They helped me find my lost dog and were super nice about it. They sent me to the city and some Facebook page to post, FBI pets or something like that Facebook Illinois (FBI). read more

Rachel & her staff are amazing! In what was a very stressful time for us, finding a lost dog and assessing her personality; Rachel was super responsive and supportive. Facility was clean and friendly. Thank you! read more

If I could give no stars I would. Adopted a 5 1/2 month golden/collie mix. Agreed to have our dog neuter by our vet. Our vet recommended waiting until he was 12 months due to his large breed and the new studies stating it is detrimental to the dog's health to do it sooner. Our vet submitted documentation to this effect. The answer was our policy is our policy and if not neutered by the end of the month; the dog would be taken back. This rescue does not care about the health of dogs. They refuse to accept the new studies about neutering large breed dogs. I would not use this rescue nor would I support them in any way. read more

This is my first time posting a review on yelp for any business. I am happy for those who had good experiences with this rescue shelter, I am unfortunately not one of those people. I applied on their website to be approved for an adoption, and I was approved roughly three days later. The approval stated that to start visiting dogs was by appointment only and to call the center to set up a visitation appointment. I called the place a total of 8 times throughout the span of a week, left 4 voicemails, and not a single call returned. I few weeks later, I decided to go directly to the location to find out how to set up a visitation appointment. When I went there, I was given a card with another number to call directly, The adoption coordinator Amber. I have called the listed number on the card 5 times, left voicemails and yet again not a single call returned. I will not be recommending this place to anyone I know, and I sincerely hope they do not repeat this unprofessionalism to other people who just want to welcome a dog to their home. Best, Brandon read more

My husband randomly stumbled upon this place when googling dog shelters, and I am SOOO ecstatic we stepped inside! Their shelter makes it so easy to walk and spend time with the babies, unlike many other shelters I've been to. They WANT their dogs to receive the love you have to give, so you're able to go in and walk one dog, five dogs, twenty dogs.... whatever you have time for! After stopping in here four times over the course of two weekends, we were pretty set on which dog we loved, but wanted to foster first to ensure he was a good fit. The foster-to-adopt option was amazing, and helped us adjust and adapt to our pup. Gabrielle was probably the most helpful person I've ever worked with. She walked us through what to expect, was easily reachable via text/email, and quelled all of my little fears. She knows her stuff and is definitely a blessing to the shelter! Honestly (and I know everyone says this!), we have the BEST dog in the world. He is patient, calm, easily trainable, the most loving (I mean seriously, he hugs people!), and just the most wonderful dog I've ever met. I wouldn't hesitate for a single second if you're thinking about adopting your next family member. Chicago canine rescue is the place to do it! read more

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Amazing staff and shelter. They make it easy and really listen to your needs as well as the dogs. I'm really happy we went here for our pup!

I met Laney Monday a 3-4 year old boxer that was a sweetheart with a great temperament. I went back today and Laney is gone. She was adopted and hopefully she found a good home . I'm happy for her she's a sweet dog that's very friendly and listens good. Whoever got her is lucky they got a great dog. Today is Thursday and the second time I went to walk a dog from Chicago Canine. I got Dino a mixed breed hound about 6 months old. You could tell he was still a puppy by the way he walked kind of gangly. He was a very well behaved puppy and was very curious checking out everything and everybody. He wanted to interact with the other dogs, but the Chicago Canine doesn't want the dogs from the outside to interact w/dogs from the The shelter THIRD TIME - 3 dogs Dog 1 - Dillinger a male pit approximately 2 years old about 65lbs (didn't want treats) Dog 2 - Tweed - a tiny little thing (smaller then a cat) so friendly to people and kids. Very well behaved on a leash. Dog 3 - Sweet Potato - a mixed breed dog. Very well behaved with people and other dogs. Sure knows what treats are read more

