I had a very positive experience with SCCR. They were prompt in letting me know when I could meet a couple dogs at events. They have Chicago and western suburb events. We received all of our dog's paperwork of vet visits and vaccinations. Most importantly, we spent at least 30 minutes chatting with the foster parents about the dogs we were interested in possibly adopting. We ended up adopting Durkin, who we renamed Skyler, a black lab/hound mix in Nov of 2019. He is so good natured and such a sweetheart. He wants all dogs and people to be his friend. They took photos of us with Skyler and emailed them to us which was very appreciated. I liked how they did not "ding" us because we do not have a fenced yard. They understand that most people in Chicago do not have fenced yards. We walk our dog 4 times a day and make sure he gets plenty of exercise--on leash. The adoption fees and requirement that your dog complete obedience school are the norm in rescues and are needed. I understand the frustration expressed by some reviewers as getting turned down to adopt a dog really hurts your feelings. I think most of the rescue folks do as best as they can under the circumstances. I am grateful to SCCR for making adopting my dog a positive experience and I hope to one day adopt a second dog from them. read more

Do not recommend this rescue. Rude management and an unfortunate, disappointing experience at an event.

I've had great experiences with SCCR over the past 11. Lucy, Sadie and this past year Grace, a purebred German Shepherd, were the perfect additions to our home. I found SCCR welcoming, meticulous about the safety and fit for each dog. Adopting a dog is serious business. If there are lingering health issues from their earlier life, SCCR offers financial coverage. They work directly with your personal VET. I can't recommend them strongly enough. ​ read more

See all

Like others, I was genuinely shocked to see so many negative reviews about SSCR. As the shelter is very close to our home, my son and I walked over one day to inquire as to the whole "process" to go about adopting. The two volunteers were very patient, kind, and able to walk us through the best way to go about things. We decided to submit an application via their website the next week, just to have on file "in case" a dog that would be suitable in our home became available. I received a quick response asking if I was interested in a specific dog. I emailed back that at that time, I was not, but wanted to get a head start on the process "just in case". I received another response letting me know to simply email when the time came. Well, the time did come. Although we were not initially looking for a puppy, one little guy grabbed our attention. I emailed immediately and was told that he would be available to meet at the adoption event that Saturday. Throughout all of this, it was stressed that they are trying their best to match the dog to what they think would be the best home for them, and that it is not first-come, first-served. We arrived at the adoption event early, loitering around and watching the dogs file in. We were trying to remain respectful to the volunteers by not hovering over them, but finally walked over 5 minutes to. When we rounded the corner, we were surprised to see how many people were gathered for the dogs. All in all, a fantastic turnout for SSCR. My husband, along with my two kids, spotted "our little guy" and immediately went over to say hello. We were immediately smitten and let the foster and volunteers know that we were all in. They were very up front and let us know that there was also another family interested, but that didn't guarantee where the dog would go. As we waited, we were going to say hi to the other dogs, but quickly opted out, as we had found "our guy". While it was a bit chaotic, there were a lot of dogs, a lot of interested families, and few volunteers to manage it all. I think some of the reviews don't take into account that this is 100% volunteer-based and that patience and grace are key. Adoption events are a great way to have interested parties meet the dogs without putting undue stress on the volunteer fosters to do frequent home visits, but that means a lot is going on in a short amount of time. We were crossing our fingers, but we knew that we might walk away with heavy hearts that day if they thought that the other family was a better fit. Luckily for us, we were told that we were chosen, and we got to take him home that day. One of the volunteers even walked us through the pet store, helping us choose some of the best options for him. We overheard that the other family was taking home a different puppy, and we were so thrilled. The volunteer asked them if they were sure because they didn't want them to settle, but they said, "Two families today are better than one". Such beautiful words! SSCR is a fantastic organization that is run by volunteers who truly care about where these animals end up. They treat them as valuable family members, not a product. I think that people just need to approach this process with respect for what this organization is doing for animals and multiple communities, and understand that no family is entitled to take home an animal simply because they choose it. My experience has been so fantastic and inspiring that I hope to become a volunteer with them, too! read more

I adopted from this rescue and it was an amazing experience. Everyone emailed me back super fast and it was very easy to meet my new pup. My pup's foster was beyond amazing and took great care of my pup until I could take him home. The facility is clean and open and airy...this is not an ordinary shelter. read more

