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Bide-A-Wee Home Association We are animal lovers, just like you. Perhaps you already recognize us as one of the nation's leading animal welfare organizations; but there's so much more to what we do. Bideawee is a community - of compassionate caregivers, volunteers, and friends - committed to helping people and animals build safe, loving, long-term relationships.
Services
The Matchmakers at the Adoption Centers at Bideawee have been matching pets with people for more than 118 years! Every Matchmaker knows the personalities and needs of each animal in our care. Beginning on 2/1, Manhattan & Westhampton Adoption Centers will be open for walk ins. Please note that you will still need to submit an online application for animals at our Wantagh location. Learn about our Adoption Process!
Reviews (27)
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Daniel Figueroa
Jun 23, 2022
Amazing the environment Amazing beautiful people with care and loving souls. Adopt two beautiful kittens came with all shots and chip and clip this has been 100 or more years and didn't know till I looked online and went to them to Adopt its Amazing. I highly recommend people to Adopt here. Love my furbaby's with all my heart and soul.
Jayne C.
Nov 29, 2021
I've adopted from Bideawee several times over the years. I found that they are efficient and always have the pets best interest at heart. The adoption process was thorough, but not onerous. They used to have a clinic in NY which I used as my vet for a long time, but sadly that has closed.
Avi Glozman
Nov 13, 2021
Walk-in adoption went really seamlessly! Everyone was great and very helpful/informative, and overall it was an astounding experience. Now we've got an adorable kitten! Not sure what all the bad reviews are about. They've made changes, I guess. Highly recommended!
Ariel A.
Nov 06, 2021
I fostered two young kittens with Bideawee and ended up adopting one! Their foster program is phenomenal -- they really care about their animals, providing medical care as soon as something comes up. They're also amazing when it comes to supporting foster volunteers and set you and your foster up for success. My kitten was a foster fail! She's incredibly sweet, and the adoption process was very easy.

The shelter let me know that her sister had been adopted that morning (to my great joy and relief!), and gave me everything I needed to set my kitten up for success in the first week. The cherry on top - about 10 days after I brought her home, the shelter called to make sure she was healthy, happy, and settling in well. They asked specific health questions, too!

That they called to check in on her, gave her most of her kitten shots + spayed her (saving me lots of money!), and went above and beyond to make sure she and her sister were happy and healthy shows that they put animals first. I would absolutely recommend adopting from Bideawee. Any animal that has passed through this organization has been loved and pampered so they can be their best self in their forever home!
C. K.
Oct 25, 2021
Regarding the below response, you completely ignored the essence of my issue and put the blame on me. I don't expect animals put in the front for all the public to see to have issues. I innocently looked in all three holding areas to see if there were any animals avail for adoption. I do this every time I drop off donations. Not my fault if a German shepherd leaped up and barked. I'm no dope.

I know to walk way. My issue is that the gaggle of girls at the desk not only yelled at me but never thanked me for my donations. You lay a trap, and then blame me if I fall in. Put a sign on the glass if you don't want people to look in! Leslie G. Business Owner 10/25/2021 Hi Cynthia, We apologize if your interaction with our staff came off as anything other than our earnest desire to keep you, your pet and our animals safe.

