Pet Rescue Organizations in Illinois

Hundreds of pet rescue organizations operate in Illinois. Some organizations cater to all pets furry, while others cater to small pets, reptiles or even farm animals. Other organizations are breed specific, catering only to rescuing animals of specific breeds, such as a Shetland sheepdog.

  1. Animal Shelter Organization

    • This organization helps direct people to specific organizations, offering a full list of all the pet rescue groups in Illinois. The website does not cater to specific species of pets, so any organization can be listed. AnimalShelter.org lists organizations and rescues that accept stray pets, pets who are recently without owners, humane organizations, animal control agencies and organizations that accept pets from those who can no longer care for them.

    Humane Society of Southern Illinois

    • The Humane Society of Southern Illinois is a private, nonprofit organization. Each year, HSSI takes in approximately 4,000 animals. The organization has been open since 1956 and offers public services such as low cost spay/neuter program, lost and found listings, fundraisers, animal surrenders, adoptions and volunteer opportunities.

    Animal Protective League

    • Located near the center of the state in Springfield, the Animal Protective League is a private, nonprofit organization that operates solely on donations. In 2008, the shelter adopted out more than 2,000 cats and dogs. APL offers many services including adoption; pet surrender services; feral cat trap, neuter and release (TNR); fostering; investigating cases of cruelty/neglect; a senior pet program and a spay and neuter clinic.

    Quincy Humane Society

    • The Quincy Humane Society is on the far west-central side of the state. The organization has been helping pets since 1880, making it one of the oldest operating humane societies in the United States. It offers spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, obedience training, a public dog park, a free-to-good home program, free pet tags, cruelty investigations and cremations.

    Tazewell Animal Protective Society

    • Located in central Illinois in Pekin, just outside of Peoria, the Tazewell Animal Protective Society's mission is to bring companion animals and loving people together. It offers an adoption center, community education and outreach programs, spay/neuter programs, rehabilitation programs and training programs.

    Animal Aid Humane Society

    • The Animal Aid Humane Society, located on the northwest side of the state in Moline, prides itself on being a volunteer-only organization with no paid employees. The AAHS offers adoption services, lost and found services and surrender services.

    HARPS

    • The Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society is a rescue organization that caters to hooved animals such as horses. Founded in 2001, HARPS is located outside of Chicago, in Elgin. HARPS offers adoption and rescue services, but does not currently accept unwanted animals due to limited space.

    Young At Heart Pet Rescue

    • The Young At Heart Pet Rescue is a nonprofit organization that specializes in rescuing and finding new homes for mature or senior cats and dogs. Specifically, the shelter rescues senior pets from open-admission shelters and works to increase the adoption rate for senior pets. YAH Pet Rescue is in Palatine, just outside of Chicago.

    Tree House Humane Society

    • The Tree House Humane Society caters to rescuing and rehabilitating cats. It is in Chicago, and works with the City of Chicago Animal Care and Control. THHS also has a second location, the Bucktown Branch. This nonprofit organization began in 1971 and has found homes for more than 14,000 cats. THHS caters to cats of all kinds: stray, unwanted, sick, injured and feral.

    A.D.O.P.T.

    • Founded in 1989, Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment (A.D.O.P.T.) has found homes for more than 20,000 pets. A.D.O.P.T. offers multiple services ranging from owner surrender to adoption, education services, spay/neuter programs, memorials and blessed bonds --- a special program that helps keep owners and pets together in special situations.