We have adopted 2 different dogs from Fetching tails this past year. Fetching tails responded to…read moreour inquiry almost immediately, which is amazing for a volunteer run organization. We were able to set up a time to meet the dog (each time) quickly even though I have a an irregular schedule. They took the time to make sure we knew what would be required in caring for the dogs as well as visiting our home to ensure it would be a safe and appropriate place for a pet to live. In each adoption they were very helpful and informative, never seemed bothered by my endless questions and continue to be in touch with us for updates and questions. I highly recommend viewing their adoptable dogs online or attending one of their events if you are thinking about adding a meme we to your family .

Have volunteered at this organization for a few years now. I can honestly say the people truly care…read moreabout the pups and seek to match them to the perfect forever home. They use a stepping stone method from inhale to home. The pups start in a triage shelter to ensure the dogs are healthy through vet visits, stabilize the pups after any transit, and to get to know the intricacies of the individual characteristics of the new arrivals. They use this information to pair up the dogs with foster homes, helping the pups learn how to live in a caring environment and structured routines. This helps prepare the dogs for success at the next step which is adoption. Some dogs are so well adapted to the new surroundings that they can skip ahead in the process but others need time to decompress from the trauma they experienced. Again, this places has a mission to help dogs find their perfect home. Feel free to volunteer with the organization as I do, sign up as a foster, or even adopt a new family member. You will enjoy it and appreciate this place.

I was looking for information on how to help a stray cat that has been coming to my house for more…read morethan a month. The staff member who helped me was very compassionate, kind, and knowledgeable. It was extremely difficult, trying to make a decision whether to step in to help the cat or whether to leave him roaming the neighborhood. I felt that I was given lots of reassurance and options to consider.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about DuPage County Animal Shelter and the amazing staff who…read morework there. From the moment I walked in, I felt so welcomed and cared for. Everyone at the shelter is kind, compassionate, and truly dedicated to making sure both pets and people are happy. A very special thank you to Dee, who was an absolute blessing. She was so patient, helpful, and understanding...answering every question I had with such care. She went above and beyond by making arrangements with the vet for my two kittens, and I never once felt rushed or overlooked. I adopted two beautiful kittens, and knowing they came from a place filled with so much love and support gives me such peace of mind. It is very clear that everyone at this shelter is passionate about helping animals find safe, happy homes, and about supporting families after adoption as well. I am so grateful for all the services they provide and for the genuine kindness of the staff. Thank you, Dee, Dr. Kristen and thank you DuPage County Animal Shelter, for helping me with my two precious "kids" and for the care you continue to give.

I can't believe I hadn't reviewed Adopt previously. My dear sweet Calliecakes is from this shelter,…read moreso I am forever grateful that they rescued her. My parents saw her at the shelter back in 2012 and texted me her photo (because they knew I wanted a cat), and I was like "yes absolutely I want her I will come get her." And the rest is history -- it's been 11 great years with my bestie (and hopefully many more). And then a year later, almost to the day, my parents were like "hey let's go to Adopt" the day after Thanksgiving and they ended up getting a cat (their second) for themselves. I haven't been back to the shelter since 2013 when I went with them when they decided to get their cat, but at that time the shelter was super nice and they had several rooms where cats could roam free. It was a nice, no-stress situation to be able to sit on a sofa or on the floor and have the cats come check you out. So many snuggles. And I follow them on Instagram and they continue to do great work and care deeply for the animals they rescue. Definitely check them out if you are looking for a new best friend! And now enjoy the cat photo spam/cat tax :)

The dogs and cats are well taken care of by the staff and volunteers. They are friendly and…read moreinformative about any questions you have about adopting a particular dog or cat. There are a lot of amazing cats and dogs here looking for a good home. They offer vet services including spay and neuter at the clinic they have across from the shelter.

We adopted a dog from LEAD late 2018 and couldn't be happier. LEAD truly cares about the health and…read morewellbeing of the dogs in their care and seek out safe homes and good owners. Our dog came with a complete health history, vaccinated and received some housebreaking/training while in foster care. The communication pre-adoption was very good and we also appreciated the follow up from Daisy @ LEAD. Overall I'd recommend LEAD to anyone looking to adopt.

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!