It's sad that the fosters aren't truthful about the animals and their conditions. All they say is give it time and spend$$$ on training. Hundreds of dollars spent and no change at all. Stay far away from this rescue . read more

I was really surprised to see so many negative reviews for SCCR since we had such a positive experience with them. I admit after reading the negative reviews I may have felt that way, who knows?! All I know is we adopted the most amazing dog from them! I know the foster mom (Judy) really loved her and can see why the vetting was tough. We saw Amalfi in Petfinder.com and applied online. We immediately got an email and an online application from SCCR the next day and were told to meet Amalfi at the Schaumburg PetSmart adoption event. We met Amalfi (named after Italy's Amalfi Coast where my family & I were literally at 2 weeks before!) and fell in love-it was meant to be! It was a nerve racking interview process and we knew so many other families wanted to adopt Amalfi. I had no idea the foster mom would point blank ask my kids why Amalfi should go home with us; my 11yr and 14yr olds gave the most sincere, compelling, unrehearsed answers. This won the foster mom over and the fact I worked from home and we had a fenced in yard. I was nervous because we've never had a dog before but that apparently didn't ding us in the points department! We've been dog sitting 3 dogs over the years so we weren't totally green and were ready to finally adopt. If we weren't picked I'm sure my kids and I would have been devastated so I would keep this mind if you plan on applying with SCCR. They are really picky with who adopts their dogs, but they are totally looking out for the dog's best interests. Like most fostered dogs, Amalfi had all her vaccinations, meds, vet check up to date, spay paid for etc. That's the beauty of adopting! I would totally recommend SCCR, just prepare for the tough vetting! Adopt Don't Shop :) read more

See all

I adopted my dog from SCCR. It is true that the adoption events are frustrating. I had my heart set on a certain dog and when I got there I found out there were a bunch of applicants. They told me about a similar dog who was sitting in one of the aisles. He was adorable and the first thing he did was give me his paw. I decided I really wanted him and it's probably a good thing because I love dogs and would never think of returning a dog. He had major heartworm which they were upfront about. They covered all the costs for the treatment which took two years. What I didn't know is that he is totally triggered by other male dogs and we can't take him to a dog park and walks can sometimes be a chore. But the foster had three dogs and he got along fine with them. It's possible they became his pack being in the same house. The foster also didn't tell me that he is extremely terrified of thunderstorms and even a hard rain. At first he tried getting out of the house by jumping on radiators and pawing at windows. Once again, I'm sure the foster didn't know because she only had him in winter. I think they were as honest about him as they could be. The fact is, if you adopt a rescue dog, be prepared for behavior that is not always ideal. God knows what some of them have been through. They may not be perfect but they desperately need a family and love and affection. My dog is so much better now that he understands he has a home with people who love him. I found a way to help him when he is afraid and he comes to me instead of panicking. Just like children, animals need care and training. They should not be a lesser member of the household. Rescue dogs can be work but they can offer a lot of love and happiness to make up for it. SCCR cares about their animals and carefully vettes prospective owners and I'm fine with that. They need to be advocates for a helpless animal that can't advocate for itself. I'm supposed to talk about value in this review. There can be no monetary value put on this kind of thing. The adoption cost is not inordinately high and they have animals and a facility to tend to. The true value lies in having the satisfaction of saving a homeless dog and being on the receiving end of their love and affection. Nothing like a dog's love. read more

The bad reviews are correct. Poorly managed by the adoption coordinator at an event today. I have rescued many dogs in my career and I have never encountered this type of blatant incompetence. Here's the thing: don't gaslight me about the "pug mix" you have advertised (which was true -- this dog is part pug, part something smaller?) because you don't want to adopt to me. After allowing me and my kids to play with the dog and shop for the dog for over an hour. Then the Coordinator suddenly "can't reach my landlord" after I have an approval in writing, which I showed her team. Suddenly the 5 lb pug mix becomes a possible 60 lb dog you can't label (the breed) when your foster parent who brought the dog Late to this event doesn't seem able to allow the dog to be adopted because she clearly and understandably wants to keep this puppy for herself. Which she told us this. Regardless, don't gaslight me about the breed in the 11th hour. In front of my kids. Poor form. Btw the woman who adopted the other pug mix reeked of smoke and couldn't stop bawling. She was obviously not of sound health or mind but she was approved without issue? I'm worried about this organization. I hate giving bad reviews. This experience was baffling and hurtful. The pile up of bad reviews are tantamount to the broken hearts your organization is creating. read more

