We are currently unable to accept dogs or cats due to space availability.
Finding Temporary Foster Care
The need to find temporary care for our loved pets has not diminished and we want to help. Seeking temporary foster care placement through your social networks, friends, family, and neighbors can often provide an immediate solution for pet owners. We encourage pet owners to seek this suggestion first when considering options for temporary care. Posting online on your social networks like Facebook neighborhood groups, the Nextdoor app, and local blog sites can be great places to start when seeking temporary care. A cute photo of your pet, information about their personality, and clear expectations on what is needed can go a long way.
Anti-Cruelty is happy to provide supplies to friends, neighbors, or family members to use while caring for your pet.
Here are additional resources to aid you in finding a safe place for pets:
Safe Place For Pets is a national directory of organizations that can help with temporary foster care for those escaping domestic violence.
911 Foster Pets is a national temporary foster site for pet owners to seek temporary foster care, or for community members interested in fostering a pet for a neighbor.
SAFE Application
To have your pet considered for admission into the SAFE Program please complete the following application:
Completed applications can be sent to:
Email
safe@anticruelty.org
Adoption Center
510 N. LaSalle St. (dropped off in-person)
Mail
157 W. Grand Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60654
For questions regarding the SAFE Program please call: 312-287-6289.
Short-term Accommodations for Emergencies (SAFE)
Whether because of a house fire, natural disaster, medical condition, or domestic violence, people from all walks of life can find themselves temporarily displaced from their home.
Recognizing that there is a need for emergency sheltering of pets, Anti-Cruelty has established the SAFE program. Providing 45 days of free care to approved applicants, this invaluable service keeps pets safe while their owners seek out new housing.
- Anti-Cruelty will provide daily food, water, socialization, exercise, and basic preventive medical care for pets in the program.
- Pets admitted into the program will also receive vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and a microchip, free of charge, if needed.
- Confidentiality is of utmost importance. Only the referring agency and Anti-Cruelty's program coordinators will have any client identifying information.
- Animals who are admitted into the program are either housed on-site or are placed in one of our licensed foster homes.
Program Guidelines:
- The SAFE Program is for one-time use. Applicants who have utilized the service in the past will not be eligible to enroll again.
- SAFE clients are required to communicate their housing status weekly.
- Pets who are entering the program must be in good health and behaviorally sound.
- Pets who are housed in foster care are not available for visitation.
- Program space is limited. Clients are served on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Anti-Cruelty provides the best possible care for each animal during their sheltering period. Potential clients should, however, note that there are inherent risks in boarding any animal, including but not limited to changes in the animal’s behavior or weight, or contraction of a contagious illness. For this reason, we encourage pet owners to exhaust every other option before applying to enter their pet into the SAFE Program.
In the event that an animal’s health or behavior suddenly declines, Anti-Cruelty may request that an animal be removed from the program.
The SAFE Program provides housing for a maximum of 45 days. If an owner is unable to find new accommodations after a month has elapsed Anti-Cruelty reserves the right to place the animal up for adoption.
- Completed program application
- Social services referral
- If referral unavailable, copy of signed lease for future move-in date
- Exhaustion of other available resources, including housing with family or at a private boarding facility