Average paw rating:
(80 reviews)

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The staff could not have been more friendly and helpful! They were really good with our children too. Regarding our dog, they gave us soo much information about her and gave us a great insite to what she was like. When we first met Alaska, she was sat behind reception. I loved that! I highly recommend the southampton blue cross!

Review by: MichaelaAlaska

Adoption: 30th Apr 2016
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I found the staff and facilities to be excellent. Everyone was very helpful and seemed to be very concerned with ensuring that the dog that we had chosen would be suitable for us. We enjoyed the training session we were given with the dog and learnt some very useful skills from the handler. Inca, our chosen dog obviously adored her handler Shaun. We would thoroughly recommend the Blue Cross shelter Southampton to anyone looking to rehome a pet.

Review by: Trish Young

Adoption: 2nd Apr 2016
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We are very impressed by the high standards at the Southampton Blue Cross. The staff are friendly, helpful an knowledgeable about the animals awaiting rehoming and they give support with behaviour problems too. Also the rehoming fee is excellent value. We adopted a lurcher from them before 20 yrs ago and the service was amazing then too.

Review by: RoseWest

Adoption: 1st Feb 2016
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Very friendly knowledgeable staff. Thank you for introducing me to Boo . We were allowed to spend time with him and walk him before he came home .We were told little about his history as it was unknown ;but he was assessed and their finds were discussed with us. We were told about his history of care with Blue Cross and were advised on all aspects of his care .For example when to feed him and how much we were given contact details for a behaviourist if we needed it This advise has helped as he had a rocky start to his young life and his naughty tricks have changed for the better through training advice He has made us very happy and we are pleased with him.

Review by: Boo

Adoption: 3rd Mar 2016
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I was given advice on training on the day we collected our dog and feeding during a previous meeting as well as her medical history. They explained how I could get in touch for advice/help during Jessie's life as well as answering my many questions patiently and as fully as possible. We have a lovely family dog from a caring centre.

Review by: Faye

Adoption: 13th Sep 2015
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Extremely polite and helpful staff, who wanted to match the correct pet to the correct home. All animals looked really well looked after, and there were many volunteers sitting with animals. The centre was clean and tidy. Communication from all staff was excellent from start to finish. This is our second visit there for rehoming and it certainly will not be the last - the best rehoming centre we have found.

Review by: Sharyn

Adoption: 1st Sep 2015
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FANTASTIC AND KNOWLEDGABLE STAFF!!! Only thing i would mention that could help the centre is checking their website rehoming applications in morning as I missed out on two cats as not site checked in time...I lost out initially Apart from that PURRFECT!!!! Staff were amazingly helpful and friendly, process of adoption once found a putty cat I clicked with was easy, initially it was a bit tricky as linked website not checked.. fine honeing thats all, not a gripe, just hopefully constructive critisim xxx

Review by: afocusfreak

Adoption: 19th Aug 2015
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We rescued a kitten from the centre. The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. We were given lots of information regarding our pet and informed about on going support and help should we need it. Our kitten has settled in better than we could have hoped for and we are all very happy.

Review by: Zeej44

Adoption: 14th Aug 2015
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I found everyone I came in contact with at the Blue Cross were very helpful and friendly. When seeing them with the dogs/puppies you could tell the animals loved them as much as the staff did. The staff came across loving and gentle towards them. The puppy we rehomed (ages nearly 3 months) has great obedience skills already, taught by the staff and they helped me know how to train him myself whilst we were there. I love the ambience of the reception. All staff were happy and friendly. I felt my whole experience of rehoming our little boy pup was fantastic and know that Blue Cross are a fantastic organistion and do their upmost for ALL their animals. It's been a pleasure. Thank you Blue Cross xx

Review by: bethany

Adoption: 19th Jul 2015
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The staff where brilliant and very helpful with what we were looking for I would recommend them to friends and family. We found a cat that we wanted and the staff where very friendly and helpful with this. At first there was no cats that suited out application but the staff where very helpful and gave us suggestions like keeping an eye on their website and phone them if we had any questions.

Review by: cevison

Adoption: 20th Feb 2015
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Having lost our previous old lady, a Welsh collie, at the grand old age of approximately 17 years old, we decided that we wouldn't have another dog, but spending most of my life with both cats and dogs, it was a difficult decision. After a few weeks, we decided we needed another dog. Scanning through various sites with many beautiful animals needing their forever home, we chose a special girl called Misty, now known as Missy. The centre is very professionally run with caring staff. We would recommend and certainly consider if we were looking for another animal. Completely satisfied with all aspects. Our newly adopted family member is a delight to share our lives with. She came to us in a very good and clean condition and we are enjoying spending our days with her. She has found her "forever" home and will be blessed with love from us as we are from her.

Review by: Tylee

Adoption: 16th Jan 2015
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Very helpful people and had the interests of the animal firmly in their minds. Follow up was quick and efficient too. Overall, a really good experience resulting in a lovely cat being rehomed and she seems to be looking forward to Christmas !! Not sure who rules the roost anymore though lol !!