We completely understand your desire to say hello to the animals but please understand that some of our animals are shier, more frightened, and more reactive than others, and we have to take precautions to ensure the safety and comfort of our staff, community and the animals in our care. We asked you to give that dog some space because he was getting incredibly worked up and we were concerned for his well-being and yours. We truly appreciate your donation and thank you for everything you do to improve the lives of homeless animals.
Salome Maldonado
Oct 22, 2021
This is where I found something so sweet and full of love. My baby girl Jade. I love her. She's my angel. The only place to get a beautiful and healty dog in Manhattan
Hailey Bernhard
Sep 28, 2021
I had the most amazing experience! From the minute we walked in the front desk attendants were extremely nice, friendly and welcoming. Abby helped us with everything. She guided us though the whole process and answered every question we had. She made the whole thing so easy! We brought home the sweetest puppy and we feel so grateful we went to Bideawee!
Rod Thomas
Aug 18, 2021
I just adopted a cat from this wonderful place. They have done such miracle work nursing him from being found in a bucket to coming home with me and being so at peace straight away. The whole team were so kind and so loving to him and the other animals, I'm so grateful to them. They really invest in their little creatures it shows so much. They were kind enough to let me take his bed that was donated to him so he felt at home and that has made such a difference. I'm so grateful for everything they did for little Sunny.
Ghazal Mehrvarz
Jul 14, 2021
Filled out an application for two kittens last night; received an email from Maylee this morning. She asked me for documents and then we had a phone call. Next 2 hours I'm home with my cats! The process was quick. Follow ups where friendly and professional. They knew what they were doing and it was awesome to adopt from them! I've been looking for adoption about 6 months now and I've been frustrated by the slow process or no answer from other shelters. This place is great I would definitely recommend it to my friends. Thank you guys
M. W.
Jun 14, 2021
Unlike some other rescue operations, these people are a pleasure to deal with. Very organized all around. they actually replied to my application promptly, their description of the dog I ended up adopting was spot on, and they followed up post-adoption to check on how it was going. I will be back, if I ever adopt another pet.
Sushi Sue
May 21, 2021
I had been trying to adopt a cat for weeks and had applied to multiple shelters in NYC, Long Island, and NJ but the matches always fell through. I realize that it's hard for shelters to operate in the current pandemic-induced, WFH conditions but after dozens of applications submitted only to be told that the cat no longer was available or to be put on hold for days and THEN told that the cat was no longer available, I was definitely frustrated. Bideawee was different.

Literally the day after submitting an application, one of their adoption counselors - Kerrie - contacted me. She was extremely receptive in discussing what I was looking for, and also very helpful when suggesting possible matches and each candidate cat's personality. You can tell that they really know their animals. I was scheduled for an appointment the next day, went in and fell in love with my first choice, and took him home that very same day.

If I had known adopting could be this efficient, I would've come here first. The appointment with the cat is laid back, really giving you time to interact with them, the application process is straightforward, and they provided me with an abundant amount of food to start. All of the staff were extremely friendly as well, not just Kerrie. Overall, a great experience and I cannot recommend Kerrie and this place enough. I got exactly what I was looking for, and the entire process from start to finish took less than 3 days.
Mady J.
Dec 15, 2020
Caring for animals. They are extremely detail oriented. We adopted a kitten a few months ago and couldn't have been more impressed by the care that they give. They followed up by giving us a call a few months after we adopted our cat. They deserve the respect in the world. Great staff.
Hannah M.
Dec 12, 2020
I foster and adopted through Bideawee and have nothing but positive things to say about the shelter and its staff. Likely due to their longstanding reputation as one of the preeminent animal care organizations in New York, they are very well organized and everything runs smoothly when I've worked with them. They show time and time again that they care deeply about their animals.

When I fostered a cat a few months ago, they were receptive and eager to hear about behavioral updates in order to match her with the perfect adoptees. Despite her shy disposition, she warmed up well in foster and was a lovely companion before she was adopted. Recently I adopted a kitten from Bideawee myself. The adoption process was smooth - Sloane (formerly Winifred) was spayed, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations when I picked her up.

I received her full medical records and a small bag of her food to take home. I've had her for a little over a month now and she is the best cat ever - has charmed my boyfriend entirely (he's obsessed with her) and has made a few guest appearances on work Zoom calls. Cannot recommend Bideawee enough.
N. L. Herzog
Apr 13, 2020
My fiance and I adopted our second cat (named Fish at the shelter, my fiance renamed him Xerxes) from Bideawee at the end of February. We came intending on getting a kitten to keep our older cat company, but Fish/Xerxes surprised us. The shelter was incredibly friendly, introduced us to all of the cats, told us about unique quirks and potential issues, as well as their stories and what kinds of environments they were thought to do best in.

