Anti-Cruelty takes a multi-faceted approach to activating, strengthening, and sustaining the human-animal bond. We have a legacy of celebrating the connection between pets and people and building programming and partnerships to help that bond thrive. The Humane Society of the United States’s Pets for Life program shares that belief and is guided by the philosophy that no one should be denied the opportunity to experience the benefits, joy, and comfort that come from the human-animal bond.

The nationwide Pets for Life program originated in Chicago in 2012 and Anti-Cruelty continued the mission by adopting the program into our organization in March 2022, continuing the relationships built in the areas served. The goal of Pets for Life is to build community trust and positive relationships by meeting people where they are at, creating a community presence, and building relationships by having face-to-face conversations with pet owners in our focus neighborhoods.

Acknowledging and addressing the systemic inequity and institutional barriers that create immense challenges for millions of people every day in accessing pet resources and information, the Pets for Life program aims to keep people and their pets together by providing veterinary care, pet supplies, and general support to the Greater Roseland, North Lawndale, and East Garfield Park neighborhoods of Chicago.

Each year, Anti-Cruelty's Pets for Life Program provides services to over 600 pets and 300 families in Chicago.