Review by: Username

Adoption: 9th Dec 2014
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We were delighted with every aspect of our interaction with the blue cross team from Southampton, they were polite, patient ,and always happy to help, we like that they were flexible to meet our needs to having to travel some distance to the centre, they incouraged lots of visits and we're happy for us to visit when we wanted to just to see him, we loved the fact that they have a family room to interact with the amimals, over all we have and will Continue to recommend blue cross southampton to any of our friends and family hoping to rehome. We are smitten with our new family memeet.

Review by: roywoods

Adoption: 8th Nov 2014
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Very good all round and I would recommend adopting an animal from here. Being a bit picky there was no location GPS on my sat nav for the address. The staff very friendly and helpful and knowledgeable.

We adopted a black cat and very pleased with him. He has a lovely personalty and a bit surprised no one had chosen him before as he had been there for 6 weeks.

Hoping for many happy years with our cat..................Meow!!!

Review by: bangtwister

Adoption: 11th Oct 2014
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After sadly loosing our black cat back in June this year, we decided that we wanted to re-home another black cat (as we just adore black cats) Living on the small island of Guernsey were are somewhat limited to the selection of cats for re-homing (having re-homed cats all our lives we felt we wanted the chance to help another cat in need) As we were unsuccessful in finding a black cat here in Guernsey we looked a little further afield, which is when we came across the Southampton Blue Cross. From the moment we made contact with the Southampton Blue Cross they were fantastic! :-) All the staff we dealt with were kind, helpful & friendly. They were very understanding & accommodating given the fact we were planning to travel from Guernsey to Southampton on the ferry to collect the 2 beautiful black cats we found on their very easy to use website. The team made the whole adoption process easy & straight forwards. After a phone interview (which was more like a nice chat with a fellow cat lover) the rehoming manager had ensured we were the right home / family for the 2 brothers 'George & Jethro' . Just over a week later we were on the ferry from Guernsey & in Southampton meeting our 2 new fur sons for the first time (which we fell in love with straight away!) The staff at the Blue Cross took the time to talk through all of the cats medical back ground & gave us a great insight in to their characters, after about 45 minutes & a few bits of paperwork we were on our way back home with our new family. We can not thank the Blue Cross enough for all their hard work, support & understanding in making the whole adoption process easy & stress free. We would most definitely use them again for re-homing & would recommend them to anyone.

Review by: sparkster_gsy

Adoption: 14th Aug 2014
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After sadly loosing our black cat back in June this year, we decided that we wanted to re-home another black cat (as we just adore black cats) Living on the small island of Guernsey were are somewhat limited to the selection of cats for re-homing (having re-homed cats all our lives we felt we wanted the chance to help another cat in need) As we were unsuccessful in finding a black cat here in Guernsey we looked a little further afield, which is when we came across the Southampton Blue Cross. From the moment we made contact with the Southampton Blue Cross they were fantastic! :-) All the staff we dealt with were kind, helpful & friendly. They were very understanding & accommodating given the fact we were planning to travel from Guernsey to Southampton on the ferry to collect the 2 beautiful black cats we found on their very easy to use website. The team made the whole adoption process easy & straight forwards. After a phone interview (which was more like a nice chat with a fellow cat lover) the rehoming manager had ensured we were the right home / family for the 2 brothers 'George & Jethro' . Just over a week later we were on the ferry from Guernsey & in Southampton meeting our 2 new fur sons for the first time (which we fell in love with straight away!) The staff at the Blue Cross took the time to talk through all of the cats medical back ground & gave us a great insight in to their characters, after about 45 minutes & a few bits of paperwork we were on our way back home with our new family. We can not thank the Blue Cross enough for all their hard work, support & understanding in making the whole adoption process easy & stress free. We would most definitely use them again for re-homing & would recommend them to anyone.

Review by: Juliesnell

Adoption: 14th Aug 2014
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I found the Southampton blue cross rehoming centre absolutely brilliant! They are 100% committed to the animals and that is their top priority which is exactly what you want to see. I thought everyone was very friendly and I don't think I could thank them enough for bringing this little bundle of enjoy into my life!

Review by: Aisling

Adoption: 17th Oct 2014
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The home were very honest in their assessment of the dog's needs and certainly prepared us for taking her home. Their advice was slightly on the pessimistic side of how the dog would behave, but totally understandable as they have to prepare you for the worst! It was clear that they wanted to match the dog with the right owners rather then getting her quickly re-homed. Basic training had been completed and the life skills session was useful to continue with this once home. They set us up very well for taking her home and I can't fault the process. We now have a very happy, bouncy addition to our family who we wouldn't swap for anything.

Review by: SusieN

Adoption: 29th Jun 2014
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All staff and volunteers were very friendly and more importantly dedicated,concerned and enthusiastic towards all the animals. It was a very positive and rewarding experience.I felt very comfortable about contacting them if any problems came about with my new kittens jazz and Bee. I will strongly recommend the centre to others. Thank you.