My husband and I knew we wanted to adopt a doggie from a local rescue after our honeymoon. Based on the pets we already have and where we live, we knew we wanted a younger dog of a certain size (big enough to not be hawk prey and small enough for our city home with aforementioned pets). Based on this, we started looking on Chicagoland rescue websites. I did my research on a few rescues which also meant learning about each organization's adoption process. ***If you don't study the organization's adoption process, you may be super heartbroken*** We were interested in an SCCR puppy so we read everything on their website, sent an online application (BTW the volunteers got back to me SO quickly with every questions I had!!) and found out which adoption event the pup would be at. My husband, our dog and I went to that event, met said SCCR puppy and quickly realized that he would NOT be a good fit for us. But while we were there we did meet two sisters who stole our hearts. We spent the whole 3 hours of the event hanging out with them, with the volunteers and fosters and it is SO clear that they really care about 1. getting their puppies in a good foster home, 2. getting those fosters into the proper home while 3. making sure that home really is the RIGHT home. Yes, we were able to adopt our newest puppy Bama through SCCR that day. But the volunteers let us know at the start that this meet-and-greet may very well not result in an adoption that day if either party felt that it wasn't a good fit BUT that they would encourage us to keep working with them. They just don't want puppies being returned which happens a lot and, thanks to this process, we ended up with the most perfect addition to our family. We love SCCR and we could not recommend adopting through them more. read more

Second City Canine Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

See all

Amazing organization with the best of intentions for dogs and adopters. Rescuing is a complex process which is often misunderstood. There is a LOT that goes on behind the scenes to eventually re-home a dog. Great work SCCR! read more

Never responded to my inquiries about the dogs up for adoption. Sent in multiple inquiries and adoption applications. Really upset me to be ignored. read more

I was surprised to read so many negative reviews for SCCR. Overall, we had a great experience and are so grateful to them for giving us our beloved pup. We initially saw a 3 month puppy online and submitted an application, then while pursuing their website found another dog that was about 8 months old and fell in LOVE. We heard back on our application for the first dog right away and were told that we were not a good fit for a puppy since we both work away from home, but were told to come to an adoption event that weekend to meet the other pup. We were initially a little hesitant to get our hopes up but decided to go to the event and fell in love with Scout. We got to meet with the dog and his foster for about 20 minutes and then were told to leave so he could meet other potential families and we would be notified of their decision at noon. We were so nervous waiting and were beyond overjoyed when we got the call that Scout was ours!! We have been so unbelievably happy with our new pup and truly feel that he is the perfect addition to our family. I am grateful for the work that SSCR does to make sure they are placing all of their dogs in a home that is the right fit. In addition, it's nice that dogs are placed with foster families who can truly get to know their personalities and answer any questions that come up. The only reason, I am knocking off a star is because we received a request for an update on Scout, but never even received a response to our detailed email sharing photos and an update. That was a little disappointing since we love our pup so much and were hoping that SSCR would share in our joy. That said, it doesn't dim our gratitude to them for rescuing Scout and matching us with the perfect addition to our family! read more

Second City Canine Rescue - our precious Scout as his SSCR adoption event - Animal Shelters Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

It's so hard to see how many negative reviews this organization has received. My experience with SCCR was amazing and I couldn't be happier with Riley, previously known as Lovey. They were extremely easy to work with and the whole process was very smooth from start to finish. Riley's foster mom has kept in touch for updates on her and I appreciate that. I will definitely work with them again! read more

Poorly run adoption event. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. And I wanted to thank this place from discouraging me to adopt a dog from them. Every dog I was interested in the foster parent had some endless excuses why the dog would work for me. Not once trying to work with me. Being that I owned for 14 years the exact same breed to dog I was looking at. Instead of encouraging me both the foster parents gave me endless excuses. Waste of time this place is. Thanks for making me want to go to a dog breeder f read more

I have adopted 5 dogs over the past 15 years. In August I adopted my puppy Rio. He was exactly what I was looking for after 2 of my dogs past away in the spring. I did not have any of the issues except which puppy would be best. read more

