Youth Who Care

Our Community of Caring Youth Who Care is an animal advocacy and volunteer program for youth ages 10–12 years old. During this program participants will learn about a variety of topics including animal behavior, training, care and other animal welfare issues. Tweens will also have the opportunity…

Youth Who Care

Youth Who Care is an animal advocacy and volunteer program for youth ages 10–12 years old. During this program participants will learn about a variety of topics including animal behavior, training, care and other animal welfare issues. Tweens will also have the opportunity to learn about shelter…

Your Talkative Cat

It’s a fact of life – cats meow. It is one of the ways they communicate their needs to us. If you believe that your cat’s meowing is excessive, you need to understand why your cat is vocalizing in order to change his behavior. Overnight Meowing Cats, especially young ones, are naturally most…

In Your Home

Making a Difference from Home We know you really want to help but sometimes you are not able to come to one of our facilities or go out into the community. There are still opportunities for you to volunteer to help The Anti-Cruelty Society.    Pet Patrol  If you’re a volunteer looking to help…

Your Fearful Cat

We cannot simply tell our cat to not be afraid of something. Rather, we must communicate it through our actions and our energy. With time, patience, and proper training, you can help your shy and fearful cat develop into a confident and friendly feline.  Health Check Before anything else, it is…

Young Philanthropist Creates NFTs to Benefit Animals in Need

For the first time in its 123-year-old history, The Anti-Cruelty Society and its animals are poised to benefit from the sale of NFTs, non-fungible tokens. Young philanthropist Leo DiCosola has created 15 NFTs of his adopted dog and wants some of the proceeds to help animals in need around the…

A Year in Review: 2019

What a year! As we celebrated 120 years of caring for and protecting Chicago’s animals, we focused on building more impact to the animals and humans who needed our assistance. In total we impacted over 40,000 humans and pets with the goal of providing the best care for animals in need. We couldn’t…

Year End Matching Challenge

Make your gift today! There are so many cats and dogs in our community who need your help this holiday season. DOUBLE your impact by helping animals get access to: Food and shelter Medical care Loving adoptive families And more! Your gift today will be matched dollar for dollar to make…

Wish List

Wishes Can Happen! Make a wish come true for a dog or cat at the Society by sending us items on our wish list. Items we always need include: Dog and cat toys Leashes and Collars Dog beds Fleece (to make blankets) Spray cheese Creamy peanut butter Liver Paste Freeze dried protein treats (…

Winston

  When stray cat Winston arrived at our shelter, he was in horrible shape with severe burns on his face and ears, as well as a broken jaw. His situation before he arrived was unclear, and he desperately…

Who We Are

Who we are The Anti-Cruelty Society is more than a shelter. We are a comprehensive animal welfare organization whose mission is to build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. From our humble beginnings in 1899, we are now at the forefront of animal welfare and humane…

What is a Guinea Pig?

WHAT IS A GUINEA PIG? Guinea pigs are small rodents that originated in South America, where they are commonly known as a cavy.  There are three main breeds: English or common (short, straight, and fine hair) Abyssinian (rough, wiry hair in rosettes or whorls), and Peruvian (long, straight, and…

What Dog Owners Should Know About the FDA Alert

Our friends at VCA Hospitals recently shared an article by Melanie Hoffman, DVM, about the FDA Alert on grain-free dog food diets that should be noted by all dog owners. 

What We Do

What We Do From pet adoptions to low cost spay and neuter services to humane education, cruelty investigations and rescue, The Anti-Cruelty Society works to raise awareness about the needs of animals. We provide rehabilitation and treatment as well as classes and programs from pet loss to pet…

Welcome Tracy Elliott!

Tracy Elliott joined The Anti-Cruelty Society as President in February, 2019. He came to the Society from Asheville, North Carolina, where he was the Executive Director of the Asheville Humane Society for nearly four years. Tracy brings more than 30 years…

Web Warriors

Whether you’re stuck at home, enjoy volunteering at your own pace, or are simply looking for ways to learn, this program may be just what you are looking for. Explore animal welfare topics, and make a positive impact in your community through our Web Warriors program!   Check in our Web Warriors…

Web Warriors

Are you a Web Warrior? After watching this week’s Web Warriors lesson and completing the project, join us for our weekly Tune-In to check in, discuss, and ask questions. Read more about this program, check out the lesson and project, and register for our Tune-In.

Ways to Give

Giving to the Society  Since 1899, The Anti-Cruelty Society has remained committed to our mission of building a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. This work is made possible through the generosity of our many donors. If you are interested in joining our community of caring,…

Warmer Weather Brings Surge In Cat Population

Chicago’s mild winter is having an impact on local cats. Animal experts tell CBS 2 when the weather is warmer, more cats who aren’t spayed go into heat. That means a surge in the pet population.  

Volunteer Stories

Meet Perri Smith Perri jumped into volunteering 10 years ago when she found herself between jobs and watching too much Animal Planet. She decided she should get out of the house and do something with herself instead of sitting around being gloomy - so she started volunteering!  “Cat Adopts was my…

Volunteer Resources

Resources for Volunteers As a Society volunteer you are in a unique position to make a real difference in both the life of a pet and the family who will one day bring them home. We want your volunteer experience to be a rewarding one and have created a number of resources to help you plan your…

Volunteer News

Welcome to the Volunteer News page! If you're an active on-site Society volunteer, this is your one-stop-shop for the latest news and views about the organization. If you're not a current volunteer but are interested in getting involved, click here for details. If you have questions, send those to…

Volunteer FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions Whether you’re looking to help hands-on, off-site or with special projects, you may have questions about what volunteering with us is all about. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions…

Volunteer Appreciation Week 2019

The Anti-Cruelty Society is proud to celebrate the dedication and hard work of our volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. This week we celebrate the many accomplishments of our volunteers and thank them for dedicating their time and talents to…

Volunteer

Put Your Compassion to Action  The Anti-Cruelty Society’s mission is to build a healthy and happy community where pets and people thrive together. We have provided shelter and care for thousands of animals since our founding in 1899. Volunteers make our continued success possible by helping…