Review by: Anita1

Adoption: 15th Sep 2014
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People were lovely, very knowledgeable and caring, making sure we both knew the specific background history of our new cat, obviously having spent allot of time finding all this very useful information out and was happy to answer our questions. The whole process was very efficient and we couldn't of hoped for better, would recommend to anyone.

Review by: leuvsion

Adoption: 21st Sep 2014
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Our experience rescuing a cat from this shelter 2 years ago meant we were happy to go back again.We were given excellent service throughout the whole process. Our only issue was getting through by phone, however they did get back to us quickly after message left.
Our kitten was given full care and attention and each member of staff we spoke to knew him and his personality.
All staff were friendly and even when we witnessed them dealing with a difficult visitor they were calm and polite.
We have recommended this shelter to other friends several times rather than going to a breeder as they offer lifetime support and assistance should you ever need it.

Review by: amp2

Adoption: 15th Aug 2014
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Perfect service, helpful staff and offer of support for us in the future should we need it. They took care of all the microchipping, vacinations and neutering so that we can get on and enjoy our new addition to the family. Cattery pens immaculately clean with lots of toys for the cats in their care. I would highly recommend this rescue centre to anyone!

Review by: LaurenL

Adoption: 27th Aug 2014
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Our experience of adopting a dog from Blue Cross Southampton has been brilliant. Sparky came to us as an anxious dog who had not been socialised and every new experience was frightening for him. The staff at Blue Cross spent three long sessions training us how to respond to him so that we did not reinforce his anxiety but helped him work through it. They took us to a local park so that we knew how he responded to other dogs and people. They gave us a whole family training session and they let us get to know him on our own in a grassed pen, for as long as we needed. Although we have had a dog before, we had no experience of a rescue dog and this support was key to all that has happened since. They also recommended books for us to learn about behaviour training.
Sparky has never messed in the house. He now mixes with other dogs on walks, without barking or growling. He is loving, very quick to learn and spends more time on his back than his feet because he loves tummy tickles. Local doggy people all love him - he is quite a local star. It hasn't been all plain sailing of course and there are days when we know that we have got it wrong but then we just phone Blue Cross Southampton and they give us the right advice to help him through. All the staff have been polite and helpful but there were 3 main staff who trained and supported us. I have such respect for them. They clearly love their jobs, love the animals and understand the challenges that bringing a new dog into your home can create. Because of the care that they took, Sparky has been given the best possible chance of settling and learning new behaviours so that he will be able to enjoy a stress free life. We are so grateful for their commitment and dedication. We really couldn't have asked for more...and neither could our little barky Sparky!

Review by: Eleanor

Adoption: 17th May 2014
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At every stage contact was prompt, cheerful & polite.
We were invited to meet the cats at the centre and very wisely advised to go home and chat about it before giving our answer.
We felt we wanted to take them home straight away but also that they did the right thing. We collected them a week later and they are now very well settled in.
We were advised about their behaviour, food and habits, this helped with bringing them home.

Review by: SuzyG

Adoption: 28th May 2014
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I had wanted to find a rescue cat for some time but needed to wait until my children were old enough to be responsible with a pet.
I visited Blue Cross with my youngest daughter and we were invited to fill in a pre-homing questionnaire in order to register and then see the cats which were available.I had in mind that I would like to find a younger, preferably male cat and a week or so after the registration checked the Blue Cross website and saw 2, 5 month old brothers looking to be rehomed.
I called the following day and arranged to go with my family and meet the cats the same weekend. Following the visit, we had a long discussion with one of the staff regarding the history, health status, feeding, food preferences and general information. My daughters were involved in the discussion and it served well to reinforce the responsibility which they had towards the cats.
The following day we collected Vale and Marco and brought them home. Within a couple of days they had become used to the new surroundings and settled into their new home incredibly well, enjoying the attention of 2 delighted young girls. A couple of weeks after moving in, we introduced the boys to the garden and they now have a whale of a time chasing each other up and down the trees and hunting leaves and flies.
It was a great decision to bring the cats into the home and the fact that they are healthy, neutered, vaccinated and chipped has made things so much easier at the beginning.
Although we have been offered a behavioral advice service, I can't see us needing to use this.

Review by: tim1901

Adoption: 1st Mar 2014
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When my cat passed away on Christmas Eve, I began looking for a another cat in January. My initial contact with Blue Cross was through their website which was easy to use and had an excellent online application form. All the cats were clearly illustrated with a photo and background. I selected a cat (Pippa) from the website and telephoned to enquire whether it was still available and I was told that it was.

However when I arrived first thing the following day, I was told that this cat had been reserved. The reception advised me to make my own way to another building where other cats were available to see if there was anyone that I liked. Unfortunately there were no staff in that building to help and the cats that I saw in the building appeared to be reserved. When I explored further I found an outside area where a ginger tom cat (Garfy) was huddled in a corner miaowing pitifully and looking very cold on this bleak January day.

I returned to reception and asked about Garfy but was told that he did have a history of fighting with other cats in the neighbourhood so decided that Garfy would not be a good fit.