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We had a Wonderfull experience adopting from CCR in February 2021. We went on their website and identified a few dogs we would like to meet, filled out the online paperwork and received confirmation within 24 hours and then set up a time to go to the shelter. The process is super easy. Gabrielle was our contact and she could not have been more helpful. When we met Gabrielle we first sat down and talked about our lifestyle and what would be a good fit. Gabrielle identified a couple of dogs and brought them to us to have an introduction. She gave us time to make a decision and we adopted a sweet wonderful boy. read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Henry - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My brother lives near by and my cousin and I from California thought we would take out some doggies. They gAve us 2 brothers and went out for one and a half hours . They had a great time. read more

The ignorant staff gave my dog away without checking ownership or the microchip that was in my name. I tried and tried to contact someone to resolve this and was lied to repeatedly about the manager not being on the premises. Until I finally caught her (the coward) They are obviously more concerned about adoption fees than they are about getting my dog back of 2 1/2 years. I love you and I miss you Coy . read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Coy - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Words cannot describe the joy we had got from visiting CCR. We were looking to adopt and looking for a dog a bit older. We visited many shelters and have had terrible experience in particular with Paws. We did more research and found CCR. We stopped in during their available time to see the dogs and fell in love with the staff and the environment. They are very helpful and eager to get a the pups a forever home. We walked in and felt the homey feel. Being younger and having a kid seems to not leave a good impression at many shelters but at CCR this was not the case. They were very informative on what dog would best fit our family without an issue. If and when you find a dog you like they allow you to walk the dog and get comfortable. (They always look for walker volunteers) We fell in love with a precious Aspen as she's been an amazing addition. Key pointers: adoption takes about a week. - Reference and proof of housing. - adoption fee of around $300 unless sponsored. Donate Donate Donate. They have the best staff read more

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Update: Shelter isn't even close to meeting BBB standards for Charity Accountability. Full Report: https://www.bbb.org/chicago/Charity-Reviews/charity-animal-protection/chicago-canine-rescue-in-jefferson-pk-il-90006782/print It's not the fault of the shelter pets when the people who represent them let them down. Hope they get their act together. Original Review: Perhaps we caught them on an off day, but both I and another family who visited yesterday had an exceptionally poor experience with Greg, who was working behind the counter. He was unable--and frankly visibly unwilling--to answer questions I had about an available pet at the shelter after I had taken her for a walk. Then he "strongly urged" me to go home (?) and fill out an online application. He also stated that there were no additional applicants and that he had called his manager to let her know that the initial meeting had taken place. I asked if they had an application I could fill out there. Nope, but I was "welcome to fill one out on my phone in the waiting area." Funny guy, Greg. The family behind me, also apparently summarily dismissed by Greg, told me outside that they also felt rushed out the door. The staff interaction was just a bummer. So Greg was a little smug and off-putting. No big deal. I had written ahead about this specific dog, cruised all the way over there, and had a great time meeting her. Undeterred, I went home and filled out the online application as instructed. Then, this afternoon, I got an email from an adoption counselor telling me that the dog had been placed in a "foster-to-permanent" home (with a cat?) and asking if I was interested in another dog. Huh. How do you go from no applicants to placement in less than a day with your (allegedly) rigorous background and placement process? Maybe the Gregster knew this and was trying to discourage additional applicants? Not sure. I do believe that transparency helps in situations like these though. I have had great experiences sharing my home with shelter dogs in the past. In the future, I think I'll revisit those organizations. They seem to actually have their act together. I didn't have confidence in this one. Fair enough, that's based on a sample size of one employee interaction, but sometimes that's all it takes. read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Snap of CCR's BBB challenges with oversight, truthfulness, and data privacy. Hope they figure it out. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Incredibly helpful team of people who clearly LOVE dogs! We are fostering right now and this pooch has been nothing short of amazing... they are very informative and easily accessible. Whether it's donating or fostering, I would definitely check out maverick w d the gang here before anyone else! read more

