Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter - Rehoming Centre, Benton Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "We found the staff to be very helpful and practical."
• "The staff were so friendly and helpful."
• "Staff are super friendly."
• "The staff are friendly and welcome donations of food blankets and treats anytime."
• "The staff were polite, caring and knowledgeable."
• "The staff have always been top class very helpful and friendly."
• "Visited the shelter on two occasions, was very impressed by the dedication of the staff and how the animals responded to them with obvious affection and attachment."

Cons:

• "Wouldn’t even give this place one star, went in there to be told to grab a health and safety sheet and go out the doors to the left and was literally left to our own devices to look at the animals."
• "The staff are unresponsive and are condescending and they do not feel genuine."
• "I rang a couple of weeks ago to offer to help on Christmas morning... However they didn't even have the courtesy to reply to me."
• "The staff were all excellent and we could see the cats were well looked after and cared for."
• "The reception staff are particularly unfriendly."
• "One short haired staff member here are unbelievably unfriendly, hostile, disinterested, patronising and judgmental."
• "The manager Leyla Rutter seems cold and generally uncaring towards the animals."

Adoption Process

Pros:

• "They conduct lifestyle checks to make sure the animals are going to suitable homes and that their personalities will suit the family."
• "Their cats come fully vaccinated, microchipped, free health check at the local vets (including 1 month flea, tick and worming), and 1 months insurance."
• "Thanks to Benton we have the honour of loving and caring for her."
• "They do ask a lot of questions but this is for the benefit of the pets and so good that spaying and chipping are part of the service."
• "Really prioritises the animals needs and makes sure no adopters feel pressured and that all the animals find a good home."
• "We adopted 2 cats who had been there for 3 months, just a week later they are cuddling, playing and have brilliant health."
• "A great place that clearly care about the animals they are sheltering."

Cons:

• "It's almost like when they aren't so busy/full up with animals they are reluctant to let them go."
• "There is a strong culture of finding reasons NOT to allow adoption instead of finding reasons TO allow adoption."
• "This rehoming centre is a just a business out to make as much money as possible."
• "It's obvious they care about the wellbeing of the dogs because you can only see them if the dogs choose to go into their outside area and see you."
• "Trying to rehome a dog from here is so difficult."
• "We were told by staff that we were not eligible to adopt a couple of dogs as we both work and the dogs would be left alone for more then 4 hours."
• "We have tried several times to adopt a dog at this shelter and have found the staff will find any possible reason under the sun to not grant it."

Facility and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "One of the best managed cat n dog sheltering I've seen."
• "Very caring shelter."
• "Animals were very well cared for, very clean and tidy."
• "The animals were well looked after."
• "You only need to say a name to a member of staff and they know which animal you're talking about, shows great care and attention to what they do."
• "Great place which is continuing to look after all the animals there through a time when they have limited ability to re-home them."
• "All the staff are doing amazing jobs taking care of all these rescued animals."

Cons:

• "The kennels you put them in were dirty pawprints on window sills dirty bedding and soiled cat toys left from previous occupant."
• "I visited this shelter today with my daughter and her friend. Unfortunately I left unhappy that not only were the staff on reception terrible but I now feel there is no hope to adopt a dog."
• "Went to Benton, I was ashamed at how the centre was in disarray, dirty, untidy."
• "The conditions of the kennels were not good."
• "It's no wonder they still have so many animals, and it's heart-wrenching to see them locked up in those cages for so long."
• "This Cat n Dog shelter at Longbenton are the most disgraceful, unprofessional, selfish, uncaring hypocrites I have ever met."
• "I would never recommend this shelter after leaving the place feeling demeaned and worthless!"