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PAWS Chicago Adoption Center

3.9 (455 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM
Updated 2 weeks ago

Services - PAWS Chicago Adoption Center

Animal shelters

Pet adoption

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I went yesterday to adopt a cat. I have been looking for a great fit for quite some time and Scarlett was it! The staff was so helpful in answering my questions and understanding my needs. She is new to the home but she is settling in really well. What a sweet girl! Thank you paws!

Joe C.

We checked out this adoption center for the first time. It's a pretty nice facility. Probably one of the nicer ones I've been too. They had kitty city area and a doggy town area. Looks like they just had an adoption event but we still got to meet some sweet fur babies. Definitely check it out if you looking to adopt. Great facility and great informative staff.

Leang E.

For Thankful Thursday, I wanted to give a shout out and a heartfelt appreciation for this place. My husband and I often come here to visit and see all the dogs as they just bring joy and smiles to our faces. It was especially a life saver as my husband was dealing with grief over the loss of our dog. He would go every day. The staff is so kind and caring. We also adopted our dog, Colton, after. He has been absolutely amazing and was exactly what we needed. They made the process easy and straightforward. I am so grateful for this place and all the hearts they heal.

PAWS adoption selfie
Wilfredo T.

First of all, most people that are trying to adopt are great but every time I've come in, I've experienced fellow adopters that are NOT nice to the staff. Y'all need to be more gracious and patient. Most of these people are volunteers! Please have some sense of respect! My first experience with PAWS was at an offsite event in Highland Park. Met a cutie but I wasn't quite ready. It only affirmed that I really wanted to adopt. The volunteers were kind to walk me through the process and talk to me about a couple available pets that would be a good match and encouraged me to keep looking. I made it to couple appointments to walk through but every time I wanted one, someone beat me to the punch. I saw Beckett on the site the day before thanksgiving and fell in love. Made an appointment first thing Friday and showed up an hour early. Lucky that I did because there were 3 families waiting to see him. They put us in a room where you have to stay seated while they make the introduction. Then once you decide on a dog, you wait to be walked through their available history and then meet a counselor who shares info about training, vets, and gives your a starter bag of high quality food. For Winston FKA Beckett, the owners decided not to take him back because there were a lot of medical issues he needed financed. PAWS had took him in, helped him recover from pneumonia (or perhaps what seems to be the rumored Dog Covid) and neutered him. After 2 months of antibiotics and monitoring, he fully recovered. They said he wasn't super socialized but was good on walks so they asked me to be cautious about busy areas like high rises or dog parks. After 2 days settling in at home, I took him out to meet family in the burbs and Win is superrrrr well behaved and social. He did so well with meeting the family. Excited to start his training! Thank you to everyone that worked on Black Friday! It was super busy. Thank you to Elaina, Katie, Don, Mya (sp?): Thank you for all the work that you do at PAWS. You're everyday heroes. Follow Winnie's adventures with his dad @wintheportie on IG

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Ask the Community - PAWS Chicago Adoption Center

How long does it take to get a response if you are a fit for the animal? I really really want one of the dogs there, she would be super loved and spoiled in my home!

Well I got a call on a Tuesday and said that the dog we picked out was adoptable. Tuesday night I went through a 45 minute session on the phone and we picked her up the next day. It really depends on the animals that you pick out. If many people… Read more

Do you still have the application form adoption process? I filled in the application in September and now it looks like the process has changed. Do I have to take the compatibility quiz now?

Hi Yuliia, Thank you for reaching out about our adoption process. We launched our ComPETibility… Read more

I'm interested in adopting a dog rather than going to a pet store or a breeder, but was wondering if PAWS has rescued puppies?

PAWS rescues cats and dogs of all ages! If you go to their website, you can see what dogs are available for adoption right now. When you click on a dog's picture, it will give you information on the dog, including its age. For instance, I recently… Read more

Is there parking here?

Hi Rod, We are located at 1997 N. Clybourn Avenue and there is street parking available all day… Read more

View All 7 Questions

Review Highlights - PAWS Chicago Adoption Center

The entire process took about two hours and I appreciate that they are so thorough with the adoption process.

Mentioned in 79 reviews

Read more highlights

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Anti-Cruelty - Adoptable female cat, Lotus, posing for a photo as staff prepare the adoption center for the day's visitors.

Anti-Cruelty

(464 reviews)

River North, Near North Side

Great staff. I had researched cats on line and knew the one I wanted to meet. The staff were great,…read moremeet went well and the adoption process was easy. The huge problem was my cat was starving. When I looked at the records this small cat lost 20% of her body weight in about 3 months. When I got her home and fed her the same food she couldn't keep it down. If I continued with feeding her that food, and I added a good quality canned food, same issue, she wouldn't have last 6 weeks. Luckily a friend gave me a bag of food which I tried. 3 months later she is healthy, great weight and happy. I know they are a huge number of animals to watch but even their vets commented on how skinny she was and how she was losing weight. There is some lack.