I've never adopted a dog from CCR (yet!) But I've had a really good experience volunteering to walk dogs. I'd highly recommend it if you want to get a little exercise and help the pups work off some of their energy and (hopefully) stress. Bring an ID, close toed shoes. It's very quick and easy to get walking. Each dog is different, so don't be afraid to let them know how experienced you are if you want a dog who is a little easier to walk for your first time!! read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Adopted a Beautiful, intelligent little girl from CCR being of January. She came with home with tapeworms, hookworms and just found out on Friday she has massive heartworm disease! They don't care! Already had to start treatment because it's so bad. Said I would have to use their doctors if I wanted assistance? Sorry they said she was in great health!! Costing me a small fortune, just wish they were more honest to me instead of lying! Buyer be ware!!! read more

This place is horrible, I applied to adopt this sweet pup and try to give her a good home and they rejected me because they thought I "wasn't a good fit" even though I never got to even meet her. Then my cousin tried applying for a dog there and they rejected her too for the same reason! We're just trying to give some dogs a good home. I called to speak to a manager and the person who answered was quite rude and said she was in charge of the place and couldn't give me any other answer as to why I didn't qualify to adopt the dog other than that " she thought I wasn't a good fit" even though I already have a dog at home and I wanted a friend for him. I read the other reviews for this place and so many also said that this place rejects so many people! Try adopting from somewhere else to save yourself some time. read more

We just (as in two days ago) adopted a dog from Chicago Canine Rescue. I cannot say enough kind things about the great people who work at this amazing organization. From the moment we walked in the door, we felt very welcome by the volunteers, who took so much time to answer our questions and let us spend time with the dog we were interested in. This shelter has a lengthier application process than many other organizations do: you have to go home and fill out the application online. You can't do it on the spot when you're at the shelter. You also can't take a dog home the same day. Some people might find that frustrating, but I actually think it's great. This is a wonderful way to force prospective adoptees to go home and really think about whether they're willing to commit to a dog, instead of making an on-the-spot decision they may later regret. (That's how so many dogs end up in shelters in the first place.) We submitted an application the day after we met the dog we wanted. I was concerned at first that we weren't hearing back from CCR right away, but I followed up several times via phone and e-mail, and I always received a very friendly and prompt reply. The shelter may review multiple applications for the same dog at once, and they don't go by first-come, first-served: they really want to make sure they find the best possible fit for each dog to ensure that it has a happy life in its new home. They also verify your employment, contact a personal reference, and follow up with your veterinarian, if you already have one. Then, when and if your application is accepted, someone from CCR will bring the dog to your home. They'll do a home inspection to make sure you have a proper location for the dog to sleep, food for it to eat, etc. If everything checks out, they leave the dog with you. Our inspection was great and the CCR adoption counselor took a lot of time to talk with us and answer any questions we had. As far as our timeline, we submitted an adoption application on a Thursday and had our new dog at home the following Saturday, so the whole process took a little over a week. Again, that's a different process than most Chicago shelters follow, but I think it's for the best, and keeps the best interest of the dogs in mind. I am grateful to CCR, not only for giving me the privilege of adopting such a wonderful dog, who has already become such an integral part of our household, but also for taking such great care of my dog before I even met him, giving him everything he needed to make sure he found a good home. All of the dogs at the shelter will eventually be placed in great homes because of the dedicated individuals who work at CCR. If you are interested in adopting a dog, I sincerely suggest that you go here first. read more

Not a fan of this rescue agency. There are plenty more that you can go to that will provide you with a better overall experience .

