Empty Cages Collective

Poor process. No follow ups. Wasted my time going to visit the pet.
I contacted Empty Cages Collective to inquire for a specific cat via email after I received a message from The Pet Finder. I did receive response quickly with procedures saying I should fill out a form and visit the cat that weekend during an event. I went to the event on Saturday with the completed adoption form and gave it to a women representing the organization. She reviewed and said that I pretty much should be fine passing the process and that she would call the 3 references I supplied on Sunday. She said the whole process should take about a week. I waited for communication until Thursday but without any news, so I wrote an email to them. I got a mail back saying the cat was adopted by someone else.
I just think the handling of this is not good. If there was already someone else in the process of adopting, they should have informed me. And if I didn’t ask for it, I would never have gotten the news that the cat was adopted.
I don’t feel like dealing with them ever again as there is no promise and it wastes your time and emotional energy.

Frustrating application process and curt, rude responses. I got rejected because someone, at some point, did not find my social media presence up to par for adopting a rat. (?? I can’t even begin to understand what that means, and I don’t have the energy to care when there’s so many other amazing ways to adopt animals in this city)
I’m more than happy to support adoption and fostering of animals but their attitude is counterintuitive. This is my first negative Unilocal review and I’m bummed to have to make it.

I applied to adopt a kitten from this organization. All my references were contacted and while I was approved, the kitten I was interested in got adopted by other people who applied around the same time. I was told that there are younger kittens that I could meet and adopt in a few weeks. I scheduled a viewing and before even going, I got notified that these kittens were already adopted. I’m pretty sure these adopters applied after I did. Empty Cages Collective makes quick decisions on whose living conditions are the most ideal (which for kittens would be adopters who want to adopt a pair). Since I was only adopting one kitten as a companion cat, I was viewed as a less desirable candidate. All the kittens I was interested in got adopted out to other people, which I find to be inconsiderate if I had applied and been approved before them.

ECC has a great mission but their conduct is counterproductive to finding a loving home for all the pets in need. I was interested in adopting from ECC. But, after communicating with a representative who had the undertones of an emotionally distorted teen, ended up adopting a similar pet from North Shore Animal League. I’m writing this review to encourage adoption from a shelter/​rescue and to suggest that if you are considering giving a donation to ECC, please give the funds to a different rescue, where your donation will have a greater impact.
My ordeal: I contacted ECC by email about adopting a kitten I found on their website who was up for adoption by itself (not in a pair). I got a prompt response that the pet was still for adoption so I completed an application. I received a phone call the same day (again, outstanding response time), but that’s where everything went downhill.
On the phone was a person who I’m sure had the best intentions, but unfortunately is a poor communicator. Although having plenty of experience with cats, I initially received a ten minute lecture-​rant on cat safety from a representative with the undertones of an emotionally distort teen. I was not asked factually relevant questions but rather subjected to this rant without being able to get a word in. Only then, did the person inform me that I can only adopt the kitten if I adopt another one with it (contrary to their website). I explained that at this point I’m only able to adopt one kitten but the person on the phone attempted to pressure me into adopting two kittens. At this point I ended the call.
I ended up adopting a beautiful kitten of similar age at the North Shore Animal League, where I passed the background check without any issues.
While ECC has a noble mission, their communications are lacking and impede their goals. I’m concerned that their animals miss out on good homes because the ECC representatives have poor communications skills or mix actual facts with their unconventional personal views. If you can adopt one of their pets, please do, but if you’re considering a donation, please give it to an organization that will use it wisely and put the animals first and not their egos.

PJ, Natalia and everyone at Empty Cages Collective have been so helpful to me! I have called to ask for assistance in helping various wildlife I found injured in Prospect Park– PJ always got back to me quickly with helpful information.
Most recently they assisted me by taking in five kittens I found at my local feral colony in a very crisis filled time for me. I already had one set of kittens I was caring for, and they made room for the new set and were wonderfully kind and compassionate about their care. I can’t say enough nice things about this group and the many lives they have saved. I will always be grateful to them.

