Little Shelter

Friendly and knowledgeable! I picked up my boy Remy (Known as Kazoo) there a couple of months ago ans I couldn’t be happier. My wife and I are in love! He is the perfect little guy. The adoption was quick, and painless. The only problem my wife and I had was the day we were to pick up our boy, they took him to an event that lasted all day. I felt that if we paid the money and set up the pick-​up why would you bring a pup that is spoken for out to an event and take valuable time away from his new family. That was the only tging that upset us, other then that the staff was friendly and our boy is happy and healthy!

Bless the hearts of these people, they have around 450 CATS!!! They are no kill and have feral cats as well. They are located a few seconds off of Elwood and a minute or two off of Jericho.
My friend was interested in a cat but due to allergies he sometimes broke out and or sneezed a lot so we wanted to see if he was somewhat ready. We filled out basic info and the old lady called in a young broad to take us around a tour of the cat section.
I was in for a shock cause I volunteer at SF SPCA with the cats but never have i seen a place like this where they have rooms and annex’s connected to each other with 400 + cats just roaming around. The young ones are in a separate room and you would have to be «seriously» interested in order to enter the room. Also if you adopt a cat and for some reason want to give it back, they have a $ 1000 return fee.
You will easily get a headache and the smell is somewhat bearable. I love the fact that they take care of ferals and don’t just put them back out in the open. When a feral dies they will put them in the animal cemetery outside.
I hope more animal lovers, especially cat ones find out about this place and help them expand because the cats need more room!

We adopted a great little dog from here about a month ago. She is the new love of our lives. I am impressed at the level of thoroughness regarding their screening of potential adopters. We’ve been donating here for some time now and have grown to truly appreciate Little Shelter’s commitment to animal welfare.

I don’t write a lot of reviews for Unilocal but since we almost didn’t try Little Shelter because of the complaints on Unilocal,I thought it was only fair.
My husband and I first met our dog at Little Shelter last summer. We were visiting North Shore Animal League for the third time and feeling kind of discouraged that we hadn’t found «our» dog. I found a listing on Petfinder for a dog at Little Shelter, and after mulling over the bad reviews on Unilocal we figured we might as well give it a shot and if it was terrible, fine. We were so surprised! Besides the friendly staff and low-​key, family atmosphere, the best thing about LS is that you can get to know a dog in a fenced outdoor park area (not a crowded indoor space, like at North Shore.) We met and fell in love with the dog we came to see. We filled out an application, talked with the staff, and got the call that she was ours 24 hours later.
We did a ton of research on where and how to adopt a dog in the area, and we visited a number of private, no-​kill shelters in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island. Every single one had an adoption process that was more or less the same. You need to provide a few references, usually friends or neighbors; your landlord’s phone number, so the shelter can verify that you’re allowed to have a dog; and some basic facts about what a dog’s life will be like in your home, eg do you have a yard, how long will the dog be left alone for each day, where do you plan to take the dog for veterinary care, will the dog sleep indoors or out, etc. You give your name and phone number and tell them a little about yourself. That’s all. If you are literate and prepared the application takes about fifteen minutes. If you don’t have that kind of time, or don’t know the answers to the questions they ask, maybe you should reconsider adding an animal to your household.
I’m not sure why so many people are giving LS bad reviews for having a «rigorous» adoption process. It’s the same at North Shore Animal League down the road, only there you have to wait a few hours to see an adoption counselor. I suspect that these other reviewers are comparing their experience to that of a public kill shelter, where they are happy to give the dogs away to just about anyone.
The folks at LS are doing amazing work every day and doing their best to give animals the best life possible. Definitely recommend to all animal lovers and adopters-​to-​be!

I love this place, they save animals! They have a somewhat arduous adoption process however, which is why I eliminated a star. At some point you gotta ask– why wouldn’t they want to give away animals to make room for more?

