Simi Balter is the Executive Director of the Pet Network Humane Society. Simi has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. She spent the majority of her career working for a leading service dog organization headquartered in California. If it involves transforming the lives of animals or humans, she is all in! On the weekends you will most likely find her playing outdoors.
In Simi's own words, "she has the best job in the world." Before joining the Pet Network team, Katie spent 8 years working in various roles and organizations in the animal welfare field.
In Simi's own words, "she has the best job in the world." Before joining the Pet Network team, Katie spent 8 years working in various roles and organizations in the animal welfare field.
Follow us
Reviews (10)
Sandra
Jun 23, 2022
Sandra Ertola
May 14, 2022
Karen Roseborough
Feb 16, 2022
Goatskull Deltamongering
Jan 20, 2022
All the adult cats have to share one room that doesn't guarantee access to the patio at all times. That cramped room in the back bottlenecks cats walking paths which is where I've seen fights break out between cats. As many as 15 adult cats I've seen stuffed in that backroom at once. Each dog gets their own room to defacate in all over the floor even when pairing would best suit the requirements of certain dogs.
I know this is done to easily clean accidents but it does enable a negative behaviour counter productive to the adoption process. Regardless of this, I continue to see a stark contrast between dog favoritism over cat welfare at pet network year after year. I don't go often, just a few days out of the year. That strong chemical smell would have been understanable had I not entered harsh sneezing fits only ten minutes of being in the place ( I don't have allergies and grew up with more than ten cats ect. ) I can tell the friendly staff from unmotivated staff too easily. I feel like it's because I'm not actively shopping.
I know this is done to easily clean accidents but it does enable a negative behaviour counter productive to the adoption process. Regardless of this, I continue to see a stark contrast between dog favoritism over cat welfare at pet network year after year. I don't go often, just a few days out of the year. That strong chemical smell would have been understanable had I not entered harsh sneezing fits only ten minutes of being in the place ( I don't have allergies and grew up with more than ten cats ect. ) I can tell the friendly staff from unmotivated staff too easily. I feel like it's because I'm not actively shopping.
Alison Kelley
Dec 22, 2021
This local shelter is clean and spacious, which I'd normally award 5 for.except. The dog rooms (not cages) keep each dog completely isolated from the other dogs - what a shame. Also, you can't stroll the dog area unaccompanied and the completely isolated rooms prevent you from interacting with the animals, unless you ask to have one removed from its room. Overall, I found it to be a sterile and impersonal experience.
Most people I know find their new pet by observing and interacting directly, taking their time, on their own. To me, their isolation and supervised appeoach puts undo pressure on prospective dog families and limits one's ability to get to know a dog organically.
Most people I know find their new pet by observing and interacting directly, taking their time, on their own. To me, their isolation and supervised appeoach puts undo pressure on prospective dog families and limits one's ability to get to know a dog organically.
Cj
Jul 25, 2021
If you are looking to adopt a dog or cat - this is the place. The staff treats every animal that comes through their building as if they were their own. They truly care about their work and are dedicated to providing the most humane treatment of abandoned, surrendered and lost animals that is possible. A genuinely good non profit organization.
Hailey Baker
Apr 07, 2021
Caren Miller
Feb 05, 2021
Michael Panici
Apr 17, 2020
Laura C.
Feb 15, 2020
My family and I had a wonderful past experience adopting a dog from Pet Network. We were there recently and saw a puppy who had just arrived at the shelter. We were told that no one had claimed her and that she was going to be available next week, once she was spayed. My kids fell in love and the adoption specialist told me that there were no applications or holds on her.
I paid the $10 hold fee and she explained that I wouldn't need a new application because I was already an approved adopter. She also told me that I would have first priority for adopting the puppy because there were no other holds or applicants. My kids were excited and we all looked forward to bringing the puppy home. I called early the following week to check if the surgery was still on track and also to get an idea of when we could pick up the puppy.
I spoke to the same adoption specialist I worked with on Friday, but she had an entirely different attitude from when we last spoke. She didn't seem to want to provide any information and was very vague when I asked direct questions. I had a bad feeling following this conversation, so I followed up with an email stating my understanding of the situation.
I received a response saying that I would be contacted with the status of the puppy. Since I had had a great experience with Pet Network previously, I waited for a call, but never received one, so I called the office on Friday afternoon and spoke to the shelter manager, who informed me that the puppy had been placed in her new home. This manager knew of my situation and didn't seem surprised by my call.
The explanation she gave for the puppy going to another family was perfectly reasonable - there had been a miscommunication among the staff at Pet Network and the other family had already begun the adoption process before my family and I met the puppy. I explained to her that the mistake had been discovered by her staff early in the week, based on the conversation I had had with the adoption specialist, however no one had informed me even after I had taken the time to call and send a follow up email to ensure that there was no confusion.
Once she realized that the issue was caused by her staff failing to communicate with me, she apologized and told me about a mother dog with very young puppies that had recently come to the shelter. She promised to send me a couple pictures, which she did. The pictures were only of the puppies, so I asked for a picture of the mother. I never heard back.
I'm writing this review not only because I have two very disappointed children, but also because this is not the first time this type of situation has happened at this shelter, based on a recent Yelp review from February. My hope is that the director, or anyone else at that level of management, recognizes the unfortunate issues caused by the lack of basic customer service skills by both the shelter manager and her staff.
Training would be a good investment. This place takes great care of its animals and has clear adoption policies, but common sense is lacking. I would have written a positive review if the staff had communicated openly, honestly, and in a timely manner.
I paid the $10 hold fee and she explained that I wouldn't need a new application because I was already an approved adopter. She also told me that I would have first priority for adopting the puppy because there were no other holds or applicants. My kids were excited and we all looked forward to bringing the puppy home. I called early the following week to check if the surgery was still on track and also to get an idea of when we could pick up the puppy.
I spoke to the same adoption specialist I worked with on Friday, but she had an entirely different attitude from when we last spoke. She didn't seem to want to provide any information and was very vague when I asked direct questions. I had a bad feeling following this conversation, so I followed up with an email stating my understanding of the situation.
I received a response saying that I would be contacted with the status of the puppy. Since I had had a great experience with Pet Network previously, I waited for a call, but never received one, so I called the office on Friday afternoon and spoke to the shelter manager, who informed me that the puppy had been placed in her new home. This manager knew of my situation and didn't seem surprised by my call.
The explanation she gave for the puppy going to another family was perfectly reasonable - there had been a miscommunication among the staff at Pet Network and the other family had already begun the adoption process before my family and I met the puppy. I explained to her that the mistake had been discovered by her staff early in the week, based on the conversation I had had with the adoption specialist, however no one had informed me even after I had taken the time to call and send a follow up email to ensure that there was no confusion.
Once she realized that the issue was caused by her staff failing to communicate with me, she apologized and told me about a mother dog with very young puppies that had recently come to the shelter. She promised to send me a couple pictures, which she did. The pictures were only of the puppies, so I asked for a picture of the mother. I never heard back.
I'm writing this review not only because I have two very disappointed children, but also because this is not the first time this type of situation has happened at this shelter, based on a recent Yelp review from February. My hope is that the director, or anyone else at that level of management, recognizes the unfortunate issues caused by the lack of basic customer service skills by both the shelter manager and her staff.
Training would be a good investment. This place takes great care of its animals and has clear adoption policies, but common sense is lacking. I would have written a positive review if the staff had communicated openly, honestly, and in a timely manner.