I was then shown the paperwork on Tiche a 6 year old Tabby cat. The lady in reception then agreed to escort me to find Tiche. I was told that she would more than likely hiss at me and shy away. However instead Tiche came straight towards me and I was able to pick her up without any fuss and decided she was the right cat for me.

Upon returning to reception, there was then a long discussion about cat flaps which took place in the reception area. I think that this would have been carried out better if it was conducted in a private area. In fairness to Blue Cross I understand that the RSPCA insist on a cat flap. It was suggested that I leave a window open for the cat to use. However this did not appear helpful from the point of view of the safety of my property or the cat.

Four days later, 22nd January, I returned to Blue Cross to collect Tiche. Blue Cross took the time to interview me privately and explained about cat insurance and supplied detailed literature about settling her in. However I think more emphasis could have been placed upon the likelihood of Tiche to escape from my house.

When I returned home, I found Tiche to be a very active cat. She persistently worked to open the door and then proceeded to carry out a detailed survey of the house, at pace, for the next two hours looking into every corner to the extent I almost thought that she was a Chartered Surveyor in a former life. Her panic was relieved when she found the window sills in the upstairs rooms and spent long periods over the next few days looking outside.

Tiche escaped from my house on 27th January and despite leafleting the surrounding roads with her photo and searching the surrounding area for hours on end she remained undetected.

However the story did not end there. On Saturday 22nd February at 8pm,three and a half weeks later, I was in my back garden and heard a cat miaowing. I called out "Tiche" and heard a cat scrambling over fences and then found Tiche at my feet. She was very thin and very hungry but still alive.

She ate a bowl of wet cat food and a small bowl of biscuits. I arranged a vet appointment for the following day to restart her vaccination treatment and to check her microchip which confirmed her identity.

I advised Blue Cross of her return and was told that they could check her microchip but they couldn't treat her, which I didn't find very engaging.

My vet has told me that Tiche has a heart murmur, something which the Blue Cross vet did not make me aware. However it is possible that this condition may have arisen as a result of her leave of absence.

Blue Cross have a wealth of supporting literature if you wish to adopt an animal. However I think that they would have been able to carry out their work better if the staff had enquired about my history of owing a cat or any other animal rather than the how Tiche would access the outdoors. After all she had been kept indoors for the previous two months under her previous owner without problems and has been happily sleeping on my sofa and my bed and is well used to using the litter tray.

Review by: SImon Dawson

Adoption: 22nd Jan 2014
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The Blue Cross staff were all very kind Adoption: February 2014

Review by: Di

Adoption: 5th Feb 2014
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We had a perfect experience with the Blue Cross in Southampton which resulted in us adopting our much loved dog, Marmite.After the initial meeting we felt very supported and continue to feel so having kept in touch with them, we were helped along the way with advice and contacts and couldn't have wished for more.100% recommend them and will come back in a few years time for a friend for Marmite!Thanks for letting us have him, he's made our house and home :).Adoption: December 2013

Review by: Kelly DC

Adoption: 7th Dec 2013
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The staff were very welcoming and helpful. I was allowed to sit with Rosie to get to know her better before deciding to adopt. She had a dietary condition and the centre treated her for a week to ensure she was ready to leave. Special food was supplied free with advice and told that I could always call the centre if I had a problem with Rosie in the future. She has thrived and is now a healthy happy playful cat who has become a dearly loved member of the family. Adoption: September 2013

Review by: hiscobeth

Adoption: 8th Sep 2013
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The Blue Cross is a very professional outfit. We were shown our chosen one and allowed to sit with her prior to us finally making up our mind. We were given almost too much information and suggestions, but as we have been staff to cats for many years we did not let it blow our mind. Bubbles is now in and wandering around as though she owns the place. It is lovely to have a pet back in the house. Adoption: January 2014

Review by: johnhunter

Adoption: 11th Jan 2014
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The blue cross Southampton is easy to find via sat nav and is well signed. Lovely upbeat place found the staff very positive and knowledgeable. The buildings were clean and warm. We were lucky and we found our perfect match on our first visit thanks to the up to date/accurate website. Would definitely visit them again should we be in a position to re home anymore animals. Adoption: January 2014

Review by: rebecca higgins

Adoption: 11th Jan 2014
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The whole process from start to finish was very impressive. We felt completely supported, it boosted our confidence with our adoptive dog, we felt 100% informed of all his needs, training advice and what to expect. Kirsty, the staff member we death with most, was fabulous. She was very friendly, concise, knowledgable and obviously caring towards the animals.Completely and utterly satisfied with the process and couldn't be happier with our chosen pup.Thanks so much! Adoption: December 2013

Review by: KellyDC

Adoption: 7th Dec 2013
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From the moment we walked through the door we felt that we were being dealt with professionally by caring staff. They were so helpful in everyway. I would recommend this centre to anyone looking to rehome an animal. The advice and support that they offer is excellent both pre homing and post homing. Well Done Blue Cross Southampton. Adoption: December 2013

