Experts Reviews · 2026 Ratings

The Best Pet Rescue

We graded 22 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.

—typical jobMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range).
97%say the price was fairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”.
4.61★average ratingPlain average of every Google star rating we collected for these companies.
8.3%bad jobs (1–2★, 2 yrs)Share of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.

From 7,220 Google reviews of 22 top-rated pet rescue nationwide. Updated November 2, 2026.

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Best pet rescue for large animals

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1Godley Station Animal Hospital logoGodley Station Animal Hospital★ 4.33 on this job3 jobs reviewedHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Large animals”:Stars on this job 55%4.33★Number of such jobs 25%3Overall Experts Score 20%50Job match= 53Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.61★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.53

Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Large animals” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.

What customers said about large animals

No written reviews mention this job yet.

Overall ratings

Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of pet rescue).

#CompanyScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown.FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20.★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps.Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews).
1Bay Area Parrot Rescue logoBay Area Parrot RescueBerkeley, CAA 92How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%94+65.1Reliability 31%88+27.1Experts Score= 92Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––A–5.00—
2Godbey Creek Canine Rescue, Inc. logoGodbey Creek Canine Rescue, Inc.Winston-Salem, NCA 88How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%91+49.6Reliability 24%87+21.1Value 14%93+13.2Replies to reviews 7%58+4.1Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 88Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AAAAAC4.90—
3Animal C.A.R.E. Foundation logoAnimal C.A.R.E. FoundationWinston-Salem, NCA 83How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%85+46.4Reliability 24%82+19.9Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%31+2.2Experts Score= 83Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA–AAD4.83—
4Rescue Ranch logoRescue RanchWinston-Salem, NCA 83How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%85+54Reliability 28%94+26.5Replies to reviews 8%29+2.4Experts Score= 83Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––AD4.84—
5Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue logoYggdrasil Urban Wildlife RescueBerkeley, CAB 78How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%81+51.5Reliability 28%75+21.2Replies to reviews 8%69+5.7Experts Score= 78Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AB––AB4.76—
6Toni's Kitty Rescue logoToni's Kitty RescueBerkeley, CAB 76How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%83+52.7Reliability 28%70+19.8Replies to reviews 8%45+3.7Experts Score= 76Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AB––AC4.79—
7House Rabbit Society logoHouse Rabbit SocietyBerkeley, CAB 73How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%83+52.7Reliability 28%73+20.6Replies to reviews 8%23+1.9Momentum penalty82−1.8Experts Score= 73Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AB––AD4.82—
8San Francisco SPCA Adoption Center logoSan Francisco SPCA Adoption CenterBerkeley, CAB 69How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%69+37.6Reliability 24%66+16Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%19+1.3Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 69Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BBAAAF4.66—
9FOSS (Friends of Stokes Shelter) logoFOSS (Friends of Stokes Shelter)Winston-Salem, NCB 69How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%74+51.2Reliability 31%57+17.5Experts Score= 69Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BC––A–4.76—
10East Bay SPCA Spay & Neuter Surgery Center logoEast Bay SPCA Spay & Neuter Surgery CenterBerkeley, CAB 60How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%57+31.1Reliability 24%64+15.5Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%1+0.1Craft & service penalty87−1.3Experts Score= 60Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.CBAAAF4.52—
11Joybound People & Pets logoJoybound People & PetsBerkeley, CAC 59How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%67+42.6Reliability 28%59+16.7Replies to reviews 8%33+2.7Momentum penalty74−2.6Experts Score= 59Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BC––BD4.73—
12Renegade Paws Rescue logoRenegade Paws RescuePooler, GAC 55How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%61+33.3Reliability 24%41+9.9Value 14%68+9.6Replies to reviews 7%50+3.5Momentum penalty91−0.9Experts Score= 55Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BC–BAC4.63—

What jobs cost

What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.

JobLow25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this.TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range).High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this.FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”.

Pet Rescue at a glance

How the 22 pet rescue we rated compare, and what customers praise most.

Experts Score grades

A = score 80+, F = below 20.

  • Grade A418%
  • Grade B627%
  • Grade C732%
  • Grade D314%
  • Grade F29%

Google ratings

Average stars per company.

  • 4.90★ and up29%
  • 4.80–4.89★314%
  • 4.60–4.79★836%
  • Below 4.60★941%

What customers praise

Share of Google review highlights.

  • Quality3025%
  • Professionalism3428%
  • Responsiveness3226%
  • Punctuality11%
  • Value2420%

Was the price fair?

All price verdicts left with reviews.

  • Great price6649%
  • Reasonable4936%
  • Overpriced43%
  • Not sure1612%

Price verdicts by year

Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.

2025
2026

How we grade

Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.

Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.

Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.

Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.

Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.

Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.