This is the second dog I have reached out with interest in at a shelter only to be given some bs about how they won't do well with my dogs for one reason or another. Too old, two males, etc. Why would you even note in the description that the dog gets along with other dogs if you aren't so much as willing to let the dog meet mine before telling me no. I guess I will get my dog from a breeder when there is a perfect, sweet little girl in a shelter who would fit perfectly into my life if not for the "rescue" standing in the way. read more

I am a current volunteer with CCR and I've had nothing but good experiences with this shelter. I used to commute and drive past this shelter on the way home so would stop in to take some cute pooches on walks. The staff was always very friendly. I had a bad experience once with one of the dogs while on a walk and the staff was apologetic and accommodating when I requested not to be paired with the same dog. I no longer commute for work. Since the shelter is quite a hike from Lincoln Park, I now volunteer at local fests with CCR. Again, nothing but positive experiences when working with this group, especially the volunteer coordinator, Bill! I can't wait til I have the space to adopt and hope it will be through CCR. read more

Had an absolutely horrible experience with Gabrielle who is apparently the manager. Let me first say everyone else we met there was super nice and a pleasure to deal with, the only exception being Gabrielle. She was rude, dismissive, and didn't listen or take seriously any of my family's concerns. She kept bringing in older and older dogs (which would have been fine if we didn't have young children in our home) despite our being specific with her about a young puppy being best for our family. The first dog she brought out was a young 3 month old Pit mix puppy who was PERFECT, but she insisted we needed a more confident dog. (Despite both my husband and I being experienced with dogs in our families) So she brought out another older 8 month old pup (who she let jump all over my 3 1/2 yr old daughter who ended up going home with scratches all over her legs and face. I literally had to intervene and grab the leash because Gabrielle sat there and did NOTHING to stop it) When she brought out the third dog for us to meet he was absolutely huge and I asked her what his history was because of my concerns for my kids safety she stated that she didn't know his history and didn't matter anyway. (What?!? That is absolutely incorrect and every other rescue I spoke with told me she was completely wrong in that assertion) when it was clear we weren't going to adopt a dog that day I told her we were bummed as we specifically chose to rescue because we were against pet stores because they are puppy mills and often employ super problematic practices she accused me of threatening her and proceeded to tell me "I get you're not used to being told no and you dont like it very much" I told her how rude and offensive that statement was and left. She has no business being a manager of ANYTHING let alone deciding which dogs do and don't get adopted. It's a shame because CCR is a great organization which does great work with the exception of Gabrielle. We ended up going to another rescue and had an amazing experience and now have a wonderful furry family member named Ozzy. We think he's a Lab mix and he is the sweetest puppy and such a great addition to our family. read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Here's Ozzy, our sweet sweet boy! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I volunteer there almost every week as a dog walker. I love the people that work there, they are clearly passionate about the work and it shows in the way they handle their dogs. It is a small operation and they work with a lot of dogs with tough temperaments, but it is always clean, welcoming and the dogs look well taken care of. Highly recommend considering them if you are looking to adopt. read more

Nothing but compliments for CCR. Adopted our sweet pup in summer 2021. They were transparent, honest, efficient and accommodating as we were from out of town. They clearly wanted the best arrangement for our dog - all heart! read more

We recently were in the adoption process for a dog at Chicago Canine Rescue and had a disappointing experience. The dog we sought to adopt had chronic health information that was not disclosed to us until the day before she was set to come to our home. After much prodding, we were finally able to get the information of her vet. At no point did the shelter help us get her medical information or get in touch with their volunteer vet. While we waited to speak to the vet, they told us no other families were in line. On the day we were slated to speak to their vet, they mentioned another family had applied and were bringing the dog we were looking at home. The new family couldn't have had time to look into this dog's health records, and we had already invested time and money into getting supplies to bring this dog home. Not to mention the extensive research we had done on anemia to be sure we were bringing her to a safe place. I hope her new family is capable of taking care of her needs, despite not having her medical information before adopting her. I would not recommend adopting from this organization if you are looking for a staff and team that is prepared to make sure dogs are being re-homed safely, and with caretakers that are prepared to take care of dogs with expensive chronic illnesses. read more