We fell in love with Fish/Xerxes and we took him home. They gave us full medical records and a number to call if there were any issues. Xerxes is now a very happy member of our family, and I appreciate so much the team at Bideawee for taking care of him until we adopted him.
Haleigh Ciel
Mar 18, 2020
What a wonderful adoption experience! I had been following Bidawee and when little Flint (now Louis) popped up I immediately applied. The next day I got a phone call and email asking if I wanted to come into meet him! I went in the next day and they were so helpful. They first introduced me to Flint and we got to go to a room to connect and play. Of course, I fell in love and then we started the paperwork adoption process.

The harness I brought didn't fit him so they gave me an extra they had that was small enough. They also gave me a big folder with all of his medical history, ample information on how to be a puppy parent, and a bag and can of food to start him off - it is a process to switch puppies food. I love that Louis was neutered, microchipped, registered with NY State license, and up to date as possible with his shots.

Both of the employees were so helpful, supportive, and kind. They also empowered me to keep in touch if I need help or had any questions. I am so blessed to have Louis in my life and eternally grateful for Bidawee for helping him to find a furever home!
Alyssa Y.
Jan 06, 2020
After my 15 y/o boy passed away, I started the search for a new kitty pretty quickly -- about a week later. After a strange and uncomfortable experience post-application approval with a local rescue, and a little bit of disappointment at another city shelter, I decided to visit Bideawee, and I'm so glad I did! The process was incredibly simple and allowed me to see the cats they currently had that would most suit my wishes and needs.

They showed me two cats, both of which I absolutely loved and were wonderful matches. But when I saw Beanie (then Babie), I just fell in love. They adopted him to me that very day -- no stress, judgmental attitudes, or ridiculous requirements -- just a simple requirement to show proof of my building's pet-friendly policy, which was easily done. Beanie has been acclimating very well to his new home and I couldn't be happier! Once I have full clearance from my building I hope to also find a small dog there to round out my little pet family.
Chagi M.
Sep 16, 2019
I adopted a kitten a few weeks back; his name is Casper. The staff members here are lovely and very helpful in guiding to choosing the right pet to your home. The staff will make sure you have everything you need to settle with your new family member. I cannot recommend enough for this adoption center! Thank you very much!
Jennifer B.
Aug 01, 2019
Arrived here exhausted, stressed and sad from visiting three other city shelters in the course of a week (see my other reviews), and Bideawee was like a breath of fresh air. My boyfriend and I had no trouble adopting our little girl. We arrived and filled out a form at the front and waited for a staff member to show us the dogs. It took a little while, but we received a great walk through by a wonderful staff member who knew all about the dogs and could help us find one to match our needs (vocality, size, etc.).

We found little Kira (formerly Essie), as she stood out to my boyfriend immediately. We were taken to a room on another floor to interact with her and we knew right away it was a perfect fit. We then did some paperwork up front (which is oddly in front of everyone waiting at the front desk lol) and had to show proof of pets allowed in the apartment lease (which was the only frustrating part, because we had to reach the landlord because the email she gave us originally was not official enough).

Then she was ours! We had to provide our own leash and harness/collar because they recycle the ones the animals wear. The process was simple and tailored to our needs. I am very thankful to Bideawee for giving us Kira and for the work they do.
Mike F.
Jun 22, 2019
This hospital & adoption center really cares I have gone here for adoptions hospital and follows for my dog and cats over 10years +++ come by say Hi
Hoshigata
May 26, 2019
Thank you, Bideawee, for Arrow. We'd been to other rescue outreaches where the dogs seemed to be treated as.things. We were very impressed that the staff at Bideawee knew the animals' names by heart, knew how old they were, were very specific about the details of each of the dogs' personalities and their likely needs. They were also very attuned to temperaments of the dogs and their prospective owners, so we felt like they had the best interests of both parties in mind.

