The West Suburban Humane Society (WSHS) is a volunteer-based, animal welfare organization that was founded in 1972 as a lost-and-found referral service. At that time, a small group of volunteers, working from their homes, gathered information and maintained records for the purpose of reuniting lost companion animals and their owners. Soon animal control officers in various townships and counties requested the group's help in locating the owners of unclaimed strays that were being held at their facilities. Over the next 10 years, as both demand and support for their services grew, WSHS was born, and began sheltering homeless animals by opening a small storefront shelter on Chicago's west side along with three additional small satellite shelters in other townships. Today, we have consolidated into one easily accessible and highly visible shelter and adoption facility, housing up to 25 dogs and 60 cats at a time. We operate at full capacity at all times, with animal care and adoptions being provided by three full-time and nine part-time employees and numerous volunteers. We are open to the public six days a week. The cats and dogs come to us from many sources. Impoundment facilities and the public bring us dogs and cats of all ages that have been abandoned, abused, injured, neglected, and orphaned. A dedicated volunteer base and the retained service of several veterinarians has allowed us to save the lives of and give 600 homeless animals each year new homes. Every animal that is brought to our shelter receives whatever type of veterinary care that is needed, including surgery and hospitalization for trauma cases, long-term care and medication for viral and bacterial infections, and treatment of parasite infestations such as heartworm. Orphaned kittens and puppies, as well as the sick, receive loving care in our foster homes until they are ready for adoption. We continue to reunite lost animals and their families by maintaining a database with information on over 33,000 pets and their owners, and by providing free pet identification tags. Additionally, we provide microchip pet identification implants for every animal that is adopted from us. We are in the process of expanding several programs and developing a few new ones! First on the list is our Humane Education Program, which is being rejuvenated and will include updated adult and youth educational materials, on-site and off-site presentations, and tours of the West Suburban Humane Society facilities.
You can learn about our adoptable pets either from our virtual kennel and virtual cattery or you can visit the shelter during our open hours to see the dogs and cats in person. Before you arrive at the shelter, complete our online Adoption Application to save time! Once at the shelter, one our staffers or volunteers will lead you to the kennel or cattery where you can see the dogs and cats. If you find any animal you're interested in, one of our friendly volunteers will introduce you personally to the animal so you can get to know each other. We ask that all members of the household where the animal will reside meet the animal. This includes non-human members too! Don't worry if you're not all there at once; we can work around busy schedules to set up additional meetings! If you'd like to proceed with an adoption, you and a volunteer or staffer will discuss whether the animal is well suited for your household. At that time, the animal will be placed on a 24-hour hold so you carefully think about your decision overnight. The hold means that we won't show the animal to anyone else - you get first dibs! When the hold ends, and if you decide you want to proceed with the adoption, we'll get the paperwork started!
Lombard IL | 1.9 miles away
Animal Heartline was founded by a small group of animal lovers who were individually helping stray and abandoned animals. Chartered in 1979 as a humane society and officially recognized as a not-for-profit group enabled us to care for more animals. We are a no-kill organization staffed entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to finding homes for stray and unwanted pets. We obtain medical treatmen
Downers Grove IL | 2.4 miles away
The First Step Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to caring for homeless small breed dogs in our communities through adoptions, cruelty investigations, community awareness, fostering and caring for companion animals until loving homes can be found. We are a "Wall Less" shelter and our organization is run by folks who generously volunteer their time, homes and hearts in o
Westmont IL 60559 | 2.9 miles away
A Caring Place - All Breed Dog Rescue is a foster based (non-facility) dog and puppy rescue operating in the greater Chicagoland and Rockford areas offering adoption opportunities for all breeds and mixed breeds. A Caring Place is licensed with the state of Illinois' Department of Agriculture and is a licensed 501c3 charity with the Internal Revenue Service.
Wheaton IL 60189 | 4.8 miles away
A.R.F.-Animal Rescue Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3), no-kill humane society based in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Our family of volunteers is dedicated to rescuing, fostering, and caring for homeless dogs and orphan cats while we find them their forever homes. We promote spay/neuter programs to help reduce pet overpopulation and work within communities throughout Illinois to a
Wheaton IL | 4.8 miles away
M.O.P.S. Pug Rescue & Adoption is a Non-Profit 501c3 Company who has a group of volunteers dedicated to the welfare of pure bred pug dogs. Established in 2009 and founded by ME, Linda Elwood. I have been working with rescued pugs for over 10 years. My previous experience has been with Great Lakes Pug Club and most recently with Pug Hugs Inc Rescue. Both of these entities taught me a great deal
Hinsdale IL 60521 | 5.1 miles away
Help Save Pets was originally founded as the Humane Society of Plainfield in 2000 by our director Meg Kremer, wife of Dr. Anthony Kremer. Dr. Kremer would periodically be called to animal control to euthanize animals that were unclaimed. The animals that were being euthanized were often viable, friendly and simply in need of somebody to help them get into a good new home. Dr. Kremer would at times
Lombard IL | 5.1 miles away
Lombard IL 60148 | 5.1 miles away
We are Feral Fixers, an organization dedicated to practicing and promoting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in DuPage County, Illinois. Our Mission: To reduce both the number of cats euthanized and the feral cat population in DuPage County while improving the quality of life for both cats and humans through the high-volume use of low-cost or free spay-neuter services to sterilize feral, semi-feral, stray
Wheaton IL | 5.6 miles away
Baby & Buddy Animal Rescue is a 501c3 certified nonprofit and foster-based organization that helps our furry friends - often abandoned or stray - find a forever home. We would love for you to consider fostering or adopting one of our loving pals!
Hinsdale IL 60521 | 5.6 miles away
The Tuthill Family Pet Rescue & Resource Center operated by Hinsdale Humane Society is a nonprofit animal shelter providing innovative care and adoption services for all animals, including those that are harder to place. We educate, advocate and adopt out pets, acting as a voice for animals who depend on people for their care. We nurture the human-animal bond through community outreach and pro
Villa Park IL | 6.1 miles away
Villa Bark was started in 2013 by a member of the community of Villa Park, Illinois. This group was started as the founder, who had worked with animals for over a decade, was severely disturbed by the large amount of animals being euthanized around the country.
Villa Park IL 60181 | 6.1 miles away
Peace for Pits™ is a Chicago area based rescue that focuses on finding loving, caring homes for “bully” breeds in need of help. Many of these dogs come from “high kill” facilities across Illinois, arriving there as a stray or unfathomably being surrendered by their so called “owners.” Some of these dogs arrive with severe injuries and other health problems due to neglect and or traum
Naperville IL 60567 | 6.4 miles away
Our mission is to educate rabbit owners and assist area shelters by providing rabbit publications, email consultations and educational events. We also assist area shelters with fostering needs, socializing rabbits and providing volunteer support for rabbit programs. We feel that increased education will reduce the number of unwanted rabbits in shelters as owners learn more about how to care for an
Carol Stream IL 60188 | 6.9 miles away
The mission of Greyhounds Only is to place retired racing and at-risk greyhounds into responsible, loving homes, to educate the public about the greyhound breed, to provide access to high-quality medical care and to collaborate with others who share our common goals. Greyhounds Only is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit greyhound adoption group based in Northeastern Illinois. We take in retired racing greyh
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Wheaton IL 60187 | 7 miles away
DuPage County Animal Services is committed to serving people and helping pets in a safe way.
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