The dogs? 100+ stars, of course! The human dimwits/petty tyrants working here? Two stars, solely because they weren't terribly bad a few months ago. They're MUCH more concerned about potential lawsuits than they are with the dogs or the chances of getting them adopted. (Frankly, I think they're just biding their time until something better comes along.) There are several dog friendly bars and parks near CCR. One day, I was late getting back with a dog and told them that I'd gone to a dog friendly bar with him and had lost track of time. From that point on, I was considered the Antichrist by the staff. I'd get a lecture every time I came to volunteer, saying that they don't have licensing for the dogs to be in a bar (nor even on-leash in a park). I was told to only take 20-minute walks and then come right back, and don't stop anywhere. Gee, how exciting for the poor dogs that live there in stacked up cages! Where am I supposed to give them pets and treats? Where am I to introduce them to people who may recommend CCR to family and friends when considering adopting a dog? CCR: If your license doesn't allow the dogs access to the park and bars/resaurants, then change your stupid license, assholes! It's a LOT more dangerous for the dogs on the sidewalks and streets than in a park or bar. read more

While CCR has good facilities for a small organization and the staff inside the shelter seems to genuinely care about the animals, my husband and I are extremely disappointed and upset with the adoption counselors we spoke to. In short, even if you know you're renting an apartment that allows dogs and you're a fantastic applicant due to your having had dogs before, don't get your hopes up here. We were interested in a dog and spent hours with him on two different days walking him, checking his temperament, and playing with him. We decided that he would be an excellent fit for our family. After applying, we were told that we were not allowed to adopt a dog because of our landlord's "restrictions". This blindsided us, as we had done everything we could to make sure our landlord was alright with us having a dog, even personally speaking with him before signing the lease, and then again before beginning our dog search. When looking for an apartment, we specifically only looked for places that allowed dogs over 25 pounds (I love larger dogs) and found one that allows dogs up to 40 pounds so long as it's not an aggressive breed. It says so right on our lease, so long as we put down a pet deposit. According to the adoption counselor, our landlord told her by phone that if the dog became a nuisance or barked excessively for long periods of time that the lease could be terminated. Sounds like landlord CYA to us. This was the grounds for our application being rejected. Plus, the dog we wanted was quiet! We took him to a park for two hours, where he only barked twice, and quickly was quiet again despite all the other dogs, children, and street noise. We aren't even sure about what the adoption counselor said to our landlord to prompt such a response, as we know of at least one person in our building that has a dog. So yeah, no doggie for us yet while the little guy we're interested in is stuck in his crate at the shelter. Hopefully, he'll find a good home soon. read more

This is not so much about what kind of "business" this is, but what kind of business they take care of - doggie business! And in keeping with the recent volunteer feature by Yelp, keep in mind they need dog-walkers here. There are a couple dozen doggies just waiting for you to come by around noon or later in the early evening to take them out for a stroll in the Hamlin Park neighborhood. They also need help with adoption events and with foster homes, too. Come by and walk a doggie when you can! They also have some great "pooch merch" at reasonable prices with their fun logo on it. Great for gifts, especially the kiddies in your life. read more

My boyfriend and I adopted Bowie, a 4.5 year old Dalmatian/Terrier mix from CCR in August 2011. He was bigger than we were hoping (and he looked smaller in the pictures!) but he was so friendly and was fairly well-behaved we just had to bring him home. Anna was very helpful and nice. She brought Bowie to our apartment less than 2 hours after we left CCR saying we would adopt him. She walked us through the paperwork, we signed it, all while Bowie had discovered a toy for him and was proceeding to rip it to shreds. What a good boy! :-) One thing though--they told us Bowie was good with other dogs, and that's not entirely true. He has a big problem with "fighting breeds" (we can't walk by them on the street without Bowie going insane and barking a lot.) Smaller dogs he's quite good with. He is incredibly people-friendly though. Just tell him he's cute and he's your new best friend. If you do adopt a dog from here, be aware they may not know your dog's whole story. Bowie was at CCR twice (three years apart) and all we know about his past is that his family immediately preceding us had him for three years but had to give him up due to a death in the family. We know nothing about why he was at the shelter the first time. We asked CCR and they told us they did not know either. (All I want to know is WHY he has such a problem with the "fighting" breeds...) The reason CCR gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because of an interaction after we had adopted Bowie. I emailed Anna asking if she had any suggestions for how we could train Bowie to be less possessive with his toys and perhaps better with other dogs. Her only suggestion was to see the dog behaviorist we had a coupon for in adoption packet. Since she had worked with Bowie in the shelter, I was hoping for something a little more informative. read more

