Customer ReviewsforSuncoast Animal League, Inc.

DO NOT USE!!!! This place is a joke. Non profit status but rude & not helpful in reality! Their standard response is that they’re full. Then they give you a list of other places to call: 2 that do not exist, 2 that are KILL shelters & a few others that can’t help. What’s the point of that list? What’s the point of Suncoast Animal League? Maxing out on our donations? Hmmmmmmm……

To Whom It May Concern,

This is in response to the complaint ********* Upton sent to the Better Business Bureau concerning Suncoast Animal League. The only correspondence between Suncoast Animal League and ********* Upton was via one email from the complainant and a response from one of our most trusted and seasoned volunteers. Copies of the two emails are included in my response below. As you can see, there is nothing rude about the reply. The complainant simply did not receive the response she was hoping for. And, she noted that she was turned away by another organization so she took her frustration out on us? That is not right. She was also provided with names of other shelters with the hope that she may find help elsewhere. And she finds that rude?

This is "kitten season" and shelters all over the Tampa Bay area, around the state and beyond are feeling the effects of the season. Suncoast Animal League has over 200 cats and kittens under our care at this time. We use our shelter, three different PetSmarts, foster homes and have even turned our office space into a cat care room, but we still can't keep up. We wish we could accommodate each and every request we get from citizens wanting to surrendering animals and other shelters seeking our help, but that is an unfortunate impossibility. We are sought after by many because we go above and beyond and that wouldn't happen if we were rude to people and that didn't happen in this situation. And I do feel bad for our dedicated volunteer who couldn't be rude if she tried.

Thank you for your time.

This was her email to us: 

Good morning - Somebody dumped a sealed box by the side of the road with a momma cat & 7 kittens (approx 5-6 weeks old).
I found them this AM.
Can you assist?  Help please!
My landlord will not let them stay at my home for long.
Pinellas humane can’t help.
I can donate some money for their food, etc.
Thank you for any help you can give!! Please call me.

This was the response from the Intake Volunteer: 

Hello,
We received your email requesting help with a mother cat and kittens.
Unfortunately, our shelter is beyond capacitycand all of our foster homes are full.
I am attaching a list of other shelters and rescues in the area that may be able to help.
Thank you for caring for this little family.

i recently fostered a sweet dog named zeus. I went there and there process is nonvetted fostering at there open house there is no real meet and greet this place is way too small for larger gatherings there is no communication or sense of organization. I got home with him my dog was fine at first when i brought him home he lasted about three days with me then i wish i hadnt now i returned him very unsure of what will happen to him he was only 4 months old. It is very hard to reach this place if ur a foster u have to email they tell u not to call if there is a medical emergency u have to have permission for treatment. The people there are so beyond rude and have no sense of decency and when i brought him back yesterday i had a traumatizing experience the poor dog got carsick again in the car which i told hem she wouldnt let me say goodbye ripped him from the car with a pulley leash for a dog who isnt leash trained i found it repulsive then i heard him screaming from inside she was very rude and short i wish i had never helped them because i fear for his safety and what will happen to him they need to be checked i dont think they are up to code and that place took in saturday 38 dogs and they all got homes the first day thats impossible without vetting. they need to be shut down before something bad really happens i dont care if i need to go to the media. i miss zeus and am heart sick please help me help him.

I will start my response with addressing what is true about Ms. *******'s complaint. First, the puppy's name is Zeus, secondly, he is 4 months old and thirdly, there were 38 dogs rescued and finally, he did get car sick upon his return. After that,I have no clue where this comes from.

Let me address the non-vetting comment. If Ms. ******* had a clue, she would know that we had two Florida State Licensed Veterinarians on site from 3:30pm until 6:30pm. Between the two veterinarians they examined all 38 dogs that came in that afternoon and provided the necessary vet care to each and every one. The names of the two veterinarians, who routinely volunteer their services for such rescues, are available at your request. Ms. ******* stated that she had Zeus for three days, the truth of the matter is that she and her husband picked up Zeus at approximately 6:00pm on Saturday night and returned him on Monday at 1:30pm. That's less than 48 hours. Ms. ******* stated that it is "very hard to reach this place if you are a foster," yet she was able to contact us by e-mail on May 6th, twice on May 7th, May 8th, May 9th and on May 10th. She e-mailed us at 9:39 pm on Sunday May 8th asking to return Zeus and she was responded to at 6:55 am on May 9th. Here is an excerpt from one of her emails on why she needs to return Zeus. I will right them as she did without punctuation. '" Zeus is a good dog but I have concerns my dog number one does not like the situation he wasn't bad at the place but we got home and things have changed if I didn't have this dog I would adopt him but my husband is selfish and doesn't care how I feel." All of her e-mails are available for viewing. And the comment about the "ripped him from the car" is completely ridiculous. The staff member was simply trying to keep him out of the mess and from creating more of a mess. Ms. ******* conveniently forgot to mention the part about the staff member cleaning up her car for her.

In conclusion, Ms. ******* contacted us on six different occasions without ever mentioning any issues except to complain about her own dog and husband. As far as Zeus goes, he's in another foster home, healthy and happy.

Rick C., Suncoast Animal League