Ok, 1 star for the level of bullcrap the lady at the «Catery» dishes out.
About 4 years ago we adopted 2 cats from here. We were looking for kittens because we had a 4 yo at the time & wanted them to bond from a young age But we were told they had none & could look at some other cats. My hubby & I each picked a cat we thought would be a good match.
I got Talullah Belle & Hubby got Wilson. We were told at the time that if for ANY reason you have to get rid of the cats, they MUST be brought back to this place or you can be fined (don’t remember the amount but it was not cheap) OK, no prob.
Wilson never bonded with me but he did with hubby & a little with my daughter… then he withdrew after a few months from her (she was a little much at times) but still ok with hubby. Then a few month later same with him. Now it had gotten to the point where the cat was swiping at my daughter & cut her badly. We had decided to move & during the move we would bring Wilson back. I was pregnant with my second child & a cat that didn’t like us was not going to coming to our new place so he could hurt either of my kids.
I called and explained our situation & was taken aback at how Nasty they were. They blamed us for not loving him, they kept trying to tell us to give it more time (a year and a half is plenty) I had to make multiple calls & deal with this awful woman so many times, I WOULD NEVER BRING OR ADOPT FROM HERE. (Cats) I know a few amazing people at the dog area but that’s another story.
So, they finally come & get him. They called a week later and said it was all our fault he had a UTI & just needed love and attention… now he’s a loving sweet cat. Riiiiiiiight… That’s why he’s still there. PRIZE
They don’t understand that some cats don’t fit every family & vice versa.
Amen right… Almost. I still have Talullah, she’s insane, totally insane but we still love her. So when we moved again I called them to update my info on her micro chip. The lady asks me the exact date I adopted my cat, I said I didn’t know & said around Feb 2010, she asked if I knew the name the cat had at the shelter & I said yes… gave her the name… then she says «didn’t you adopt another cat» I said yes but he is back at your facility then she scoffs & says «I remember you your the ones who had Wilson» and then she got all cold on the phone. REALLY LADY.
Such a bad experience I will be sure to tell everyone & anyone I meet to never get a cat from here.

This shelter is amazing. They are a no kill shelter who takes the welfare of their animals seriously.
There is adoption paperwork to complete and they can come to inspect according to their paperwork (although this never happened to me). However, comparing it to human adoption process is not fair.
Their screening process includes not declawing cats. You might be surprised and dismayed to learn this, but it’s cruel to the animals. Additionally they taught me to trim nails on a beautiful grey tabby who was the most relaxed cat I’d ever met. Lucky for me this cat has been my companion for many years now and is the source of greatest comfort and joy.
My adoption fee included a cat carrier, treats, zoom groom, nail trimmer and free vet visit (being around other animals can mean your adopted pet might be slightly sick although completely curable). I used the vet visit to treat a minor viral infection that completely resolved.
I recommend little shelter without hesitation. I’ve donated to them since because of how wonderful they are. Adopting an animal can change your life. Good luck!

This place really cares. I went here for my dog, and loved what they did so much that I became a volunteer. The adoption process was definitely thorough, but its necessary to achieve their vision. We were VERY happy with our adoption of Cougar!

I love the Little Shelter and have for years. My sister and Mom have both adopted the sweetest dogs from this shelter. I have also volunteered at the Cattery and have seen first-​hand how much the employees and other volunteers truly care about each and every animal. I fostered kittens there last year and now I am the proud owner of two of the best cats in the world! Their screening process may be a little involved (nothing too scary– application, references, vet history, etc) but after seeing so many animals abandoned and after caring for each one, of course they want to make sure that their little guys are going to great homes. I encourage anyone looking to adopt an animal to come here for a loved and loving forever friend!