Have been trying to adopt a surrender. We've talked to several people about this and each one…read morepromised to call back. We know the person that surrendered him and this is where he took him. First we were told he had been neutered and it would be a couple of days. They knew we were going to take the dog! Called today, got the run-around, put in hold and then disconnected. Called back and was told the dog was "transferred" but they would not divulge where he was taken. We were told a manager would call back ... didn't happen. Sent an e-mail to Darlene, the president, again no response. How sad. I used to donate a lot of money to this shelter, but stopped because of poor practices. I'll send my money to Felines and Canines. They genuinely care about the animals. Please don't take your dogs there!

New Leash On Life - NLOL alumni Olivia happily living it up in Southern California!

New Leash On Life

(44 reviews)

The Loop

I want to give more than 5 stars for NLOL. Our adoption counselor Jackie is just amazing in terms…read moreof support she provides! She checks in with me about the dog almost everyday provide appropriate support and guidance every time when I was faced with difficulties because the dog was not fully house trained. NLOL offers two week foster period before adoption, which is a wonderful mechanism to get to know the dog before the big commitment. I am still in the middle of the foster period but I am just beyond impressed by the support I was given. It has been an wonderful experience so far. I would recommend NLOL to everyone who is considering adopting a dog!

If you read nothing else - fostering with New Leash on Life is the best, no-regrets decision I ever…read moremade. If you want more details about how and why I reached this conclusion, read on. I wanted to volunteer with animals, and I was frustrated by the larger organizations extremely limited opportunities and complicated process to volunteer. No, I didn't want to read a 50 page manual and take a test just to clean cages. I wanted to make a big difference in the lives of dogs and help Chicago become a no-kill city. Surely, it couldn't be that hard to find an organization with no red tape and an easy process to volunteer. Enter: New Leash on Life. I found them about 2.5 years ago on this Yelp page with their address listed downtown. I later realized this downtown address was only a PO Box which means NLOL does not have a physical location/adoption center. The implication of this is that all dogs go straight from rescue into foster homes until they find their forever families. This process can take weeks or sometimes months - depending on the dog. Don't let the uncertainty of a timeline deter you - fostering for New Leash is an absolute dream and here are my top three reasons why: 1. Unparalleled people - the nicest and most sincere adoption counselors. They constantly check up on the pups, their progress, and making sure you as a foster have everything you need. Not just via email- typically by text messages which means a quick response time. 2. Super flexible - a. Vacation or trip? No problem! New Leash will work with you and your schedule b. Work long hours? No problem! New Leash can schedule a walker to come during the day 3. And last but not least, THE DOGS. They really know how to pick them. Every dog that I've fostered has been kind hearted, adorable, and an A++ cuddler. Every dog deserves the right to a loving, safe home. Yes fostering is a short term arrangement, but it's a critical piece to helping these pups find their long term forever. Nothing makes me happier than seeing every dog I've fostered thriving in their forever homes. If you're on the fence about fostering, just try it. Anyone who loves dogs can do it and do it successfully. It is an extremely rewarding process and this organization makes it SO easy.

Midwest Animal Rescue Service - Adopted pets get a FREE first vet exam AND 50% off their spay/neuter surgery at Arnett Animal Hospital!

Midwest Animal Rescue Service

(20 reviews)

The Loop

Working with MARS has been a great experience for us! My husband and I searched online for…read moreadoptable puppies, and that's when we found MARS. We found the most adorable puppy, Hannah (now Bailey!), and filled out an application, which was reviewed and approved in a very timely fashion. We were even able to reserve Bailey in advance, which meant we didn't have to worry about missing out on her or something going wrong. Shortly after we were approved, Alex got into contact with me via email (which is great for me!). I asked TONS of questions and wrote a few lengthy emails- All of which Alex responded to usually within a few hours and took the time to go over everything I wanted to know in detail. We weren't getting this kind of attention with other rescues, so it was a great feeling to see how much they care about their animals and finding them good homes! When we went to our adoption event, they offered to stay a day late since we couldn't make it for their original time due to a family wedding. They gave us all of Bailey's medical records and explained everything on there. They made some great recommendations for food, treats, toys, and keeping her healthy. We took Bailey home that day, and couldn't be happier! She's a wonderful pup, and has been a wonderful addition to our family!

MARS went above and beyond to help make my family feel comfortable with our first adoption. Polly,…read moreour puppy, is truly the greatest blessing in our life. MARS provided with us an honest and upfront explanation of Polly's positives and negatives. Together we as a family worked through them. We've kept in touch with MARS as they'll be party of our family forever! I feel so sad for the people writing negative reviews on this website. Your verbal venom will not get you far in life. Think before you speak. Cheers to MARS! You're the best! Hugs! Chelsea, Neil and Polly!

Friends of  Chicago Animal Care + Control - Volunteer ad in the window at Urban Pooch.  Sorry about the glare!

Friends of Chicago Animal Care + Control

(7 reviews)

West Loop, Near West Side

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!