Empty Cages and PJ have helped me with injured animals a few times in the past and I cannot thank them enough. Once in Greenpoint, I was able to catch a chukar partridge (a local slaughterhouse escapee). They can be difficult to catch as they fly, but to rescue a bird you can gently drape a lightweight towel over them and scoop them into a carrier, which is how I was able to get this one after several attempts. I called a few places and ECC got back to me right away to say they’d take it. I am happy to say he is now upstate in a lovely sanctuary with others of his kind, living out his days, thanks to ECC.
Most recently a friend and I spotted a sick kitten in a bodega in Ridgewood. The owner (who was the worker there) is on a very fixed income and she was worried about the kitten so she’d brought her into work to keep an eye on her. I said I’d try to find some help for her as she couldn’t afford the local vet, who is known to charge very high amounts even for routine visits. I posted a plea on Facebook and PJ responded. I was able to take the kitten and her sibling to ECC’s vet and with ECC they were treated, cared for, fostered, and returned to the owner when they’d recovered from their respiratory & parasite infections. The owner decided to adopt out one sibling through ECC as she couldn’t afford to keep both. Thanks to ECC the kittens are happy & healthy and have wonderful homes!

i had a wonderful experience with ECC. my partner and i have been interested in adopting a dog for some months. while walking in wburg we saw a little puppy with a ‘adopt me’ vest on and it was love at first sight. we got to talking with the gentleman walking him, ended up having a very great interaction with PJ. he was very knowledgeable and let us know the next steps if we were interested. what really stayed with me was that i could tell PJ really cared about what happened to the puppy. he directed us to fill out paperwork and gave us his personal cell phone if we needed anything. later that night we were welcoming a new family member. moreover, he offered to loan us crate while we all adjusted & checked in with us the days following to make sure we & puppy were doing ok.
i highly recommend working with this wonderful agency — and if you can’t adopt, DONATE.

I’ve called up Empty Cages Collective for multiple stray animals that I’ve found in my neighborhood. Each time, they were extremely helpful, showing compassion, efficiency, and extensive knowledge about how to handle each cat. Not only did they get these cats veterinary care immediately, but they were also able to find these animals loving homes. ECC is comprised of many dedicated volunteers that work round the clock to care for injured, sick, and abandoned animals. Saying the work they do is amazing is a vast understatement. So grateful to have an organization like this exist in NYC. Please support them in any way you can!

Empty Cages Collective brought us together with Lulu, the sweetest cat ever and our most adored family member. Throughout the entire adoption process ECC was so helpful and even after gave us expert advice and support. Lulu would not have made it without ECC stepping in to save her life and we would not have found Lulu without Empty Cages Collective. They go to any length to save animals other rescues leave behind, and then these animals become beloved members of people’s families!!!

We adopted both of our cats from Empty Cages, our first two years ago and a sweet little kitten two weeks ago. They are both wonderful and we are so glad to have them in our family! We are so grateful to Empty Cages and the good work they do! Thank for your saving our kitties so that they could join our home and become the best of friends, too.

We adopted our 2 bunny siblings from Empty Cages Collective in August. ECC rescued them all the way from Indiana in a breeder abuse case where 400 bunnies were seized. They were cared for very well, already spayed/​neutered and in good health, and PJ made it easy for us to come meet them.
Everyone we met from ECC that day was lovely, and you can tell how much they love animals. ECC makes sure that adoption applicants will provide good homes through their screening/​application process. It’s not easy work when dealing with people who don’t understand the care involved with bunnies and that they are not meant to live in small cages. I applaud them for their patience when dealing with difficult and unknowledgeable potential adopters.
Even though our bunnies were siblings, PJ didn’t pressure us to take both, understanding that it would be better for one of them to get placed rather than neither. They were kept together the whole time since their rescue and were adorable pals together, so we gladly took both.
I find it hard to believe these other reviews about the adoption fee. Even though we took 2 bunnies, PJ said that our suggested adoption fee was $ 100. We decided we wanted to give more because of the wonderful work this organization does, and because of the cost of exotic veterinary care. I would give this organization my highest recommendation and encourage anyone to adopt from here, and if you can, donate to help these guys continue to help animals.

