This is a tough place to review since it's not a "typical" service, but I really admire the work…read moreCACC does despite being overcrowded and stretched thin. They're doing their best for the animals, and I hope sharing my experience helps anyone considering adopting. We ended up with the sweetest little cat that we absolutely love! We first visited on a Thursday around 4 pm. After waiting about 10 minutes, we filled out a form about what kind of pet we were looking for. About 25 minutes later, a volunteer walked us through the facility. It's clear they're over capacity, there were animals even in the hallways and in the cat rooms the cats are kept in wall cages. You don't get much time to interact, so it's tricky to gauge temperament. We chose a cat we thought seemed sweet. She still needed to be spayed and microchipped, so we couldn't take her home that day. They couldn't give a clear timeline, but by Monday we got the call that her surgery was done. We picked her up Tuesday, which took about an hour of waiting. Adoption fees were completely waived (normally $65, which is already very reasonable), and the cost of her surgery and microchip were covered. Once home, she did come down with a URI, so we had to visit the vet and get her some meds, but she's doing well now. Overall, CACC is a great place to adopt from if you're patient and want to give an animal a second chance. The process isn't super streamlined, but the staff and volunteers clearly care, and you'll be helping an animal in need

While staying with a relative on the south side, my daughter and I encountered a very friendly,…read moreferal cat, who we fed regularly. Whenever we opened the back door to let our dog out, she would run in to the enclosed porch to look for a dark place to chill. We would escort her out and she would always come back. The next week we noticed whenever we let our dog out, she would always run under the house. One morning when my daughter was out back with our dog, she excitedly came back in and said there were 6 kittens under the house. Ahhhhh!!!! We took care of them for a couple of weeks but knew we couldn't keep them. I found a PAWS location but was referred to animal care and control. When I got there, there were a few people in line. A very brusque and unfriendly security guard immediately took my id and handed me a form to fill out. The wait was long and people had questions for the guard who was behind a locked door, but she quickly and rudely blew them off . This made everyone very angry and uncomfortable. I was told it was a "no kill" facility, but once I got inside, I became uncomfortable. Staff was very no-nonsense and there was a dude in a hazmat suit walking around pushing what looked like a laundry cart. What did that mean? I really don't know. They took the cats, gave them a couple of shots and put them in a cardboard box and sent me on my way. I left feeling kind of sad. And when I talked to a friend later, she informed me they were a "high kill" shelter and when I told her one of the staff members said it was "no kill" she laughed at me. I don't know.

I have 2 beautiful himi (seal point, blue lynx pt) babies that are by far and away the best…read moredispositions of cats I've ever seen. Pretty sure it was due to superior breeding skills of Ruta. Mama wouldn't feed but Ruta bottle fed both and was their world until we adopted them. She has a beautiful environment for her very special babies . You will not find the blue eyes these boys had just anywhere. They both were sired from special himi's she bought and brought from a breeder in Spain. If you want to show, she will have babies that will take your breath away. My family was replacing a Persian and seal pt himmie that had passed of old age. I adored those as well, but the 2 from Ruta, just more than you could hope for if you just want them as a family member. The amount we paid, very reasonable for the love and beauty of these kitties! Again, Ruta is amazing and treats all her kittens like her human babies. We talked for hours and she even helped us to learn how to bathe them and was a trip back to her gorgeous home. Knowledge of this breed, fortitude to make sure kittens come into this world pampered and loved, Ruta is just an amazing person as well as breeder. You CAN'T find the love she puts into her babies just anywhere! Thank you Ruta, our boys are still the beautiful babies you brought and nurtured into this world! Oh, and No problems what so ever with their health!

We got Bella in May 2021, and she is the best cat breed I ever seen. She loves playing with our…read moresons and she loves to socialize! Unlike other cats. I can't believe others cats would allow my kids to play with them as Bella does! Very friendly with guests. Everyone sees her is so astonished by her temperament. I am not a cat person at all but this Himalayan cat from Ruta changed my mind. Ruta your cats are exceptional! and our family is so happy to have one of your cats!