Second City Canine Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

I attended a SCCR event with my husband,3 kids and 4year old Golden. There were a lot of people and several dogs of all ages and size available. We talked with foster family and a few other people at the event. There were a few families interested in the puppy we were looking at, so I didn't get my hopes up. I walked away trusting the people from SCCR got to know us enough to make the best decision for this pup. Thankfully, we did get the call, had our home visit and got our pup a day or 2 later. After having the pup in our house a while and thinking back about the other people looking to adopt this same pup, I truly feel SCCR realized we were the right fit for "this" dog. She looks up to our older dog like a mother, and my Golden loves it. My family spends hours a day playing, walking and just hanging out with both our dogs. Our dogs get plenty of socialization. It's something she really needs, to spend time with other dogs. From birth until adopted out at 3 months, this pup was always with other dogs. SCCR knew that she would get love, hours of play time and socialization she needed. After reading all the reviews, I just want to say, there are many great organizations doing the right thing. They are taking in these dogs, taking care of their needs until they find a forever home. They have a small window of time to get to know potential new dog owners. Most organizations run by volunteers who give up their time and do their best to find the perfect match for dog and family. Sadly, there are so many dogs waiting to be adopted. People who want to "try out" owning a dog, are not thinking what these dogs might have already been through in their lives. It's not easy for anyone, it takes time for both dog and family to get adjusted. I hope everyone who had a bad experience with any rescue, will find the dog right for them. read more

See all

Yesterday was my first time at an adoption event, and I was truly excited to meet my potential companion. I filled out all the required documentation beforehand and even arrived early. I learned upon check in the particular dog I was interested in was very popular (over 15 others interested in the same dog). This was highly discouraging and felt more like a job interview/ competition right from the start. The volunteer at check in also told me "don't have any hurt feelings" if you are not chosen. Understandable. I wait roughly 15-20 minutes to meet the dog and when it is my turn, the SCCR volunteer and foster parent are completely judge-mental (I understand the process needs to be strict) however, I know I was the best possible parent for that pup at that event. I work from home five days a week if need be (which i explained in the "interview") and would be there 24/7 to care for the dog. I don't have any children so 100% of my time could've been focused on her. I received a phone call stating I was not chosen "because of my schedule" but should consider other dogs to adopt. I am only interested in puppies, so why would I go through the process again to only be rejected? This negative process has turned me away from adoption when I can easily go to the store and buy a dog. I have so much love to give to a pup but I felt overlooked, rushed, and judged during the process. I will not be considering SCCR in the future. read more

Wish i read the reviews first before going to one of their adoption events so i would not have wasted my time. They refused to allow me to adopt a little puppy because they couldn't reach my landlord even after i showed them an electronic copy of my lease. The lease clearly states the dog breeds that are prohibited in the apartment (which the puppt wasnt any of those) and doesn't say any weight restrictions on pets. The puppy i was trying to adopt didn't even look like it was going to be more than 60 lbs (because the mom was there and she was a medium sized not over 60 lbs), but they were tying to make excuses about how the puppy could be more than 60 lbs when full grown and how it cant be allowed in the apartment. Like sir im showing you the lease agreement right here!! I drove to the adoption event for 45 mins, feeling very excited and hopeful to get the puppy ive been eyeing on for days, but walked out empty handed and feeling defeated. I fought so hard to try and take her home with me. The reviews are right, for an adoption agency that wants to give homeless dogs a forever home, they do try to make it so hard for these pets to get adopted. Be warned. read more

I worked with Nikki to adopt Cooper - formerly Cole. It was a wonderful experience & Nikki was incredibly helpful. She was compassionate, caring, & accommodating - walking us through every step of the process & answering all of our questions. Cooper is an absolute joy - sweet & great with our 4 kids & his older sister Wrigley. Such a perfect addition to our household. We couldn't be happier! Thanks so much for making our family complete:-) read more

Second City Canine Rescue - Our baby boy Cooper - Animal Shelters Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

