Pet Owner Resources and Surrendering Your Pet

Surrendering Your Pet & Available Resources

At Anti-Cruelty, our priority is keeping pets and people together whenever possible. If you're struggling to care for your pet, our Admissions team can help you explore support options that may allow you to keep them at home.

We also recognize that sometimes surrender is the most responsible or necessary decision. As an open-admission shelter, we accept animals regardless of behavior or medical history. However, because shelters can be stressful—especially for animals used to a home environment—surrendering should be considered a last resort.

Walk-Ins Accepted — Appointments Strongly Recommended

We accept both walk-ins and appointments, but we strongly recommend scheduling in advance to ensure we can provide the best possible care and attention to you and your pet.

Scheduling an appointment helps us:

  • Prepare for your pet’s specific medical or behavioral needs
  • Minimize wait times and reduce your pet’s stress
  • Ensure we have the appropriate staff and space available
  • Support better outcomes for all animals in our care

Choose the appropriate link to schedule:

If you’re not sure whether surrender is the right choice, we encourage you to explore available resources or reach out for guidance. Walk-ins are welcome, but please note that wait times may be longer due to the high volume of scheduled appointments. You can contact us at admissions@anticruelty.org or 312-645-8260

What To Do with a Stray Animal

Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is the official shelter for stray animals found within the city of Chicago. Bringing a stray animal to CACC ensures they are entered into the City system and quickly listed on their website, increasing the chances of reuniting them with their owner.

For stray cats, we strongly recommend leaving them where you found them, unless they are visibly injured or in immediate danger. Many cats in Chicago are indoor/outdoor pets or community cats that are well-adjusted to living outside. If you find a sick or injured stray cat, we are able to help—please contact us for guidance at Admissions@anticruelty.org or 312-645-8260.

Location & Hours

Admissions Location: 157 West Grand Avenue Take the elevator to floor “1R” Free parking is available on Wells Street, just south of Grand Avenue, in our marked garage.

Admissions Hours: Monday–Sunday: 12–6 p.m.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

  • Medical information on your pet
  • Any favorite toys, bedding, or comfort items (please note: they may not stay with your pet for the entirety of their stay)
  • Please allow at least 30 minutes for the admissions process
  • Optional: A donation to help offset the cost of care—receipts available upon request

 

Before You Surrender

Please explore these helpful resources before making a final decision:

Ideas to Try Before Bringing a Pet to the Shelter

What Happens After You Surrender?

If your pet is in good health and has a manageable temperament, they are generally accepted into our adoption program. Anti-Cruelty does not place time limits on an animal’s stay and does not discriminate by breed or species.

However, certain conditions may impact adoption eligibility:

  • Untreatable or unmanageable illness
  • Behavior that could be considered dangerous to other pets, staff, or the public · Conditions disclosed during intake that may suggest humane euthanasia is the most appropriate outcome.
  • The pet’s overall quality of life. The shelter is a stressful place, especially for animals who encounter a long stay. If an animal’s quality of life severly declines while in our care, the humane decision may be made to euthanize the pet.

Some factors that may make rehoming inappropriate include chronic house-soiling, aggression, self-harm, or behaviors that significantly affect an animal’s welfare. We will provide honest feedback and guidance during your appointment to help you make the best decision for your pet. Please note that due to the volume of animals coming to us, we are not able to follow up with owners regarding outcome decisions on their pets. We will do everything we can to help ensure this is the best decision for you and your pet before you finalize the decision to relinquish.

Please note that as an Open Door shelter we admit all types of animals. In the event that you are bringing in a pet that is not a species we presently adopt, or wildlife, we will transfer the animal to a specialized care center or wildlife rehabilitation center.