Watch CBS News

Best Pet Rescue Shelters In Chicago

More and more people are putting their focus on rescuing animals, rather than buying from a pet store or breeder. With the problems coming from animal overpopulation, it's more important than ever to give homes to the pets that desperately need them rather than encouraging extra breeding of animals. Chicago has a number of great shelters that offer features like cage-free environments and a no-kill policy. Take advantage of some of the great shelters in and around the city and give a home to a pet that will truly appreciate the gift of a new owner.

Red Door
(Credit: Red Door's Facbeook)

Red Door Animal Shelter
2410 W. Lunt Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 764-2242
www.reddoorshelter.org

Unlike other shelters that are government funded, Red Door Animal Shelter is funded solely through private donations, grants and private foundations. It takes in abused and abandoned cats, dogs and rabbits in a cage-free environment. This is a no-kill shelter that offers admittance, spaying, neutering and even free pet food for low income pet owners struggling to keep their pets fed. The CAFé program takes in pet food donations and distributes them through its pet food assistance program. This shelter not only helps to give homes to pets but also strives to help pet owners maintain their ability to care for the pets they have.

Chicago Canine Rescue
5272 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 697-8848
www.chicagocaninerescue.com

What makes Chicago Canine Rescue unique from other shelters? It doesn't shy away from animals that can sometimes be difficult to find homes for. While the purebreds and the ultra fit pets can make for attractive prospective adopted pets, these aren't often the choices when it comes to animals that wind up in shelters. Oftentimes, it's the sick, young, elderly or special needs animals that are in need of a home and Chicago Canine Rescue takes them all in instead of having them automatically euthanized. Don't let the name fool you, Chicago Canine Rescue has branched out to include cats and kittens too.

Paws Chicago
(Credit: pawschicago.org)

PAWS Chicago
PAWS Chicago Adoption Center
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-PAWS
www.pawschicago.org

PAWS Chicago is a shelter that isn't just focused on the animals that it has within its walls at any given moment. With each year, PAWS Chicago helps find more homes for pets. It offers a cage-free environment, state-of-the-art facilities and a no-kill stance on its animals. However, PAWS also educates the community about the realities of homelessness in animals, performs spay and neutering procedures and hosts offsite adoption events to spread awareness to larger audiences.

Related:  Best House Cleaning Services In Chicago

C.A.R.E. Community Animal Rescue Effort
2310 Oakton St.
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 705-2653
www.care-evanston.org

Working out of Evanston's municipal animal shelter, this organization is run solely through volunteers. C.A.R.E. provides for the animals within the shelter, provides free veterinary care and helps to facilitate animal adoptions. C.A.R.E. provides educational and counseling services to Chicago's North Shore community to help reduce overpopulation but it also helps to educate pet owners and prospective pet owners. Many of the animals are housed in foster homes to provide a home atmosphere while waiting to be adopted. Click here if you are interested in being a foster parent for a dog, puppy, cat or kitten.

Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control
2741 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 747-1406
www.fcacc.org

Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control is a nonprofit organization that helps to facilitate adoptions with the animals that come into the Chicago Animal Care and Control (ACC). Because it deals with animals that have been neglected, abused or abandoned, FCACC conducts programs to help educate pet owners on how to properly care of their pets. FCACC holds different events to help spread the word about the importance of rescuing animals, like the "Adopt-A-Dog Night" that works in conjunction with the Chicago Wolves hockey season. It also provides food, medical care and fostering homes to ensure happy rescued animals before their adoption.

Related: Best Bad Weather Activities For Kids In Chicago

Sara Lugardo is a professional writer out of Chicago, Illinois. She has a Bachelor's in Communication and is currently working on her Master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.