It has taken me a bit of time to write this review, because of how scarred I am from our experience with Second City Canine. We saw two dogs with Second City. The first was an absolutely wonderful experience. We were unsure of the dog's size (he was a big boy) and the foster was incredibly kind and let us do a home visit before we made a decision. We decided he was a bit too big for us (no fault of his, he was just a big guy) and the foster didn't take it personally and left us with kind words and understanding. The second experience was downright awful. We were rushed into adopting the dog and lied to about the temperament and health of the dog. They said she was house trained-she didn't poop anywhere but in the house. They said she never bit-she woke me up by biting my arm so hard it bled. They said she was healthy -but there were HUGE worms in her poop. We ended up returning the dog without asking for our $350 back. When we returned her, the foster wouldn't even acknowledge us and had her husband retrieve the dog. She was glaring out the window at us the whole time. It was such a 180 turn from our first experience that I have not had the courage to look for another dog since. The second foster made us feel like monsters when they lied to us about the dog in the first place. read more

My parents recently adopted from SCCR. We had a really positive experience with them. Communication was clear, effective, and Ellen was really great. The adoption process was very smooth, and they're really supportive. I would absolutely recommend them. read more

Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. Thank you so much for our little sweet girl! She has made our family complete

We were just trying to save another adult dog after losing our beloved Ozzy who died last month. Our other dog is lonely and we are bereaved. Our dogs are loved and considered highly trained by our neighbors. It's like they've won the lottery. Apparently we are unfit to save another one. There was no response as to why we didn't get the dog we applied for or if we may save any other. Only that he went to another applicant. My wife works at home much of the time, retirement soon for us both. We're able bodied and have a park 15 yards away but not a fenced in yard. We are willing to make an effort there to accommodate. An application online, a visit to an adoption event with our dog as required, a house visit and only a rejection. They're very judgmental picking winners and losers, it must be a rush. I guess they would prefer more unwanted dogs be killed, not collect the $200 -$400 fee, and lifelong dog lovers pay a breeder instead. So disappointing read more

Second City Canine Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

What a great rescue organization. By chance we came across thier site when looking for a Boston Terrier. Thier website is very helpful, up to date with all of thier latest rescues and full of great stories. We saw a pup that we really liked online. SCCR filled us in on the next adoption event so that we could meet the puppy. They have events all the time which make it easy to meet the rescues. This way if our choice wasnt what we were looking for, we had easy access to see other rescue dogs. The foster family felt compelled to meet us and we felt so lucky because she cared about who we were and what life we could provide for this little puppy. How impressive that they take care to understand the adoptive families. The foster family was so perfect because they had other animals and young children. The puppy was already being potty trained and socialized. How cool is that?! We filled out our application and were luckily chosen to adopt Bolt. We've renamed him to Dave Gowl. Once chosen, SCCR's great price included the neutering as well as the first vet visit. Great great thinking on thier part. We keep in touch with Dave's awesome foster family, we keep in touch with SCCR, we attend fun SCCR events that they set up to raise funds and finally we have referred two other families to SCCR who love thier new dogs. A 5 star recommendation is the least I can do to support my favorite rescue - Second City Canine Rescue. read more

We got a phone call and we got the puppy we really wanted great service .it went very smoothly with no problem

I wish they had zero stars. After countless emails and 6 phone calls, with 2 applications regarding a pyrenees named Serenity, they finally responded and stated that I reside outside the 35 mile radius. Ohhhhhj. 68 miles total...wow. too much effort I guess to give a dog a good home..according to them, they drive to the adoption home. I wouldn't care. We are professionals who have a nice home, 1 dog, with an1 acre property and a fenced in yard. Work from home and could of gave this dog a nice home. What kind of adoption agency puts a 35 mile radius on. Checked policies, couldn't find anything stipulating the 35 mile radius. Judy, wish I could give you a 0 star, not only for your stupid policy, but your lack of communication.... Let me add, this was the Roselle, Il location. read more

2 hours is too far to adopt according to the email we received after applying for a dog from this canine adoption agency. We were told to look in our area because their policy only serves the Chicago land area. We have been looking for a dog in our area but keep loosing the adoptions due to not applying fast enough. We are trying to find a member of our family and are willing to travel and we want to adopt to give a dog the opportunity to join a loving family. This place discriminates by your area and not how good a person or family is to adopt. Disappointed and sad because it is the dogs their are putting up for adoption that are suffering from this "policy". read more

if I could give this "rescue" zero stars I would. They don't know anything about running a decent rescue. my parents who have been devoted pet owners all their lives lost their dog and tried to adopt a puppy they fell in love with. But did they get the puppy? Of course not. They were offered the mother of the puppy who was sick with heart worms. This place is a joke. We do have a friend who somehow managed to get a puppy from this dump.. The thing was sicker than you can imagine and cost her thousands in vet bills to get healthy again. Shocker. Stay far, far away from this place that calls themselves a rescue. The people running it have got to be the dumbest people I've ever encountered in my life. Get your head out of your a** second city. read more