Tree House Humane Society

Tree House Humane Society

(224 reviews)

West Rogers Park

I am a crazy cat lady. With that said, I always look for excuses to pat more cats I can find. On…read moreone October off-work day, I made a reservation for the "Tree House Humane Society" cafe to see some cats in West Rogers Park. Reservation was done online and no deposit was needed. I paid $10 onsite which included a drink or pastry of my choice and 30 min play time with these feline beauties. When I arrived at the cafe at the scheduled time, the young lady at the cafe informed me there was only one cat in the cafe area but offered me to see some more cats upstairs. Honestly, that was a great trade-off even though she kept apologizing to me for the inconvenience. I was able to enjoy my iced chai and visited some kittens and adult cats in different colonies. Toys and hand sanitizers were provided as we entered and exited each colony. The barista lady introduced me to the cats that were awake for some playtime. Too bad 30 minutes went by way to fast and it was time for me to leave. "Tree House Humane Society" is near the 49B (Western) bus stop. I personally had to take 3 busses from my house to get there, so I do recommend driving since parking should not be too hard to find. There are spots by the building for the patrons I assume.

What an impressive rescue shelter. It was the first stop on our journey to find a new cat. The Tree…read moreHouse staff was extremely friendly and helpful. After reviewing all of the adoptable felines, we fell in love with a small 1 year old cat that they called Toaster. She is perfect. Because of Bissell's Clear Out The Shelters" special (May 1- May 17) adoption fees were reduced from $115 to $70.

Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue

Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue

(2 reviews)

The Loop

Maxine is a fraudulent account created by a known animal abuser who has been banned from adopting…read morethrough Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue. Great lakes pigeon rescue does nothing but go above and beyond for their animals. Everything negative "Maxine" said in their review is a blatant flat out lie. Myself, and others I know personally have had only positive things to say about receiving birds from GLPR and GLPR does their utmost to meet the needs of their birds and their prospective adopters.

they take in way more birds than they should. they lack the actual space for the amount(OVER 600…read moreBIRDS IN A STORAGE UNIT) of pigeons they have right now. the majority of the birds reside in non predator proof pens purchased from Amazon. the reason they should be predato proofed is because the amount of wasted feed and grain will attract rats(likely already has) and hi high would be able to chew through the flimsy wire and harm the birds who aren't allowed to perch 4 feet off the filthy floors. several female pigeons forced to lay eggs without nests which is extremely stressful as these are not chickens. pigeons require a semi private nesting space in order to not perpetually keep laying. the food and water containers are open air cat litter boxes which get easily contaminated with feces and require cleaning and refilling more often than standard pigeon/poultry feeders and waterers. The rescue often will put "undesirable" birds that aren't as human social in these pens to LIVE in. Sometimes these birds may not be adopted for months and will be forced to live in these crowded dirty pens longterm. Do Better Great Lakes!!

Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue

Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue

(8 reviews)

West Loop, Near West Side

First off, these guys are a non-profit--so it's going to be a lil' bit different than working with…read morea breeder or going to a shop. But they genuinely have the dog's best interests in mind and want to make a perfect match. They specialize in Pitbull / Staffordshire Terriers and mixes and the like. Before you get excited....these are "high maintenance" working dogs (they need to do things, even if it's something simple like ripping a leather work glove into the teeniest bits). And, they can be headstrong (the dogs, not the .org). They need jobs, exercise, and rules, and a strong "leader" who will enforce those rules. Then you will have incredibly happy dogs. I would not recommend these breeds for beginners, but an experienced dog person will be delighted having one of these incredibly affectionate critters around (I get leaned and slobbered on when I come home. Pretty great!). I found my interaction with this crew to be professional, although somewhat scatterbrained because there are a bunch of people who are involved on the back end and AFAIK they all have day jobs as well. However I found my perfect puppy here and adopting her was pretty painless. I genuinely feel these guys are out for the dogs' best interest. There is an application to fill out and a phone call and a home visit. They want to put these critters into loving homes--not fighting rings or puppy mills. Remember though, these are generally larger working dogs and they need exercise and challenges! If you want a moving pillow...do not go this route! Get a Cavy Span http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cavalierkingcharlesspaniel.htm instead. But, If you want a challenge and are active and don't mind working a dog into a silly mess that slurps up water and then licks your face with ridiculous amounts of happydrool, please browse those pretty faces and fall in love with a loving critter who would love a comfortable permanent home.

I adopted my pit-mix, Cooper, from these guys nearly 5 years ago. At the time I was without a car,…read moreso they actually brought him to me and did the home inspection and everything all at once. I'm so lucky to have gotten such a fantastic, docile, easygoing (see:lazy) dog. Hes generally good with other dogs, loves people and little kids and unless he gets in the trash when I'm at work, he's just about perfect. Thanks for a fantastic dog and smooth experience!

PAWS Chicago Adoption Center - animalshelters - Updated June 2026

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