Went through the application process and on that application I stated I had declawed my previous…read morecats in the past. This is something I had no idea could effect the cat negatively. When asked why I had declawed and if I would in the future I responded with "The reason I have for declawing just the front claws is because that is something my family cats always had done and it never seemed to effect them. I'm open to changing my mind about this. I have never seen it cause issues in a cat I've cared for (if done young), but if there is research it does negatively effect them, then I would rethink my decision." That response was meet with a declining of my application and no further communication. I responded twice saying I would respect the policy and not declaw. Still no response. I also called and left a message. No call back, no response. Very unprofessional and disappointing.

I LOVE "Friends" and have them to thank for pulling my sweet little Stella from CACC. She was…read moredropped by her previous family with no info, was scared and sick with kennel cough. I met Stella (formerly known as Camilla) through a friend of mine that has fostered many dogs for Friends. Their volunteers really love animals and give these dogs loving homes while they wait for their "forever home". They also do an excellent job taking care of medical issues prior to adoption. I strongly believe rescuing a dog is best - and I think a foster organization like this can be the best way to find your perfect rescue dog. The foster parents can give you the scoop on the dog's personality and training level. I say thanks everyday for Stella being in my life thanks to Friends!

Virtually Home is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in Chicago through rescue, adoption…read moreand education of their human companions. Virtually Home is comprised of a network of dedicated rescuers, volunteers and foster homes. Together they work under a unified mission and fight for the lives of homeless animals in Chicago. Virtually Home's set up is unique in the fact that all of the animals available for adoption are currently living in foster homes. Foster homes make a great scenario for potential adopters to meet & mingle with furry friends. A casual, home-like setting brings out the best in animals for adoption and helps adopters get a true sense of the personality and characteristics of the animal in consideration. I can't say enough great things about this organization. They are very dedicated to adoption and awareness, and work with potential fosters and adopters around all issues. Virtually Home also works closely with other shelters and animal welfare organizations throughout the area!

I recommend against dealing with Virtually Home. I found them to be very uncooperative and…read moredifficult to work with. It's unfortunate.

Kind, caring and wonderful group to have in our neighborhood…read more I've taken feral cats in to them as part of their TNR Wednesdays. They're helping keep the feral cat problem down locally and that's a great thing. Kitties up for adoption were in clean cages and several others simply lounging around, roaming freely. Place has a good vibe. They're definitely busy, tho. It's tough work.

Went here before the holidays to adopt an adorable kitten named Tiger for my 10 year old daughter…read more Within 3 weeks he's at the vet very sick with a blood disease etc. The next day he died. My daughter is very distraught. Never Again

I have adopted from GCFA in the past, and am currently fostering an older ferret with medical…read moreissues as well as volunteering at the shelter on a weekly basis. I've scooped thousands of litter pans, scrubbed cages, conducted phone screenings for potential adopters, washed poopy laundry, and I am writing this review to clear up some of the complaints others have had, because those comments need to be taken into context and with a grain of salt (read: angry people shout the loudest). Yes, the shelter is selective and does not just hand out ferrets like candy. People who have no experience or knowledge of ferret-care are not going to walk out of the shelter with a ferret. That said, it only takes an hour or two of (online) research to learn pretty much everything you need to know as a new ferret owner. You don't need to buy a book or become an expert, but you do need to know what the warning signs of a sick ferret are, because they tend to mask illness and if you aren't somewhat knowledgeable, you might notice something is amiss too late. That said, if you walk into the shelter and are not knowledgeable, you can expect the staff to take some time educating you. That's for your benefit, as well as for the benefit of the woozles. Having gone through the adoption process (and the fostering process) myself, here's some info for anyone who wants to adopt a ferret from GCFA: First, you will go through a basic phone screening, then an in-person interview. To be eligible for adoption, you need to have basic ferret-care knowledge, as well as ferret-appropriate supplies (cage, food, toys, etc), and we will ask you what veterinarian you plan on going to (ferrets are considered exotic animals, and not all veterinarians treat exotics). Shelter staff can give vet recommendations, and often has extra cages and other ferret supplies on hand available in exchange for donations, but having that stuff in stock isn't guaranteed. Finally, ferret ownership can be expensive - they are wonderful pets, but they are also prone to various ailments as they get older, so it's important that new ferret owners are aware of the financial costs of ownership before adopting. GCFA is a volunteer-run, no-kill, non-profit, and serves as the source shelter for lost / abandoned ferrets in the Chicago area (meaning, nearly all ferrets that are brought into any shelter in the Chicago area will be transferred to GCFA). All donations go towards paying rent, buying ferret food and supplies, and paying for utilities. Some years, the shelter has barely scraped by. But because GCFA exists, thousands of ferrets that would otherwise be euthanized at other shelters have been placed in good homes with good people. It's true that many people who volunteer here are simply better with animals than with people. No one and no shelter is perfect. I hope this post will be helpful to anyone looking to adopt from GCFA.

