The Animal Rescue Charity (Foxdells) Animal rescue service in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire

Stephenie Purvis

"I adopted two kittens last week who have settled in very well. The process from seeing them to taking them home was only 3 weeks! When collecting them, the team answered my questions and even gave me their blanket and some food to help with the transition. A few days layer, someone followed up to make sure everything is going well and they will help with organising neutering when the kittens are big enough. I would definitely recommend!"

Rachel Procter

"We adopted our orange cat Gus from ARC last week who has settled into our home perfectly. ARC do an amazing job, are thorough with their adoption processes which shows how much they care for the animals. When visiting, the centre is very clean and you can see how dedicated the team are. The team were very responsive and answered our questions quickly and honestly. When we collected Gus we were given a blanket and some of his food that he liked which helped him settle in. If you are looking to adopt an animal I would highly recommend adopting from ARC."

Vicky Wallis

"Edit after response. This review is an addition to my original review and comes after ARC response.I want to begin by saying that I do understand it costs a significant amount of money to keep an animal in the charity’s care. Veterinary treatment, food, staffing, and general upkeep are not inexpensive, and I appreciate that donations are essential to keep the organisation running. I also hear what has been said about there being a minimum donation.However, the original question still stands. If there is a minimum donation expectation, why is £50 listed as the donation amount on the paperwork provided to adopters? And why unluke other charities is this not stated and more than that, why are staff unaware. We asked this and we were told there is no minimum. This creates confusion. At no point in my review did I say £100 was unacceptable. My original review simply asked for greater transparency: that the full process, including clear information about donation expectations, is plainly stated on the website for everyone to see before they begin the adoption journey. Clear and consistent communication would prevent misunderstandings and help ensure that potential adopters feel confident and informed throughout the process. My intention has never been to criticise the work the charity does for animals. Rather, it is to encourage clarity and transparency so that animals can move into their forever homes without avoidable confusion or frustration for prospective adopters.We recently rehomed two Persian cats from the ARC Animal Rescue Centre. The volunteers we met were very nice, and the gentleman who carried out our home visit was exceptionally kind, warm, and welcoming. He was thorough, reassuring, and clearly cared deeply about the welfare of the animals. We were told our home was perfect for the cats and that we exceeded what was needed, which made the experience feel very positive at that stage.However, while the rehoming process should be straightforward, we found the involvement of the rehoming committee, who you never actually meet, quite disappointing. After we had been accepted and told we were the ideal home, we very quickly received an email saying they would not be going ahead. This decision was clearly linked to the ‘donation’ not being high enough. Although the paperwork offers donation options of £50, £100, £150, or £200, it became apparent that they are really looking for larger amounts. It was upsetting to feel that the cats may have been kept in small cages rather than allowed to go to a loving, suitable home because of money. If we had not increased the amount, the cats would likely still be there, despite having a perfect home waiting for them.We were also told the cats had been groomed, but this was not done to a professional standard. Our lovely Tess still has many areas of matted hair that will need removing. It's disappointing the charity could not have been more open about this prior to us taking Tess home. Both cats have settled so well into their forever home but not once has the charity checked in to see how they are doing.Going forward, the charity needs to be much more transparent on its website so potential adopters are fully aware that these are effectively fees rather than optional donations. We are still concerned for other animals who may have had perfect homes waiting but were unable to leave due to financial expectations rather than suitability.We have taken time to write this, it has been written with honesty, and we have been keen to be fair and provide an accurate account for future adopters.The people we met in person were kind and genuinely animal-focused, but the rehoming process itself would benefit from greater transparency and a clearer emphasis on animal welfare over money."

Ailey Nelson

"This rescue is amazing. They made a very difficult situation so much easier for me and my family. Following the sudden passing of a family member we were faced with the difficult position of having to find a home for 3 dogs as a matter of urgency. We contacted well known rescue centres all of which either simply said no or that they had a waiting list. I called The Animal Rescue Charity Foxdells and spoke to Danny, he was so caring and compassionate and made the whole process so easy for me. We were able to take the dogs straight away to them. I honestly cannot express how grateful I am to this charity. If you need somewhere to genuinely help you I highly recommend you contact this team. Thank you again to Danny and the team for everything you have done for us."

Kristi Jürgenson

"We adopted our lovely girl Blue from ARC. The work they do is amazing and they look into the best interests of the animals in their care. Blue definitely blended into our family and we are grateful for all the support we have received. Thank you"