Review by: David Lowery

Adoption: 4th Dec 2013
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very pleased with the whole experience. Helpful, supportive and lots of useful advice given. Good questionnaire to complete on arrival and interview prior to any agreement to adopt. opportunity to take our prospective pet to a secure but private area to play with her and get to know her. Further visits to do same were actively encouraged before we made a final decision. very happy to answer any questions we had. Adoption: October 2013

Review by: Pauline Maunder

Adoption: 13th Oct 2013
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Whole process was excellent. Very friendly knowledgeable staff who could not have been kinder. The centre felt welcoming and relaxed and the dogs were clearly well looked after and treated with genuine individual care and affection. They took care to ensure we would be the right home for the dog we chose but this did not feel intimidating at all. The advice given and information offered were outstanding. Would thoroughly recommend this centre and I think my new dog would to!(I would also recommend the factsheets available on the Blue Cross website which are clear and informative.). Adoption: October 2013

Review by: Anna

Adoption: 28th Oct 2013
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My experience was mostly positive but I was not aware of any adoption fee until I arrived to collect the animal. Website information was not totally accurate. I was not expected to have a home assessment, which I found a little surprising but the questionnaire was very comprehensive and was clearly used to assess the suitability of my home. Staff were absolutely brilliant - I could not have asked for a more caring, attentive approach to both myself and the animals. I was very happy with the process and the outcome - my gorgeous little kitten. They are doing a great job at Blue Cross, Southampton. Adoption: October 2013

Review by: Pam BenMardhia

Adoption: 14th Oct 2013
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The staff were very friendly, approachable and helpful and were knowledgeable about looking after pets with regards to nutrition and general health. The folder of information was helpful.The cat we rehomed came direct from the previous owner, it would have been nice to spend a little more time with the cat on the initial meeting although I appreciate time was limited due to a second meeting booked in. But it was difficult in such a short time to decide if he would be suitable baring in mind we have young children to consider in the process.Overall was a great experience, I would recommend it! Adoption: October 2013

Review by: claire33cat

Adoption: 12th Oct 2013
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From start to finish the blue cross made our whole adoption process go smoothly and stress free.The application was thorough but gave me enough space to make it personal to us. They were proffessional throughout and could not have been any more helpful.The animals were treated fabulously and did not go short of attention and cuddles. Everyone was knowledgable and they covered everything with us,i even had a lesson in how to continue their teaching methods at home with our puppy. They made us all feel welcome and no question was too much trouble.We now have a wonderful little puppy and can phone for advice at any point in his life. A truly special rescue centre which i can not reccommend highly enough.Thank you Blue cross you were amazing. Adoption: October 2013

Review by: lisakhay

Adoption: 11th Oct 2013
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I recommend Blue Cross. Having adopted a dog in the past from an RSPCA centre who offered us no 'after adoption' help or advice other than to say they would take the dog back (very upsetting), Blue Cross are on hand to help us deal with behaviour problems our puppy is giving us both on the phone and visiting free of charge throughout his life. We adopted a 6 month old untrained puppy who lacks social skills both with people and other dogs (i.e. nipping, jumping, barking) and he requires a programme of training both professionally and daily. The back-up that Blue Cross are providing is invaluable. They also gave us a week's supply of food and 1 month's pet insurance to get us started. My only small criticism is that they don't let you view all dogs available when you apply to adopt; you have to apply on a form for a dog and then they contact you and tell you if you can see it or not, which is very frustrating as I applied for a different dog but never got to meet it, which is a shame. Adoption: Oct 2013

Review by: Frannyannie

Adoption: 14th Oct 2013
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From start to finish the whole experience of adopting our dog was so efficiently and quickly dealt with. The staff and volunteers were exceedingly helpful be it by phone or face to face. Wonderful experience would thoroughly recommend using this centre. All the animals are looked after beautifully. Thank you all for making our experience so easy and enjoyable. Adoption: September 2013

Review by: Sue G

Adoption: 21st Sep 2013
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the staff from reception to volunteer socialisers to cat rehoming specialists were extremely friendly and helpfulwe were given advice on introducing the cats to our existing cat and how this could be donewe were also helped to choose 2 cats who would fit suitably with our existing cat. Adoption: September 2013the cats we chose were healthy and we were given advice on how to keep them healthy and how to feed them etc

Review by: wendybrooks

Adoption: 23rd Sep 2013
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The Blue Cross Southampton is well set out, clean, caring and friendly. The staff are very knowledgeable, caring, friendly and helpful. The animals are obviously well looked after and cared for. The staff go to great pains to ensure that their animals are paired with thr right family.I would highly recommend them to anyone wishing to adopt and animal. Adoption: September 2013

