Calaveras Humane Society - Angels Camp, California

Louise Jefferson

Beautifully remodeled. It looks more like a pet hotel, calm and peaceful. Staff is dedicated, loving, professional and Amazing. Stop by to see first hand why you should adopt, volunteer and donate to Calaveras Humane Society.

Matt Nelson

No one loves animals more than I do. Further, I am looking for a cause to support.

I believe that this organization has its heart in the right place. However, it suffers from the flaw of the leadership lacking basic organizational skills.

I became aware of the organization through the ‘80s celebrity host of a recent fundraiser posting about it on social media.

Wanting to support the organization, I went to the website expecting to find a merch section where I could buy a t-shirt to support the group. I also hoped to find a list of the silent auction items so that I could place online bids.

I was surprised to find a bare bones site that not only lacked any merch section, provision to donate, or even a way to order event tickets but no listing of available animals.

There also was a staff listing but no extensions or even e-mail addresses. I further was surprised to not find anyone listed as being in charge of fund raising.

The place has very limited hours, but I called figured that the staff worked more standard hours and would pick up the phone.

I do not understand why the presumably paid staff apparently only works the roughy 20 hours a week that the shelter is open.

I called and was surprised to only have the option to leave a general message. No names directory or even, hit 1 for X, 2 for Y, etc.

I called on the next day that they were open.

I was put right through to the executive director. She was very nice sad seemed receptive to my sincere offers of “wealth,” wisdom based on professional fundraising experience, and work. I also gave her the name of an artist who almost certainly would donate a framed print for the silent auction.

I repeatedly offered to buy a t-shirt. The director told me that they had two left and put her hands on them. She offered to send me one for free. I repeated my offer to pay for it, and she repeated that she wanted to send it for free.

This was a little more than a week before the event, and I figured that she did not send the shirt because she was busy preparing for the event.

Several calendar days and two work days passed after the event and no shirt was sent. I figured that the first work day of the event may have been tied up with post-event activities. Yet, this was two weeks after promising to send the shirt.

I have set up notifications that immediately inform me when even a shipping label is created for a USPS, UPS, or FEDEX package is created. I still have not received any indication that a t-shirt is on the way.

I called the shelter two days later primarily because not speaking with them then would have resulted in waiting another 5 days to ask about it.

I got an office worker and politely asked if she had sent the shirt. She said that she had not.

I then asked to speak to the executive director, who apparently does not have personal voicemail. I was told that she had stepped outside, but that the office worker would have her call me right away when she came back. I remained nice.

I never received a call and e-mailed two hours later telling them to forget it.

Even a quick call that the shirt would go out the following week would have done the trick.

The first general principle is that it is wonderful that the executive director loves animals as much as I do and works what I am sure is not a great paying job. It is frustrating that a simple task of putting something in the mail and taking a few minutes to resound when that dies not happens is beyond the head of an organization.

The second principle is s less nice one. I know someone who feels that aggravation is worth even minimal financial gain. I do not look to be aggravating, and I general disagree with the idea that providing a benefit gives you the right to be a problem.

However, the print alone was worth far more than the offered gift of the t-shirt. My future support would have far exceeded the value of that goodwill gift.

It is a shame that the doggies and the kitties will pay the price for the highly avoidable bad experience.

Nancy Purkey

I love this facility! It is bright and clean and friendly. I took my neighbor to pick a kitten to keep her company after losing her husband. She found the perfect companion and it was a great experience.

Ruth Dann

Very nice people and they're helping the community to keep pets healthy and happy.

Bailey DeWitt

Got my beautiful puppy mango from them. Best decision I have ever made! Sweet helpful & really make sure you have all the information you need when adopting an animal.

Ashlee Okelsrud

Absolutely love taking time to go play with the dogs that are there and donating to this place. It's a pure fulfillment I don't feel I get from anywhere else. The staff is loving and that's an absolute must for this kind of work. I feel good knowing what I donate will be used for animals in need and not taken advantage of like some places and foundations I was involved with in the past.

Andzej Wysocki

I want to have a cat or two.
Lady in front desk kept her behinds towards me for quite a while without paying any attention.
Can go and have a cat adopt me while I am annoyed.
Still need a cat, so I will try another time.
Might have a better luck.
Society is doing splendid job rescuing animals. Deserves commendation for that. However human interaction needs to be somehow improved.
Andre.

Rita Austin

I have encouraged my mom to donate to local shelters. She gave many thousands and was charged $89.49 in fees for donating. Other shelters charged $15. Sadly, we want our money to go to the animals. That was unreasonable. We cannot justify such fees added to donations.
So sad as this was my annual request at the holidays.