**NOTE: I’m not suggesting not to adopt animals from this shelter. Ultimately, this is about helping animals, &they shouldn’t have to suffer because of the owner’s lack of appropriate communication skills. The 1 star is for the way I was treated by PJ. He was extremely unpleasant. And that’s putting it nicely.
Here’s the backstory: I inquired about one of their dogs that was staying at a foster home. I read their website, noticed the $ 100.00 adoption fee requirement (which is listed on the site) filled out the application and sent it to PJ. I heard back from the foster person that my application was accepted and I arranged a meeting with the dog, Julie. I agreed to adopt her under the impression she was in good health. I asked for the medical records to double check that she was ok because I would be bringing her home to 4 other animals (and I wouldn’t want all of them to get sick/​catch anything from Julie). She didn’t have the records on hand, but assured me she was in good health. The foster person also told us that the suggested donation is $ 200 but that it was negotiable, and that I would hear from PJ. I brought Julie home and introduced her to the other 4 rescues that I have. When I got her home, I noticed she had a really red mark on her skin, on the back of her neck. I texted a picture of it to PJ who advised me to take her to the vet, and that Empty Cages would cover the cost. This made sense to me since I was told she was healthy, so I immediately made an appointment. At the vet’s visit, the vet informed me that she has a very bad case of ear mites, and a tooth infection w/​pus and that she would need surgery to remove it. I was shocked because I was told Julie was healthy, but really glad that we could get her on the path to good health ASAP. PJ once again agreed to pay for all of this, which again made sense to me because I was told she was healthy. I was very annoyed that I wasn’t told the truth about her health, because I put the health of my other animals in jeopardy. I could have easily kept Julie away from the other animals until her ear mites were cleared up, but now I’m treating 4 other animals for the possibility of these ear mites. The good news is that Julie is now on the road to recovery and already seems in better spirits after having 9 teeth removed!
Which brings me to tonight. I received a text from PJ that I need to pay $ 200 for the adoption donation. I said «I can afford $ 100.» He again said that I needed to pay the $ 200. I was confused and asked where it said that on the website, and that the foster person said the donation is negotiable. He called me up and told me that it is non-​negotiable and the donation is $ 200.00. He was very rude and would barely let me get a word in and went on to say that I was «haggling» and «this isn’t e-​bay!» He didn’t care that the website says $ 100. He started to lecture me on animal rescue and transport and how expensive it is and trying to call me out on being a vegan and that I should know better. His tone was very aggressive and I was completely caught off guard by this. I am not a cheap person. I have done animal rescue/​transport, TNR and understand the cost can be excessive, but a person trying to give a good home to an animal should not be treated this way.
I was not haggling. I was simply confused and was trying to understand how the website says $ 100 and I was told «negotiable» (I was also told good health) and now I am being yelled at for even questioning him!
He went on to tell me that I should not have any animals if I can’t afford $ 200, and that I should give Julie back because she is «highly adoptable». I take care of 4 other rescued animals and there was always a «suggested donation». I never «bought» an animal, and I would always pay what I could afford at the time, and I have never been treated like this by other organizations! He also mentioned that I would get her medical records when he got the money. Knowing that Julie is older and already has these issues, I’d rather save my money for future vet visits, and also use it to pay the vet bill for the 4 animals I am treating for possible ear mites. I did agree to pay, and I will follow through on my word.
This is the owner of this organization. It’s very sad that an organization dedicated to helping animals could be run by such a nasty person. I don’t appreciate being berated because of a misunderstanding that could have been handled in a more respectful way.
***UPDATE 12÷2÷2013: It’s now almost 1 month since I paid the donation fee and I still HAVE NOT received the medical records for this pup. My communication attempts are being ignored.

This animal rescue is awesome. They rescue all types of animals and truly give them a second chance at life. About 2 weeks before Christmas I found a dog in queens. I immediately contacted ECC and they helped me get the pup checked out by a vet and was able to get him neutered and microchipped that very same weekend. Then they even helped find the owner and reached out to her for me! The dog is now back at home safe and sound! The owner was so happy that ECC had been able to get the little guy neutered and microchipped and even happier that they were able to help me bring him back home for the holidays!

PJ is Great! Found an injured bird in my yard tonight. He was willing to make calls to help me find a place to get the chick everything she needed.
Thanks!!!