Review by: Libby

Adoption: 6th Sep 2013
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We have used this site twice before, so knew what to expect.The whole experience was great. Helpful, friendly staff. My husband has Alzethimers disease, so we were looking for an older dog, who he could cope with, and I could when he gets to the stage that he can;t., The staff helped us make the right choice, and the dog is so laid back, its unbelievable.! The staff do a great job with the animals, taking them for long walks in all weathers. They have been very busy whenever we have been to the centre , but always have time to talk to you, and make you feel at ease. They all deserve a pat on the back. Couldn't fault them at all. Adoption: August 2013
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The whole experience at Southampton Blue Cross was fantastic. We were on holiday when our kittens were ready for release so they held on to them for a few days until we were able to collect them. All of the staff were polite, friendly, easy to talk to and had the animals best interests at heart. Information provided was excellent, all questions were answered. The kittens are lovely too :) highly recommended. Adoption: August 2013
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The staff were very friendly and explained everything about the adoption process very well. They were also keen to explain all his needs and requirements to train him to be a well behaved dog. The centre itself was a very clean and friendly environment. To improve the experience it would have been easier to have one staff member deal with the whole adoption process instead of a different member at each visit. Adoption: July 2013
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This was our first experience of adopting a dog and the care shown to us by all staff was exceptional. They took care to ensure the needs of the dog would be met and that our new dog would be okay with our existing dog. We cannot praise they highly enough. Adoption: April 2013
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We were made to feel really welcome by the staff and volunteers.They provided us with lots of information about several of the cats. Once we had found a suitable match it was a very simple,quick process to adopt our beautiful Luna.I will recommend the blue cross to anyone. Adoption: Dec 2012
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Expressed interest of specific animal; response within 24 hours and all phone communications/visits were conducted by same member of staff, who had superb attitude and knowledge. Clean/friendly/professional environment with plentiful adoption information and aftercare support. Adoption: Dec 2012
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Everything was explained to me and thought how caring the staff were for making sure myself and the animal were compatible which i think is so important. i was asked to pay several visits although due to lack if transport,i could only visit twice.the day of collection went smoothly and i was seen out with my pet in a very efficient and caring manner with the knowledge i could contact them should i have any problems. Adoption: 2012
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The Staff were very friendly and helpful, I was able to visit my kittens every day and the one thing I noticed was the litter trays were always clean, so they must be changed/cleaned often and the whole cattery was very clean and well maintained, all the cats in there looked healthy and my two kittens were always happy when I was there, I have to say the whole adoption process was excellent. Adoption: 2012
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We found Blue Cross to be a very professional and caring environment for re homing animals. The staged process of introducing animals to potential owners worked really well. All of the animals were cared for in the best possible way with plenty of volunteers spending time with the animals and looking after their husbandry. We will definitely recommend re homing an animal to others based on our experience. Adoption: 2012
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The whole experience was excellent from the moment we walked in looking to adopt a cat to the time we brought him home (today!) Very professional, friendly and caring staff - this was apparent even before we visited from the lovely personal reviews of cats looking for homes and advertised on the internet. We were left with all the time we needed to get to know our potential adoptee and when it came to the interview before bringing him home, it was faultless. We were given a lot of useful information, even though we felt we knew pretty much all we needed about looking after a cat. We definitely learned new useful things about getting him used to us and his new home. We genuinely felt he would be missed by the staff and that we were honoured to be able to take home such a special animal. Adoption: 2012
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We were so impressed with the blue cross centre, the staff are exceptionally friendly and the whole adoption process was so efficient. Adoption: 2012
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We have now adopted 2 kittens one in January and one in September. The individual we dealt with emailed us after we adopted the first kitten as she had looked after her direct at her home and regulary kept in contact. We then popped in before we went on holiday and mentioned we were keen to get another kitten and they then emailed a couple of weeks later to say that some kittens were now ready for adoption. They have always been very helpful and I would throughally recommend them. Adoption: 2012
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the centre is great and it is obvious the people working there are very committed to the welfare of the animals. We are delighted with our cat and are happy to have chosen to adopt from a rehoming centre.
However, there is a bit of red tape around the adoption process. Three visits at least are necessary before you are able to go home with a pet. The whole process requires a lot of time and is difficult for people who work full time. it would be great if the whole procedure could be shortened a little bit, as people who cannot take time off from work to adopt a pet might be put off and go elsewhere more flexible. Adoption: 2012
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Very friendly and helpful staff, have not been to a rescue centre before and pleasantly surprised by the time and care given to the animals (volunteers spending time with cats, socialising them, etc). The animals seemed calm and settled.
The process of adopting our new cat went very smoothly and I would recommend this centre to others who were looking to adopt a pet. I may well come back for a rabbit next! Adoption: 2012
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The staff took the time to fully inform us of the dog we were interested in, the pre-adoption check was extremely thourough covering things we had not even thought of. I was impressed with how they were very sensitive to the needs of the owners who had to give her up.

When we went to collect our chosen dog, we were given lots of time to go through her details, the very comprehensive post adoption service offered and some basic training. We left the Blue Cross with a fantastic dog and feeling confident that we were well equipped to properly care for her. We were encouraged to call/come back if we had any problems and positively, to come back to one of their regular sessions to show off the training we'd achieved with our dog and get a rosette!