There was a lot of puppy play time allowed for us to get to know the dogs, and while it was very busy that day, we didn't feel rushed or brushed aside. Simply put, we felt like they truly cared.
Marie-Claire R.
Dec 20, 2018
Bideawee is a private organization and a no kill shelter. Yes, the process to adopt can be hard, that is only for the best interest of the animal(s) and to ensure good quality match-making. Bideawee Manhattan has been improving and there are more staff at the front desk. I think Bideawee is doing a pretty good job taking into account the Manhattan residence location is not ideal in terms of social construction, for communication.

For example, It would have been ideal to have manager's office on the ground floor but since the quality care for the cats is so good, the rooms downstairs are dedicated towards kittens, and adult cats. The cleanliness is better but largely depends on the amount of volunteers to keep things constantly rotating while staff are working. The reader must keep in mind Bideawee does not accept public funding so it does not always turn out as a fairytale experience.

What needs more attention at Bideawee is the tracking system volunteers as well as managing priorities with the volunteer budget. I have confidence things will keep improving. I have to say I love Bideawee, the environment is welcoming and calm, and the animals get adopted.
Mansi S.
Sep 10, 2017
This place (especially Dr. Simms) will kill your fur family. Ever since Dr. Parr(sp?) left they have been hideous, and dangerous. I have been taking both of my cats to Bidawee since 2010/11. I have believed in this organization and what they do donating money and talking to everyone j know about them. Then they killed my cat. Took my 16 year old cat Rocky in for a routine wellness check. He's been fine, jumping, playing, chasing and cuddling. Dr. Simms let's me know he has kidney disease, it's beginning stage 3, but we should address with subcutaneous fluids.

She suggested 90, then corrects and says she thinks he can take up to 120 every two days. This is a geriatric cat, literally the number one side effect of subQ fluids when googled is Congestive Heart Failure. Does she check, or even mention this side effect? Nope! Three days later my energetic, curious, cuddly and healthy baby is struggling to breathe, crawling on the floor and in obvious pain.

I rush him to the 24 hour emergency at AMC-4 days in an O2 chamber, $10,000 and my cat is now in stage 4 kidney disease and has developed a tumor between his shoulder blades where the needle went in. My baby and best friend of 16 years died a month after a routine "wellness check" at Bidawee, a place I trusted with his life. And there is nothing I can do about it
Jennifer N.
Sep 01, 2017
My boyfriend and I visited 5 animal shelters this past weekend and Bideawee was recommended to me by a ASPCA volunteer. We popped by, were not greeted until I asked a staff member to help me when she was ready, and were rudely spoken to. Unfortunately, I didn't get her name but the staff member reviewed my survey and said, "You don't want a dog that doesn't barks?

You know dogs bark, right? Their barking is like how humans talk." Yes, I'm aware that dogs bark but if you will ask me about my preference, yes, I would prefer for my dog not to bother my neighbors in my NYC apartment. Their selection of dogs was small as there is only one room with eight dogs or so. Our visit here was short and although I'm sure they'll have no problem finding foster parents or people to adopt their dogs, I won't be coming back here to adopt my future dog.
Elena J.
Feb 27, 2017
There is something extremely wrong with Dr. Manfredi. She has this unkind energy about her. It was my first time at Bideawee and it'll be my last time. My cat is a pure bred cat and doesn't need your peasant ass hands to be handling her the way you were. I am quiet about it because I trust the professionals but the more I thought about that "pinch" ( you know exactly what Pinch i'm referring to since I asked you twice if that was a little too rough) the more uncomfortable i am with you as a vet.

