Central Valley Rescue Railroad

Me and my husband were interested in adopting a young dog and we were very rudely told we could not adopt him because we did not already own a older dog. After we left the adoption site we called to talk to the director about how we thought our home situation would work for him the director was very rude and not willing to listen to what we have to say. That being said the volunteer that was helping us in the being very wonderful and very helpful. It’s sad the representative brings such a negative atmosphere

First impression is everything to me. So when I call an office I see that person as a representative of the company.
I received no «hello, how may i help you» or thank you for calling Central Valley railroad Rescue” nothing. The person made me feel very stupid over the phone. So right then and there i knew this was not the adoption center for me.
Yes, they might of been having a bad day, but come on. Professionalism, people!

When my husband and I moved back to the Valley 3 years ago, we decided that we finally had enough room and a large enough yard to adopt a dog. I cyberstalked CVRR and other rescues for weeks looking for the right fit for us. I kept circling back to one dog in particular, a cattle dog named Penny Ante. There was one problem — Penny was deaf and as a first time dog owner, I wasn’t sure I could handle her disabilities.
I finally went to a CVRR adoption event to meet the dogs in person. Fate intervened. When I introduced myself and told the director what I was looking for in a dog (large breed, short hair, moderately active, good with cats) she smiled and told me she had the perfect dog for me — Penny Ante. I explained that I had very little dog experience and I wasn’t sure if I could handle Penny’s needs. The director quelled my fears by looking at Penny and raising her hand. Penny sat. Penny responds to hand signals. Penny was the most well behaved dog at the event.
The adoption itself took several weeks to complete. My husband and I spent a lot of time getting to know Penny at her foster mom’s home and researching the needs of deaf dogs. We decided that deafness really isn’t that big of a deal and that Penny was the dog for us.
Penny had been in CVRR foster care for most of her life. She was four years old when we adopted her. Think about that for a minute. CVRR spent four years saving one dog’s life.
My experience with CVRR was so good that I started volunteering there last year.

I adopted a dog from CVRR in March 2011 because I had adopted a puppy six months prior through them and liked her a lot. I wanted them to be about the same age and he was only a month younger than my other dog. Fast forward a year and I got married. Fast forward another year and we’re expecting a baby girl. Because of the birth of our daughter, my wife and I decided that the dog’s habits and traits were difficult enough for her and I to deal with and would be very difficult for a baby to deal with. The dog has bitten both of us on separate occasions, scratched us on various other occasions, and never stops licking.
I would generally not put this dog’s issues on the rescue organization, but as you may realize, there are contracts signed when a dog is originally adopted. They state that if I am ever at a point that I feel the need to give him away, that I have to seek the rescue’s permission first. I did that via email. BJ, the director of the rescue, was neither rude nor polite in her emails, but told me to contact her again the following Monday, while she worked to find a foster home for this dog. On Monday, I followed up with her. Her reply was to bring the dog to her home at 11AM on a weekday. I work full-​time, so my nine months pregnant wife offered to drive him to BJ’s home. Upon arriving there, BJ was rude and insulting. She claimed that my wife and I did not know how to put a collar on a dog. She made other outrageous claims and insulted my wife and I for being willing to let the dog go because «he licks.»
Based on the fact that this woman would insult my wife who is obviously ready to deliver a baby to this world any day now, I have no faith in her abilities to be compassionate to humans or animals. Also, I have no faith in her to run a successful rescue operation.
My wife and I were heartbroken to give this dog back, but we both felt strongly that it was the right thing to do for the dog and our soon-​to-​be born child. We had truly imagined that he would be adopted out to a family with lots of land and older kids. Based on the experience we recently had, where he was caged upon arrival at the director’s home, alongside three other dogs already in cages, I can say that I will never work with them or their rescue group ever again.

We had a great experience with CVRR. I’m not sure what happened with the previous review, but everything they advised us about regarding our dog has been on point. They seemed very concerned about worms and fleas and sent us home with medication and information to take care of both. They also were on the mark regarding our puppy’s temperament. They are definitely working hard at CVRR and did seem to have a lot on their plate, but by no means have they been dismissive or uncaring. I did have one subsequent conversation with the owner about a follow-​up appointment for our puppy and she was very helpful and kind.

Actually, CVRR is the best Animal rescue group in our area. I would like to know of a local shelter that has the funds & that does all the testing as «SavannahV.» states in her comments… I have voluntered for Valley Oak & Tulare County, to my knowledge they do not. I gues the bottom line is to not forget what the focus is when you are adopting a dog or cat from a rescue or shelter, you are saving a life! Rescue groups do the best they can, but they are not perfect… I would say they made a mistake adopting to you.