I had not expected such a package and have been recommending their service to anyone who'll listen! Adoption: 2012
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The centre is excellent. I have adopted from them before and because of this, chose to return. The cats are all extremely well looked after and all kennels very clean and comfortable. The staff even remembered my first cats, that I adopted over 5 years ago. This to me proves the centre, and especially the staff really, really care. Such a lovely adoption centre, I am happy to recommend them to anyone! Adoption: 2012
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The centre is well organised and clean, staff extremely helpful and freindly. The catteries were well organised and clean.

We found that most of the cats were already reserved, but due to the extremely helpful volunteer we were able to view 2 kittens who were available. Who we have now adopted and brought home.

We have now got 2 wonderful cats who have taken over our house and are the centre of attention.

The impression that I got was that the centre was extremely busy and this meant that they were stuggling to keep up with some of the paper work. It also looked like the reason that there were so many reserved cats was due to the lack of available appointments to take the cats home. Although we were available any time for an appointment at first it was going to be a week before they had time for us to pick the cats up. Luckily one of the volunteers was available to do a rehoming chat on the day which meant we could pick up 3 days later.

Apart from this I would highly recommend this centre to anyone looking for a cat. Adoption: 2012
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Blue Cross cared about the animals they have. They knew the character and history of most on request without having look it up. They were professional and they were interested in where our cat would end up and what we were able to offer her. The centre was kept clean and tidy. Adoption: 2012
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Blue Cross at Southampton have been fantastic. We met about 10 members of staff over a 2 week period whilst waiting to bring Lucy home, they were all friendly, knowledgeable and professional.

They genuinely care for the animals in their care, and we are glad that Lucy was so well looked after before we could bring her home.

Fantastic facilities, great staff. Adoption: 2012
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We were looking for a indoor cat/kitten,we had found what we thought t we were looking , but it was not suitable for our home, but the staff came up with two lovely chaps which we now are getting to know each.
thank you to all the staff at Southampton

