Adoption Information
Adopting an animal is an important decision that will 
affect you, your household, and the animal for many years to come. Please plan on spending enough time with the animal to be sure of your selection. If you do not find the right animal on your first visit to our shelter, please return another day when many new animals will be available for adoption. We provide you with all of the information that we know about an animal on a card that is posted on the animal's kennel in our adoption rooms. Our staff and volunteers are here to help you make a wonderful new addition to your family, but we cannot always guarantee you an adoption.The process may take approximately 2 hours, so please plan accordingly.
affect you, your household, and the animal for many years to come. Please plan on spending enough time with the animal to be sure of your selection. If you do not find the right animal on your first visit to our shelter, please return another day when many new animals will be available for adoption. We provide you with all of the information that we know about an animal on a card that is posted on the animal's kennel in our adoption rooms. Our staff and volunteers are here to help you make a wonderful new addition to your family, but we cannot always guarantee you an adoption.The process may take approximately 2 hours, so please plan accordingly.The Adoption Process
- Choosing the Right Pet
The Anti-Cruelty Society is committed to helping you find a perfect pet. We have created this guide as a tool to help point you towards those animals that most likely match your family’s activity level and experience. Animals available in our adoption kennels have been classified as follows:
Novice Cat or Dog - Usually ideal for a first-time pet owner
Intermediate Cat or Dog - Usually needs a family that has some knowledge or experience
with cats or dogs
Special Cat or Dog - Usually has special behavioral or medical needs or is just special
Advanced Dog - Usually needs a family that has knowledge of dog behavior and experience
with training
Staff and volunteers are available to answer questions and to guide you through the selection process. - Application and Counseling
Once you have decided on an animal, the room staff will provide you with an Adoption Questionaire. Our counselors then review the information on the application. If the adoption is approved, we will provide you with information on training, health, and basic care. We will also answer any questions you may have. - Fill out the Adoption Questionaire
You can download the appropriate Adoption Questionaire below and complete it before coming in:
Adoption Requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older for standard adoptions.
Seniors 60 and over qualify for the Pets for Seniors Program. - Must have valid ID with current address
- Must provide landlord's name and phone number (or copy of current lease)
- All members of the household should be present
- You must understand that The Anti-Cruelty Society must approve your adoption application
- Our adoption fees are the following:
- Kittens (under 6 months): $85 or two for $130
- Puppies (under 6 months): $150
- Cats: $60
- Dogs: $95
Each Adoption Includes:
- Complete veterinary exam
- Inoculations against rabies and other diseases
- Heartworm test for dogs
- Feline leukemia test for cats
- Spaying or neutering
- Collar
- Lifetime ID tag (on The Anti-Cruelty Society's registry) and a permanent identification microchip
- Dog leash or cat carrier
- 1 month of free (complimentary) pet insurance for this important transition period
- 15 days of post adoption care in our clinic (with or without insurance acceptance) for conditions present but undetectable at the time of adoption.
On-Line Adoption Gallery:
By clicking on Adoption Search in the column on the left, you can view the animals we have available for adoption. Our online gallery offers up to the second information about available animals, so be sure to check back frequently! You can also click on Our Favorite Friends to see some of the animals that have just captured our hearts! Take a look at some cats in our cageless cat area located in Charlotte's Cat Corner. View video of some animals in action in Our Video Gallery. You can also visit our foster animal blog to check out dogs and cats currently in foster care. We're sorry, but we cannot put animals on hold.
PetSmart Adoption Partnership
Some of our adoptable pets can also be found available for adoption at PetSmart Stores in Chicago, including the Skokie, Evanston and Brickyard Mall PetSmart locations.