WOW! I finally hit 500!…read more I wanted to make this review special--something that's close to my heart (just like my other 100 markers!). For those of you who know me, know that I love my pooch Ryno. He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and yes, is treated like royalty. I have yet to meet a Cavalier that hasn't been sweet, awesome, and overall just a great catch! I have not adopted from this rescue, but know people who have, I've also met a few people affiliated with the rescue at various meet ups and dog shows throughout IL and even WI. :-) You couldn't ask for a bunch of better people! Here's a little about their mission (taken from their website): GCCR's mission is to help ensure the health and security of abused, abandoned, and otherwise endangered Cavalier King Charles Spaniels by rehabilitating and placing Cavaliers from shelters and similar situations, by assisting breeders and owners in finding new homes for their Cavaliers, and by providing to the public educational materials and consultation regarding Cavalier health and care. The growing popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels has prompted increased breeding by unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills. This development suggests that owners' concerns about health as well as the number of Cavaliers in need will only grow. Placement of Cavaliers in new homes without appropriate, knowledgeable veterinary testing may result in unforeseen, serious heartaches for new owners. The GCCR as well as other dedicated Cavalier rescuers and owners are here to help.

It seems like the two other reviews say it all!! I volunteer with the GCCR and can't believe how…read moresupportive, nurturing, and selfless this group of people truly are. We have members who have owned cavaliers for over 20 years and novice owners. All of which are dedicated to educating the public, raising awareness, and rescuing these lovely dogs. Please join our group on facebook or check out the rescue website: www.gccavalierrescue.org

Sheri was fantastic with us; took the time to assess our situation and needs from a pet so we…read moredidn't get in over our head and (more importantly) the dog found the best home possible. The application was thorough, she communicated quickly and efficiently, and when we went to meet the dog we took a long walk with him and Sheri to further assess. Once we got our bundle of joy home, it was clear he had been shown lots of love and received the benefit of lots of training and attention while he was at Friends of Petraits. He's a 5 month old Golden Retriever who is housebroken and full of love and life. Similarly to the other review, we contacted about a female Golden pup Sheri had, but a couple came the next day to adopt her. Sheri let us know she ALSO had her brother who hadn't been posted yet; so we jumped on the opportunity and I'm so glad we did.

I love what they do, and by no means want to tarnish their reputation but the way they lied and…read moreomitted crucial things like for example, they said my 6 year old pomsky was potty trained, he's not. He didn't have flea and tick medication, so I ended up adopting a dog that I got expecting him not to be perfect but at least potty train a dog especially if he's in a foster family.... my point is; this couldve ended badly for everyone

I have adopted two cats from CARS and they have both been wonderful, healthy, well-adjusted pets…read more The volunteers are so nice and obviously care very much about the animals and where they are placed. Even though the cats spend their days in small cages, there is a revolving cast of volunteers who come into the store daily and make sure the cats get exercised. They also "foster out' cats so that they become socialized and used to living in a home.

We have adopted three cats from this facility. I was also one of the volunteers for a while before…read moregoing back to school, so I have had first-hand experience of how the operation is run. Although it is a small shelter, they're very meticulous and take really good care of the cats. Each feline is "vetted", receives their shots, and is spayed or neutered before being adopted, so all of the medical necessities are included in the adoption "fee" (which makes it quite the bargain). All cats are screened for parasites and other ailments such as FIV and FIP (which is something that many pet stores do not do... a very sad lesson that a friend of mine learned the hard way) and are monitored for a period of time before being made available for adoption. There is a small army of dedicated foster parents and volunteers that care for the cats, making sure they are healthy and their personalities are suitable for being adopted, before they are moved into the "cattery" for viewing and, hopefully, adoption. The cages and litter boxes are cleaned and disinfected several times a week, and the cats are offered lots of time out to play and interact. There is such a sense of security when looking to adopt an animal from C.A.R. because you never have to worry about illness beyond a little winter cold (yep, cats get colds, too!) This is also a no-kill shelter. And unlike some places, you will never find the "it's just a cat" attitude here. The adoption process might seem a bit off-putting for those who are used to pet stores who will sell any animal to literally anyone without question, but C.A.R.'s goal is to make sure that everyone involved... both your family and the cat... will be happy. After all, adopting an animal is a commitment, and fates willing, you will have your pet for many, many years! They're very good about making sure that the cat's personality (shy, dominant, skittish, friendly, etc.) is right for your family and your home (single- or multi-cat home, families with or without children, families with or without dogs, etc.) The comfort, health, and safety of the cat is paramount. As I mentioned, we've adopted three cats from C.A.R. All three have been amazing... 100% litter-trained, healthy as horses, and absolute angels, with completely different personalities! Our lives are so much more complete with our little furbabies, and we really can't thank C.A.R. enough for taking such good care of them while they waited to come home.