Clean, well-​kept, and well-​organized, this no-​kill shelter often has puppies as well as adult, last-​chance death-​row dogs. They cherry-​pick high-​potential adoptable dogs from kill shelters and give them a bit more time to find a home. All breeds are found here, and dogs of all sizes find what is hopefully only a temporary shelter in the humane, decently sized indoor/​outdoor runs, which are akin to those found at dog-​boarding facilities.
Volunteers here are very dedicated, and are in and out often, socializing and playing with the dogs and constantly working to get them into home-​ready frames of mind. They truly care about what they do, and are impassioned about finding not just A home but the RIGHT home for their animals. Some people may complain about the home-​checks and owner screenings, but in the long run, the animals are put first … which is how it should be. That’s actually why most of the workers there are volunteers instead of paid employees — because the money goes back to the animals and not to people just doing a «job.»
The cattery has over 300 cats living there communally, leaving adopters the pick of many litters in all sizes, shapes and colors.
Little Shelter is highly active in our community, so attend events, donate, and adopt when you’re ready to bring a buddy home. They bring cats and dogs to bigger events, and also sponsor a weekly Bingo as well as stop at scattered Petcos every week.
So DON’T SHOP — ADOPT!

Don’t bother going here to save a pet unless you have no other pets and stay at home the entire day. They are extremely rude and do not care if you already have a pet sitter lined up for when you are not home, fully huge fenced in yard, and lots of love to give. Horrible experience for a pet lover who just wants to save a life from the shelter.

My father was in a fatal car crash that left him dead and my mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s in a senior center. This supposedly compassionate place said they only could take kittens. I offered $ 1,000 cash with the 2 year old healthy cat. They said «it doesn’t matter, there is still no room.“This place has no compassion and is a horrible place. Stay clear.

The only reason I didn’t give Little Shelter five stars is because they were not helpful when I found a mother cat with her two kittens under my deck and I desperately needed some guidance about how to trap them… care for them and then spay and/​or neuter them.
Luckily another no-​kill shelter went above and beyond in helping me. I totally got that Little Shelter (of which I am a member of long standing) couldn’t take the cats as every shelter is over-​flowing with cats & kittens… but they didn’t even offer any trapping suggestions.
Oh well, it all worked and I bear them no ill will
The great news is that I got my beloved Emily from them and until her recent passing was my constant companion.
About their screening process… I have absolutely no problem with their diligence.
I did not find it more difficult than adopting a baby (not that I ever adopted a baby), but I am confident that that process would be way longer. I completely appreciate their care & concern regarding the future welfare of their charges.
The screening process was thorough but didn’t cut into my keeping my full time job. so I don’t even understand Christopher’s comment.
I also see no relevance in which breed one adopts. The care for the dog’s well being is consistent regardless of breed, which makes sense to me. They want ALL their charges to good homes.
Perhaps they feel a pit bull should go through more screening if only to make sure it’s going to a loving home that won’t exploit it’s virtues (the virtue being that pits will do anything to please .even engage in fighting. just to please a psycho owner). Who knows.

I am an animal lover. I own 2 cats and a dog, but grew up in a house with litterally hundreds of animals. Little Shelter SUCKS. I am sorry, but they do.
I understand wanting to make sure an animal goes to the right homw. There are thousands of shelters in this country that are not this crazy though. Your better off going to the pound and resucueing an animal in real danger of being put down then to try to deal with these freaks.
They have denied my attempted adoption of two dogs now, this last one because I canceled an appointment for the dog interaction because I had an appointment. GIVE ME A BREAK. I work form home and spend all day with my dog, but apparently I am not home enough for a dogs.
Last year I rescued kittens from a dumpster. I was on my way to the airport. I stopped at little shitter… opps i mean shelter and asked them to help out the kittens. They did NOTHING for me but asked me to leave. I can’t believe anyone would ever give these people money!
Avoid this place like the plague. Plenty of other places to get loving animals. Take the dirve to Port Washington and go to North shore. A much better place to get an animal!

I do agree with what Manny has to say, but they take it a little too far. To be honest it would be easier to adopt a baby from China then to get a dog here. I too went to the little shelter to adopt a dog, I’m ok with them checking references and such, but I’m also a full time working professional and what they asked of me severely cut into my schedule. I understand that they want it to go to a good home, and not some idiot, but loosen up the reigns a bit. I was adopting a low adoption rate dog (Pit Bull) and they put me through the crucible, sadly I backed out because of this and went to another shelter, and yes got my dog. I know that they are trying to do the right thing and I commend them but don’t treat everyone with such suspicion.