Lots of love Dave &Carol. Adoption: 2012
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Very impressed with the level of service given during our adoption process. Communication was excellent during the whole process. Adoption: 2012
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Rang to say what dog we were interested in adopting, a walk was arranged for the next day, we were asked how we felt about Otto and we said we would look at adopting him, as the walk had gone well and we appeared to have clicked. Forms and explanations about the process commenced and we attended each day when open and able to take Otto for walks and spend more time with him in the runs and the Home shed to see him in differant enviroments and how he was in them with us too. All was positive, any concerns were looked at and addressed. We had adopted from here before several years ago and our experience was as good then as it was today and would recommend this place to anyone to approach adopting an animal from there. There first priority is the animals welfare which is right, but they also ensure that you are aware of your responsibilities and the after support that is offered should you require any support in any issues or queries you may have. You are not left to get on with it on your own after you have taken the animal on. Adoption: 2012
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We were very impressed with the Blue Cross Southampton. The staff were all lovely and very knowledgeable about individual animals in their care.
We had to have 3 separate meetings with staff to verify that we were a good match for our new boy. It was good to know they were so thorough in identifying a suitable home for each dog.
On each visit we were warmly greeted at Reception and given every courtesy.
The kennel facilities were very clean and all the animals we saw were very well cared for. They were walked every day and also spent some time with relevant training, play time, etc.
If you have to be rescued as a stray then there are far worse places to be than this! The humans really did seem to love the animals in their care. Adoption: 2012
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We adopted our cat 3 weeks ago and couldn't be happier with the process. The animals are all so well loked after with excellent facilities and lovely carers. We met with 3 different cats before chosing ours and there was plenty of information on all of them and no pressure to adopt, they want it to be the right match as much as you do. Thank you! Adoption: 2012
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Once we were through on the phone lines the service was great. I tried numerous times to call the centre - every time I got a recorded message. Since I only have a mobile it was costing me a small fortune to call the centre, and I all I could do was leave a message.
It is VERY frustrating trying to reach someone to talk to. The emails are responded to in a timely manner, only I do not always have access to the internet. so for me, it was hard to correspond.
The centre was very accommodating in arranging our visits, and the staff are excellent. and friendly. The facility is clean, and the animals appear well cared for. Adoption: 2012
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Blue Cross Southampton is an excellent shelter. Their facilities are well kept and spotlessly clean. Staff are always happy to help, listen carefully and respond appropriately and with understanding. The animals are well looked after, with play areas even for the cats, so they can stretch their legs beyond their cages. There are lots of toys for the animals that want them, or seclusion for the more timid. The cages are well equipped and every effort is made to match animals and adopters. There is also a degree of flexibility with adoptions, judging each potential owner on their own merits and not enforcing strict rules such as certain age groups that other shelters have, but treating them more as guidelines. Overall a very pleasant experience. Adoption: 2012
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A good interview process and a very full explanation of the dogs I was interested in. I was told EVERYTHING they knew and so had a very good idea of what I would be letting myself in for! We were then allowed to walk the dog alone and see what he was like in a 'home room' environment without any time pressure. It is difficult to imagine what a pet will be like once removed from such a busy environment so that fact that we could ask questions and see the dog alone was great. Adoption: 2012
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A wonderful place to adopt an animal from. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, animals are very well cared for and spotlessly clean. A pre Adoption interview was very thorough and particularly helpful as we adopted an older cat on a supported scheme so needed to know his medical history and dietary needs in detail. We are very happy with the whole adoption process and a big thank you to everyone involved. Adoption: 2012
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I had been looking for a kitten after the sad loss of our cat at the age of 18. I went to the Blue Cross. The staff were lovely, friendly and showed me what they had to offer. I was so impressed with the Blue Cross I adopted two kittens. They were a little poorly at the time but being very well looked after. I was kept informed at all times on the progress of my two kittens. When I went to pick them up ten days later, the staff were very nice and gave me all the things I needed to get them started at home. I can not fault the Blue Cross at all. Thanks very much. Adoption: 2011
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Highly impressed with standards and process. Even though my wife and I have been dog owners for forty years and have previously adopted the full process was still gone through.
The dog I choose was initially identified on the web site and was available for immediate viewing - this was very pleasing as other homes we investigated had out of date listings, failed to return calls etc plus some had done no in house checks on temperament etc coupled with no history being obtained from previous owners.
I found the centre had spent a good deal of time in assessment of the animal and would only match up with prospects considered a fit.
Finally all vets reports, innoculations and worming etc were up to date and given to us in order that this could be used by both ourseves and the vet.
Conclusion Very Professional. Adoption: 2011
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We had never had a kitten before and found the whole experience of adopting one very calm. The staff at the blue cross were very friendly, very patient and very knowledgeable on the animals. They often seemed rushed off their feet but were always very polite and helpfull. When we got our kitten home he was very clean and obviously well cared for. He has been well litter trained. Not had one accident and we have had him 6 weeks. When we visited cat kennels we thought they were very clean and tidy and very calm. All in all a good experience. Adoption: 2011
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Very friendly staff who clearly love animals. Good knowledge of the cat I adopted. No pressure and plenty of time to view the cats and spend time with them. Adoption: 2011
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Staff at Blue Cross were really friendly and went out of their way to help us.
We were given lots of advice, and would feel comfortable approaching them with any post adoption issues.
The centre was very clean and the cattery had plenty of space and information regarding each kitten/cat.
I would recommend Blue Cross Southampton to friends and family. Adoption: 2011
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We first visitied Blue Cross in June and were informed that a litter of puppies would soon be available. After what seemed like an eternity we now have our puppy home and couldn't be happier. Not just with our new family member but also with the staff and the centre itself. The staff were always friendly and helpful above and beyond what you would expect and the centre was always clean and well looked after. We received great advice and a dog training session before taking our Dino home. Thanks again to Blue Cross Southampton. Adoption: 2011
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We went to the Blue Cross seeking to adopt a female ginger and white kitten, having waited a while since having our beautiful old cat put down in the winter. We successfully completed their adoption administration process, interviews etc. No home visit was necessary in view of where we live, no children, other pets and we were matched to a beautiful kitten that we revisited and awaited her fist vaccination before bringing her home.
Unfortunately this was delayed because she became ill. This has been further compounded because we had a serious illness within our family. We had good contact and discussions with the Blue Cross and it was generally agreed it was not a good time to complete the adoption. We still really want to give a kitten a loving home and hope to do this later in the year. I only have praise for the centre and their staff in handling the difficult situation. The team there provide an outstanding level of care for their animals in superb purpose built surroundings. In spite of many visitors, the staff were always friendly, supportive, clearly explaining the process, carefully matching animal and new owner. I cannot recommend his charitable centre highly enough. Adoption: 2011
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Wonderful calm location where clearly the animals are a priority. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and were genuinely interested in helping us during the process and offering support afterwards. We got the impression that they really wanted to help both you and the animals. We had previously visited another shelter (not Blue Cross) where I felt the animals were being subjected to stress with people coming and going as if a zoo. It really was like chalk and cheese. I think the Blue Cross should be praised and noted for their care. Visit: 2011
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We adopted a cat that had various problems and extreme care was taken by the Blue Cross Centre, to ensure that we were the right people to adopt a very special pussy cat! Adoption: 2011
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Our experience with Blue Cross Southampton could not have been better. On arrival we were invited to complete a short registration form and given a folder containing details of available animals.
After selecting a dog we were quickly introduced to him and invited to walk him around the centre grounds. Uponn indicating our interest in the dog we were invited to return the following day, or any time convenient, to take him for a longer walk ouside the centre.
After agreeing to adopt the dog we were interviewed in a most professional and helpful manner. When we returned to collect the dog we were given useful ideas and demonstrations about training techniques.
The whole process was efficient, friendly and professional. Adoption: 2012

Blue Cross Southampton Rehoming Centre

State of the art facilities accommodating cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs all looking for loving homes. Opening hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 11.00am–4.00pm Wednesday: Closed Sunday and Bank holidays: 11.00am–2.00pm

Postcode	SO30 2HL
Telephone	0300 777 1530
Email	[email protected]
Website	http://www.bluecross.org.uk/17...
Species	General (various species)

Charitable Status	Registered charity / ADCH member
Visitor Options	Visitors welcome during opening hours