I wish I could impart upon the 1-star reviews of this shelter what type of experience is actually possible with many of these places (see my review of ALIVE rescue for a truly egregious example of fanaticism). For one, I see a couple complaints about this place being run more as a business than a shelter, because they charge $333. Well they actually charge $300 and a $75 deposit that is refunded to pay for mandatory obedience training. Not only is this perfectly reasonable but its remarkably consistent. My wife and I completed applications to about 4 rescues during our adoption search and every one of them charged that EXACT same amount. What sets Second City Canine Rescue apart is that they actually DO seem to genuinely care about the end goal of saving as many dogs as possibly by creating sustainable pairings. There are far too many fanatics and obsessives in the canine rescue game and I can pretty confidently say that SCCR is NOT on the negative end of that spectrum. Their foster's give up 3+ hours of every Saturday morning to parade the dog's in their care at a pet shop in Elmhurst and are unwaveringly helpful, knowledgeable and, most refreshingly, eager/willing/humble to impart this knowledge. The 4-month old boxer/pit we adopted was already so well behaved and WELL on his way to being housebroken by the time we were lucky enough to adopt him. His foster mother, Nancy, patiently and tirelessly answered every one of our questions without even a hint of judgement. She was even adamant about it being OK for us to contact her AFTER we adopted with any questions (a courtesy we've actually used once). After our nightmare experience with ALIVE rescue, it was very refreshing to experience the professionalism and compassion that Second City Canine Rescue practices. I cannot recommend their service enough. read more

They were at pet smart and decided to apply for a dog on the spot. They have a horrible application process and they are not clear to begin with. I was instantly rejected because two the of people who live with me were not present. And to make it worse the woman handling the applications was rude and arrogant towards me, and so dismissive. Her attitude towards me is what upset me the most. I understand that people need to be properly vetted, but they didn't even give me a chance. There's so many people who will love and care for these dogs and are quickly dismissed with this horrible process. I feel bad for the dogs, because of this "rescue" they are missing out on loving homes. I will never adopt from here, and chances are if you apply for dog you'll be instantly rejected too. Don't waste your time. I wish I could give this place 0. read more

I rescue dogs myself, so I have a hard time slamming rescue groups, because basically, they all help dogs. Looking for a new dog to train and show in agility, I was interested in a young poodle mix this group had. After visiting the group's website, I attended an adoption event, with my 3 dogs, which was part of the application process. I met the dog and was interested; asked what I could do to convince them that I was the right home for him, and I was told that after the adoption event ended, they would review all applications and contact the party selected to adopt him. Then that person would have to come back, pay the adoption fee, and take the dog home. I went home and waited, and waited. No call came. It reminded me of dating! A few days later, I got an e-mail that the person who was selected at the last adoption event decided not to take him, so he was still available. I should come to the next adoption event, the following weekend. I figured that since they contacted me, it must mean that I was selected, and it was just a matter of picking up the dog. No-o-o-o-o. I brought my 3 dogs again, met with the coordinator at this event, and got the same line. "We have a number of applications for him; we will meet after the event ends and decide who gets him." OMG! I'm just another applicant again! My phone rang about an hour after the event ended, but I had decided that I didn't want to pursue this. The voicemail that was left said that this coordinator really thought I was a great home, and she hoped that I would get a dog through them, but the foster wanted the dog to go to a family with children. Well, had they read my app (which you would hope they did!), they would have known that I do not have children, so basically, I wasted my time going to the second event. So my complaint is with their process, more than anything. Can you get a nice pet here? Probably. I wasn't able to. read more

My husband and I adopted our dogs from SCCR 3 years ago and am truly shocked by all of the negative reviews which compelled me to write one of my own. My husband and I went to one of their adoption events after finding a dog we were interested in on their website. Upon arriving, it was clear that the one we were interested in was in high demand. We spoke to one of the volunteers and he inquired if we were interested in a specific breed and he recommended a bonded pair that were available at an event at a different location. We were really only interested in adopting one so we were hesitant but decided to check out the other event and meet them anyway. Basically, it was love at first sight and after a quick discussion decided to adopt them. The volunteers never pressured us and let us take our time to consider. It was a very smooth process. The only "negative" that I could think of is that they wanted them to be adopted together but wouldn't budge on the adoption fees. But considering that they took care of the spay/neutering and initial vaccinations, we understood. Their foster mom brought them to our place the next day and we've been a happy family ever since. We couldn't be more thankful to SCCR for helping to make our family complete! read more

Best dog rescue around! SCCR truly cares about placing the right dogs with the right families. Great group of people to work with!