Tara from Empty Cages Collective helped me find the LOVE of my life, my main man Steve! I was looking to adopt an adult cat, and I emailed Empty Cages after finding them on
. Tara emailed me back and we scheduled a time for me to come visit the shelter, which is not too far away from my apartment. Its located pretty close to McCarren Park.
Anyway, i got there and was given a tour of all the cats (along with some recovering urban wildlife — like a possum!), with the opportunity to hold, hug, and play with each of the cats, to see who I was compatible with. I was instantly drawn to Steve, a 7-​year-​old handsome (in my eyes) gray fellow who had a funny stinkface, and a motorboat purr, who had sadly been in the shelter for a few months after his owner passed away. He wasn’t that outgoing, but I found myself coming back to him at the end of the tour, and putting in an application for him. A few days later after checking with my references, Tara emailed to let me know that he was all mine, and they just had to take him back to the vet to give him the go-​ahead.
I wasn’t sure how he, an adult cat, was going to react to being outside of a cage and living with a stranger in a new space. He was nervous and hid for about 2 weeks, but since, we have become BESTIES and his personality has blossomed into a totally new cat, a personality that didn’t come through at the shelter, but that I’m so grateful to have in my companion. He is the best, and is proof that we should follow our gut, and that even after being stuck in a shelter, if given a loving, caring home and owner, your older cat with love you and thrive in his new environment.
Tara and Empty Cages have been so helpful to me, a first time cat owner. I have followed up with them since when I needed to go to the vet for an eye infection, and they gave me great suggestions for Steve.
Please support them! They are doing great things for animals and their new owners.

I don’t think I’ve missed your point, I addressed your point it’s you who isn’t quite getting it. I’m not going to go on about this any longer after this, if your ignorance is what gets you through in life thats your own problem and nothing I care about to change your mind but to make a final point:
The squirrel was in danger and I called you for help
#1 the organization OFFERS HELP
#2 if myself or any untrained person is in harms way and if they feel in danger than you have no right to criticize and harass someone for their incapability (it’s why I called for help and the reason so many other people contact this organization)
#3 to quote you PETER, «It isn’t a crime to not suffer fools gladly. However, allowing animals to suffer unnecessarily when you have the ability to help should be.»
It actually is a crime to harass someone, look into it.
and also, if in your mind it helps you rest easy to think that you can make up stories and reasons for your awful behavior– grow up because the reason why I called was for some HELP and if I wasn’t going to be getting it from this organization as I had clearly wrote about before than On to the next one; this squirrel wouldn’t have been left there and you have no right to assume otherwise…
and here’s another one of your quotes, «and instead posted a „bad“ Unilocal review while our volunteers were offering medical care to a suffering animal»
–and you know what? It’s my right to write a bad review and how would you know the time line of my posts to whatever it is that you were doing. so now your a stalker? and you know what it is I’m doing, and what I’m thinking? Hmmm…
Your responses are very disturbing but you prove my point even further.
congratulations buddy.

I adopted my cat from ECC in early July. I’ve had her about a month. The volunteers at ECC worked with me to answer all of my questions about her. Even after I adopted her and had a health-​related question, they were very responsive. If I wanted to adopt again, I’d go here. They do great work for animals in the NYC area.

I got two amazing cats from ECC. The first one Sutton has become my 8lb. dog Manny best friend. Nero the 2^nd cat is very calm and loves to just chill in the sun. ECC is doing great work in BK and I wish more people would adopt from them, they put in a lot of hard work and money to help cats that people chose to disregard they are true heroes in the feline world! Thanks ECC!

ECC is a nonprofit all-​volunteer animal rescue and veterinary/​rehabilitation center. They have a number of kittens and adult cats for adoption, including rescued feral kittens that they help with socialization. The staff here are super-(com)passionate and helpful and go to great lengths to make sure every animal is treated with caring and respect.
If you’re looking for a furry companion, (or want to volunteer some of your time!) you should definitely consder ECC.

My adoption of my wonderful feline roommate from Empty Cages was easy as can be. I 1^st saw a kitty I was interested in on their blog:
and then later in the week went to PS9 where they were hosting an adoption event.
Three days after visiting my future roommate and filling out an adoption application I was called and told she would soon be coming to my home. After some furious kitty proofing of my apt a few days later my kitty companion came home.
I took here to the Vet, where she got the thumbs up.
The staff I dealt with at ECC were totally profession and do great work rescuing animals and providing compassionate care for them. And they do not stop just at kitties, but with injured animals of all breeds, feathers, fins, etc.
Just a wonderful organization that deserves any and all accolades and assistance it receives.
Call them if you are thinking of rescuing a kitty of your own.