Giving Up Your Pet
The Anti-Cruelty Society is an open-admission shelter, we accept all animals that come through our doors. We understand that sometimes it may be necessary to give up a pet and we will do our very best to place yours into a new home. However, shelters are places with many animals and strangers, new routines, are noisy and are stressful to animals that are accustomed to being in a home environment. Shelters should be used as a last resort.
Resources to Help Keep Your Pet
- If you pet has a behavioral issues, we have a Free Behavior Hotline 312-644-8338 ext. 315 or 343
or email help@anticruelty.org. Our expert staff can answer questions and provide solutions to many common behavior problems. - The School of Dog Training supports the human/animal bond with reward based training. Classes are held at our facility and led by professional instructors.
- The S.A.F. E. program offers short term assistance to qualifying participants.
- If you are having a problem finding pet-friendly rentals, we offer a listing of pet-friendly rentals.
- If your pet continues to have puppies or kittens, have your pet spayed/neutered in our low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Helpful Information
Please fill out this form—it will help give us more information about the animal you are surrendering.
Finding a New Home for Your Pet
No one knows your pet better than you. You know his/her likes, dislikes, interests and temperament, therefore you have a far greater chance of finding a successful new home than anyone else. By making a determined effort to re-home your pet, not only will you be giving him/her a better future – you’ll also be creating a future for another animal by leaving a spot open at our shelter.
Here are a few tips to try to re-home your pet before bringing it to a shelter:
- Give yourself time to re-home your pet. It can often take weeks to months to find the right home.
The more people that know your pet needs a new home will increase the chances of finding
a home. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, church members, neighbors and ask them to help - Increase your pet’s adoptability by having it spayed or neutered and current on vaccinations.
- Spread the word: Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) can help spread the word.
Use attractive pictures and video of your pet. - If you advertise in public places, use caution when considering unknown individuals or families
as your pet’s new owners. Hold the initial meeting in a public place and ask questions to screen potential owners. Share your expectations for your pet’s new home. When you find a family that meets your needs, ask for identification and contact information. - Talk with breed specific rescue groups. Rescue groups that focus on caring for a specific breed
are available for almost any type of dog.
Never abandon your animal. In the event these alternative resources don’t address the circumstance you are experiencing with your pet, please review Giving Up Your Pet (below). The Anti-Cruelty Society is an open admission organization and will accept any animal in need.
Giving Up Your Pet
If you must consider surrendering an animal to the shelter, please review the following important information. Stress and disease are the two greatest dangers facing an animal in the shelter environment. We can’t make these risks disappear, but a new program - The Planned Relinquishment Program (PREP) can help minimize these risks and create a happy outcome for any pet you leave in our care. This program assures that your pet is vaccinated against common diseases and neutered and ready to go to a new home as soon as someone chooses them from our adoption population.
If your pet is not current on its vaccinations or not spayed/neutered, these services are available through our clinic at no cost to you. You must agree to make a convenient appointment and keep the animal in your home for a short additional time to allow the vaccines to provide the necessary protection before they are exposed to the shelter environment. Having these necessary steps done in advance of arrival will minimize the time spent in the shelter and help ensure a happy new home for your pet.
For more information on how to participate in this program and to schedule an appointment send an email to prep@anticruelty.org.
Please note that while we request that you schedule an appointment, The Anti-Cruelty Society is an open admission organization and will not turn an animal away.
Please allow adequate time, at least 30 minutes to meet with a receiving staff member. You will be asked to complete a Pet Profile designed to address common questions about your pet. Please bring any previous veterinary and vaccination records, if available. Items such as favorite toys, food, and bedding are welcome but may not remain with your pet throughout its entire stay.
Will My Pet be Adopted?
If your pet is healthy both medically and behaviorally and is accepted into our adoption program, he/she will stay available for adoption until a new home is found. We have no time limits on an animal’s stay with us.
Unfortunately not all animals are considered adoptable. Some animals may be disqualified from the adoption program by obvious signs of disease, physical disability that seriously impacts quality of life, or those that demonstrate a high degree of aggression at intake. Additionally, information provided by the owner on the condition, temperament, or behavior of his/her pet may result in a recommendation of euthanasia if the pet is to be left in our care. These considerations may make it impossible to re-home your pet and may include, but are not limited to: chronic house-soiling, serious destructive behavior, aggression to other animals, self-mutilation, or depression. We will try to provide you with as much information as possible at the time of intake to give you the opportunity to make the best choice for you and your pet before you relinquish to us. However, keep in mind, the shelter environment is stressful and your pet may react quite differently than they have in a home environment.
Hours and Location to Give Up Your Pet
Relinquished animals are accepted daily from the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a current driver’s license or state identification. Entrance is at 510 LaSalle. Free parking is available on Wells. To help cover our costs, we respectfully ask for a minimum donation of $35.