I'd love to write a review about my favorite little shelter but first to respond to the first…read moreposter John. Firstly John, the shelter is run on donations and volunteers. The money that would be spent on a fancy expensive sign is instead spent on housing, caring and feeding the hundreds of homeless ferrets that pass thru their door. Secondly, the volunteer you encountered most likely has taken time out of her day to scrub and disinfect 50+ cages with sometimes 100 or so ferrets ( that is an overwhelming amount of poop ) and clean several play pens dozens and dozens of times between each ferret's free time. It's exhausting work but it's done out of selflessness and love. Please understand what really matters here not how big the sign is or a torn shirt on a volunteer. It is that the shelter is a safe haven for the sick and abandoned and that it does its best day in and day out for each and every one of it's residents. That being said here is my review. I have adopted several ferrets over the years all thru GCFA. I have been happy with each and every one. Their facility is super clean and volunteers are very knowledgeable. They offer tons of advice and support and are extremely good about making sure they are going to a great home. Adoptions are thorough and fairly quick. The best thing about adopting vs buying from a pet store ( next to giving a little one a second chance at a forever home ) is that you are usually able to get some back ground on the ferret's personality. The volunteers get to know them and will tell you general characteristics. Pet store ferrets are usually not very handled and very rarely does an employee know anything about their pet shop ferrets other than the price. Shelter ferrets are handled by ferret lovers and GCFA goes above and beyond in many, many ways.

I had a horrible experience here, and I DO NOT recommend getting any animal from this store. I was…read moretold the man raises all these snakes and knows all about them but the size and conditions of the snake enclosures was entirely way too small. The man was helping a customer and the customer was upset about the taxes so the man was huffing and puffing around the store as I was trying to see the snake I wanted. He told me I couldn't see her cause it was almost her feeding day and she wouldn't be very nice. When I asked if I could put a deposit down for the snake, he immediately said that I could hold her and plopped her right into my arms so I could walk around with her... The snake was fine; he gave me no guidance on how to hold her, care for her, anything of the sort. When I wanted to buy her, he told me a 20 gallon enclosure would be fine for a few years. I was hesitant to get the enclosure due to the price but did it anyways. I immediately came home and tried to put her in the enclosure and realized it was WAY too small; I needed a 40 gallon, so I had to return that. He gave me a huge hassle about returning the enclosure and knocked off $60 due to using a small bag of bedding.... Yesterday I had to take my snake to the vet due it having mites and a respiratory infection. I've had this snake for less that 2 weeks and it's already sick. These people do not care about the animals they are selling, they just want to make money. I would highly recommend going anywhere else but here

This petshop is AWSOME they've always had sales and awesome animals. I remember the fish area in…read morethe basement, I volunteered here a few times as a kid. 10 STARS!

I had a great experience with this veterinarian. One thing to keep in mind is that it is first…read morecome, first served, so I highly recommend arriving at least two hours before opening because the line fills up quickly. Once it was our turn, the veterinarian did an amazing job. I took my dog in because he wasn't feeling well. They performed blood work, thoroughly evaluated him, and identified an issue with his kidneys. They prescribed medication and explained everything clearly. I'm very grateful for the care my dog received and would definitely recommend this clinic to anyone looking for a veterinarian.

I cannot thank Dr. Lesley and her team enough for saving my dog Molly's life. I have been a patient…read moreof Dr. Lukas's father's clinic for the past 13 years, so I already had great trust in this clinic. Molly suddenly required emergency surgery to remove her uterus and ovaries. Even though Dr. Lesley already had other surgeries scheduled, she made time for Molly and took care of her when she needed help the most. Thanks to her quick action, professionalism, and dedication, Molly is with us today. Dr. Lesley is not only extremely professional and knowledgeable, but you can truly see how much she loves her job and cares about the animals she treats. I am incredibly grateful to her and the entire clinic. I highly recommend Dr. Lesley and her clinic to anyone looking for compassionate, professional veterinary care at a very reasonable price. Thank you, Dr. Lesley, for saving Molly!