Love CCR - as far as shelters go, they are very "together" and have a top-notch, loving staff. I started volunteering at Chicago Canine Rescue in August 2010 and I've helped out at other shelters before, but this one is just awesome. Clean and efficient. Trust me, I've seen some rather unorganized places that adopt an animal out to anyone with a checkbook. It's easy to get involved with this organization if anyone is interested. You can just go on their site and sign up to either volunteer or foster dogs or puppies. And when I say "puppies," know that CCR seriously has dogs of every age, shape, size, and color! Some people say their adoption fee of $200 is pricey -- but just think, it covers the animals' spay/neuter fee, shots, housetraining & basic obedience (usually), and a month of pet insurance. Pretty nice deal! Well.. it's certainly better than paying $700 for a tiny teacup puppy mill dog from a pet shop! :) read more

I can't say enough good things about Chicago Canine Rescue. I rescued a great dog through them. The dog I wanted to rescue had some medical problems and CCR wouldn't let me adopt him until he was healthy. They kept me up to date on his condition and paid all of his medical bills. When he was feeling okay again, they let me make it official! They take in dogs that otherwise wouldn't stand a chance - dogs who are blind, dogs who have been abused or attacked by other animals, dogs that other shelters would not deem "adoptable", kind of like my beautiful, loving blind 3 year old dog. This is a wonderful organization that really has the best interests of the animals at heart. I didn't find the adoption process difficult at all, by the way. read more

Well, I did it! I adopted my first pup! Even though it will be a few more days until I can bring her home I'm so excited about having a her as a part of my life. Equally excited about CCR and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to adopt. CCR is a small shelter with big heart. Everyone from the adoption counselors that I exchanged emails with before even going on a visit and the people I actually met at the shelter were really awesome. Knowledgable, friendly, caring people. You could see it all over each and every face as they watched over the pups that were playing in the shelter. You could hear it in their voices as they spoke about caring for your new companion, made suggestions, and talked about the adoption process. I love the fact that the adoption process here isn't like a 7/11 quickie mart. People need to understand that having a pet is a huge responsibility and a substantial lifestyle change and shouldn't be rushed into or something you do on a whim. CCR does their best to make sure pets are matched with great owners and I think that's just amazing. read more

I really can't believe anyone would say anything bad about this organization. CCRF is truly a group of kind-hearted volunteers and everyone we dealt with was fantastic. We already had 2 cats prior to adopting our puppy, but we got the best vibe from CCRF out of any shelter we've ever visited. They were extremely helpful, informative, and you can tell they take their work seriously without veering into the crazy animal lady territory. They don't have the funding of a PAWS or Anti-Cruelty, but they work tirelessly to find good homes for as many animals as possible. I know I'll be forever indebted to them for matching me up with my pup Yogi. read more

Just wanted to update the review and say we highly recommend Chicago Canine Rescue even for people not in the city. As I mentioned our experience far exceeded even the highest expectations. We have officially become unsuccessful foster parents ;-) we adopted our foster dog and he has been in our home for a few months now! He was a great addition and we look forward to supporting CCR for many years to come to repay them for our wonderful dog! read more

Chicago Canine Rescue - Our CCR alum is Dexter on the right. Snuggling with his brother Buddy. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Okay, my rating only gets better, but I can't give 10 stars, so I'll provide narrative: 1. They allow you to volunteer-walk sweet, sweet pups. Which is, really, more of a favor to ME than to the pups, because sometimes I feel very dog-deficient. "Dog" is a necessary vitamin to me. 2. I visited a prison (I volunteer as a prison inspector) that has a doggie rehabilitation program and recognized a CCR pup there. Thank you, CCR, not only for allowing pups a chance at rehabilitation, but also partnering with the prison; these inmates clearly benefit from the program as much as the dogs do. Could you possibly win me over any more than you already have? read more

