Mission: The Anti-Cruelty Society exists to prevent cruelty to animals and advance humane education. A private, 501(c)(3)Illinois non-profit organization, helping animals in need through our life-saving programs and services which include: Adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries (free for ferals and pit-bulls), cruelty and abuse investigations and rescue, humane education programs to children and community groups, a free Behavior Hotline, dog training classes, rehabilitation & treatment for homeless animals and pet visitation for the sick and elderly.
Programs: Shelter servicesthe society works to match adoptable animals with suitable and permanent homes. We are an open-door shelter meaning we accept any animal in need 365 days a year. Our foster program provides temporary homes for animals in need of special care prior to permanent placement. The society's humane investigations department provides pickup and rescue of neglected, abused, injured and stray and unwanted animals and investigates reports of animal cruelty and abuse. The society provides assistance with pet behavior issues through our behavior hotline and dog training programs.
veterinary and clinical servicesthe society maintains a veterinary staff providing spay and neuter services to the public and to other animal welfare groups not having access to low-cost services. We also operate a charity veterinary clinic providing general veterinary services to the public who cannot afford these vital services for their companion animals. The veterinary staff provides immediate post-adoption services for animals adopted through our shelter and full veterinary services for animals in our care.
humane education programsour humane education program provides age-appropriate presentations on a number of subjects to a wide audience in the chicago public and private schools. Each year, we reach thousands of people from pre-school age to adults by providing educational programs in schools and a variety of community settings.
I adopted my beloved cat, Grover, from the Anti-Cruelty Society 14 years ago. It's not their fault the cat is kind of evil... ;) Anti-Cruelty Society does wonderful work! Not only do they offer pet adoptions for people like me, but also a low-cost spay & neuter clinic, temporary housing for animals whose people are experiencing an emergency (domestic violence, fire, etc.), and community outreach and education. Yay!
My husband and I have been contributors to this wonderful organization for 25 years. Within 5 years we adopted two dogs from ACS. The facility is always clean, there is a place to take a dog to have room to play a little outside the confines of the cage. We watched for playfulness and any sign of temperament problems. Both dogs were happy to come home with us. Before adopting the pet, there was a questionnaire to complete about how much time the pet would be alone and how much experience the adopter had with taking care of a pet. Then a ACS staff came in to chat.
We haven't adopted from ACS for quite a while now. Our 2nd dog passed away a few years ago, and our 3rd dog was found at another fine shelter. Yet, any time we think about adopting again or have extra pet things we don't need or, as happened once many years ago, found a cat making its home on our front porch, there is no question, that we trust ACS first and foremost. It will be the first place we go when we're ready to adopt again.
Not only are the facilities clean and the personal pleasant and professional, we agree with the society's philosophy and how they carry it out. The fact that they keep growing and improving their services for both the pets and the adopters proves they are doing something right.
