Palm Springs Animal Shelter

Shelter director Dr. Shayda Ahkami completely botched a home euthanasia for my mother’s elderly cat. She arrived unprepared, had to return twice to the clinic for various drugs, and took almost two hours to put the cat to sleep. She didn’t realize she was injecting into the fascia and not the muscle, and therefore the drugs weren’t taking effect as they should have. This amateur mistake was explained later by her then boss at the VCA Clinic, Dr. Reed, who confirmed that Dr. Ahkami needed «more training.» I had my own cat euthanized at home and it was highly professional and took less than ten minutes. My mother’s cat suffered and my mother and I were both traumatized by Dr. Ahkami’s lack of skill, professionalism, and preparedness. As director for shelter and veterinary services, I can only hope Dr. Ahkami is no longer performing euthanasia, as I suspect her horrifically substandard care for my mother’s cat wasn’t an isolated incident.

Is there an option for negative 5 stars? Rude FREAKEN people. I swear. Okay so me and my fiancé go and they legit tried their hardest to not have us adopt. Like seriously? Just because we aren’t 60 like you are. We’re 20, not 5. Well anyway. We ended up adopting after 5 hours of being there and 3 days of having the animal with us pass and he was having issues with using the bathroom so we took him and they found out something wrong and they wanted a «DONATION» of $ 400! No. A donation shouldn’t have a price and due date and scheduled payments of that donation. Their rules state that if anything is wrong they will FULLY care for the animal within the first 10 days. It was within the first 10 days. And I’ve left so many messages about trying to get updates on him and never get a call back. So I go down there, 30 minute drive and they said to schedule an appointment. IVE TRIED BUT NO ONE RETURNS MY CALLS. Never going to this place again

Approximately two years ago on the advice of a friend I decided to sign up as a foster puppy home. This was with the intention of enriching my daughter’s life, teaching her to care for and love another creature.
Upon meeting Judy Crotts (the head of the foster care program) she gave me the necessary paperwork to fill out then signed me up for the next orientation explaining the scope of care required and the tremendous amount of help the shelter provides. For those of you that don’t know what a foster home does; We take into our home, puppies, kittens, elderly dogs, whichever you sign up for and care for them night and day until they are strong enough to be adopted out. This saves them from the stress of living in a shelter day to day and makes them a more rounded and complete pet.
A few weeks later Judy calls me about two puppies needing foster care. Note: Judy is such a wonderful nice person! Upon arrival I see a small crate by her desk, filled with the cutest Chocolate Labrador, German Shepard two week old puppies on the planet. Normally puppies this age stay with their mother until weaned off. Unfortunately the mother was too sick to care for her litter, so fosters had to be found for round the clock bottle feeding.
Oh my god! After about a week of round the clock bottle feeding I realized I had not been this tired since bottle feeding my own child 15 years ago. Wooah. But I’ll have to say it is well worth the 2:00 AM feedings, wiping their cute little behinds with wet wipes and holding them close. But beware, not matter how hard you try you will get attached and not want to return them for adoption!
The Palm springs Animal Shelter provides their foster families with; food, blankets, toys, crates, necessary shots, check ups and hospital stays. So all you really need to be a foster is your time and lot’s of love. And hey you never know, you might end up with a really cool pet.
In the end I couldn’t resist keeping my foster Chocolate Labrador.
Figured it must be fate. He survived along with his brother through a week of hospitalization for the Parvo virus. Many don’t survive this deadly virus. But these little guys hung in there and lived to tell the tale.

One of the better shelters I’ve been too. Clean, helpful staff and lots of animals that need good homes!

Great, beautiful facility. Friendly staff. After losing one of our cats to cancer, my wife and I decided to take a long weekend in Palm Springs. We went to the animal shelter «just to check it out.»
We were greeted at the door by a volunteer who jokingly told us we would definitely leave with a cat. We laughed it off because we were on vacation.
And then we met Phyllis, a sweet senior kitty who had recently lost her owner to illness. It seemed to be destined that we met her mourning our loss while she was mourning hers. The rest is history and she’s now a spoiled addition to the furmily!

Had a very bizarre experience with this shelter. Came in to adopt and showed them 3 small dogs I wanted. They told me to come back in two days after they get neutered. I came back one was ready the other one they didn’t want me to adopt even though I paid for it. Then they told me to come the next day for the other dog. When I showed up for the other dog they came out congratulating me on Fostering the dog. I was then informed the dog had major surgery and I had a strict regiment to follow. I signed and agreed but was shocked on how much surgery they were doing on an older dog. I followed the regimen set out for the dog and called numerous times on what to do after the medicine was finished. Finally after having the dog close to 3 weeks they called to bring him in to remove his stitches. They said it healed nicely and released me. As I was preparing to get onto the freeway I get a call from them I pulled over and they said they needed me back as they forgot to check his leg. I brought him back and they came out all smiles saying they are taking the dog back and may be giving him more surgery and I can’t have the dog back. All smiles and when I tried to discuss it with them they said it’s our property and they have the authority to do what they deem as necessary even though it took this poor little dog forever to allow me to hold him. I’m very disappointed and heartbroken over this handling of my shelter experience. I hope no one ever goes through what I endured with them. I’m sure they love animals but they hurt me deeply. And I think the dog is being hurt also in the long term.

My niece lived next door to a family, that on impulse, brought home a puppy they purchased at a grocery store. They put the puppy in the garage for four straight months with food and water, but with no interaction with anyone or anything. My niece who loves miniature dogs would go over after school and try to help the puppy. She even spent her own money and took the puppy to get all his shots because the owners wouldn’t do anything. She’s 17, already has a rescue dog, and is getting ready to go to college, so taking in the dog was not an option. Last weekend, the family up and moves and leaves the dog in the garage. My niece, who was horrified, gives the puppy to me to try and find it a home. I took the puppy into this facility to see if it was a puppy that would get adopted quickly and they assured me it was. Everyone was very accommodating and supportive until the intake nurse comes out and starts evaluating the puppy and when she looks at the paperwork from the vet (which I brought with me because I thought it would be helpful) she accuses me taking «ownership» of the dog and since it’s been in my possession for more than 30 days, it was now my dog and was under what they call a «surrender» and not a stray, and there was a charge for that. I had actually only had the puppy for 2 days and I really resented being accused of something that was completely false. I LOVE animals and all I wanted to do was the right thing for this sweet little dog. I left that place feeling like they thought I had made the entire thing up and I was just dumping it because I didn’t want it anymore or something. She made me feel horrible and I left the facility shaking and I sat in my car crying.
I would have kept the puppy, but I also have recuses and cannot take in another animal.
Most of the staff was nice, it was just that one person, but I hope I never have to go here again.
Sheez.

I’ve been a volunteer with the shelter for more than 2.5 years. They have a staff that truly cares about their animals as well as the community. I frequently encourage those that cannot adopt another animal to volunteer with this shelter. All together I have fostered more than 30 kittens and dogs — with only one ‘foster fail’ (love term for fosters that become adopted family).

We are in the process of adopting our 2^nd pup from the shelter and each time it’s been a great experience. I wish we could take more dogs home… Everyone at the shelter (many are volunteers) is helpful, kind, friendly and sincere. In looking for another dog they were patient and let us meet several sweet girls. We’re looking forward to picking up the newest addition to the family this week!