I adopted my dog from here last year in July. I was looking for a dog and was going online and stumbled across Chicago Canine Rescue. I fell in love with the puppy I saw online and ended up going there the same day and wanted to take him home with me. I was told I would have to go online to fill out the online application. The next day they called me back and gave me an interview on the phone and said there were 2 other applicants as well, but they saw I was persistant by going to the center to spend time with the pup. Well to sum it up, within 3 days my pup had a home. I take him into the center time to time and they still remember him. read more

Very heartfelt shelter. Always good to the animals. My husband and I drive by and read their wish list which is posted on a venue sign and we drop off well needed requested items. Great place to offer up some of our heart thu our donations in order to help the cause of taking care of the otherwise unwated,yet deserving Dogs thst they house and care for. read more

I am so biased in this review because I volunteer here ...but this place deserves all the fantastic publicity it can get. So, my new friends are: Ron, Bandit and Tanya. Ron, a Chihuahua, is not a fan of men but loves Starbucks. Tanya, an Australian Cattle Dog/Mix, is a fan of men, enjoys Starbucks and sticks. And Bandit, a black Retriever, Labrador/Great Dane mix, couldn't care less about Starbucks but will have you dropping those summer (?) pounds fast. I mean this dog can RUN. I broke out into a sweat walking (RUNNING) him around the block! (If you adopt Bandit no gym membership would be needed!!!!) The shelter is always looking for volunteers to help walk a dog for about 30-minutes around Roscoe Village and volunteer at some events around the city. If you have a little extra time and want to do something cool for this world, stop in, let them know you're interested, grab a dog and go! (And there's a Starbucks nearby to get a drink before you head out with the dogs!) Volunteering for dog walking is also a great way to get to know the personality of your dog before you decide to adopt. Oh and hey Ron and Tanya...wanna split a mocha latte next week? Ron gets the extra whipped cream! read more

Chicago has pretty much gone to the dogs. Yes, I know that's a tired, trite cliche, but it's true! Hell, even I have a dog, and I'm a cat person (and no, my cat isn't particularly happy about the dog.. yet). Anyhoo... so my company has begun offering the option to volunteer here and walk the dogs during an extended lunch. These dogs were incredibly sweet and hyper - any of which would be perfect for somebody. It's cool that they let you volunteer to walk the dogs, and it benefits the dogs to keep them socialized with random people so they're even more adoptable. read more

Great rescue....they just opened up a new physical location at 2221 West Belmont. There are a lot of rescues at the new location in need of attention and walking (especially during the weekdays). Worth a look and a couple hours if you have some time to spare. See the website at www.chicagocaninerescue.com for details on volunteering. They do a very thorough job with pre-adoption dog health care, training, etc if you're looking for a new best friend. Rescued my first of two dogs from them and staff were great. read more

How does this place not have 5 stars? They are great to their dogs and great to potential owners! I personally have not adopted because I live in a place where I can't have a pet, but my friend has adopted two dogs and I have another friend in the process of an adoption here. The people who work here really seem to love the pups that they encounter and make it very easy and transparent to adopt. No shady business here. They have a website that you can look up everything that is going on but let me give you an idea of some of the events -- they are at a TON of summer festivals that pour beer (Please tip them, the money is for the dogs not the people pouring. They're all volunteers raising money for the doggies!) And once a month or so, they do an event that is $20 for all you can drink and eat for a couple hours and a good portion of that goes to CCRF (If you need, you can always ask for a tax receipt). If you are a volunteer, its really easy to volunteer here, just go in and walk a dog if you have time. Its hard not to fall in love with them. If you are thinking about adopting, come visit the dogs here. You can even look into fostering a dog if you know you wouldn't be able to house one permanently. I have nothing bad to say about this place...this is the place to volunteer or get a dog (I think they have cats for adoption too) read more