You don't care about the animals. You care about the money. Do not come here. I only came here because it was a little closer to my house than my regular vet. And also, "no-kill" shelter my ass. I have inside detail that a couple cats were put to sleep cuz it's been over a year since someone showed interest in adopting them. Y'all are the devil.
Joe D.
Sep 20, 2016
Dr. Paar was my doctor for a long time. She was amazing and I am sorry she's no longer at the clinic. Bideawee has an excellent facility and the receptionist is always very friendly and engaging. The place is kept clean, and looks up to date. The vet cost is a little higher than it used to be and that can be frustrating. I originally found them, because I was shopping around for an inexpensive place for my dog's surgery back in 2009.

I don't make a lot of money and vet costs in this city are SO high, so a place like Bideawee is not only essential but greatly appreciated. The last time I was there, about a year ago, I had a bad run in with one of the other doctors. She was judgmental and rude. She implied that my poverty is a reason not to have animals. Hence I dropped a star.

I actually had a lot of anxiety about going this time, I was afraid I was going to see her again. With any luck, she no longer works there. However, I went just recently with my dogs for a check up and our new Doctor, Dr. Simms was extremely friendly. I felt like we were getting great care.
Peggy W.
May 15, 2014
So while I was on vacation in Manhattan, my 115lb Akita hurts her toe nail. Somehow a piece of it came off exposing the pink on the inside of nail. I took my dog to Bideawee. The receptionists were nice enough. I saw Dr. Sevalla who immediately said that the nail must be completely removed. I explained that I was on a weekend trip and leaving for Florida the following day.

She was very pushy about wanting to remove the nail right away. I wanted to wait until we went back home if a procedure must be done. I had also emailed a photo of it to my vet in Florida who said he didn't think it looked serious but wanted to make sure by examining it in person. I asked for some antibiotics, maybe pain meds for my dog until we got home. Dr. Sevalla said there was no point in cleaning the injury.

I asked for some Blood Stop Powder in case she stubbed it by accident. She said "No this powder can't be administered by you. If you try, it will hurt your dog and she WILL bite you". Absolutely ludicrous. My dog would never bite me. I couldn't believe the nerve of this woman. She quoted me $319.05 for the surgical procedure (anesthesia too).

I declined. Good thing too. So after being denied antibiotics, pain meds and such, I left the vet and was out $72.25 for just the visit. I went to a pharmacy and picked up bandages, peroxide and neosporin. I changed the bandages every few hours and let it air out in between. It was difficult keeping the bandage on since I had to walk her outside to relieve herself.

After getting home, I took my dog to my vet as soon as they open. My vet checked the nail. The nail itself was not loose or falling off. Only a part of it had chipped off. He did not recommend removing it! It would be able to heal on its own. He said I had done good with the bandaging and neosporin. Her toenail is healing just fine. Her foot is bandaged during the day and at night I put the cone on and let the wound air out a little.

I can't believe that Dr. Sevalla would push for an unnecessary surgical procedure just to make a buck! And to deny pain meds or antibiotics was completely unethical. Smh.
Shu Jin S.
Mar 23, 2014
I've wanted a dog since I was five. My Dad got me goldfish instead. So one random Saturday afternoon, I convinced my husband to go to Bideawee with me. We just wanted to meet a few pets and see what happened. We showed up, looked through a booklet and waited to be taken in to meet some pups. Right off the bat, I can tell they love their animals there and witnessed several happy volunteer dog walkers pass through.

After meeting the dogs on the first level, we asked to see Leaf and Cami. It was probably in the first five minutes of meeting little Leaf, I fell in love. She was loving, sweet, energetic and playful. It was pretty much a given that she was coming home with us. The staff called our references that night and confirmed all our information in no time flat.

Upon getting the confirmation call, I squealed and could not wait to bring her home. Leaf, now known as Bella, is such a sweet girl. We love her to pieces. They gave us a small bag of dog food when we picked her up and we brought a leash for her (I'd bring a collar or harness too). She also had a free appointment at the animal hospital upstairs to take care of a bug she was getting over. This is a great place to come rescue pets. I am a big fan!