Please read through our six-step adoption process.
1) Fill out our online adoption application.
If you would prefer to download and print an application, click here. (Note: the application will open as a Adobe/pdf.) Downloaded applications can be emailed to [email protected] or printed and brought to one of our adoption events.
2) An adoption counselor will call or email you within 48 hours (not including weekends) to confirm receipt of your application.
If you would like to check the status of your application after 24 hours, you can call your adoption coordinator or email [email protected].
3) The adoption counselor will call your landlord/condo association and/or veterinarian (if applicable.)
4) An adoption counselor will schedule a time for you, your family and any other pets to meet the pet(s) you've applied for. We encourage you to view our event calendar for upcoming events where you can meet the pet you are interested in. You must come out and meet the pet in person before a home visit will be set up.
5) If a home visit is necessary, we will let you know. If possible, the entire household should be present for the visit.
6) To make the adoption official, a signed adoption contract and the adoption fee will be collected before the animal is placed in your care. If an animal has not yet been spayed or neutered, there is an additional $50 spay/neuter deposit. Once proof of the spay/neuter, the deposit will refunded. At the time of adoption, adopters should have a collar and leash/carrier. The adoption fee and spay/neuter deposit are payable by cash or check only.
All previous medical records and adoption policies will be turned over to the new adopter at the adoption time.
Once you have been approved for a pet, click here to fill out the PET adoption contract or Foster to Adopt Agreement.
If you would prefer to download and print an application, click here. (Note: the application will open as a Adobe/pdf.) Downloaded applications can be emailed to [email protected] or printed and brought to one of our adoption events.
2) An adoption counselor will call or email you within 48 hours (not including weekends) to confirm receipt of your application.
If you would like to check the status of your application after 24 hours, you can call your adoption coordinator or email [email protected].
3) The adoption counselor will call your landlord/condo association and/or veterinarian (if applicable.)
4) An adoption counselor will schedule a time for you, your family and any other pets to meet the pet(s) you've applied for. We encourage you to view our event calendar for upcoming events where you can meet the pet you are interested in. You must come out and meet the pet in person before a home visit will be set up.
5) If a home visit is necessary, we will let you know. If possible, the entire household should be present for the visit.
6) To make the adoption official, a signed adoption contract and the adoption fee will be collected before the animal is placed in your care. If an animal has not yet been spayed or neutered, there is an additional $50 spay/neuter deposit. Once proof of the spay/neuter, the deposit will refunded. At the time of adoption, adopters should have a collar and leash/carrier. The adoption fee and spay/neuter deposit are payable by cash or check only.
All previous medical records and adoption policies will be turned over to the new adopter at the adoption time.
Once you have been approved for a pet, click here to fill out the PET adoption contract or Foster to Adopt Agreement.
NOTE - For cats and kittens housed at a pet store:
It is our policy that we do phone interview and virtual home visit after your vet and/or landlord reference checks are approved. Cats and kittens at the stores are usually adopted within a few days. You can submit an application via our website or check on the status of your application via email [email protected].
Before you adopt, please read our adoption policies carefully!
Adoption Fees:
All animals at Chicago Pet Rescue have adoption fees. Please take the time to learn more about our adoption fees.
We do have higher adoption fees than some other rescues or shelters. This is because Chicago Pet Rescue will not turn our backs on special needs pets or pets who require expensive medical work (e.g. puppy mill survivors). We provide care such as heartworm treatment while many organizations either euthanize or refuse to accept a heartworm-positive dog into their programs.
There is a price for rescuing so many special needs animals—our monthly vet bills range from $1,500 to $2,000! A majority of the animals we rescue require at least $300 in vet care (for spaying/neutering, shots, a heartworm/lyme test and other vet work, if needed.)
Since we are a non-profit, 501(c) 3-tax exempt no-kill rescue, most donations are tax deductible. We accept cash and checks.
Distance Adoptions:
We do not allow people from out of state to adopt from us. We prefer to adopt locally within 1 hour of Chicago, 60631.
