do an took her advice . I did remember to thank them for all their help an kindness , understanding, but most of all their heartfelt caring as I left SPCA empty handed without my Lou. Sweet Dreams "high five Loui" Daddy loves you! John Michael Hulme .

Some volunteers were nice but most are so rude. Why do you need a pass to pet a cat? They want you to adopt but they make it extremely annoying. Takes forever to get a petting pass! I mean the volunteers watch your every move anyway so...

They committed to providing animals better conditions. Many programs available if you are interested in volunteering.

My son was in search of the perfect pet. When we arrived, the staff was extremely helpful. They asked questions about our household, what type of dog we were interested in, and then provided us with choices that were a great match for us. We spent some time getting to know the animals. Dennis took us out to the play area so that we could get to know the dogs and watch their demeanor. Cindy listened to what we were looking for and paired us up with Rosemarie quickly. They answered our many questions without hesitation both while we were at the shelter and after adoption. We honestly could not be happier! She was absolutely right! Rosemarie is a perfect fit for us and we are so happy to offer her the life of a princess in her new forever home. Thank you to the staff for caring so much and taking the time to make a perfect match for us and for our beautiful girl! <3