I understand that they only want the best for the adoptees, but they aren't exactly efficient. My boyfriend and I found 2 pups that we instantly fell in love with and filled out the application. They told us to come that following Saturday to the Bentley's in Schaumburg and to bring our dog from home. We come and visit the dogs and they tell us that they want a home WITHOUT previous dogs. Excuse me..? Why didn't you mention that when we turned in our application? They obviously saw that we have a dog, and they even asked us to BRING our dog. Basically we wasted our time, and we were absolutely crushed. If they had actually taken the time to read our application, it would've saved everyone. read more

My family suffered a terrible loss, our son passed away after a 4 year battle with cancer and 3 days later we had to put our sweet dog Casey down, she was just too old to handle her heartbreak over losing her boy. We got our son a new puppy durning his treatments to help him through his because really the other dog was mine, and caring for something other than yourself can make you stronger. Casey loved me the most anyway. After such a tremendous loss the family needed a pick me up. Thanks to Second City Canine Rescue we adopted Kodiak Island. Second City csme out and made sure our dog, my son's dog Momo, would get along with the new puppy. They have become great friends and have brought a bit of happiness back for us. Thanks to Second City Canine Rescue we are looking to the future, still missing our son Jsck and Casey my sweet puppy, but loving how Kodiak is fitting in to our family and giving us a bit of joy. Thanks Second Ciity Canine Rescue for taking time to make sure Kodiak was a good fit for us! read more

If I could give this Rescue Agency a zero I would. I gave up 6 of my Saturdays and spend over 2 hours at each event along with a total of 10 hours of driving. They seem to only adopt to people that are unemployed or stay at home mom's. They need to realize this ISN'T REALITY. They also mention to bring all of your family members. I have one 10 year old boy whom was in tears every time we left. Each visit they never once mentioned why we were not approved but they had decided on a different family. This place is a joke. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. I finally decided to go with Rover Rescue. This adoption agency is AMAZING and VERY easy to work with. I went to 6 different homes in one day to visit several different rescues and was approved at each one. I had my choices to choose from and this was a great feeling. read more

My boyfriend and I came across this perfect red puppy on Petfinder. She was one in a liter rescued from a shelter in KY by SCCR. We live in the city and the adoption event was in the suburbs. It was a special circumstance, but SCCR went out off their way to bring her to our home so we could meet this awesome, lanky little girl. We fell in love with Penny and the rest is history! We keep in touch on FB with her foster mom and we ended up fostering ourselves. SCCR is made up of the loveliest, most passionate people I've met in the rescuing world. They take excellent care of the dogs they save and set high standards for adoptive parents as well. I would strongly recommend SCCR as the rescue to trust when looking for your new furry best friend! read more

My wife and I adopted our pit mix from Second City and couldn't be more impressed with how knowledgable and helpful the staff and foster parents are. In fact we're considering adding another pup to the family and only will use SCCR!!! read more

Wonderful rescue! I have only had positive experiences with them and by interacting with them and following their Facebook page, you can tell they work diligently to give a second chance to animals in need. With so many animal abuse and neglect cases happening daily, it is extremely important to find proper homes for dogs to ensure it is a good Fit. How many dogs are adopted from shelters only to be returned or used for dog fighting? Instead of writing a nasty review bashing a 100% volunteer based organization that's sole purpose is to save the lives of dogs, I implore you next time to maybe build a rapport with some of the volunteers so that when they find the breed/ temperament/ size/ age, ect you're looking for they can help you. That's what happened in my case and now I have the dog I was MEANT to have :-) I was disheartened to know a dog I was gungho on adopting was a better fit for another family. But soon after I found my angel dog and life for the both of us is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!!!! Thank you Second City for day in and day out, caring about the animals above anything else!!!! read more