Health & Temperament:
We advise on any known issues prior to adoption. However, Chicago Pet Rescue makes no explicit or implicit guarantees in reference to the health, behavior, and/or temperament of the animal. The animal is adopted, for lack of a better term, "as is," and Chicago Pet Rescue shall not be held responsible for any medical expenses, which may be incurred for treatment of any and all existing conditions, or any other conditions of physical, or temperament changes that may occur, including whether the animal is housebroken. Unless provided by participating veterinarian, Chicago Pet Rescue is legally unable to provide any prescription medications for any underlying health conditions (such as kennel cough) and therefore it is the adopter's responsibility to have any condition(s) treated. Chicago Pet Rescue is not responsible for any costs incurred by the adopter.
Adoption Application:
Anyone interested in adopting from us must fill out an adoption application.
Refunds:
If for any reason, such as landlord issues, allergies or animal personality clashes, you choose not to keep the animal, you must notify Chicago Pet Rescue immediately. All fees are non-refundable and no cash refunds will be given at any time for any reason.
All animals at Chicago Pet Rescue have adoption fees. Please take the time to learn more about our adoption fees.
We do have higher adoption fees than some other rescues or shelters. This is because Chicago Pet Rescue will not turn our backs on special needs pets or pets who require expensive medical work (e.g. puppy mill survivors). We provide care such as heartworm treatment while many organizations either euthanize or refuse to accept a heartworm-positive dog into their programs.
There is a price for rescuing so many special needs animals—our monthly vet bills range from $1,500 to $2,000! A majority of the animals we rescue require at least $300 in vet care (for spaying/neutering, shots, a heartworm/lyme test and other vet work, if needed.)
Since we are a non-profit, 501(c) 3-tax exempt no-kill rescue, most donations are tax deductible. We accept cash and checks.
Distance Adoptions:
We do not allow people from out of state to adopt from us. We prefer to adopt locally within 1 hour of Chicago, 60631.
Health & Temperament:
We advise on any known issues prior to adoption. However, Chicago Pet Rescue makes no explicit or implicit guarantees in reference to the health, behavior, and/or temperament of the animal. The animal is adopted, for lack of a better term, "as is," and Chicago Pet Rescue shall not be held responsible for any medical expenses, which may be incurred for treatment of any and all existing conditions, or any other conditions of physical, or temperament changes that may occur, including whether the animal is housebroken. Unless provided by participating veterinarian, Chicago Pet Rescue is legally unable to provide any prescription medications for any underlying health conditions (such as kennel cough) and therefore it is the adopter's responsibility to have any condition(s) treated. Chicago Pet Rescue is not responsible for any costs incurred by the adopter.
Adoption Application:
Anyone interested in adopting from us must fill out an adoption application.
Refunds:
If for any reason, such as landlord issues, allergies or animal personality clashes, you choose not to keep the animal, you must notify Chicago Pet Rescue immediately. All fees are non-refundable and no cash refunds will be given at any time for any reason.
Repossession of an Animal:
If someone who adopted an animal from us is found to be in violation of our adoption requirements, Chicago Pet Rescue reserves the right to repossess the animal with no refund of the adoption fee. Chicago Pet Rescue reserves the right to make post-adoption home visits and/or follow up calls to check on the welfare of the animal and assure that the terms of the contract are being met.
Returns:
If you should ever decide you cannot keep or do not want your Chicago Pet Rescue animal, you MUST notify Chicago Pet Rescue before taking any action. You must agree that if for any reason you can no longer provide a home for your Chicago Pet Rescue animal, you will return the animal to Chicago Pet Rescue. You will agree NEVER to surrender the animal to an animal shelter, humane society, pound, or another rescue, nor will you sell, exchange, give to, or adopt the animal to anyone else without contacting Chicago Pet Rescue first and specifically speaking with and receiving consent from Elena, the Executive Director of Chicago Pet Rescue. Transfer of ownership by a family member or friend may be approved but permission to do so can only be given by Elena. Violation of this agreement will result in court costs and attorney fees payable by the adopter if necessary for the rescuer to redeem the dog.
Right of Refusal:
Chicago Pet Rescue reserves the right to refuse any adoption.